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Pondicherry

Pondy as Pondicherry is fondly called has an exquisite range of hotels and resorts. All of them have a distinct class and cater to the domestic and international tourist needs. The eateries cater to multi cuisine tastes with the cuisines ranging from French, continental, oriental and so on. With its distinct French connection, it is but natural that Pondicherry is a center of fashion. There are a number of top quality boutiques, antique furniture galleries and the likes. Pondy is particularly attractive as it is extremely accessible from Chennai and serves as a preferred spot for conferences and conventions of corporate houses. Altogether it is a remarkable place to spend some of the most memorable moments of your life. Let us help you investigate the glory of this wonderful place through our site. Welcome to Pondicherry Travel. Reaching Pondicherry Nearest Airports Chennai Airport is the nearest Airport from Pondicherry. The Chennai airport is well connected with the major states and cities of the country. International flights are also available from here. The other airports which are near by are the airports at Bangalore and Madurai. Nearest Railway Stations Puducherry has a railway station, though there is not enough connectivity from there.Villipuram is the nearest railway stations which are well connected with towns like Chennai, Madurai and Trichy. By Road The most preferred mode of transport to Pondy is via road. The journey is about three to three and a half hours from Chennai. There are extremely efficient bus services on this route –both ordinary buses and deluxe buses. There are excellent cab services from Chennai as well. The roads are excellent from Chennai. Bus and cab services are also available from places like Thanjavur, Trichy, Chidambaram and Coimbatore History of Pondicherry Pondicherry has a glorious history. A lot of foreign rulers have been here including the Portuguese, the Dutch, the Danes, the English and the French. But out of all of them, the French have had the greatest influence with their rule spreading across centuries. According to mythology, it is said that Pondicherry was the abode of Sage Agasthya and the place was known as Vedapuri. It is believed that Pondy had trade relations with the Romans, proof of which is found in the excavations at Arikamedu which is 7 kms from Pondy. The town fell into the hands of the successive rulers of the place which includes the Pallavas, the Cholas and the Pandyas. In 1673 the French started their rule over Pondicherry and were involved with regular conflicts between the English over the possession of the place. The disputes were however settled over an agreement between the French and the British. Subsequently the place was returned to India PLACES TO VISIT Auroville 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 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. This novel town in the making is designed to accommodate 50,000 people across the world. The town underlines the strong purpose of recognizing human unity in diversity. This township in the making was officially inaugurated on 28th Feb 1968 wherein about 5000 people of different origin assembled here along with a little bit of soil from their homeland. This soil was mixed in a lotus shaped urn placed in the amphitheatre. In this ceremony, the Mother put forward the 4-point charter for the residents. 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 amphitheatre 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. 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 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. Beaches of Pondicherry One of the best beaches in South India lies in Pondicherry. These beaches in Pondicherry are extremely clean with clear waters and clean sands. To add to it the beaches are not very crowded. Maximum care has been given to highlight the beauty of these beaches with cafes and other eateries along with resorts and cottages for the visitors. These buildings are built in a way that it does not affect the calmness and the natural beauty of the beach. Serenity Beach is very much in the town and characterizes the essence of its name. It has a very calm and serene atmosphere and the sands and the waters are extremely neat and tidy. The Paradise Beach houses the famous Chunnamber resort and is on the Cuddalore main road. The highlight is that there is a creek flowing on one side. The beach is extremely attractive as the sands are very clean and the water crystal clear. The beach offers a lot of sports facilities and accommodation on treetop houses which is an added attraction. One can also catch a glimpse of the friendly dolphins. The Paradise beach or the Plage Paradiso is one of the most famous beaches of Pondicherry. The Promenade Beach and the monuments around speak of the rich heritage of Pondicherry. Some of the important monuments of the city are on the shores of this beautiful beach. They include the statues of Mahatma Gandhi, Joan of Arc and Dupleix, the War Memorial