Pondicherry French Quarter Getaway

2 Nights 3 Days Pondicherry tour package from Bangalore

2N / 3D Pondicherry (2N)

705 km

by road

15.5 h

driving

places

nights

meals

Pick the hotels that suit your budget

Private car with driver from Bengaluru

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Overview

A relaxed 3 day trip from Bengaluru to Pondicherry. Your private car and driver pick you up from home and drive via Krishnagiri, with stops at the Arunachaleswarar temple in Tiruvannamalai and Gingee Fort. In Pondicherry you walk the yellow streets of the French Quarter, visit the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, see the golden Matrimandir from the Auroville viewing point and take a boat to Paradise Beach. Good for couples, friends and families who like slow mornings and good food. Best from December to February; November brings heavy rain and April to June is hot and sticky. Going inside the Matrimandir needs booking in person a few days ahead, so most short trips see it only from the viewing point.

Your route

Real road route from Google. Tap a day to zoom in. Numbers match the places in each day below.

Is this trip for you?

Easy

Short walks in town and on the beach. Day 1 and Day 3 have about 7 hours in the car with stops.

Great for

Couples and friends on a long weekend
Families who like beaches and easy walks
Food and cafe lovers

Think twice if

You go in November, when heavy rain can stop boats and beach visits
You want long swims, as the sea is rough at most beaches
You don't enjoy 7 hour drives

Day by day

Day 1

Bengaluru to Pondicherry via Tiruvannamalai and Gingee Fort

324 km 6 h 42 min driving 3 places

6:00 AM
Pickup from your home
Your driver calls you 30 minutes before. Leaving early gets you past Hosur before the traffic.
2 h 8 min · 91 km
8:15 AM
Breakfast at Krishnagiri
Pongal, vada and filter coffee at a highway restaurant. Pay as you eat.
1 h 58 min · 111 km
10:45 AM
1
Arunachaleswarar temple
1 h 15 min here
One of the largest temples in India, at the foot of the sacred Arunachala hill. Free entry, special darshan tickets on busy days. Leave shoes in the car.
12:15 PM
Lunch in Tiruvannamalai
A simple Tamil meals on a banana leaf, all vegetarian.
46 min · 41 km
1:45 PM
2
Gingee Fort
1 h 30 min here
A fort spread over three rocky hills, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Walk the lower fort, the Kalyana Mahal tower and the granary. The full Rajagiri climb takes 2 to 3 hours and entry to it stops around 3 PM, so we do it only if you ask and start early.
1 h 34 min · 77 km
5:30 PM
3
Evening on the Promenade
1 h here
Drive straight to the seafront. The Promenade road is closed to vehicles in the evening, so the whole town comes out to walk. See the Gandhi statue and the old lighthouse.
15 min · 5 km
7:00 PM
Check in at your hotel
Check in, freshen up and have dinner in White Town.

Day 2

Ashram, Auroville and Paradise Beach

47 km 1 h 52 min driving 4 places

6:00 AM
Sunrise on the Promenade
Optional
The sea here faces east. A free walk from most hotels, just tell your driver if you need a drop.
7:15 AM
Breakfast at the hotel
11 min · 3 km
8:15 AM
1
Sri Aurobindo Ashram
40 min here
Sit in silence by the flower covered samadhi. Open 8 to 11:30 AM. Phones switched off, no photos inside, modest clothes, and no talking in the courtyard.
32 min · 13 km
9:30 AM
2
Auroville Visitors Centre
45 min here
Watch the short film and collect your free viewing point pass. Pass desk closes early on Sundays.
8 min · 3 km
10:15 AM
3
Matrimandir viewing point
1 h 15 min here
A 15 minute walk or free shuttle through the forest to see the golden dome in its gardens. Going inside needs a separate booking in person, usually a few days ahead.
12:00 PM
Lunch in Auroville
Wood fired pizza, salads and organic food at the Visitors Centre cafes, or the bakery for coffee and cake.
40 min · 19 km
2:30 PM
4
Boat to Paradise Beach
2 h 30 min here
A 15 minute boat ride through the backwater to a long, quiet sand beach. Swim only where the lifeguards allow. Last boats back are around 5 PM and boats stop in rough sea.
22 min · 10 km
5:30 PM
Back to your hotel
A free evening. Rue Suffren and Rue Romain Rolland are full of cafes, bakeries and small shops.

Day 3

White Town walk, Serenity Beach and back to Bengaluru

334 km 6 h 48 min driving 2 places

13 min · 6 km
6:00 AM
Sunrise at Serenity Beach
Optional
Fishing boats and surfers at first light. The sea is rough here, not for swimming. Surf lessons are paid there.
7:45 AM
Breakfast at the hotel
15 min · 6 km
8:45 AM
1
Manakula Vinayagar temple
30 min here
A busy Ganesha temple in the French Quarter with gold painted walls. Shoes off at the gate.
9:30 AM
2
White Town heritage walk
1 h 30 min here
Walk past mustard and white French villas, bougainvillea and street signs in French. See the Church of Our Lady of Angels, the French War Memorial and Bharathi Park. Your driver waits nearby.
11:15 AM
Check out and coffee
Pick up croissants and a loaf from a French bakery for home.
2:00 PM
Lunch near Tiruvannamalai
6 h 17 min · 322 km
6:45 PM
Drop at your home
Home by evening, salty and rested.

Hotels

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Or similar, depending on availability on your dates.

Best time to go

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Best Good Heavy rain This month

What to pack

Light cotton clothes, a cap and sunscreen. It is humid even in winter.
Swimwear and a change of clothes for Paradise Beach.
Clothes covering shoulders and knees for the Ashram and temples.
Sandals that slip off easily, and some cash for cafes and small shops.

Included

2 nights in the hotel option you pick (or one of the same star rating if it is full, we tell you before you pay)
Breakfast on Day 2 and Day 3
Private car with driver for all 3 days, sized to your group, home pickup and drop in Bengaluru
Fuel, tolls, parking, driver allowance and driver stay
Tamil Nadu and Puducherry permits and entry taxes for the car
Entry ticket for Gingee Fort
Return boat ride to Paradise Beach from Chunnambar boat house
GST

Not included

Lunch and dinner
Matrimandir inner chamber visit (free, but you book it yourself in person at Auroville, usually a few days ahead)
Special darshan tickets at Tiruvannamalai temple
Surfing lessons, scuba diving, water sports and cycle hire
Tips and personal shopping
Anything not listed above

Plans change, we understand. Read our cancellation policy to see how changes and refunds work.

Pondicherry French Quarter Getaway

Overview

Your route

Is this trip for you?

Day by day

Pickup from your home

Breakfast at Krishnagiri

Arunachaleswarar temple

Lunch in Tiruvannamalai

Gingee Fort

Evening on the Promenade

Check in at your hotel

Sunrise on the Promenade

Breakfast at the hotel

Sri Aurobindo Ashram

Auroville Visitors Centre

Matrimandir viewing point

Lunch in Auroville

Boat to Paradise Beach

Back to your hotel

Sunrise at Serenity Beach

Breakfast at the hotel

Manakula Vinayagar temple

White Town heritage walk

Check out and coffee

Lunch near Tiruvannamalai

Drop at your home

Hotels

Best time to go

What to pack

Included

Not included