How to reach Pondicherry

Mustard-coloured colonial houses, serene beaches and streets lined with trees best describe Pondicherry, fondly referred to as Pondy. This Union Territory town is a favourite holiday destination for all those in search of peace and tranquillity. Reaching Pondicherry is not a hassle as the place is well connected with other major Indian cities by a network of flights, trains and buses. The Chennai airport and Villupuram railway station are the nearest aerodrome and railhead serving the city, respectively. There are a number of Bangalore to Pondicherry trains plying frequently and available easily. For those travelling from nearby neighbouring cities can take state or private buses to reach Pondicherry.

By air: Connecting Pondicherry with other parts of the country by air is the Chennai International Airport. One of the busiest airports in the country, Chennai airport is about 150 km away from Pondicherry and is well linked with not only prime Indian cities but also with international destinations. Flights operated by Jet Airways, SpiceJet and IndiGo connect Chennai with Indian cities, New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Pune and Visakhapatnam, among others. International carriers such as AirAsia, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Oman Air and Lufthansa have regular flights for Chennai from Kuala Lumpur, London, Hong Kong, Muscat and Frankfurt, to list a few. Once travellers reach the airport, they can hire taxis to reach Pondicherry.

By road:
One of the most cost-effective and convenient ways of reaching Pondicherry is via well-maintained motorable roads. A number of state and private buses ply at frequent intervals from most South Indian cities including Chennai (170 km), Bangalore (375 km), Coimbatore (380 km) and Mahabalipuram (100 km). Those travelling from Chennai are in for a visual treat as the East Coast Road (ECR) leading to Pondicherry is an extremely picturesque highway, having sand dunes one side and the sea on the other. Besides, there are several Bangalore to Pondicherry bus and Chennai to Pondicherry bus available at regular intervals.
By train:
Villupuram Junction railway station, just 37 km away, is the closest railhead to Pondicherry. The railway station is well linked to places like Chennai, Trichy and Madurai via an extensive rail network. After reaching the railway station, travellers can easily avail of buses and taxis service, which are easily available and extremely comfortable. The trains from Bangalore to Pondicherry are available on a regular basis and take around 9 to 10 hours.