Heritage Tours in Pondicherry

The capital of Puducherry, Pondicherry was once a French colonial settlement and still bears the remnants of this mix of culture, from its language to the food and the architecture that decorates its lovely streets. Popular amongst tourists for its delicious French cuisines, delicate French influenced villas that are painted in cheerful yellows, oranges, soothing blues and greens and its carefully maintained heritage sites; Pondicherry is a great place to put on your bucket list of destinations to visit in South India. 

If you’re a history buff, sightseeing in Pondicherry is a sure delight, with history around every corner. 100-year old Bungalows invite you in, to take in the aged furniture, lush, green gardens and stories through the ages. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, The Pondicherry Botanical Garden and the Old Lighthouse are all iconic historical places that will fuel your love of the past.

Sightseeing in Pondicherry for foodies isn’t complete without visiting the quaint cafes that dot the region. Coromandel Café has enchanting Parisian interiors that make you feel as though you’re in the heart of France while Baker Street draws you in with the sweet smell of freshly baked bread. 

Known for its cultural beauty, Pondicherry was once a French colonial settlement and its chief draw is its French-infused food, architecture, historical sites, and lovely, winding streets. However, if you’re a traveler that’s looking for more to Pondicherry than what you’ll find on its surface, get ready for an adventure that will thrill you to the bone, with scuba diving in Pondicherry. 

Besides the golden beaches of this quaint Union Territory, scuba diving in Pondicherry takes you below the waves of the blue ocean, to the mysterious aquatic kingdom that lurks beneath. Long stretches of coral reef give you a look at the vibrantly coloured sea creatures that swim around in their natural habitat. Spot delicate, translucent jellyfish, lionfish, kingfish, moray eels, manta rays, and crustaceans as they navigate the unpredictable world underwater.

New to this thrilling water sport? Take up a course at one of the Dive Schools that dot the region. These professional divers will show you the ropes for safe and satisfying diving experiences. If you’re a skilled diver, scuba diving in Pondicherry will give you a chance to explore new, exciting dive sites on the coast of South India.  

Let’s dip into the hidden water world of Pondicherry! If you plan to go scuba diving in Pondicherry, here are a few things that you should know.

Depth: Up to 30 meters

Cost: ₹5,200 onwards

Difficulty: Beginner-Advanced

Water Visibility: 20 - 30 meters depending upon the weather

Right Time to Visit: Throughout the year except for monsoons

In Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry brings out its history through its European influenced culture, food and language. The region is easily recognizable thanks to its merrily painted French style villas in colors of cheerful marigold, orange, soothing blues and greens. Beachside cafés are another trademark of this lovely area, with spacious bohemian styled interiors quirkily mixed with a Parisian theme that serves delicious French pastries, fresh bread and authentic continental food. 

Instead of gazing at the elegant villas from the outside, the homestays in Pondicherry offers you the chance to live out your fantasy of staying inside these architectural marvels. The best part of Pondicherry is that it has different areas that can cater to a wide variety of tourists. Stay at White Town in one of the homestays in Pondicherry and spend your days walking through enchanting, winding French style lanes through the town. Looking for a more rustic stay to explore the traditional side of Tamil Nadu? The Tamil Quarter is filled with bustling flower markets, streets with ancient Franco-Tamil houses and a lively, upbeat atmosphere. 

If you're excited to stay at the beach, the homestays in Pondicherry are also located near the ocean and offer you beautiful views of the golden beaches, waving palms and grey-blue ripples on the water’s surface. 

Chennai the capital of Tamil Nadu is primarily known for its wealth of golden beaches, rich Tamil culture and hot, humid climate. But if you’re a rock-climber looking to conquer some beautiful rock formations, rock climbing in Chennai shouldn’t be off your list. The landscape around the city is rugged, promising an exhilarating rock climbing experience amidst lush greenery and deep blue skies. 

For a rock climber, making your way to the summit of majestic rocks is a test of fitness, skill and determination. Using your strength and agility to navigate up these natural beauties is a challenge for your body and mind. Rock climbing in Chennai is a fairly recent trend and is still in its early days but a variety of boulder problems and routes have been emerging in the crags around this coastal hub, largely due to the efforts of a budding, active group of enthusiastic climbers. 

Rock climbing in Chennai involves clambering up granite rock formations and bouldering dominates the climbing scene. However, taller routes are slowly being put up just a few kilometers out of the city and provide gorgeous vistas once you’re done with your climb. Because of this regions sweltering heat, the best time to go rock climbing is December to February. 

Get your climbing gear ready and read on to discover climbing hotspots in Chennai that will give you a satisfying rush of endorphins! 

Chennai, near the Bay of Bengal is a bustling coastal city hub and has been nicknamed the ‘Detroit of India’ thanks to its numerous automobile industries around the city. However, other than walking the winding roads of Chennai or spending the day at the beach, the outdoors of this bustling urban hub can soothe your heart and soul. From thickets of evergreen forests, craggy terrains and low-lying hills that offer a peek of the blue ocean waters in the distance, camping in Chennai can give you a bite of the richness of nature that Tamil Nadu has to offer. 

Spend a night under the stars with the trickling sound of waterfalls in the background at Nagalapuram. You can trek through the lovely forest trails or enjoy an outdoors picnic besides a bubbling stream. Camping in Chennai can also be done at the iconic Tada Falls, with refreshing rock pools at different points of the trekking routes to keep you going to the falls. If you’re ready for a road trip as you bop to your favorite summer songs, travel to Yercaud and take in the mesmerizing view of clouds touching the tips of the surrounding hills. 

Camping in Chennai isn’t complete without setting your tent besides the majestic dark swells of the Bay of Bengal and Mahabalipuram is a top spot that allows you to take in seaside vistas outside your chosen campsite. 

Pack up your trusty hiking boots, tent equipment and your camera as you set off on an adventure in the wild outdoors of Chennai! 

Located beside the Bay of Bengal, Chennai in Tamil Nadu is known for its long stretches of golden beaches, backwaters, gentle winding rivers and serene lakes that contrast sharply with the hustle and bustle of the city. If you have a passion for water sports, this coastal region draws you in with the promise of exhilarating experiences on the shores of South India as you explore the gleaming waters that border the city. 

Watersports in Chennai are still in its nascent stage as this capital is primarily a fishing and port city, and scuba diving is not conducted here. The large amount of fishing activities nearby makes the water cloudy and visibility is low, so this can make it hard to see the gorgeous ocean bed that lies beneath. However, watersports in Chennai finds its heart in Pondicherry just 165 km away. So if you’re up for a road trip, hop into a car or bus and drive down to this picturesque Union Territory that is home to spectacular dive sites such as Aravind’s Wall, Four Corners, Temple Reef and The Hole. 

If you’re still itching for watersports in Chennai that are being conducted closer than Pondicherry, don’t be discouraged just yet! Surfing has taken off thanks to a small group of surfing enthusiasts that are excited to ride atop the waves of the Bay of Bengal with you. If you’re new to surfing, you can take up one of the courses at the surfing schools in Covelong and also make friends with local surfers in the region. 

Give your love for water a brand new twist by dipping into a world of watersports!