spiritual
Manakula Vinayagar Temple
300-year-old temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha, known for its elephant Lakshmi.
104 local picks
Attraction in Pondicherry
Photos, hours, videos and routing tips for every stop in the planner.
Showing 33 attraction stops
heritage
Auroville Visitor Centre
Main arrival hub for Auroville with exhibitions, a Matrimandir model, boutiques and cafes; issues Matrimandir passes.
nature
Botanical Garden
22-acre garden dating back to 1826, featuring rare plant species and musical fountains.
spiritual
Sri Aurobindo Ashram
Founded in 1926, this spiritual community attracts seekers from around the world.
spiritual
Sacred Heart Basilica
Gothic-style church built in the 1900s, featuring beautiful stained glass panels.
heritage
Puducherry Museum
Quaint museum known for its rare sculpture collection, including ancient bronze & stone artifacts.
heritage
Jawahar Toy Museum
Small free museum on the promenade displaying 120+ costume dolls from across Indian states.
nature
Bharathi Park (White Town)
Landscaped park featuring a Greco-Roman arch structure, plus flowers, a play area & fountains.
heritage
Aayi Mandapam
White Greco-Roman water monument from Napoleon III's era at the centre of Bharathi Park.
nature
Chunnambar Boat House
Backwater paradise offering boating experiences through mangrove forests.
spiritual
Immaculate Conception Cathedral
White-and-blue 18th-century cathedral, mother church of the Pondicherry-Cuddalore archdiocese.
adventure
Pondy Ocean Park
Adventure park near Paradise Beach with land and water activities, a funzone and mangrove boating.
adventure
Temple Adventures - Scuba Diving Experience Centre
Revered scuba diving center with beginner-friendly instructors, offering safe pool dives and open-water courses.
nature
Sadhana Forest
Volunteer-run reforestation and vegan eco-community offering free walk-in tours of its restored forest.
adventure
Pogo Land
Water park and amusement park with slides, pools and rides on Vazhudavoor Road near Ousteri Lake.
adventure
Urban Nomad Dive Adventures & Watersports
A popular sight in and around Pondicherry, Urban Nomad Dive Adventures & Watersports is often praised for: An Unforgettable, World-Class Diving Experience! I completed the Discover Scuba Diving course with Urban Nomad on May 20th, 2026, and the entire experience was nothing…
spiritual
Savitri Bhavan
Auroville study-and-art centre on Sri Aurobindo's epic Savitri, with a picture gallery and quiet amphitheatre.
spiritual
Our Lady of Angels Church
Baby-pink Greco-Roman church on Rue Dumas in White Town, one of Pondicherry's oldest.
heritage
Art and Craft Village
A witness to the cultural and artistic heritage of India, this venture was conceptualized in the vision of preserving and patronizing traditional Indian art and crafts while creating space for modern-day artistic expression.
heritage
Mahakavi Bharathiyar Memorial Centre
Museum in the former home of renowned writer & activist Mahakavi Bharathiyar, featuring historical artifacts & more.
heritage
Puducherry Science Centre & Planetarium
NCSM science centre with a digital planetarium, fun-science galleries and a kids' corner.
nature
Auroville Bird Park
Le Paradise D' Auro is a bird park and petting zoo open to visitors of all ages.
nature
Oussudu Lake (Ousteri Lake)
An important wetlands and migratory location home to over 200 species of birds. Popular destination for birdwatchers!
adventure
Kallialay Surf School
Long-running surf school at Serenity Beach offering lessons, board rentals and SUP for all levels.
heritage
Aurodhan Art Gallery
Long-running gallery in a heritage building showing contemporary, tribal and folk art plus cultural events.
heritage
Romain Rolland Library
Public library founded in 1827, one of India's oldest, holding rare French manuscripts in White Town.
spiritual
Bharat Nivas (Auroville)
Auroville's Pavilion of Indian culture, housing the SAWCHU hall and Kala Kendra art centre.
heritage
Tasmai a Centre for Art & Culture
A platform for contemporary visual art connecting Pondicherry with the world through art and culture understood in the widest and deepest sense.
heritage
Kizhoor Referendum Monument
Historic monument marking the independence of Pondicherry from the French and its merger with the Indian Union in 1962.
spiritual
Marbling Group
The marbling unit of Sti Aurobindo Ashram produces sarees, scarves, dupattas and many more items on pure silk or pure silk. chiffon
spiritual
Matrimandir (Auroville)
Geodesic dome cloaked in shimmering gold discs & featuring a tranquil, airy meditation sanctuary.
heritage
Old Lighthouse
Decommissioned 1836 French-era lighthouse tower on the seafront promenade near the Gandhi statue.