10 days ago I been to Pondy - Puducherry with my family from Bangalore.

310 kms from Bangalore MG road to Pondy.

Please avoid Krishnagiri to Thindivanam via Thiruvannamalai route. It is 160 kms and taken more than 5 hrs to pass that. Because road work is on that complete stretch. State highways and in worst condition. I hope it will be better only from 2014 Jan.

We stayed in Jayaram Residency.

Hotel Jayaram Residency cost you Rs.1900 (incl tax). A good hotel with excellent restaurant | Room service. Food is too good and very reasonably priced. We ordered Sevakai(soft Noodle type made in Idly batter) with sweet coconut milk for our kid. They served it in room and tasted fantastic. cost Rs.33 ONLY.

Rooms are spacious & one Mr. Loganathan - Manager, Front Desk very good in his service. Call to the hotel and book before leaving Bangalore.

They got us very good room in 3rd floor. Rooms are spacious and AC is good as well.

Best Car Parking.

Places to visit:

Morning: Aurobindo Ashram , Lord Ganesh | Vinayakar Temple

Which is next to Ashram

Afternoon: Auroville

Evening: Repo Beach - For whom like to play in water. Its a private area kind so better leave before dark.

But definitely fun place.

Gandhi statue - Its again beach side but you can only walk on the side of beach rocks.

Shopping: Pothys

Good place for buying cloths & Biggest showroom in TN & Pondy. Rates & sales are worth visiting. Women & Kids will like| enjoy their shopping here ( Impressive toys for kids - reasonable pricing) we visited this store twice in 2 days. Its in middle of city so you can drop anytime.

Restaurants:

Breakfast:

Hotel Jayaram Residency - Ac Hall & Great taste.

Lunch:

Hotel Karaikal - Opp. to Pothys

Hotel Kamakshi - Near Indra Gandhi statue

Dinner:

Hotel Jayaram for Veg

We went to Pondy first time and we used Google apps for road/route inside Pondy as well.

Note:

A week before our trip I checked with lots of hotels and plan to stay in FRENCH Styled hotels.

Those things are simply wasting your time and money. French style hotels charge you minimum 4.5k per day. And inside the room its all the same. When you are with kids & elders go for best place which provides you good food, service & shops near by.

I suggest for 2 night stay for family trip.

Pondy is a beautiful place & from Bangalore definitely worth going. But plan your stay & cost for more smiles in you :)