VAT will be introduced in Puducherry with effect from July 1, 2007. The Government of Puducherry (Union Territory) Law Department issued a gazette (extraordinary) NO: 22/Leg./2005-LD. Dt. 2nd June 2007. The gazette runs for about 111 pages containing the details of ‘The Puducherry Value Added Tax Ordinance, 2007’.
The main highlights
Effective date 1st July 2007
Existing Puducherry general registered dealers and persons who are going to do business in Puducherry after commencement of the VAT are liable to apply for registration.
Turnover limit for registration – Rs 10 lakh.
Dealer exclusively dealing in first schedule goods need not register under Puducherry VAT.
All existing dealers will be provisionally registered under VAT and they need to file fresh application within one month from the date of commencement of this Ordinance for final registration.(i.e. before 2-7-2007)
Registration fee – Rs 10,000 – Medium and large scale Rs 5,000 – Dealers in Indian Made Foreign LiquorRs 100 – For others
The above fee is for the first year and every year renewal need to be made by the dealers with specific fee
For additional copy of certificate for each godown, factory, depot – Rs 100 to be paid by the dealer for each copy.
Security deposit may be insisted for one half of the tax payable by the dealer in a year.
Capital goods input tax – to be adjusted in three years in equal monthly instalments.
Input tax credit will be allowed for opening purchased prior to 12 months from the date of commencement of the Ordinance.
Dealers opting for compounded rate of not eligible for input tax credit.
Returns to be filed within 15 days of each tax period along with the tax due thereon. It will be accepted as self-assessed.
Every dealer exceeding the turnover of Rs 50 lakh shall get his accounts certified by chartered accountants or cost accountants and to submit the same to the assessing officer within prescribed time.
Commodity list with six schedules released. Goods not specified in the schedules listed to 12.5 per cent rate.
Industrial inputs covered under 4 per cent listed separately with excise code.
The VAT rules yet to be uploaded by the Commercial Taxes, Department, Puducherry.
The main highlights
Effective date 1st July 2007
Existing Puducherry general registered dealers and persons who are going to do business in Puducherry after commencement of the VAT are liable to apply for registration.
Turnover limit for registration – Rs 10 lakh.
Dealer exclusively dealing in first schedule goods need not register under Puducherry VAT.
All existing dealers will be provisionally registered under VAT and they need to file fresh application within one month from the date of commencement of this Ordinance for final registration.(i.e. before 2-7-2007)
Registration fee – Rs 10,000 – Medium and large scale Rs 5,000 – Dealers in Indian Made Foreign LiquorRs 100 – For others
The above fee is for the first year and every year renewal need to be made by the dealers with specific fee
For additional copy of certificate for each godown, factory, depot – Rs 100 to be paid by the dealer for each copy.
Security deposit may be insisted for one half of the tax payable by the dealer in a year.
Capital goods input tax – to be adjusted in three years in equal monthly instalments.
Input tax credit will be allowed for opening purchased prior to 12 months from the date of commencement of the Ordinance.
Dealers opting for compounded rate of not eligible for input tax credit.
Returns to be filed within 15 days of each tax period along with the tax due thereon. It will be accepted as self-assessed.
Every dealer exceeding the turnover of Rs 50 lakh shall get his accounts certified by chartered accountants or cost accountants and to submit the same to the assessing officer within prescribed time.
Commodity list with six schedules released. Goods not specified in the schedules listed to 12.5 per cent rate.
Industrial inputs covered under 4 per cent listed separately with excise code.
The VAT rules yet to be uploaded by the Commercial Taxes, Department, Puducherry.
