Our plan for the day was jam-packed with exciting places to visit. In the morning, we set out to explore Serenity Beach, Maitri Mandir at the Auroville, and The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church at noon. For our beach adventure in the evening, we planned to explore Pondi Marina Beach and a nearby viewpoint.
To make the most of our morning, we booked a car to cover all the planned spots. During our first stop at the Serenity Beach, Mihir faced a hiccup. While climbing rocks for a better view, he got stuck halfway due to a back muscle pull. After a quick massage and some muscle relaxant medicine, we managed to continue with our plan.
Serenity Beach is known for water sports and surfing activities. Despite not being the cleanest beach, it was overall good. Unfortunately, we couldn’t spend much time there due to Mihir’s pain.
Next on our list was Auroville. The cab dropped us off at the parking, and from there, we had to walk to reach the Visitors Centre. En route, we had coconut water from a refreshment store, which was also selling nimbu pani/soda, packaged food, and drinks. After spending 30 minutes watching a documentary on Auroville, Maitri Mandir, and its model, we began our walk towards the Maitri Mandir viewpoint. The walk was scenic but tiring, especially under the scorching sun. Unfortunately, it was closed for inside chamber visits, but we enjoyed the viewpoint. White returning, we opted for the minibus ride over walking.
Check the timings, holidays, and passes on Auroville’s official website https://auroville.org/. If you have time, planning a stay in Auroville can be a unique experience, and volunteering in their workshops/learning centers is another way to get involved.
Our next stop was the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on South Boulevard. It was prayer time, and many devotees were present. Yuven enjoyed watching beautiful birds in cages at the back of the church. After this, we returned to our hotel for lunch and some much-needed rest before our evening exploration.
In the evening, we opted for the two-wheeler to visit Pondi Marina Beach and a nearby viewpoint. The beach was quite crowded, so we strolled around and headed to the viewpoint made of big rocks. Waves splashed on the rocks, creating a beautiful scene. We spent some time there, clicked pictures, and originally planned to have dinner at Pondi Marina Arcade. However, it was crowded with loud music, so we returned to our favorite place, The Promenade, and this time explored the Aurobindo Ashram side.
We discovered a newly opened restaurant, ‘The Spot,’ and decided to try it. It turned out to be a perfect spot for a delightful evening with good food, service, and ambiance. After dinner, we walked along Promenade, had ice cream from GMT (Gelateria Montecatini Terme), and headed back to our hotel, calling it a day full of memorable adventures.
This article is now featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Pondicherry.
Read about our experience on day 2 in Pondicherry…
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