Best time
October to March is the season, with warm days and cool evenings for the promenade and the cafes. April to June is hot and humid; July to September brings short showers and the lowest rates, and the town is at its quietest.
- November to February, 20 to 30°C: The season: warm days, cool evenings on the Promenade, calm sea.
- March to June, 28 to 38°C: Hot and humid; mornings and evenings outdoors, afternoons in the cafes.
- October to November, 24 to 32°C: The north-east monsoon, a rough sea and the lowest rates of the year.
What to pack
Light cotton and sandals; it is warm and humid all year. Something to cover shoulders for the ashram and the Matrimandir, sunscreen for the beach, and a light rain jacket in October and November.
Getting there
Pondicherry is 160 km from Chennai, three to four hours on the East Coast Road, which is one of the best drives in the south and why the group trips leave Chennai early. Buses run every 30 minutes from Koyambedu.
Pondicherry is about 320 km from Bangalore, six hours by road through Tiruvannamalai, so the fixed-date departures travel overnight on Friday. Trains run to Villupuram, 35 km away, with a short drive on.
Pondicherry is about 800 km from Hyderabad, so the group trips travel by train or overnight bus to Chennai or Villupuram and drive the last stretch on the East Coast Road. A flight to Chennai and a three-hour drive is the fastest route.