Heritage State of South India
If you want to get into a spiritualistic mood visit the world famous Aurbindo Ashram and Auroville and be blessed with a lot of peace and goodness. And if you are looking for some lively activity and fun, what better way than attending the various fairs and festivals that are organized frequently. And if you still haven't had enough, you could go shopping in this shopper's paradise. This is Pondicherry for you. Pondicherry tourism is so dynamic that it has something to offer for everyone.
Pondicherry tourism highlights the trip to the serene beaches in and around Pondicherry. The town is also home to a lot of heritage buildings and monuments.
Pondicherry is also considered as the centre for Yoga and Meditation in South India. Yoga courses to suit the various tourists have been designed which makes it a very attractive. The Department of Tourism of Pondicherry organizes the annual French Food festival also called the Gourmet which is another attraction for the tourists. The Botanical Gardens of Pondicherry is extremely famous and is home to a lot of unusual specimens of plants.
PLACES OF INTEREST IN PONDICHERRY
AUROVILLE is located around eight km from Pondicherry and is a place that you should not miss while on a visit to Pondy.
Auroville is a township of universal essence. It has been conceived to accommodate people across 35 nations to ancient city in Tamil as well as Roman live as a community. It came into existence in 1968. The idea of this Utopian state was brought to the Mother several decades back, following which she gave her blessings to this noble task. The Government of India and later UNESCO welcomed the suggestion and encouraged it. Auroville is referred to as the city of Dawn. The city has been planned out neatly. It has been divided into several zones. At the very centre, there is the peace area consisting of the Matri Mandir, the gardens, the amphitheater with the urn and a lake.
Then comes the industrial zone which is directed at the creation of green industries meant to make the town self sufficient.This area includes the city's administration and other training centers. Residential Zone comes next which is the largest area among all zones. More than half of the area will be green area whereas the rest would be the built surface. Apart from this there is an international zone, a cultural zone and a Green Belt zone. The International zone is meant to host national and cultural pavilions. In the Cultural zone there are facilities for art and sports and other cultural activities. The city has been conceived to have a green belt surrounding it meant for organic farming, forest and wildlife areas etc have been planned. Such novel ideas like transformation of waste land into a dynamic ecosystem have been successfully implemented.
ARIKAMEDLI- One of the must visit places in Pondicherry is Arikamedu. Arikamedu is a great tourist spot as it has a lot of historical relevance. A lot of students arrive here on study tours periodically. It is located on the banks of the Ariyankuppam River about 4 km from Pondicherry. This place is remembered as a trade centres of the Romans a number of centuries back.
The place was excavated several times and it was concluded that this city was essentially into bead making and fishing and had trade relations with the Romans. A lot of excavated material shows sign of Roman presence here. There are coins, ceramics and other materials excavated here that show a clear Roman connection. Wine was supposed to have been imported whereas exports included textiles, glass, and so on. Chola coins have also been found here. The excavations brought into light several important findings of olden time. There have been references made of this literature. The findings of Arikamedu have been preserved in the Pondicherry museum for all to see.
A present day visitor is not likely to find any specimens of the excavated material. There are the perpendicular walls and the mission house which are the only remnants of the past. The trenches created by the excavations have been filled up. Now the place has a thick mango and coconut plantation. Tourists can take the river cruise which is about 20 minutes and enjoy the view of the Veerampattinam Beach, the Aryankuppam River and the lighthouse. The journey as well as the destination is equally beautiful. This trip down the river is bound to bring you closer to nature.
THE FRENCH HERITAGE - Pondicherry is synonymous with French Heritage in India and understandably so as it served as the capital of the French Colonies in India. The town was under French administration for centuries together and hence it is imperative that this place has a strong French feel in its architecture and monuments.
There are a lot of monuments here which speaks about the strong French presence. It includes the French built Children's park with a statue of Dupleix Marquis Joseph François.
The other monuments of French Heritage are the Maine building which houses the Puducherry Municipality, the Le Café which used to be the port office, The French war memorial in Goubert Avenue, The French consulate building, An abandoned light house, The Aayi Mandapam built during the time of Napoleon three and the Romain Rolland Library. Apart from these there are several churches and other monuments which are part of the French Heritage. The Church of our Lady of the Angels at Dumas Street and the statue of Joan of Arc at Dumas Street. Are other reminders of French influence.
The Streets and Roads of Pondicherry have a marked French influence. The Beach road which is part of the Pondicherry heritage is a classic example of French construction. Apart from these the various French learning institutes set up here are great reminders of the French Heritage in Pondicherry. This influence makes the place a pioneer in the field of fashion - be it in garments or home interiors. There are a lot of houses which are ancient and constructed in accordance with the French way of architecture.
A visitor to Pondicherry is bound to experience the style and elegance of the French influence that has been infused into the length and breadth of Pondicherry.
BOTANICAL GARDEN - A visit to Pondicherry is incomplete without making a trip to the Botanical Gardens. Pondicherry in general has a very fertile soil, which accounts for the greenery and vegetation around the place. It is little wonder then that the town boasts of one of the finest botanical gardens in the country.The Botanical Garden in Pondicherry is home to several species of rare and beautiful trees and plants.
The approach to the botanical gardens, which is in the heart of the city, is reminiscent of the French Architecture. The origin of the Botanical gardens dates back to 1826. A lot of exotic plant species were introduced by the French here and the garden itself is laid down in the French style. This place is bliss for nature lovers and is the best place to experience a lot of peace and calm.
The Garden serves as a nice getaway from the hustle and bustle of the everyday life. A lot of shady trees, beautiful flowers and the impressive layout of the park with pruned plants on paved roads help to create an with the spirited effort and commitment atmosphere of sheer visual extravaganza. Tourists and students on study tour flock the place.
This is an inseparable part of Pondicherry tourism. The Botanical Gardens in Pondicherry have also been provided with a musical fountain. Colorful musical fountain shows are conducted on weekends and holidays. It provides for a wonderful sensory experience.
CHUNNAMBAR RESORT - Chunnambar Resort is along the banks of Ariyankkupam River about 8 km away from Pondicherry. There is a beach in Chunnambar. The place has been developed as a major tourist Center. The place is a center for beach sports with its clean sands and clear waters. You could also catch a glimpse of playful dolphins.