Getting Around
Pondicherry is a rather small city. The city is shaped like an egg, with a boulevard running around the city. The east side faces the sea. The bus station is at about two kilometers from the sea-front. The city has been designed using a grid-like system, with crossroads at at every fifty meters or so. This makes navigating around the city rather simple.
The best way to see the city is either on foot or on a two-wheeler. Cars are a bit hard to navigate, and often parking isn't too easy to find. Bicycles, geared motorcycles, and scooters are available on rent. These are quite popular. It's quite possible that the hotel or guest house you are put up at has these on offer. Else here are some businesses that are into renting these vehicles. You will be required to furnish some identification proof in the form of a driver's license or a passport and give a refundable advance payment of a few hundred rupees at the time of registration.
For city-dwellers on holiday in Pondicherry I would suggest you try out the bicycle option, especially if you are visiting during winter. It's the most popular mode of transportation in the city. It's great fun and very easy on the wallet as well. Just make sure the bicycle you rent is in good shape, has a working lock, and tires are pumped with air.
Alternatively you can rent a taxi to get around the city. You will probably want this if you are living at a resort outside of the city or visiting Auroville and don't have a car of your own. During summers it can get pretty warm so you might want to take an air-conditioned taxi car. The car option also gives you a bit of mobility to see places near the city , like Mahabalipuram, which is at about 100 kms from Pondicherry.