Puducherry

Puducherry is best approached as a practical destination archive rather than a checklist. Its value comes from connecting the principal sights with the surrounding landscape, transport pattern and local context.

What to see and understand

The core visit includes the French Quarter, Promenade, Tamil Quarter, Sri Aurobindo Ashram precinct, museums and nearby Auroville. Allow time to understand how these places relate to the city or region instead of crossing them off in isolation.

Planning the visit

Allow two days. The most comfortable general period is November to February, although seasonal conditions and festivals can change access, crowd levels and prices. Use walking or cycling in the heritage core. Auroville follows its own visitor procedures and needs separate planning.