Chennai To Pondicherry Road Trip

Planning for a charming road trip in the South? Well, Chennai to Pondicherry might be one of the best routes for you. The union territory of Pondicherry has it all: serene, peaceful beaches and some interesting history to explore.

Best Time To Visit

Considering the coastal beaches, the best time to visit Pondicherry is between September to February. Another option is to visit during festive seasons like Pongal, Christmas, etc. which brings liveliness to the town with celebrations bells.

Places To Eat

Here is a list of places on the way that serve you mouth-watering food:

1. Kipling Cafe- Located around 30-40 kilometres from Chennai, it is an ideal place for couples to have candle light dinner or just spend some time together. The place is famous for its kebabs.
2. Shiraz Art Cafe- This restaurant is a great choice for indulging in Parsi cuisine.
3. Aadyar Anand Bhavan- Around 120-130 kms from Chennai, this is a haven for quintessential vegetarian South Indian food.

Route

You can reach Pondicherry from Chennai by below three routes.

1. NH32 - The journey through NH-32 will clock around 170 km for you.
2. NH48- It is another option to reach Pondicherry by road. Distance with this route extends to 204 km.

What To Eat And Stopovers

Mahabalipuram is the best stopover for trying delicious eateries and satisfy your taste buds on this trip. The place offers you authentic seafood as well as other delectable vegetarian and non-vegetarian delicacies.

Reaching There And Places To Visit

You can reach Pondicherry within 3.5 to 4 hours by taking any of the above routes. The must visit places of this trip are on your way as well as at Pondicherry too.

Places To Visit In Route Through ECR

1. Mahabalipuram – If you are a history buff, this place is a must-visit. You’ll not want to miss the temples and monuments built by the Pallava dynasty.
2. DakshinaChitra Heritage Museum- It is an open air living history museum located in Muttukadu and dedicated to South Indian Heritage & Culture.
3. Cholamandal Artists’ Village- This is the largest artists’ commune in India. Their artists are credited for the Madras Movement of Art, which brought modernism to art in South India.
4. Crocodile Park - It is a zoo comprising crocodiles and other reptiles located in Mahabalipuram.
5. Muttukadu Boat House- If you’ve always wanted to do rowing, wind surfing, water skiing, or speedboat riding, this place is surely worth trying.
6. Alemparai Fort- This is a fascinating monument to visit. It has an interesting history that you’ll surely want to explore.

Places To Visit After Reaching Pondicherry

1. Sri Aurobindo Ashram- It is arguably India’s most popular spiritual community. There are more than 400 buildings across Pondicherry where Ashramites live.
2. Botanical Garden- It is a garden built by French colonists on 22 acres with themed plots, an aquarium & train rides.

Points To Note While Planning The Trip (Car/Two-Wheeler)

Getting your car or bike serviced is highly recommended before heading onto any kind of road trip. Ensure that tires have optimal pressure. If you are planning to drive during the rainy seasons, you should check whether your car wipers are in a working condition. Most importantly make sure that you have your bike insurance policy  or car insurance policy to cover your back.

Diesel/Petrol Pumps

You don’t need to worry about fuel. You will get plenty of Diesel/Petrol Pumps with best amenities on your way.

Overnight Halts If Any

Since it is a fairly short road trip, one doesn’t need to stay overnight. However if you are feeling uneasy and wish to rest, then you can consider Mahabalipuram as it is exactly in the middle of the journey.

Distance/Altitude Change Graph

The ideal distance of this trip is 160-175 km. In summer one can expect high humidity.

Stay And Eat With Other Eating Places

Purple Lakeview & Elite-Inn are among the best places to stay and eat at Mahabalipuram.

Mobile Connectivity

You may not find issues with mobile connectivity in Chennai or Pondicherry. However in some parts of the routes between these two cities, connectivity may be poor.

ATM’s

You will find many ATMs on this route as well as in cities for all the leading banks.

Mechanics

As this route is highly popular, there is ample availability of mechanics on the go. Having your own kit is a plus.

Medical Facilities

On the way, you’ll find several medical centres. There is a Government Primary Health Care Centre in Edaikazhinadu which is around 90-100 km from Chennai.

Electricity

You may face some power shortage issues. Plan your stay at a decent place that has a power generator as a backup. It is advisable to take a charged up power bank along.

Tool Kit

Your basic travel toolkit should include a screw driver, a crescent wrench, a socket set, pliers, wire dykes, duct tapes, tire plugs, a tire plug tool, & tire plug cement. Remember to carry a spare tyre too. This should be enough for your Chennai to Pondicherry Road trip.

Read more about: Chennai to Munnar Road Trip

Article Author: Sham Srinivas

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