Travel Point India takes you on tour to Pondicherry, situated on the Coromandel Coast, at about 160 kms south of Chennai.It is touched by the Bay of Bengal on the east and on the other three sides by the South Arcot District of Tamil Nadu. Pondicherry comprises the towns of Karaikal, on the east coast; Mahe, which is situated on the Malabar Coast, Yanam, situated in the adjoining east.
Being a small and quiet enclave of Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry has imbibed the Tamilian culture. Apart from the charming atmosphere, excellent restaurants, and cheap beer, what attracts most travelers to Pondicherry is the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and its offshoot. The ashram, founded by Sri Aurobindo in the year 1926, has brought international reputation to this coastal town. The ashram, the spiritual tenets of which combine yoga and modern science is quite popular within India and abroad. Come with Travel Point India to get the best on your tour to Pondicherry.
Places of Visit:
Aurobindo Ashram: The main building comprises the houses of Shri Aurobindo and The Mother, Mirra Alfassa, a French woman who accepted Aurobindo as her spiritual mentor and guide and later became his most important disciple. In the courtyard are the samadhis of Aurobindo and The Mother where their mortal remains have been enshrined. The other places of interest in the Ashram complex are the International Education Centre, guesthouses, libraries and the cottage industries. You can visit the Aurobindo Ashram on your tour to Pondicherry.
Beach: The beaches at Pondicherry are one of the best places to spend time while on tour to Pondicherry India. The 1500-meter long beach that borders the town on the eastern side is clean and is an ideal place for swimming and sun bathing. There are two. The tall statue of Mahatma Gandhi and the War Memorial are the two monuments of historical importance situated on the beach. The Light House, which stands 29m. high is further down the beach and is over 150 years old.
French Institute: The French Institute is situated on Dumas street. You can visit this internationally acclaimed institute on your travel to Pondicherry. The renowned French Indologist Dr. J. Fillozet established it in 1995. The institute has separate sections on science, technology, ecology, cartography, pedagogy, Indian languages and culture. The Romain Rolland Library has a collection of over 60,000 books, some of which are rare French volumes. The institute conducts research in arts and sciences and is perhaps the only permanent link with France in Pondicherry.The institute forms one of the most important places to visit on your tour to Pondicherry.
Churches: On your tour to Pondicherry there are a number of churches that are worth visiting. One of the most beautiful is the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus located on South Boulevard. It is built in the Gothic style and has three stained glass panels in a corridor behind the altar, which depicts the life of Christ. The Eglise de Notre Dame des Anges on Rue Dumas was built in 1865. The church has an oil painting of Our Lady of Assumption that was donated by Napoleon III. The Eglise de Notre Dame de Lourdes situated in Villiyanur on the outskirts of Pondicherry is built on the same pattern as the Basilica at Lourdes in France. On this tour you can also enjoy the church festival conducted in June every year.
Temples: Pondicherry tour would also take you to the temples in Pondicherry built in the 10th and 12th centuries by Cholas. Most of these temples are dedicated to the local goddesses of the villages where they were constructed. There are also quite a few temples dedicated to Lord Vinayaka or Ganapathy. The Varadaraja temple, built sometime in the 12th century, has inscriptions, which tell of a Sanskrit university that existed at Thirubhuvanam. The Manakula Vinayaka temple is also very popular with both the locals and visitors for it is believed that Lord Ganapathy, the presiding deity, favours his devotees with success in whatever they do.
Auroville: While on tour to Pondicherry you can also take a nearby tour to the city of Auroville.The city is popularly known as the city of dawn, designed by the French architect Roger Arger and started as an experimental commune where people of all nationalities irrespective of caste, creed or religion would live together in harmony. About 550 people from different countries live in the 40 settlements of Auroville. Exploring the area on a bicycle will make your tour to Pondicherry more exciting.
Surrounded by lakes and gardens, the sphere shaped Matri Information Centre at Promesse is the first stop on your Pondicherry tour. It is a 25-hectare farm and orchard where organic agriculture has been practiced successfully. The produce is used in the kitchens of Auroville as well as the Ashram in Pondicherry. Among the settlements that attract tourists most are Fraternity and Harmonie, which are the art and handicraft, centers. A boutique at Harmonie displays jewellery, hand-made paper and incense among other handicraft items.
Travel tips: Travel to Pondicherry by the nearest airport situated at Chennai, located 135-km from the city. The Pondicherry Express connects Pondicherry with a meter gauge link with Chennai via Villupuram, which is 36 km. from the city. Pondicherry has a good network of roads, which connects it with most of South India.Samadhi of Shri Aurobindo Ghosh, The Beach Road, Marie, French Institute, Ecole Francaise, Raj Niwas, Rue Dumas Street, Government Square, Auroville, Nehru Street, Duplex and the Botanical Gardens. On this tour you can also enjoy the hot and humid climate of Pondicherry with
temperatures ranging between 26 and 38°C. During this time it is mostly dry with a blue sky. The main rainy season is in November-January and the 'small' monsoon in July-September relieves Pondy from the summer heat with light showers. Best time to visit Pondicherry is in the months of September to March.
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