Pondicherry

A city of southeast India on the Bay of Bengal south-southwest of Chennai (Madras). It consists of four former French coastal settlements whose administration was transferred to India in 1954. Population: 220,000. Pondicherry is located at 162 Kms south of Chennai, the capital of Talmilnadu and 22 kms north of Cuddalore, the capital of South Arcot District of Tamilnadu. Pondicherry is surrounded by Bay of Bengal on East, and on the other sides are the South Arcot District of Tamilnadu. Government Puducherry museum The Puducherry Museum is located on Saint Louis Street and is open on all days except Mondays and national holidays between 1000-1700 hrs. It has a collection of rare bronzes and stone sculptures from the Pallava and Chola periods and artifacts excavated from Arikamedu (an ancient port just 7 kms from city that had trade links with the Roman empires). The Foyer and Courtyard have various stone statues and a fossilized tree trunk. On the ground floor, one can see 3 different and interesting transport systems - a coach, a palanquin (sedan chair) and a pousse-pousse (an earlier version of the rickshaw, which required two attendants, one to steer and one to push). The bronze gallery displays the images of gods and goddesses together with a wide collection of antique temple lamps. Pre-Christian relics which you will find here, such as remnants of Greek and Roman jars, pieces from the Tsung Periods in China and beads made from glass and precious stones were dug out from the Arikamedu site, just on the outskirts of Puducherry. The museum also has a Geology room, a shell and fossil room and a collection of handicrafts, coins, church relics and French furniture.

Bharathi park
The park located in the heart of Puducherry, is one of the most beautiful spots with its lush green vegetation and shady trees providing succor from the harsh Puducherry sun. Besides the beautiful Aayi Mandapam in the centre of the park, there are a number of smaller surprises that greet you as you walk around, like the exquisitely carved granite pillars and stone carvings of various mythological characters. The park is also surrounded by interesting heritage buildings. Not just the park, but the area around it also evolved slowly. "Normally, European squares have all the important buildings around them, so does the Bharathi Park. The Government General Hospital came up in 1853, the Assembly in 1962 (earlier it housed a tribunal and a medical college) and other buildings such as the Raj Nivas, UCO Bank and Chamber de Commerce surround the park. As for the Ayi Mandapam , only after the French faced a water crisis, they went in search of water and then the monument came into being.

Arikamedu
Around Pondicherry A 20 kilometer drive from Pondicherry takes you to Arekamedu. The place has historical significance and recent excavations at some sites have unearthed Roman coins and wine jars establishing it to be the earliest Indo-Roman trading centre (around 2nd century AD). The Mailam Murugan Temple is 50 kilometers away from the town of Pondicherry. Devotees flock to the Murugan temple situated on the hillock during the Panguni Uthhiram festival held in March-April every year. The Ousteri Lake is about 15 kilometers from Pondicherry and is a popular picnic spot on the Pondicherry-Villupuram route. Tiruvakkarai is India's first National Fossil-Wood Park. Large fossil bearing trees lie scattered on low mounds and stream sections and date back to the Cretaceous Age (100 million years ago). The Chandramouliswara Temple, a monument of great architectural grandeur dating back to the Chola period, is an added attraction.

Auroville
Auroville is located around 8 kilometers northwest of Pondicherry and was designed by the French architect Roger Anger who pioneered a new concept in education and urban living. Auroville has about 40 odd settlements located around a central focus called the Matrimandir. These settlements are engaged in a variety of activities, including afforestation, farming, education and handicrafts. Throughout Auroville you will notice buildings that reflect a combination of modern western and traditional Indian architecture .

Temples
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. 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.

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.

