Formarly
a French colony which has settled in the early part of the 18th century.
Places of interest are Sri Aurobindo Ashram Auroville - the brain child of
the mother and designed by French Architect roger Anger, AuroVille was meant
to be an experiment in international living where man and women could live
in peace and progress harmony with each other above all creeds.
Sightseeing at Pondicherry :
Aurobindo Ashram : The main building encompasses 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 worth visiting at
the Ashram complex are the International Education Centre, guest houses,
libraries and the cottage industries.
Pondicherry Beach : The beaches are the best place to relax in
Pondicherry.The 1500 metre 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 monuments of historical significance on the beach. One is the 4m. tall
statue of Mahatma Gandhi and the other is the War Memorial, built by the
French in commemoration of the soldiers who died in the First World War. The
Light House which stands 29m. high is further down the beach and is over 150
years old.
Churches in Podicherry : There
are several of churches that are worthy of a visit. 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 exhibits 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.
Temples in Podicherry : There are many temples in Pondicherry that
were erected by the Cholas between the 10th and 12th centuries. Most of them
are dedicated to the local goddesses of the villages where they were built.
There are also quite a few temples dedicated to Lord Vinayaka or Ganapathy.
Auroville : It is about 10 km from the city centre. The place has
been converted into a lush green cover from a highly eroded area, by 25
years of sheer hard work. Auroville, at the moment, is formed of several
communities, scattered along the border of Pondicherry and Tamil Nadu.
Reaching
Pondicherry
Air : Nearest Airport - Madurai and Chennai.
Rail : nearest railhead are at Madras, Villupuram. Another way is to
take a train from Bangalore to Cuddalore.
Road : Cane be easily reach from any of the neighbouring states.
Pondicherry is best accessible by road from Chennai, Bangalore and even from
Kerala.
Best Season to Visit : Any time of the year.
STD/ISD Codes
if dialing from India to Pondicherry ---0413 (number)
if dialing from outside India to Pondicherry ++ 91- 413 (number)
Shopping in Podicherry
Pondicherry is a good place for shopping. Shopping at Pondicherry is very
rewarding with low taxes or non-existent. It is known for its traditional
doll-making and textiles and silks. Pondicherry is also the birthplace of
several world class brands in leather, pottery, aromatics, fashion and
handmade paper, which could be your best buys.
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 SUGGESTED
TOURS |
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South India :(09
Nights / 10 Days)
Madras / Mahabalipuram / Pondicherry / Tanjore / Trichy /
Madurai / Kovalam / Mumbai
Grand South
India Tours :(20 Nights - 21 Days)
Chennai - Mahabalipuram - Pondicherry - Thanjavur - Trichy -
Madurai - Periyar - Kovalam - Kumarakom - Cochin - Bangalore - Mysore -
Hassan - Halebid - Belur
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Pondicherry Attractions
