I was walking along the beach in Pondicherry as the sun came up… there were not many tourists around, the weather wasn’t too warm, there weren’t monsoon rains… and I was thinking why don’t more travelers visit Pondicherry in August?

Pondicherry in August: The things to do and see, and places to stay –

Weather: It’s hot but the mornings and evenings are nice.

If it’s too hot: Check out the beaches, swimming pools, or the local water park. You could go surfing or scuba diving.
If it’s raining: Check out an air-conditioned cafe or shopping center like the Providence Mall.
For nightlife: There are some nice rooftop places like La Aqua with great cocktails if it’s not raining. Toxic Bar has a rooftop bar with good drink prices. Le Cafe is a simple coffee and espresso place but it’s on the beach.

For places to stay: Choose a place with air-conditioning and a nice pool to stay cool. The Hotel Atithi, the Hotel La Royal Park and the Thamarai Resort are some options.

Those are my quick recommendations, but below I dove deeper into the weather, things to do, places to stay, and more. I hope sharing all these details can help you plan out a trip to Pondicherry in August that you can be talking about for years to come…

Table of Contents

Weather in Pondicherry in August

Average Temperatures in Pondicherry. *Source: en.climate-data.org*

	Temp [Min]	Temp [Avg]	Temp [Max]	Rain (mm)
January	69 °F (20 °C)	76 °F (25 °C)	83 °F (28 °C)	32
February	70 °F (21 °C)	77 °F (25 °C)	85 °F (30 °C)	9
March	73 °F (23 °C)	81 °F (27 °C)	89 °F (32 °C)	9
April	78 °F (26 °C)	81 °F (26 °C)	92 °F (34 °C)	18
May	81 °F (27 °C)	89 °F (32 °C)	98 °F (36 °C)	50
June	81 °F (27 °C)	90 °F (32 °C)	99 °F (37 °C)	45
July	79 °F (26 °C)	87 °F (31 °C)	96 °F (36 °C)	82
August	*78 °F (25 °C)*	*86 °F (30 °C)*	*95 °F (35 °C)*	*154 (6 in)*
September	77 °F (25 °C)	85 °F (30 °C)	93 °F (34 °C)	114
October	75 °F (24 °C)	82 °F (28 °C)	89 °F (32 °F)	229
November	73 °F (23 °C)	79 °F (26 °C)	85 °F (29 °C)	285
December	70 °F (21 °C)	77 °F (25 °C)	83 °F (28 °C)	144

The weather in August is NOT the ideal weather to visit Pondicherry. But it has benefits.

You will experience some rain. Pondicherry gets over 6 inches of rain in August, which I was surprised to see.

Average Rainfall. *Source: en.climate-data.org*

For comparison, here are the wettest months in other popular cities:

Austin, Texas (where I’m from): 5 inches (127 mm)

NYC: 4.5 inches (114 mm)
LA: 4 inches (101 mm)
Seattle: 6 inches (154)

London: Less than 3 inches (76 mm)
Paris: 2.56 inches (65 mm)
Moscow: 3.5 inches (89 mm)

Vancouver: 7.8 inches (198 mm)
Delhi: 10 inches (254 mm)
Goa: 39 inches (990 mm)

I was in Pondicherry for most of August and it did rain some of the time, but it never rained for the entire day. I never remember wanting to go out and being stuck inside because it was raining. I do remember it raining at night. It also rained at some random times for a few hours and I’d just stay inside.

It will be cloudy at times. These days were my favorite because the temperature drops significantly.

It will be humid. This can be tough because at around 9 or 10 am most mornings, the sweat will start to pour if I’m walking around and exploring.

Most mornings are beautiful. Between 6:30 am and 9 or 10 am, I would explore and it was nice. It is warm, but I came from Texas so I am used to warm weather. It’s probably in the 80s °F (high 20s °C) most mornings.