MATRIMANDIR - FROM A RELATIVELY UNKNOWN SCAFFOLDING TO A
Overview of the destinationOverview of the structure, history and its significance. Excerpts as taken from the booklet on auroville available at auroville information centre: "When one hears the word Matrimandir, one may think of it as a place of worship for the mother. But, the Matrimandir, located in Auroville, about 12 Kms north of Pondicherry, is the soul of Auroville, dedicated to the Universal Mother, but not a temple for the Mother of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, as some people think. The project of Auroville, with the soul aim of realizing the ideal of human unity, was formally started in Feb 1968, at the hands of a French lady named Mira Alfassa, who later became to be known as The Mother, after being given charge of the Shri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry. Auroville is designed to be a universal township where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and progressive harmony, above all creeds, politics and nationalities. The purpose of Auroville is to realise human unity. The project is guided by this ideal. The overall concept of the town provides for a material focus, the Matrimandir, surrounded by four zones--the Cultural, International, Industrial and Residential. At the centre is the Matrimandir, a place to develop a union with the divine manifesting in a progressive human unity. A French architect, Roger Anger, was given the responsibility of preparing the town's initial lay-out with The Mother began to work actively on her dream by mid 1965 and the official inauguration of the project took place on 28th Feb 1968 with a formal ceremony around a lotus-bud shaped Urn, into which the Auroville Charter and earth from all over India and the world was placed as a gesture of national and global unity. With 320 aurovilians in 1971, the number reahed to nearly 2,200 by 2009, out of which 40 percent were Indians, 15 percent French, 13 percent German, 5 percent Italians, and 4 percent Dutch, amongst others. The Matrimandir, the soul of Auroville The Mother selected the outer design of The Matrimandir from various models presented to her in March 1970. The main structure is a flattened sphere, 36 m in diameter by 29.5 m high, within which is located the Inner Chamber, as visualized by The Mother. Around the Matrimandir sphere, twelve meditation rooms are located inside twelve petals which extend out to the edge of twelve surrounding gardens radiating out from the Matrimandir. A thirteenth garden, called the Garden of Unity, is dominated by a large Banyan tree, the geographical centre of Auroville. Close by is an open amphitheatre, with the urn, which featured in Auroville?s inauguration ceremony in 1968 as its focal point. While excavation for the Matrimandir foundation began in March 1971, the main sphere of the Matrimandir was completed in 2009. My personal experience on the visit to Matrimandir We, a wonderful family of four, consisting of me, my wife, my two amazing sons, Teja and kanthi, visited Matrimandir on 20th of this month, from Chennai, where we are presently staying. For visiting the inner chamber of the Matrimandir, the visitors are needed to first see the outer view of the Matrimandir, from a scenic panoramic point created for the purpose, earlier and understand the spirit of the magnificent structure, the purpose for which it was constructed, the vision of The Mother in spending her life time in envisioning the future of the place. Visit to see the outer view of the Matrimandir is facilitated with the help of free passes provided by the Information Centre staff. As we happened to see the outer view of the Matrimandir sometime back, we could thus fulfill the condition stipulated for viewing the inner chamber and booking of the slot for accommodating us in one of the batches for visit to the inner chamber thus could be done without any hassles. The booking was done over phone and I needed to answer a couple of simple questions raised by the Matrimandir staff on when and why we wanted to visit the inner chamber and whether we saw the outer view of the Matrimandir before. After getting satisfactory answers to her queries, we were accommodated in Group B on 19th of the month to see the inner chamber with instructions to be present at the Information Centre by 9 AM on the scheduled date. Further, it was amply made clear to me that I should be prepared for a disappointment of not being able to visit the inner chamber in spite of the booking, in case it rains on the scheduled date of booking, due to any unforeseen reasons, since visit to the inner chamber is invariably cancelled on rainy days. Only after the staff was informed that I am prepared for any disappointment like this, our booking was confirmed. A dream, an inner urge to see and feel The Mother?s place is coming true.. A day prior to the scheduled date of booking, we reached Pondicherry by road and put up in one of the Ashram guest houses, The Good Guest House, where The Mother herself lived for quite a time, thus giving the added pleasure of seeing and spending a couple of nights at the same place where The Mother herself had stayed. The day next, on the 19th, we were