etc.A lot of information pertaining to Pondicherry can be acquired through the information centre which faces the beach. A proud beach named as Auroville beach due to its proximity to Auroville is located about 12 kms from the Pondicherry town. This beach is liked by all as it is extremely safe with shallow waters .It is an extremely serene beach. Temples in Puducherry Pondicherry has a mixed population with people belonging to various religions. The religions include Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. And hence understandably so, the place has a whole lot of places of worship for each faith. The number of Churches out numbers the other places of worship due to its French Heritage. Nevertheless the town has a fair number of temples here. Some of the noteworthy temples here include the three century old Manakula Vinayagar Koil dedicated to Ganesha, The Varadaraja Perumal temple which dates back to 600 AD and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, in the form of Varadaraja, TheVedhapureeswara Temple dedicated to Lord Siva, Kanniga Parameswari temple dedicated to Goddess Sakthi and famous for its blend of French and Tamil architecture and Kamatchiamman Temple dedicated to Durga and unique due to its stark features. All these temples are located within the town itself and hence can be easily accessed. Another famous temple of Sri Gokilambal Thirukameshwara Temple is located away from the town in a small town called Villianur. This temple has a Sivalingam and also has shrines of Murugan and Devi. The temple dates back to the Chola rule of the town. These temples are interesting in that it has the architectural features of the French and the Tamil style. Some of the rituals followed also have a French influence. The beauty of Pondicherry is that one can catch a glimpse of people and practices of various faiths. Pondicherry is said to have been the abode of the revered Sage Agasthya according to mythology and hence Hindus revere this place. The ceremonies in the temples are conducted with a lot of reverence, devotion and passion. Pondicherry Cuisine Pondicherry is a town that is an amalgamation of a lot of cultures. From being an ancient fishing town to being the capital of the French colonies, Pondicherry has come a long way. The cultural blend can be noticed in the cuisine of the place as well. Pondicherry has predominantly the Tamil cuisine – in its Vegetarian and non vegetarian dishes. The typical Tamil food like Dosas and Idlis are very popular among the locals and the tourists Similarly the Chettinad style of cooking mainly in the Non vegetarian preparations is loved by all The French influence in the town combined with the presence of a lot of French citizens has brought in a lot of French influences in the cuisine. There are a lot of restaurants and eateries specializing in the French cuisine. The influx of a lot of tourists in to this coastal and spiritual town necessitated the need for bringing about more variety in the cuisine. The present day Pondicherry offers a cuisine suited for all palettes. It has eateries that shell out dishes in the Oriental, Continental and other World cuisines. There are a huge number of restaurants and eateries to suit all palettes and budgets. These eateries have evolved with the kind of customers they get and leave no tourist disappointed with the variety of food they offer. Pondicherry Shopping Pondicherry is famous not only for its beaches and its historical monuments, but is also a shopper’s paradise. Shopping in Pondicherry is great value for money as the place is Octroi- free and hence the price is low. Some of the articles that are famous here are leather products, perfumed candles, pottery, jams and pickles and handmade paper. Pondicherry is also known for it doll making industry. Cute dolls are available at very cheap rates and give a distinct charm. They are often carries as mementoes from Pondicherry. Pondicherry is also known for its textile and silk industry .Yarns of beautiful silk and other textiles can purchased at low rates which adds to the attraction. The place has a lot of boutiques catering to interior furnishings, accessories and garments .It is a pleasure to shop for trendy and elegant garments from here. Aurbindo Ashram manufactures a lot of these shopping items. The textiles produced in Pondicherry include satin, twill, corduroy, poplin, chambray, oxford, cambric and linen. The Sunday market is the favorite for shoppers. Manufacture and sale of Khadi garments is also popular. The Favorite items of shoppers include Pondicherry Fashions from Auroville, Aromatics, and Décor items from village artisans, Antique furniture, European cuisine and French Bakery Items, Ashram mementoes, Ceramic tableware and décor items, art and handicraft items. Shopping forms part of the itenary of any tourist visiting here .It is a pleasure shopping here as it is easy to commute and shopkeepers are very warm and friendly. Months from December to February are particularly convenient to shop as the climate is very good then. For More Info Visit>>>>