Chunnambar

The Chunnambar Boat House is located just 8 kms from the Pondicherry city, along the Cuddalore Main Road. This particular boat house is a place of great tourist attraction. Whenever you visit Pondicherry, Chunnambar makes an excellent place for relaxation. The water is clear and it is also an ideal place for sun bathing and beach sports. Where is Chunnambar and How to reach here? Chunnambar is situated in Nonangkuppam which is 8 Kms from Pondicherry on the main road to Cuddalore. All buses (minimum charge) going to Cuddalore will take you to the bus-stop near the main gate of the boat house from Pondicherry main bus stand. What to see in Chunnambar? Chunnambar is a tropical paradise which is filled with a quiet creek on one side. You can move downstream to the sands also. Tree-houses, for overnight staying, on the backwaters provides you with a relishing experience and an unforgettable one. The beach at Chunnambar is also known as Plage Paradiso, which is located near the mouth of the backwater. A short, pleasant cruise into the sea from here could reward you with the memorable sight of playful dolphins in natural habitat, horsing around. Adventure Activities Pondicherry Tourism enterprise PTTDC has boating, backwater boat tours, trekking and picnics on Paradise Beach for friends and families. The resort offers various kinds of rental boats (speed, motor, sail, rowed paddled and peddled) in addition to beach volleyball and other beach sports. For peddle boat you have to pay Rs.60/hour. For speed or motor boat you have to pay Rs.125 per head for a trip up to paradise beach. 'Sunrise Panorama' (a two storey tree top house) gives you an unrestricted view of the backwater up to its mouth. 'Palm house' on the other hand overlooks the artificial pond and the park. 'Nest bird' is the perfect abode for the adventure loving folks; it has a rope ladder that leads to a small balcony, all in a tree An increasing number of people find pleasure in bird watching at the lakeside bird sanctuary. Pondicherry Tourism authorities offer pleasure boat rides. Pedal boats and row boats are available on hire. A lakeside restaurant serves meals & snacks. Where and what to eat? Seagulls is a multi-cuisine restaurant-cum-bar is just near the backwater. It specialises in Chinese and Tandoori food. It is an ideal setting for a theme party or an offbeat get-together. It also serves food in the thatched huts just outside the restaurant. You can also order a picnic lunch to the beach. Here accommodation is available on the three tree top houses that offer you the bliss of eco-tourism.

Chunnam Tourist Information bar Backwater Resort,

Cuddalore Road,

Chunnambar,

Puducherry.

Tel: 0413 - 2356816.

The Beach Promenade

The Beach Promenade is the main place to move through Sunny Beach. In the daytime you use the Beach Promenade to get to the beach and your beachchair - in the evening you use it as the place to look for the evening's fun. If you're looking for food, a cafe or a bar then the Beach Promenade is a good place to look. There are many restaurants and bars, and many of them have specialised in eg. UK, Swedish, Finnish, or German food so you don't have to be too adventurous if you don't want to. There are also many pizzerias, steakhouses and fastfood places, but consider trying a Bulgarian dish at a Bulgarian restaurant at least once - the food is not very sophisticated, but there is plenty of it and it is very tasty.

The Serenity Beach

The serenity or the Pondicherry Beach is Pondicherry's main beach and is located inside the town. It is 1.5 kilometers long. It's a beautiful site to watch as it is cool and clean. This beach is ideally suited for relaxation, swimming and sun-bath. The pleasant breeze from the Bay of Bengal makes us to have a stroll or jog or sit in the parapet by the sea. The beach has a history behind it as this witnessed the bloodiest of the battles between the French and the British. You cannot get down to the beach as the tides are high and water deep. Embankments have been built in the shore. You can enjoy a cool evening in the rocks on the shore and catch the sun set. Don't also miss out snacks sold in the beach such as Kalakkai (fried groundnuts) and Sundal (Peanut Snack) when you laze near the beach.

ParadiseBeach

Paradise beach, also called Plage Paradiso Beach. This is located at Chunnambar near the mouth of the backwater just outside Pondicherry town in India. This is located about 8 kms away from Pondicherry towards Cuddalore Main Road. A popular beach attraction outside Pondicherry, this is a must-visit destination. It is a perfect place for leisure holiday and beach sport. Visitors can sail to the backwaters to the sands and pitch up a cozy sea side tent. One can see playing dolphins if cruised into the sea.

The Aurovile Beach

The Auroville Beach is close to Auroville in Pondicherry town. Located around 12 kms from the main Puducherry Town, off the East Coast Road (ECR) just opposite the road leading to Auroville. Its shallow waters and small waves make it an ideal place for swimming. It is a fairly popular destination on weekends. On weekdays, it is relatively less crowded. There are two monuments of historical importance on the beach. The sea front is graced by an impressive 4 meter tall statue of Mahatma Gandhi, set amidst eight exquisitely carved pillars and, a wonderful war memorial commemorating the soldiers who lost their lives during the World War I. The Lighthouse and the 284 meters long New Pier are located further south.