at the Information Centre by 9 AM sharp and one gentleman was already waiting there to guide us through the entire procedure. But a little apprehension was there in our minds, as the climate was a little cloudy and there was a drizzle happening in view of a severe depression in the Bay of Bengal for the previous two days. A little while from then, more and more people, who also booked for the same date, were also found reaching the Centre. By about 9.05 AM, one lady came to the meeting place with the list containing the names of that day?s visitors, and after verifying the names once again reminded all of us that since the weather was a little bad and it was drizzling, we should be prepared for any disappointment, since visit to the inner chamber may get cancelled if the bad weather with rain persists for long. However, she has informed us all that we could first go to one hall located on the upstairs of the building to view a video on the history of The Matrimandir and the purpose behind the coming up of such an extraordinary edifice in a small place like Auroville. After the video show was over, which took about 20 minutes, we all assembled back at the gate, with a lot of excitement, to see and feel the ultimate. However, our expectations turned upside down, as it started to drizzle and the whole program was cancelled! For the first time, we people from Chennai were cursing the rain. With the urge to see the inner chamber becoming stronger by the minute, and with the resolve not to return back to Chennai without visiting the inner chamber staying tough in the mind, we decided to stay back in Pondy for that day and requested the staff to rebook our slots for the next day, ie., the 20th , and we were obliged.. But a few others, not so determined like us, assuming that the same weather may prevail the next day also, left the place in disgust and disappointment. Now came the big day, 20th May 2010 at 9 AM we were back at the Auroville Information Centre with an added enthusiasm and excitement. The rain gods were favourable, the winds were favourbale, the timing was perfect.. After a brief information about the inner chamber intricacies, we were ushered to the Place by experienced guides in electric shuttles, aptly named Bijlee. Once at the gate of The Matrimandir, we were again ushered in to a small cubicle, where one Matrimandir staff was waiting with enormous gentleness. We were handed over blue coloured tokens to be handed over at the Matrimandir main entry point to facilitate entry to the Inner Chamber and then one more token where we deposited our video cams, mobile phones and other carry bags, etc. Before finally taking us into the Inner Chamber, one French gentleman took us all around the area, assembled us under a huge tree and gave us fascinating running information for about 10 to 15 minutes on The Matrimandir, how the original idea was conceptualized, how the people from different nationalities came together to give shape to this gigantic and marvelous structure. After a few minutes, we were carefully taken inside the Inner Chamber. At the main entry point, we were asked to remove our footwear, walked inside a little bear feet, when one lady staff very gently asked us to put on white socks and move inside to take a view of the Inner Chamber. What a breath-taking and magnificent structure. White, white and white. Everything inside was impeccably white, white marble, white carpets, white crystal ball, imported from Germany in the middle of the Inner Chamber that reflects 99.9 percent of the sun light that illuminates the inner chamber. Special arrangements were made to ensure that sun light falls on the crystal ball through a small opening made at the top of the sphere, irrespective of the position of the sun with the help of special reflectors at any point of the day. The entire inner chamber gets its illumination from the Sun. We were inside the inner chamber for about 15 minutes, at the end of which, we were politely led outside. Those 15 minutes we spent inside the Inner Chamber, were unforgettable, extraordinary and etched in our minds like writings on wet concrete. Inside the Inner Chamber, it was silence, silence, silence and more silence! In order to help the visitors to understand that the time was up for concentration, an orange light glows for a few seconds at an interval of about 5 seconds. The door leading to the Inner Chamber is opened and the visitors are escorted outside by the polite, gentle and caring Matrimandir staff. After the visit to the Inner Chamber is over, we were led outside to see and enjoy the gigantic banyan tree, the geographical centre of Auroville. It was reported that the Banyan tree was more than 300 years old. When construction of The Matrimandir first started, the banyan tree was having only one trunk; Now, it is spread in an area of more than an acre with more than 15 such trunks! Next to the banyan tree is the amphitheatre, with the urn standing in the middle. Visit to The Matrimandir was definitely once in a life-time experience, which can fortunately be had anytime and every time if one wishes to. A great place to see and feel the consciousness with which it was built by many and envisioned by The Mother."
