Bangalore To Pondicherry Trip | A detailed guide

Pondicherry, now known as Puducherry, is on the southeast coast of India and is surrounded by the Bay of Bengal to the east and the state of Tamil Nadu, with which it shares most of its culture, heritage, and language. It is home to one of the cleanest beaches in India.

Travel Date: 10-Mar-2023 to 12-Mar-2023.   

No of Persons: 4 Adults and 3 Kids

Quick summary on cost

Travel: 14550 + 550 + 350 + 1600 (Cab Package + Toll + Night driving charges + State permits)

Hotel: Rs 4700 per night per room (Subjective to preference)

Parking: 50 + 70 + 100 (Eden beach + Paradise Beach + Matri Temple)

Food: ~2250 Per person (Subjective to preference; includes food cost during travel and stay)

Tickets: Paradise beach boat Rs 350/- per person (Includes shower room/changing room charges)

Beach facilities: Rs 20/- per person (Changing room charges)

Local shopping: Rs 500-1000/- per person (Souvenirs etc. Subjective to preference)

Total cost per person: ~ Rs 13500/- (Per adult, cost incurred on kids is distributed and added here)

Travel Expenses and Route

Route

Below is the route we followed from Bangalore to Pondicherry. We started from Hebbal, Bangalore and destination was Hotel Atithi, Heritage Town, Pondicherry.

The distance was about 325 Km and total time taken for journey was about 8 hours via cab. We took 2 breaks, one for breakfast for about 40 minutes and second one for 20 mins coffee break.

 

Travel Mode

We traveled via outstation cab. Amongst the ones we inquired, Deepam Cabs gave us the best deal.

Package details:

Car type: SUV (Toyota Innova)

Cost: INR 14550/- (for 3 days)

Included in package: 

• Fuel Cost
• Driver allowance (INR 350/- per day)
• Travel up to 900 Km. For extra kilometers clocked Rs15/Km. Our travel was covered within 900 Km no additional charges were incurred.

No Included in package:

• Toll charges. We paid about Rs 550/- toll.
• State Permit. 2 permits are required. Rs 850/- Tamil Nadu permit valid for 7 days. Rs 750/- for Pondicherry permit valid for 3 days.
• Parking charges.
• Night driving charges. Rs 350/- per night. If driver drives between 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. We paid night charges for last day when we were returning to Bangalore.
  

2 families traveled in this trip. 4 adults and 3 children and journey was quite comfortable. For smaller family you can take a sedan which will cost between 11000 and 12000.

Hotel Expenses

Click here for location.

Hotel Name: Hotel Atithi

Address: 126, Sardar Vallabhai Patel Salai, Heritage Town, Puducherry, 605001

Cost: Executive room Rs 18784/- for 2 rooms, 2 nights. Per room, per day should be about Rs 4700/- 

Executive Room At Hotel Atithi

Breakfast included with above price. Option to exclude breakfast is available and should be comparatively cheaper. However we suggest you to take breakfast. They have quite a few options and is worth the price.

 What will you find?

• A spacious room
• 2 water bottles per day
• Tea bags/coffee satchels
• Toiletries (refurbished daily)
• Electric kettle
• Fridge
• Cupboard with locker
• Study desk
• Center table 
• Sofa
• TV
• A well maintained Swimming pool  (Starts at 8 a.m.)
• Rooftop bar
• Restaurant beside lobby
• Gym
  

My experience with hotel

While the rooms were good. We were not happy with bathroom setup. No matter how much we tried the bathroom floor was always wet.

While the breakfast is must try. Food via room service was pathetic. 

• Lassi was spoil 
• Lime soda had no sugar in it
• No cutlery was sent with food

Although they did not charge us for these and issues were addressed promptly but it was repeated on both occasions and certainly did not leave a good impression.

There were also issues in billing someone else's charges were added to our bill. Again these were addressed without hassle but it did waste our time.

Though we did not try dinner buffet. Cost for it was Rs 800/-.

Overall I will rate it 3/5.

Trip Day 1

We started our trip at 6 am and reached by 2 pm. After having refreshments we headed out straight to Eden beach. After that we went to Rock Beach.

Eden beach is one of the cleanest beach in India. It had washroom and changing facilities (Rs 10 and 20 respectively). There are small food shops just towards the exit. All the shops sell almost same thing so you can visit any one. There are water sports also at the entrance. They are not at beach though. We did not try any of the rides. Life guards are present at the beach.

Eden Beach

 

Rock beach is fully developed with proper lighting. Since most of the beach is full of rocks you can bath in only some sections of it. Mahatma Gandhi Statue, Light house and the French War Memorial are just alongside rock beach. Most attractions in Pondicherry are near by Rock Beach. There is a good bakery "Baker Street" that you can try for French food.

 

Rock Beach

Near by rock beach there is a food market (Chat, Sweet corn etc). Almost every shop sells the same item.

There is also a Craft Bazaar where you can find Souvenirs. A lot of items are common to shops and we suggest you look in all shops before making a purchase. Some of the items were at 50% discounts in other shops. You can also bargain.

Trip Day 2

Next day we went to Paradise beach. To reach the beach you have to take a boat. The parking charge was Rs 70/- and boat charges were Rs 350/- per person. There are small shops at the beach for drinks etc. It had sheds cost of which is included in the ticket. Wash room and changing facility are there cost of which is included in the boat ticket. Personally we found facilities at Eden beach were lot better than Paradise beach. Life guards are present at the beach.

Paradise Beach

Then we went to Aurobindo Ashram. Where we have Samadhi. You can sit and meditate there. It is a quite place and toddlers are not allowed inside. They also require mobiles to be switched off during the visit. We spent about 15 minutes there. 

Aurobindo Ashram

We spent rest of the evening at Rock Beach.

Trip Day 3

Matri Mandir

The last day we went to Matri Mandir.  It is quite developed with shops restaurants and other facilities. The shops were quite expensive though.

We then headed back to Bangalore.

What could have been done better?

1. On the way to Pondicherry you will cross Tiruvannamalai which has a famous temple. We could not visit it as we started late from Pondicherry. You can leave Pondicherry by 12 p.m. and cover it as well. The temple closes by 5 p.m.

   

   Tiruvannamalai Temple

   
   
   
2. We could not go inside Matri Madir as we visited it on a Sunday. The temple is closed on Tuesday and Sunday. Please plan your visit accordingly. Visit their official site for more details.
3. There is a free bus ride from parking to Matri Mandir. We were not aware of that and had to walk 1.5 Km in a hot afternoon.
4. Visit Rock Beach before sunset. The view is better with sun over the sea.