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.
Bangalore to Pondicherry
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.