Things to Do in Pondicherry
Kayaks at sunrise, a bicycle under the bougainvillea, a spa afternoon, an evening on the Promenade. Every activity here has its own local guide.
The best days here have a rhythm. Something active while the morning is cool, something slow through the heat of the afternoon, and something by the sea once the breeze comes in.
We have grouped the activities by the kind of day you want. Each card opens a guide with what is on offer, where to book and the best time to go. For a ranked list of the highlights instead, read our best things to do in Pondicherry and Auroville.
On the water
Warm sea, calm backwaters and a long coast facing the sunrise. Pick your pace, from a slow boat through the mangroves to a board on the waves.
Water sports in Pondicherry
Kayaks, paddleboards, jet skis and sailing: what is on offer, where, and when the sea suits it.
Read the guideBoating in Pondicherry
Every place to get out on a boat, from the backwaters to the lake, compared side by side.
Read the guideSurfing
Where to learn, when the waves are best, and what a first lesson is like.
Read the guideScuba diving
Diving off the coast, from first try dives to certified courses.
Read the guideThe boat to Paradise Beach
Through the backwaters from the Chunnambar boat house to a sandbar beach.
Read the guideRowing at Pichavaram
Narrow green canals through one of the country's great mangrove forests.
Read the guide
On two wheels and on foot
Flat streets, shaded lanes and a red earth plateau full of forest paths. The best way to see most of it is slowly.
Cycling in Pondicherry
Where to hire a bicycle, and the routes worth riding in town and in Auroville.
Read the guideA walk through White Town
Our route through the French Quarter, best done before the heat.
Read the guideClimbing Gingee Fort
Steep steps, three hills and a fortress view, about an hour inland.
Read the guideScooters, cars and getting around
How hiring a scooter or a self drive car works, plus autos, cabs and buses.
Read the guide
Slow down
Pondicherry and Auroville have drawn people looking for stillness for a century. Some of that is still on offer by the hour.
Spas in Pondicherry
Ayurvedic treatments, massage and wellness in town and in Auroville, and how to choose.
Read the guidePottery in Pondicherry
Watch, learn or buy: the studios and workshops of a famous pottery tradition.
Read the guideAuroville and the Matrimandir
How to see the golden sphere, and how to book the Inner Chamber.
Read the guideSri Aurobindo Ashram
Visiting hours, the Samadhi and how to visit respectfully.
Read the guideShopping in Pondicherry
Goubert Market, the Sunday market and what is genuinely worth taking home.
Read the guide
Birds and wild places
When the rains have filled the lakes, the migrant birds arrive. These are the places to see them.
Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
India's best known water bird sanctuary, a day trip north in the season.
Read the guideOusteri Lake
A large wetland on the edge of town, at its best for birds after the monsoon.
Read the guideMangroves near Pondicherry
Where to see the mangroves, and how to get out on the water.
Read the guide
Evenings and food
The sea breeze picks up, the Promenade fills, and the courtyards light up for dinner.
Plan around the season
Pondicherry changes with the weather and the calendar. Time it right and the whole trip is easier.
Exclusive Host Experiences
Guests at Wind & Wave Villas get access to curated local experiences arranged by our host, Firoz. From private boat rides to guided sightseeing tours, we handle all the details.
The best place to stay for an active few days in Pondicherry: Wind & Wave Villas
The best place to stay for an active few days in Pondicherry is Wind & Wave Villas: 21 beach villas and rooms at Chettikuppam, on the quiet coast between Pondicherry and Marakkanam. Here is why.
Steps from the sea
The beach is a 700 m walk from the gate, and this coast faces east, so every morning starts with sunrise over the Bay of Bengal.
A pool of your own
Five 3BHK villas each have a private swimming pool and sleep up to 10. Every other stay shares a large pool.
Room for the whole group
21 stays, from 2-bedroom rooms that sleep 6 to 3-bedroom villas for 10, so families and friends can stay together.
Near everything, away from the crowds
The French Quarter and Auroville are each about 30 minutes away, and the stays sit inside a quiet, gated coastal community.
Comfort that does not cut out
Generator power backup, air conditioning and Wi-Fi, so a power cut does not end your evening.
Easy for every kind of trip
Free parking for every stay, self check-in for late arrivals, kitchens in 7 stays, and 2 stays that welcome pets.