Food, sight-seeing and shopping Food is great with availability of all cuisines in the information centre complex. Further, a few restaurants are also available within the vicinity of Auroville township which offer good food, which will definitely rev up one's taste buds. As far as shopping in and around Auroville is concerned, one can get exquisite handicrafts, various decorative items, incence sticks, festive candles, hand made paper, different paper articles, clothes, jewellery made ofvarious crystals and other gem stones, etc. all made by the Aurovellians. Though the products appear expensive, they are worth the price, considering the extraordinary craftmanship.
Activities & things to do The main activity the visitors are supposed to do at Auroville and Matrimandir is to observe perfect silence, preserve the nature and practice concentration, which is the main ideal with which The Matrimandir was built.
Travel tips, How to reach, travel warnings etc. One can easily reach Auroville and Matrimandir from Chennai by road and rail after visiting Pondicherry. Pondy is well connected by road, about 160 kms from Chennai by the scenic ECR (East Coast Road) and Auroville is about 12 kms from Pondicherry. While one can reach Auroville directly from Chennai, Auroville comes before Pondicherry, one can visit Auroville and Matrimandir after halting in Pondicherry also. Of course, there are many guest houses, in Pondicherry both Ashram maintained as well as private and in Auroville township managed by the Auroville administration and accommodation is not a problem even for the first timers. Nothing specific about travel warnings, except for the weather forecast one is required to follow, since the visit to The Matrimandir is weather dependant..
Overview of the destinationOverview of the structure, history and its significance. Excerpts as taken from the booklet on auroville available at auroville information centre: "When one hears the word Matrimandir, one may think of it as a place of worship for the mother. But, the Matrimandir, located in Auroville, about 12 Kms north of Pondicherry, is the soul of Auroville, dedicated to the Universal Mother, but not a temple for the Mother of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, as some people think. The project of Auroville, with the soul aim of realizing the ideal of human unity, was formally started in Feb 1968, at the hands of a French lady named Mira Alfassa, who later became to be known as The Mother, after being given charge of the Shri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry. Auroville is designed to be a universal township where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and progressive harmony, above all creeds, politics and nationalities. The purpose of Auroville is to realise human unity. The project is guided by this ideal. The overall concept of the town provides for a material focus, the Matrimandir, surrounded by four zones--the Cultural, International, Industrial and Residential. At the centre is the Matrimandir, a place to develop a union with the divine manifesting in a progressive human unity. A French architect, Roger Anger, was given the responsibility of preparing the town's initial lay-out with The Mother began to work actively on her dream by mid 1965 and the official inauguration of the project took place on 28th Feb 1968 with a formal ceremony around a lotus-bud shaped Urn, into which the Auroville Charter and earth from all over India and the world was placed as a gesture of national and global unity. With 320 aurovilians in 1971, the number reahed to nearly 2,200 by 2009, out of which 40 percent were Indians, 15 percent French, 13 percent German, 5 percent Italians, and 4 percent Dutch, amongst others. The Matrimandir, the soul of Auroville The Mother selected the outer design of The Matrimandir from various models presented to her in March 1970. The main structure is a flattened sphere, 36 m in diameter by 29.5 m high, within which is located the Inner Chamber, as visualized by The Mother. Around the Matrimandir sphere, twelve meditation rooms are located inside twelve petals which extend out to the edge of twelve surrounding gardens radiating out from the Matrimandir. A thirteenth garden, called the Garden of Unity, is dominated by a large Banyan tree, the geographical centre of Auroville. Close by is an open amphitheatre, with the urn, which featured in Auroville?s inauguration ceremony in 1968 as its focal point. While excavation for the Matrimandir foundation began in March 1971, the main sphere of the Matrimandir was completed in 2009. My personal experience on the visit to Matrimandir We, a wonderful family of four, consisting of me, my wife, my two amazing sons, Teja and kanthi, visited Matrimandir on 20th of this