Most evenings are beautiful. After 4 pm, as the sun is getting close to setting so you can explore again as the temperature drops. It’d be the perfect time to get cocktails at a rooftop restaurant or bar overlooking the ocean. Or go for a bike ride along the beach. Or have tea at a chill shady spot somewhere in Auroville.

The nights are a nice temperature, although there is a higher chance of rain. If you’re wanting to check out the nightlife in Pondicherry, you can find some nice bars and restaurants. The temperatures will be moderate, however, you might run into the occasional heavy rainstorm.

The sea breezes help. The breeze of the ocean does cut the hot temperatures significantly. I’m not sure where they measured those average temperatures but it seems a few degrees cooler by the ocean, especially if you’re in the shade.

The shady trees help in Auroville. If you head to the nearby experimental town of Auroville, you will find yourself in a thick jungle. There are plenty of cafes to waste away an afternoon in. You may not realize it but the area used to be a blazingly-hot desert, and through hard work, the residents and volunteers reforested the area over 50 years. Now it is significantly cooler and a nice place to spend some time.

Since the weather is NOT ideal, you will face fewer crowds. You can more easily get a table at a restaurant, or stand in a shorter line to see a museum or art gallery, or wait less for that chocolate croissant.

Things to Do in Pondicherry in August: Popular Attractions

These things are always fun to do, then below we’ll look at some specific things you can do even if it’s hot or raining.

Promenade Beach

Check out the beach in the morning. You can see the third-largest Gandhi Statue, get a cappuccino overlooking the water at Le Cafe, or walk out along the pier.

Before 9 am, they close the beach road to cars, so it’s nice and quiet. Runners, walkers, meditators and more are enjoying the start to a new day.

There are a number of things to check out as you walk, starting on the south end…

The Old Port Dock: You can walk out along the pier and get some good views, photos and sea breezes.
Joseph Francois Dupleix Statue: He was a Governer-General of India for France. Interesting fact: His parents sent him to India to be a merchant and to curb his inclination to dabble in science, haha.

Joan of Arc Park: You may not realize it’s her, because her statue is facing away from the beach, but you can see the back of Joan of Arc from the beach.
Le Cafe: It’s open 24 hours and serves espresso and cappuccino and cafe au laits overlooking the water, what more do you need to know? It’s not a fine dining experience, it’s more of a decent tourist spot, but I enjoyed myself one quiet morning.
French Soldiers Memorial: A tribute to the Indian soldiers who died in the French army during World War I.

Gandhi Statue: At 13 feet it’s the third-largest statue in the world. The pillars surrounding him are granite and come from the nearby Gingee Fort (known as Troy of the East).
Kargil War Memorial: A tribute to Indian soldiers who died in the conflict with Pakistan in the war of Kargil.

If that’s not enough for you, check out the fishing village. You can find it as Beach Rd veers inland towards the north end, continue along the beach there is a dirt road. Follow that road (there is a wall on your right as you head north then it stops and you can see the beach again) and you’ll come to a smaller fishing village. You’ll cross a bridge, see some fishing boats and some villagers who’ve lived here for centuries.

Sri Aurobindo Ashram

I was there are 8 am and there was a line queueing to get some of that spiritual enlightenment 🤓

You can come in to see where Sri Aurobindo, The Mother and their followers have devoted themselves to spiritual work for decades.

The Mother and Sri Aurobindo’s samadhi (tomb) is there. There is an art gallery with over 2500 works, group meditations are held, and there’s a library. Here’s the schedule…

Hours: 8 AM – Noon; 2 PM – 6 PM
Meditations: Weds & Friday in the Samadhi Courtyard – 7:30 PM – 8 PM; Thurs & Sunday in the Ashram Playground – 7:45 PM – 8:15 PM.
Art Gallery: 9 AM – 11 AM; 3 PM – 4 PM.

Library: 7:30 – 11:30 AM; 2 PM – 4:45 PM

Manakula Vinayagar Temple (Ganesh Temple)

Who doesn’t love Ganesh, the Hindu god with an elephant head, he removes obstacles so is often prayed to when someone is starting something new like… going to school, starting a business, or taking a trip to India.

