BFFs, Brunch & the Bay: A Girls' Weekend in Pondicherry

Somewhere between the chaos of adulthood and the calm of our daily routines, we all crave that one perfect escape. For me, it wasn’t just about travel—it was about recharging with the women who knew me before life got complicated.

I’ve always been a gals’ girl. I thrive in the company of my closest friends—the ones I can vent to, laugh with, or simply sit in silence alongside. Even though I enjoy my solitude, there’s a special kind of therapy in being around college buddies. The kind of friendships that don’t demand attention but still make your soul feel seen. Where else do you find such organic connections?

Though I travel often with my family, this time I longed for a carefree break—with no responsibilities except having fun with my girls. I floated the idea to my dear friend Kas, who immediately got it. Together, we began plotting. At first, it was just us two. But as Kas rightly pointed out, two people would run out of stories pretty fast. So, we reached out to more girls from college, and soon we were a team of 7—my lucky number 😊. Plans were made, the stay was booked, dates were locked, and the bags were packed. Pondicherry felt like the ideal meeting ground—with most friends coming from Chennai and others, like me, from farther places.

Friday – 25.07.2025: The Journey Begins

After wrapping up work early, I hit the road from Ooty to Pondicherry with Mr. R and baby R. We stopped at a quaint little cafe (which felt more like a brand studio than a restaurant) for dinner—roti and paneer butter masala hit the spot.

Post-Salem, we dozed off in the car for about 45 minutes and finally rolled into Pondicherry at 2:40 AM. What I didn’t realize then was that this would be the most sleep I'd get all weekend! 😅

Saturday – 26.07.2025: Let the Fun Begin

After a short rest, it was time to pick up K from Puducherry bus stand and go to Le Café—our official meetup spot. My family went off to play at the beach while K and I sipped coffee and caught up on life. Soon, the rest of our gang from Chennai arrived, and the excitement shot through the roof.

The Stay – Ta Cabana Beach House, Kottakuppam

Tucked away in peaceful Kottakuppam, Ta Cabana was a private 4BHK beach-facing villa we had all to ourselves. The moment we entered, it felt like we were back in our hostel days—booze in the fridge, music in the air, secrets in our hearts.

We each shared a never-told-before secret that brought waves of laughter and a few gasps. It was so comforting to see how in sync we all still were. We ordered lunch in, and by the time Pri joined us post-lunch, the stories were in full flow.

Beach Therapy

Step out of the villa—and there it was. The beach. Stretching endlessly, inviting us to just be. I ran upstairs, changed into my beach outfit, and took way too many pictures (no regrets). We played, we posed, and we basked in that golden glow.

Just as we returned, hot chai was waiting for us. Huge shoutout to Kas and Pinks for always having food ready—I literally didn’t have to think about meals all weekend!

Club Night – Gravity

We put on our best dresses, got glammed up, and Ms. V, my BFF, gave me a killer hairdo. After a mini photoshoot at the villa, we headed out to Gravity. It is an after-hours delight. Food was alright, drinks were a letdown, and the music? Stuck in one zone. We even tried requesting some English tracks—but no luck, the DJ wasn’t having it, but still we danced like no one was watching and let loose like we hadn’t in years.

Back at the villa, we changed into loungewear, poured some wine, and a wild round of a bingo-style game that had us laughing into the early hours. I crashed around 4 AM. Others? They partied till sunrise.

Sunday – 27.07.2025: Temple and Brunch

Running on little sleep, I woke around 9 AM, packed up, and joined a few friends—Vidhu, Kas, Pri, and Sangi—for a quick temple visit. It was serene and grounding.

🥂 Brunch at Coromandel Café

This was the cherry on top. Set in a French colonial building with a lush courtyard, Coromandel Café is where European elegance meets soul. We had a hearty brunch. The vibe was laid-back yet upscale, perfect for wrapping up a weekend of laughter and madness.

We even locked in the destination for our next girls’ trip right then and there.

K left for Bangalore, and the rest of us walked to Baker’s Street to grab some goodies for our families. One final hug, and our Chennai friends left. I reunited with my baby boy, who I had missed deeply. ❤️

Heading Home

We dropped Pri at Villupuram and started our journey back to Ooty. I edited all the trip photos on the go, grabbed a shack dinner in Erode, and—after two power naps in Annur and Burliyar—finally crashed into bed at 2:30 AM.

Tired. Sleep-deprived. Joy-filled. Soul-fed.

This trip reminded me that college friendships never expire—they age like fine wine. We may be scattered across cities and swamped with responsibilities, but one spontaneous trip, one group chat, and one dance floor is all it takes to bring it all back. To the 7 of us: here’s to more sunrises we stay up for, more secrets shared over chai, and more roads that lead us back to each other. ❤️