Puducherry is one of the best places in Tamil Nadu to shop for something different. In a single day you can browse Auroville’s handmade products, colonial-style antique furniture in the French Quarter, and the busy local markets of the town centre. Here is where to go and what to look for.

Auroville: handmade and sustainable

Auroville, about 10 km north of Puducherry town, is known for products made by its units and local artisans: handmade paper, incense, candles, natural soaps and oils, pottery, clothing, leather goods and organic food. The easiest place to start is the Visitor Centre, which has several shops, including the Auroville boutiques that stock goods from many Auroville units. Combine your shopping with a visit to see the Matrimandir from the viewing point. In Puducherry town, shops such as La Boutique d’Auroville also sell Auroville products.

Antique and colonial furniture

Puducherry’s French and Tamil heritage makes it a well-known place for antique and colonial-style furniture: teak four-poster beds, carved doors, consoles, chests, old brass lamps and pottery. Long-running shops in the French Quarter, such as Curio Centre on Romain Rolland Street and Geethanjali, display large collections of restored pieces, and more antique and old-furniture dealers line the East Coast Road around Kottakuppam, on the way to Auroville.

  • Ask about age and origin. Many pieces are reproductions or restored; good dealers will tell you honestly.
  • Ask about shipping. Larger shops can usually arrange packing and delivery across India.
  • Take photos and measurements of the space at home before you buy furniture.

Town centre and markets

  • Mission Street and Jawaharlal Nehru Street (MG Road area): textiles, sarees, footwear and everyday shopping.
  • Goubert Market (Big Market): the busy main market for fruit, vegetables, flowers and spices.
  • Sunday Market on MG Road: a long street market with clothes, books, household items and bargains.
  • White Town boutiques: handloom clothing, home décor, handmade paper and cafés in the French Quarter.

What to buy in Pondicherry

  • Handmade paper, notebooks and incense
  • Pottery and terracotta
  • Handloom cotton clothing and block prints
  • Natural soaps, oils and candles from Auroville
  • Small antique pieces such as brass lamps, boxes and doors

Tips

  • Many shops in Auroville and White Town close for a long lunch break and some close one day a week, so plan your shopping in the morning or late afternoon.
  • Fixed prices are normal in boutiques; at markets, polite bargaining is fine.
  • Carry a cloth bag and some cash, although UPI is widely accepted.

Plan the rest of your day with our Pondicherry beach and Auroville day plan and the temples in Pondicherry guide.

Where to stay

Meena’s Guest Home is a private room with an attached bathroom in a quiet gated community in Pathukannu, near Ousteri Lake, with air conditioning, Wi-Fi and free parking. See our homestay in Puducherry or check free dates and book directly.

Shop timings, weekly holidays and prices change. Please check locally before you go.

Photo: iMahesh, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.