It was all about much-needed relaxation, a time to escape from battling tough times alone. Suddenly, my mind urged my soul to seek a peaceful escape—somewhere away from work, away from familiar faces, and away from the city I called home.
The next morning, I got ready for work, though my mood was anything but work-focused. The moment I logged in, it was the same routine. Instead, I found myself browsing travel destinations nearby, and among the many options, Pondicherry caught my eye. I looked up tourist spots and didn’t hesitate in choosing it as my destination. Like we all do, I typed, “How do I get to Pondicherry?”
No surprise, I opted for the train. I logged into IRCTC and found “Puducherry Express,” departing at 9 PM on Friday from Yeshwanthpur Junction. Thankfully, there were seats available, so I immediately booked one for the weekend. You can also take buses that depart from various points in the city. KSRTC’s ‘Airavat Club Class’ Volvo buses are a great option, taking around 7 hours to reach Pondicherry. There’s no airport in Pondicherry; the closest one is in Chennai.
The next step was finding a place to stay for two days. I opened another tab and searched “hotels in Pondicherry.” Among numerous options, I found an interesting hostel. Having never stayed in one, I thought, “Why not try staying with strangers?” The pictures were inviting. I checked availability, but check-in was listed as 12:30 PM. To save a few bucks, I booked from Saturday 12:30 PM to Sunday 10:00 AM, knowing I could easily carry my backpack around on Sunday before my evening train back to Bangalore. An hour had flown by while I was planning!
With only two days left before the trip, I drafted a travel itinerary. Yet the story I’m about to share made that itinerary nothing more than a backup plan in my bag.
Finally, Friday evening arrived, and I grabbed my backpack to set off! I took the metro to Yeshwanthpur station—it’s the most convenient option for me. A taxi or bus would work too. When I reached the platform, I saw my train, boarded, and found my seat. I had food I’d picked up on the way, then called home for a quick chat before dozing off.
I arrived in Pondicherry around 7:30 AM on Saturday. The journey was a bit tiring, but the excitement erased my fatigue. I deboarded without any clear plan of “where to go next?” so I simply followed others.
Feeling hungry, I searched for breakfast options on my map, but few places were open. After walking about a kilometer, I found a South Indian restaurant called ‘Kavika’ opposite ‘Pothys’ on Anna Salai road. They had a variety of South Indian breakfast items at reasonable prices. I had a dosa and a plate of poori, which tasted great—probably because I was so hungry! I’d rate them 3 out of 5. There are plenty of other options in this area too.
It was 8:45 AM, and I needed to fill 3 hours until check-in. Earlier, I’d noticed the Pondicherry Botanical Garden nearby, so I decided to visit—it’s just 500 meters away.
By 9 AM, I was walking toward the garden and reached it within 10 minutes, even before it opened at 10. Entry fees are Rs.10 for adults and Rs.5 for children. After a 45-minute wait, I bought a pass and explored for two hours. Here’s my honest review: the garden is clean but could use some improvements. The greenery makes it a nice place for walking, with good space for kids, but there were no flowers, no lotus in the pond, no toy train, and a fountain with no water. The signboards were also somewhat misleading. Overall, I’d rate it 2 out of 5. I skipped the aquarium, doubting it would be worthwhile after the garden experience.
Around noon, I headed to the hostel I’d booked, about 700 meters from the garden. Although it was quite humid, I prefer walking as it lets me experience the area more deeply. The 15-minute walk, despite being slow, was enjoyable.
By now, you’re probably wondering about the hostel’s name and location, right? It’s called ‘Micasa Hostels’ on MG Road. Easy to find, it’s surrounded by shops and restaurants. The hostel is on the first floor, with a friendly front desk staff and a tidy, cool interior. After check-in, they allocated me a bed in a six-bed dormitory on the second floor, with a spacious locker for each guest. The bedding was clean and neat.
The dormitory has individual sockets and reading lights by each bed, WiFi, tea and coffee makers, air conditioning, an ironing facility, a kitchen, a fridge, a microwave, a dining area, and super-clean washrooms.
Overall, the hostel experience was excellent and worth the cost. I’d rate it 4.5 out of 5 but feel they should adjust check-in to 11 AM instead of 12:30 PM.
After storing my backpack, I freshened up and went out for lunch around 2 PM. For food lovers, there are multiple choices: Indian, Asian, Chinese, French, and Italian restaurants are popular in the city. I recommend trying French cuisine at least once during your stay in Pondy. Grand Hotel D’Europe and La Pasta World are both well-known options near the hostel.
After lunch, I took a nap. I woke up around 4 PM and decided to spend some time at Promenade Beach, a 10-minute walk from the hostel. The beach is well-maintained, and traffic is restricted after 4 PM, which is a wonderful initiative. The breeze relaxes you, and the waves help you forget your worries. It’s a lovely place for walkers and joggers. There’s a statue of Mahatma Gandhi, which is a popular selfie spot. Street vendors sell cucumbers, mangoes, and popcorn, though I didn’t try any. I’d rate it 4 out of 5, as it’s a bit crowded and lacks parking space.
When I returned to the hostel around 7 PM, I noticed someone sitting on the bed below mine. I greeted him as I settled in, and we quickly struck up a conversation. To my surprise, he was a solo traveler from Bangalore too, there for a business visit. He planned to explore the city on Sunday and suggested we do some sightseeing together. I immediately agreed.
After dinner, we discussed the places to visit, and with a new friend in the mix, my travel itinerary became a background plan as we created new memories.
The best day of my Pondicherry trip began with an alarm at 8 AM. I got ready, had breakfast, and we were all set to explore by 9:30 AM. We checked out of the hostel but left our backpacks at the reception, as the front desk staff allowed us to keep them there until 6 PM. Rest assured, belongings are safe there under CCTV surveillance, though I recommend taking valuables with you.
Bike rentals in the city start from Rs. 500 to Rs. 2000 per day, depending on the model. My friend rented a Royal Enfield for the day, though car rentals are also readily available.
Our first destination was Auroville, 13 km from the hostel. It took us about 30 minutes to reach this tranquil place. The Matrimandir viewpoint is the main attraction, and entry is free, though prebooking is required for access to the center. Bookings for silent concentration sessions can’t be done online and must be made in person from 9 AM to 4 PM, Monday to Saturday, and from 9 AM to 1 PM on Sundays.
To reach the Matrimandir viewpoint, we walked about a kilometer. Shuttle service is available for those who need it. The unique architecture of the Matrimandir is awe-inspiring, making it a refreshing spot open to all regardless of background.
After about 15 minutes, we walked back and grabbed snacks before heading to Serenity Beach, 8.5 km away. Despite the odd time of day, the beach was quiet, and we enjoyed the seawalk for a bit before heading to our next stop: Sri Aurobindo Ashram.
Reaching the Ashram around 1:15 PM, we learned it opens from 8 AM to 12 PM and then from 2:15 PM to 4 PM daily. Since we had some time before it reopened, we skipped it and went back to Promenade Beach before grabbing lunch at a nearby restaurant.
Afterward, we decided to check out Paradise Beach, 12 km from Promenade Beach, with its beautiful white sands and fruit stalls. Vendors sell seafood in the evenings, and boat rides are also available.
We returned the bike by 6 PM, then explored the French Colony near our hostel. The vibrant colors and architecture felt European, with government offices now occupying many buildings in White Town. We took a selfie at Promenade Beach before heading back to the hostel for a quick refresh and said goodbye to Pondy and each other as I prepared to board my train.
This incredible, unplanned trip proved what Eugene Fodor said: “You don’t need to be rich to travel well.”