This temple is big and popular.

There are some beautiful Ganesh sculptures in the architecture, but I thought the mural on the ceiling was striking. I wouldn’t exactly put it on the same scale as the Sistine Chapel of India, but it’s beautiful and colorful. It actually looks a bit like the Last Supper painting, except Ganesh is in the place of Jesus.

INTERESTING TIP: Come meet Lakshmi, the temple elephant and she will bless you. Some have said her conditions are not well though 🙁

Things To Do When it’s Hot?

Pondicherry Beach India Boy Swimming Hot

Pondicherry in August can get pretty hot during the mid-part of the day. I was chilling in a shady cafe or in A/C during this time. If you’re wanting to stay cool, here are some options that are NOT terribly boring…

Go to One of the Beaches for a Swim

Pondicherry has more beaches than just the Promenade Beach which does NOT allow swimming. You can head to one of the swimmer-friendly beaches and stay cool even as the temperature starts to climb.

Paradise Island Beach

It’s about 5 miles from Pondicherry and you need to take a ferry to get there, but when you arrive you will be happy you made the trip.

The beaches are clean, sandy and worthy of swimming.

LOCAL TIP: The ferry leaves every 20 minutes, but there is often a line and it takes a while to reach the destination. If you want to get there fast, you can hire a private speed boat to avoid the hassle and get more beach time.

If you don’t just want to swim and soak up the sun, you can find volleyball and some activities for the kids.

There are some restaurants and food and water for sale.

LOCAL TIP: Pack enough water and food though, because, like any island, the prices are much higher here. Save your money for a nice dinner back in Pondicherry.

Serenity Beach

About a 20-minute taxi ride north of the city is Serenity Beach. You can swim at this beach as well, and it has some trees for shade. It’s a popular surf beach for beginners and experienced gnarly dudes, haha.

The Kallialay Surf School: This school is run by a couple of Spanish guys who were passionate about surfing and decided to teach others and make it their business back in 2009.

Group Lesson (90 minutes): 1500 RS
5 Day Course (5 x 90 minutes): 7100 RS
7 Day Course (7 x 90 minutes): 9800 RS

10 Day Course (10 x 90 minutes): 14000 RS
15 Day Course (15 x 90 minutes): 20500 RS
Private Lessons (1 hour): 2000 RS

For pure beauty, this beach is not at the level of Paradise Island Beach. There is some fishing nearby so depending on the tide, you may have some fishy smells.

It’s worth checking out though and you may like it better than Paradise Island Beach because it is cheaper and less touristy. If you want to go shopping or go to a restaurant there are more options nearby.

Go Scuba Diving

Pondicherry is the only place to go scuba diving on India’s East Coast, and there are over 20 dive sites ranging from as shallow as 15 feet (~5 meters) to 120 feet (~40 meters). A local company can show you how to do it. If you like it, you can even get a certification here.

Some of the dive sites in Pondicherry are:

Temple Reef: An artificial reef with a wreck of a car, truck, and a bike. There are also many fish and it’s at a depth of 12 meters.
Coral Shark Reef (there are only a few killer great white shark so have no fear, I’m sure you will be safe 😉)

Aravind’s Wall: It’s about 40 m deep for experienced divers only. But you could see manta rays along a rock wall that goes for over a mile.
Four Corners: It’s a reef with many fish and coral to check out. The depth is 18 meters. You may see dolphins here.
The Hole: For experienced divers, it’s 30 meters and there’s a reef with a hole that looks like it extends into the center of the earth. Eek!

Temple Adventures is one company that gets good reviews.

Beginner Scuba Diving – 2 Days, Scuba Diving in Ocean, Breakfast and Snacks, with Photos: 7900 RS
Open Water Course – 4 Days, 5 Pool Sessions, 4 Open Water Dives, Equipment Rental is included: 26,500 RS

If you’re already certified the rates are better:

Guided Dive for Certified Divers – 2 Dives with Breakfast and Snacks: 5000 RS
Equipment Rental: 1000 RS

Go To Sampoorna Amusement Park Pogo Land

Bring your kids or relive your childhood here. There’s a water park that can keep you cool even when it’s getting hot.

