A 7-Day Itinerary for Pondicherry

1. Day 1: Auroville
   20 minutes (7.8 km) from central Pondicherry

   Explore the futuristic utopian community with beautiful gardens, viewpoints and cafes.

2. Day 2: Sri Aurobindo Ashram
   7 minutes (2.2 km) from Auroville

   Visit the ashram founded by Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, a unique spiritual centre with a serene atmosphere and a world-famous handmade paper unit.

3. Day 3: Cafes and Shopping
   11 minutes (3.5 km) from Sri Aurobindo Ashram

   Take a stroll down Rue Romain Rolland and enjoy the French influences, boutique shopping, and vibrant street life. Grab a coffee at Le Cafe.

4. Day 4: Paradise Beach
   28 minutes (8.6 km) from central Pondicherry

   Relax on a beautiful, unspoilt, quiet and uncommercialised beach with beach shacks, sunbeds and parasols for rent.

5. Day 5: Puducherry Museum and Botanical Garden
   13 minutes (3.7 km) from Paradise Beach

   Explore the rich cultural and religious heritage of Pondicherry with artefacts, sculptures and paintings. Relax in the lush greenery of the Botanical garden nearby.

6. Day 6: Mahabalipuram
   90 minutes (60 km) from central Pondicherry

   Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Mahabalipuram, with Incredibly detailed sculptures and temples by the sea, plus local seafood and shopping options.

7. Day 7: Scuba diving and Snorkelling
   30 minutes (10 km) from central Pondicherry

   Go deep-sea diving in the Bay of Bengal, with beautiful and diverse marine life such as eagle rays, pufferfish and sea snakes on offer.

Time and Costs Estimates

• Auroville (2-4 hours, Free Entry)
• Sri Aurobindo Ashram (1 hour, Free Entry)
• Cafes and Shopping (2-3 hours, Cultural shopping!)
• Paradise Beach (4-6 hours, INR 20 entrance fee)
• Puducherry Museum and Botanical Garden (2-3 hours, INR 10-20 Ticket Fee)
• Mahabalipuram (5-6 hours, INR 40 entry fee for Indians)
• Scuba diving and Snorkelling (2 hours, INR 1000 to 1500 per head approx.)
Total Estimated Costs: INR 2000-2500 approx. (excluding meals and accommodation).

Useful Tips:

The itinerary can be flexible based on personal interests and time available. Consider taking a bicycle ride around the city or renting a scooter for convenience. You can also explore the nearby town of Auroville with a number of interesting and colourful places to visit.