Pondicherry Travel

Pondicherry India Travel Information

The name Pondicherry refers to the meaning of New Settlement. Pondicherry is an important travel destination of India. It was earlier a French occupied place covering Karaikal, Mahe, and Yanam besides Pondicherry. One interesting fact about Pondicherry is that it touches several states. While the place of Karaikal is in Tamil Nadu, Mahe is in Kerala and Yanam in Andhra Pradesh.

Situated 200 kms far from the southern part of Chennai, Pondicherry is today an important union territory of India where then French influence is clearly visible in its culture and architecture. But the interesting facts about Pondicherry is that, it came to the lime light with the Aurobindo ashram founded by the great political revolutioner Aurobindo Ghosh in 1920. Established as a place for peace and harmonious living, the ashram has of late become the nests of thousands of tourists who come to have peace of mind in the serene atmosphere.

The Portuguese were believed to first occupy the place in the 16th century followed by then Danes and the French came in 1673. Before the French came Pondicherry was just a fishing and weaving community. There are to be seen the French quaters along the sea and the forts built thereafter.
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Major Travel Attractions of Pondicherry

Aurobindo Ashram: Home to some of the excellent collections of art and architecture is an important travel attraction of Pondicherry, the Aurobindo ashram was founded in the year in 1920 upon the arrival of Sri Auobindo. It was he who turned the ashram in to a place of peaceful habitat. The ashram was even run for a good amount of time by his French friend Mirra Alfassa, known all over the world a Mother. In the ashram there are no rituals, obligatory practices and systematic instructions to follow. The functional departments look after the community and its basic needs. Today the ashram houses the samadhi of Ghosh as well as Mother.

Pondicherry Museum: The museum is situated in the Goverment Park and holds a good sculpture gallery and a section of archaeological findings from the settlements at the particular place of Arikamedu. The museum is entirely devoted with a French section that displays the old heritages of the colonial powers of the French. There is still preserved the superb collection of the four poster bed of Dupleix, one of the colonial rulers. Snail shell from the region are too laid out for the visitors.

Promenade: To the north of the town is to be found a beach swaying with the long trees by its side. It is a lovely spot for the bike rides in the evening which can be reached within 15 minutes from the center of the town. It has a 1.5 km long promenade which is one of the most exciting attraction of the city. One can always have the experience of swimming, strolling and there is also the statue of Mahatma, the father of the nation surrounded by the monolithic pillars with a war memorial.

Bharthidasan Memorial Museum: The memorial museum is located nearby the Eswaran Koil Streets, where the Tamil poet lived after reaching this very land in the year 1908. The Museum was given its name by Kanakasubburatnam,a disciple of Bharti and it is considered as the second most important pilgrimage in the place.

Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus: The Church built in the Gothic style is massive in its form and portrays the legendary style of the French who ruled this place as their colonial powers. It is counted among the most beautiful churches in Pondicherry.
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Nearby Travel Attractions of Pondicherry

Chidambaram: The Popular Temple town is situated in Tamil Nadu at a distance of 58 km from the place of Pondicherry. Chidambaram houses the famous temple complex where including the rest, the most fascinated Nataraja Temple is among the prime attractions. Every year during the festival seasons especially in Mahashivratri, the Natyanjali Dance festival is celebrated with great festivity.

Shoppings

Pondicherry is famous for the traditional doll-making as well as textiles and silks. Pondicherry is also the inventor of good quality brands in leather, pottery, aromatics, fashion and handmade paper. Tourist can pick any of the items at lower prices and take home as memory to the visit.

Accommodation at Pondicherry India

Some of the great places to stay in during the tour of Pondicherry are the 3 Star hotel Ashok, hotel Annamalai International, and the hotel de L’orient. All these hotel provide an excellent, relaxed atmosphere with cuisines of different tastes, better room service and laundry as well.

How to Reach Pondicherry

By Air: The nearest airport from Pondicherry is situated at Chennai 162 km far. From Chennai , international flights are available to any destinations in the world.
By Rail: Connected through a meter gauge railway line with Villupuram, only one station is there at Villianur. Tourist has to come to Chennai to take broad gauge trains to any destinations of India.
By Road: Pondicherry is well connected to most of the major towns of southern India by road. Pondicherry and Chennai is directly linked through an excellent road service.