Here are some of the 39 rides and attractions:

Wave Pool: Perfect for a hot day.

Tube Ride
Swimming Pool
Kids Swimming Pool

Water Slide
Bungee Jump
Trillium Theatre

Dolphin Motor Bike
Bumper Cars
Train Ride

Cost: 400 RS for Adults. 300 RS for Kids.
Hours: 10 AM – 6 PM
Address: Vazhudavur Rd, Ousteri, Pathukannu, Puducherry – 605110

Things To Do While It’s Raining?

Bon Bakes: Cafe with A/C

Come for some iced cappuccino. Stay to chill in the A/C. It has big windows so if you get a window seat you can watch the town roll by in the heat.

Let’s check out the cold drinks and the coffee:

Iced Americano: 70 RS

Iced Cappuccino: 70 RS
Iced Mocha: 80 RS
Cafe Frappe: 110 RS

Choco Frappe: 110 RS
Caramel Frappe: 110 RS
Irish Frappe: 130 RS

Hazelnut Frappe: 130 RS
Mojito: 90 RS
Smoothies (ask for flavors): 90 RS

Milkshakes (Chocolate, Strawberry, Vanilla): 80 RS
Espresso: 50 RS
Macchiatto: 50 RS

Americano: 60 RS
Cappuccino: 60 RS
Cafe Latte: 60 RS

Red Eye: 70 RS
Cafe Macchiatto: 70 RS
Irish Latte: 110 RS

Choco Latte: 110 RS
Hazelnut Latte: 110 RS

It’s a bakery but they have other food options as well.

Hot Pot (served with soup roll or soup sticks) – Tomato, Minestrone, Cream of Vegetable, Cream of Mushroom, Cream of Chicken: 80 RS
Cheese & Garlic Bread Toast: 110 RS
Chicken Tikka Grilled Sandwich: 170 RS

Basil Tomato & Cheese Grilled Sandwich: 140 RS
Vegetable Burger: 130 RS
Egg Burger: 130 RS

Chicken Burger: 150 RS
Double Chicken Burger: 190 RS
Jumbo Burger with Chicken and Egg: 190 RS

Chicken Hotdog: 130 RS
Pizza – Cheese & Tomato: 190 RS
Pizza – Onion, Mushroom & Paneer: 330 RS

Pizza – Chicken Sausage: 290 RS
Pizza – Chicken Hawaiian Pizza: 340 RS
Pesto Pasta: 250 RS

Chicken Pesto Pasta: 270 RS

Villa Shanti: Restaurant with A/C

Villa Shanti is one of the most popular and highly rated restaurants in Pondicherry. For a nice breakfast or lunch, Villa Shanti has cool A/C and some delicious food.

The average price: 750 RS per person

Let’s check out the coffee and drinks:

Espresso: 100 RS
Cappuccino: 150 RS

Filter Coffee: 90 RS
Cafe Latte: 150 RS
Cafe Frappe: 150 RS

Snow Cafe Mocca: 185 RS
Cold Coffee: 190 RS

For breakfast, these look good:

South Indian Style – Idly with sambhar and two chutneys. Or dosa or uttapam or poori or stuff paratha. Comes with fruit, curd and fruit juice: 350 RS
French Style – Fresh fruit, fruit juice, French baguette, viennoiseries and homemade jabs, French butter. Eggs (plain, scrambled, boiled, poached, masala, cheese, bacon omelette) with potatoes. Coffee: 450 RS

LOCAL TIP: The grilled fish risotto is highly recommended for dinner.

Many people love the white decor and beautiful presentation of the food. If you want to have breakfast, lunch or a nice dinner, this could be a good spot.

Hours: Noon – 2:30 PM; 7 PM – 10:30 PM
Address: 14 Suffren Street, White Town

La Misson Cafe: Cafe with A/C

This is a simple, down-to-earth cafe with good A/C and great coffee. You’ll spend about $2.50 on average per person here.

For coffee and drinks, let’s see what’s good:

Buma Devi coffee (South Indian style): 35 RS
Kaapi Mittai – espresso over condensed milk: 70 RS
Cafe au lait: 90 RS
Cafe Cortado: 55 RS
Caffe Latte: 70 RS
Cappuccino: 80 RS
French press coffee: 70 RS
Espresso – Single shot: 65 RS
Espresso – Double shot: 95 RS
Espresso – Americano: 75 RS
Cold coffee: 100 RS
Caffe Shakerato: 90 RS
Iceberg Coffee (cold coffee with ice cream): 130 Rs
Chai: 35 RS
Masala Chai: 65 RS
Ginger Chai: 65 RS

They also have some sweets, paninis and sandwiches, as well as fruit juices and other traditional cold drinks.

Hours: 6:30 AM – 9 PM
Address: 178/180 Mission Street, MG Road

Go To Providence Mall

Providence Mall is a four-story shopping centre that is a cool place to spend a few hours shopping.

The main attraction is the cinema on the top floor you can find a premium movie theater. They have all the snacks you could want and spices for your popcorn. They only show movies in Tamil though, no English subtitles either 🙁

There are some cool shops to check out, and even some USA brands:

Levi’s: Get yo’ jeans!
Skechers: Shoes and clothing
Max: Reminds me of the clothes at shops like TJ Maxx
Reliance Digital: Electronics
Big Bazaar: Reminds me of JC Pennys
Lenskart: Glasses
SHiNE Apple Authorized Store: Get your iPhone fixed

There are some fast-food restaurants too:

KFC
McDonald’s
Then other mall restaurants with Indian foods, reminds me of any mall in the USA. You have your juice shop, desserts, North Indian, South Indian and more.

Things To Do at Night?

After the sun goes down, the temperature drops and if it’s not raining, then there are many places you can enjoy some late-night tea, cocktails or dancing.

Of course, Pondicherry does NOT have the wild crazy options for nightlife that you will find in Goa or Bangalore or other major cities. But if you want a chill night out with friends, then you will find some options.

The alcohol prices are lower than many places because Pondicherry keeps the taxes at a minimum to encourage tourism.

Here are some cool places…

Le Cafe: Oceanside Cafe for Coffee

This is the cafe right on Promenade Beach. It’s open 24 hours, so whether you want to get coffee to end your day listening to the waves or after you had some cocktails get some coffee or food to settle down, this is a good option.

Note: They do NOT serve alcohol.

I loved the espresso drinks and masala chai, of course, and had a great time enjoying them while staring off at the ocean. Here are some options:

Masala Chai (for true Chai Nomads 🤓)
Organic Coffee
Espresso
Cafe Cortado
Cafe au Lait
Cappuccino
Caffe Latte
Cold Coffee
Organic Tea
Chamomile Tea
Mint Tea
Ginger Chai
Saffron Lemon
Hot Chocolate
Cold Chocolate
Fresh Juice
Lassi
Lemonade
Kombucha

You can also get some snacks like:

Samosas
French Fries
French Quiche Pizza***
Grilled Sandwich
Fruit Salad with Curd
Indian Puff
French Pastries

Keep in mind the food is NOT 5-star quality, Gordon Ramsey might have a fit if he tried eating here, but it is GOOD FOOD and what you’d expect at a place with a lot of tourists.

Hours: Open 24 hours
Address: Right on the beach by the Gandhi Statue.

L’ Aqua: Upscale Bar with Ocean Views

This is a trendy bar that a lot of tourists visit. It has a rooftop seating so you can enjoy your drinks will looking off into the Bay of Bengal. They do serve food as well, but the focus is more on the drinks and it has more of a bar atmosphere.

If you want a cocktail to wind down the day or rev up the night, try these:

Glass of White or Red Wine: 299 RS
Bottle of White or Red Wine: 1199 RS
Corona: 299 RS
Heineken: 179 RS
Budweiser (‘Murica 🥳): 169 RS
Carlsberg: 169 RS
Tuborg: 169 RS
Budweiser Magnum: 179 RS
Jack Daniel: 369 RS
Johnnie Walker Red Label (30 ml): 369 RS
Johnnie Walker Black Label (30 ml): 369 RS
Barcadi Rum (30 ml): 79 RS
Smirnoff Vodka (30 ml): 99 RS
Absolut Vodka (30 ml): 299 RS
Imported Tequila (shot): 149 RS
Cosmopolitan: 299 RS
Tom Collins: 299 RS
Mai Tai: 299 RS
Moscow Mule: 299 RS
Bloody Mary: 299 RS
Margarita: 299 RS
Long Island Iced Tea: 299 RS

They have mocktails as well, if you do not drink:

Watermelon Margarita: 199 RS
Mountain Mojito: 199 RS
Pineapple Cobbler: 199 RS
Cantaloupe Twist: 199 RS
Rosemary Blueberry Smash: 199 RS
Ginger Peach Soda: 199 RS

There is also indoor seating if it is raining!

Hours: 11 AM – 11 PM
Address: Ajanta Sea View, Goubert Avenue in White Town

Toxic: Rooftop Bar with Good Drink Prices

Toxic is another rooftop bar in Heritage Town, a bit further from the ocean. It’s at the top of the Hotel Atithi and is more a bit more budget-friendly than L’ Aqua.

If you’re looking for an imported liquors, check out these options and prices:

Cognac – VSOP: 1200 RS
Cognac – VS: 700 RS
Whisky – Tennesse: 500 RS
Whisky – Single Malt: 650 RS
Scotch Regular: 400 RS
Scotch Premium: 600 RS
Vodka – Imported: 550 RS
Gin – Imported: 400 RS
Tequila – Imported: 400 RS
Beer – Regular (650 ml): 250 RS
Beer – Premium (355 ml): 350 RS

For liquor or beer from India, the prices are much better:

Whisky – Regular: 140 RS
Whisky – Premium: 240 RS
Whisky – Deluxe: 360 RS
Rum – Regular: 120 RS
Rum – Premium: 150 RS
Brandy – Regular: 145 RS
Brandy – Premium: 220 RS
Brandy – Deluxe: 300 RS
Vodka – Regular: 125 RS
Vodka – Premium: 145 RS
Gin – Regular: 145 RS
Beer – Regular (650 ml): 165 RS
Beer – Premium (650 ml): 220 RS
Beer – Regular (Pint): 110 RS
Beer – Premium (Pint): 130 RS
Breezers (275 ml): 160 RS
White / Red / Rose Wine (Bottle): 1600 RS
White / Red / Rose Wine (Glass): 450 RS
Sparkling Wine (Bottle): 2200 RS

They have some cool cocktails that sound sweet and refreshing, check these out:

Toxic – House Specialty Drink (3 white liquors with Coke and lime juice): 400 RS
Scorpion Killer (Vodka with Blue Curacao + Lemonade and Crushed Ice): 400 RS
Alaska (Vodka, Litchi juice, Lime + Soda): 400 RS
Tahitian Snail (Tropical drink with White and Dark Rum, Pineapple Juice + Orange Syrup): 400 RS
Caribbean Dreams (Lime Juice, Pineapple Juice, Orange Juice + Rum on top): 400 RS
Spider Bite (Chili Vodka + Homemade Sweet & Sour Mix): 400 RS

Hours: 7 PM – 11 PM
Address: Hotel Athithi, 126 SV Patel Salai, Heritage Town

Best Hotels to Stay Cool

If you’re staying in Pondicherry in August, you may prefer to stay in a hotel with strong air-conditioning and a swimming pool, like I did.

Here are some of the best lodging for people who want to stay cool…

Hotel Le Royal Park

Hotel Le Royal Park is an upscale hotel with a big blue pool that’s shaped like a kidney bean.

It’s close to the beach, but not too close that you won’t pay as high prices.

Here are the details about the Hotel Le Royal Park:

Swimming pool in the courtyard.
Air-conditioning
4 restaurants: Indian, Chinese and international
Fitness center
Spa
Free WiFi
24-hour room service
Business center
1 mile from Sri Aurobindo Ashram
Less than 2 miles from train station
Some rooms have pool views
Locking safe
Hot water supply
Coffee and tea kettle and supplies in room
Library on site
Meeting and banquet rooms
Book tours
Luggage storage
Laundry services
Currency exchange
English speaking staff

Cost = $54 USD (3880 RS) for 2 adults and 1 double bed [Check the updated price on Booking.com here]

Hotel Atithi

Another nice hotel with a big pool in Pondicherry is the Hotel Atithi. It’s also about 1 mile from the beach in a central location.

Here are the details about the Hotel Atithi:

Big pool on the roof. Swim and look at views of the city.
Air-conditioning
Free WiFi
2 restaurants: Indian and international food
Free Parking
Wood furniture
Flat-screen TVs
Mini-refrigerator
Hot showers
Fitness center
Currency exchange
English speaking staff
Toxic bar is on top of roof

Cost = $79 USD (5676 RS) for 1 night for 2 people with 1 double bed. [Check the updated price on Booking.com here]

Tharamai Resort

For a more budget experience, just outside of Pondicherry, check out the Tharamai Resort. In a 10 minute drive, you can be downtown Pondicherry, yet here you’re surrounded by coconut forests.

The pool is hilarious too, it’s shaped like a violin.

Here are the details about the Thamarai Resort:

Big swimming pool shaped like a violin
Strong air-conditioning
Double Bed
TV (no channels)
Power backup
Restaurant on site
Playground on site
Patio on rooms
Free WiFi

Cost = $10 USD (768 RS) for 1 night for 2 people with 1 double bed. [Check the price on Oyo here]

VIDEO REVIEW: I did a Youtube breakdown of this hotel, if you want to check it out.

Festivals in August in Pondicherry

There are a number of festivals happening to party down with the locals and tourists alike…

Eid al-Adha

Eid al-Adha is the most significant celebration for Muslims. It’s called the Feast of Sacrifice and goes by many names… Bakr-id, Grand Eid, Id-ul-Zuha and more.

It lasts 4 days and is celebrated among Muslims throughout the whole world. But about 6% of Pondicherry’s population is Muslim, and with a population of 1.2 million people, that means about 75,000 people are going to be celebrating in Pondicherry.

This day celebrates Abraham’s (Ibrahim) agreement to perform the will of God by sacrificing his son. During the ceremony, they will duplicate Abraham’s sacrifice by killing their own cow or goat. Then they will have a big dinner, eating one third, sharing one third with family, and donating one third to those in need.

Many will offer other forms of donation to charity.

Date: 10th day of the Muslim month of Zul-Hijja. This year it fell in August but it could vary from year to year.

Fete De Pondicherry

It’s the local festival to celebrate the independence of India (Aug 15) and the liberation of Pondicherry from France (Aug 16).

Many people go to the public event space near the Gandhi Statue on Promenade Beach to hear live music, dance and sing. There are also parades and people dress up and play drums in the streets.

Dates: August 15 and 16
Place: Gandhi Thidal space near the Gandhi Statue

Veerampattinam Car Festival

Veerampattinam is a fishing village ~5 miles from Pondicherry, and this celebration is an offering of respect for Amman, the god though to ensure good fishing throughout the year.

Many people from Tamil Nadu will descend on this village wearing bright masks and crowd the streets playing music and dancing.

It goes for 6 days. It begins with the Governor of Pondicherry kicking off the celebration and will pull the temple car through the street (hence the name). Then 100s of devotees join in and pull the temple car.

Why are they pulling the car? It goes back to the French colonial days. The British were trying to invade the city the local fisherman helped to drive them away. When the French asked what they could do show their appreciation, the locals wanted them to help them pull the car every year as a custom in respect to a local god.

Date: August 18
Place: Veerampattinam, 5 miles south of Pondicherry

Mexican Food Fest

The Promenade is hosting a Mexican Food Festival with a range of foods. Tacos, enchiladas, nachos… I lived in Texas for years and I miss Mexican food, since I used to eat it almost every day.

Dates: Aug 26 – Sept 6
Times: 2 – 3 pm; 7 – 11 pm
Place: The Promenade hotel, 23 Goubert Ave.

Events in August in Pondicherry

August has a number of big events to celebrate, so if you’re here join in on the fun.

Aadi Amavasai

It’s a new moon day. The Tamil culture celebrates this and the other new moon day.

Aadi Amavasai is celebrated with food offerings to ancestors, prayers and poojas. In the Hindu religion, this time is good for prayer because it will reach dead ancestors quickly. These rituals are meant to free the souls of your ancestors, bless your children, release your negative karma, bring you happiness and success, and more.

Some of the rituals are meant to be performed with water, which is why Pondicherry is a natural place to celebrate. People will clean themselves, then perform a ritual called the Tarpanam ritual.

Dates: In the Tamil month of Aadi, usually falls in mid-July to mid-August

India’s Independence Day

It’s the big day for India! Prepare for parades and fireworks and kids riding home from school carrying mini-versions of the Indian flag.

Most businesses and shops will close. TV stations will show patriotic movies and news programs about politics. People will decorate homes and temples with lights on a string.

The President always “Addresses the Nation” the night before, then the Prime Minister will give an inspirational speech at the Red Fort in Delhi.

In Pondicherry, the celebrations and parades are in the evening and the city is very quiet in the morning.

Date: August 15

Sri Aurobindo’s Birthday

He’s a local spiritual leader with a popular ashram in town. He past away in 1950, but the Sri Aurobindo Ashram is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city.

Auroville is a nearby town of 3000 residents was also built in his name.

He developed a spiritual practice that has gained popularity in the West as well, called Integral Yoga. He was also a prolific writer and wrote many books about his teachings and correspondence with students. He was one of the first Indian authors to write in English.

The Life Divine is his most popular book.

You can join 1000s of followers who will celebrate at the Ashram for a darshan (meeting with a holy person).

Date: August 15
Place: Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Marine Street and Koil Street in White Town

De Jure Transfer Day

It’s also known as Liberation Day, the day Pondicherry joined India as a Union Territory and was liberated from France’s rule.

There’s a big statue of an old chief minister of Pondicherry and freedom fighter Edouard Guobert that everyone will put garlands on. It’s right near the Bharathi Park in White Town, not far from the beach.

Date: August 16

What to Wear in Pondicherry in August?

The locals wear long pants and long cotton shirts all year round. I wore shorts and a merino wool t-shirt. The t-shirt is great, it breathes, it’s anti-bacterial so I can wear it multiple days without any odor, and I can wash in my sink at night… it’s dry by morning.

You would want a hat to keep the sun off.

Best Time to Visit Pondicherry?

The most popular time to visit Pondicherry is January. December through March is also popular. Monsoon season is October and November so you will see a lot of rain at this time, but the temperatures are the most mild.

Pondicherry in April?

Traveling to Pondicherry in April could be a good idea, depending on what you are looking for. The temperatures are NOT as hot as in August. But they are in the same area, so you would want to do most of your exploring in the morning and evening.

Then head to the beach or swimming pool. Or check out air-conditioned cafe or shopping mall like the Providence Mall.

There is much less rain in April than in August, so it seems like a better time to visit than August. Therefore you will also see more tourists.

Pondicherry in August: A +5000-Word Travel Guide