month, from Chennai, where we are presently staying. For visiting the inner chamber of the Matrimandir, the visitors are needed to first see the outer view of the Matrimandir, from a scenic panoramic point created for the purpose, earlier and understand the spirit of the magnificent structure, the purpose for which it was constructed, the vision of The Mother in spending her life time in envisioning the future of the place. Visit to see the outer view of the Matrimandir is facilitated with the help of free passes provided by the Information Centre staff. As we happened to see the outer view of the Matrimandir sometime back, we could thus fulfill the condition stipulated for viewing the inner chamber and booking of the slot for accommodating us in one of the batches for visit to the inner chamber thus could be done without any hassles. The booking was done over phone and I needed to answer a couple of simple questions raised by the Matrimandir staff on when and why we wanted to visit the inner chamber and whether we saw the outer view of the Matrimandir before. After getting satisfactory answers to her queries, we were accommodated in Group B on 19th of the month to see the inner chamber with instructions to be present at the Information Centre by 9 AM on the scheduled date. Further, it was amply made clear to me that I should be prepared for a disappointment of not being able to visit the inner chamber in spite of the booking, in case it rains on the scheduled date of booking, due to any unforeseen reasons, since visit to the inner chamber is invariably cancelled on rainy days. Only after the staff was informed that I am prepared for any disappointment like this, our booking was confirmed. A dream, an inner urge to see and feel The Mother?s place is coming true.. A day prior to the scheduled date of booking, we reached Pondicherry by road and put up in one of the Ashram guest houses, The Good Guest House, where The Mother herself lived for quite a time, thus giving the added pleasure of seeing and spending a couple of nights at the same place where The Mother herself had stayed. The day next, on the 19th, we were at the Information Centre by 9 AM sharp and one gentleman was already waiting there to guide us through the entire procedure. But a little apprehension was there in our minds, as the climate was a little cloudy and there was a drizzle happening in view of a severe depression in the Bay of Bengal for the previous two days. A little while from then, more and more people, who also booked for the same date, were also found reaching the Centre. By about 9.05 AM, one lady came to the meeting place with the list containing the names of that day?s visitors, and after verifying the names once again reminded all of us that since the weather was a little bad and it was drizzling, we should be prepared for any disappointment, since visit to the inner chamber may get cancelled if the bad weather with rain persists for long. However, she has informed us all that we could first go to one hall located on the upstairs of the building to view a video on the history of The Matrimandir and the purpose behind the coming up of such an extraordinary edifice in a small place like Auroville. After the video show was over, which took about 20 minutes, we all assembled back at the gate, with a lot of excitement, to see and feel the ultimate. However, our expectations turned upside down, as it started to drizzle and the whole program was cancelled! For the first time, we people from Chennai were cursing the rain. With the urge to see the inner chamber becoming stronger by the minute, and with the resolve not to return back to Chennai without visiting the inner chamber staying tough in the mind, we decided to stay back in Pondy for that day and requested the staff to rebook our slots for the next day, ie., the 20th , and we were obliged.. But a few others, not so determined like us, assuming that the same weather may prevail the next day also, left the place in disgust and disappointment. Now came the big day, 20th May 2010 at 9 AM we were back at the Auroville Information Centre with an added enthusiasm and excitement. The rain gods were favourable, the winds were favourbale, the timing was perfect.. After a brief information about the inner chamber intricacies, we were ushered to the Place by experienced guides in electric shuttles, aptly named Bijlee. Once at the gate of The Matrimandir, we were again ushered in to a small cubicle, where one Matrimandir staff was waiting with enormous gentleness. We were handed over blue coloured tokens to be handed over at the Matrimandir main entry point to facilitate entry to the Inner Chamber and then one more token where we deposited our video cams, mobile phones and other carry bags, etc. Before finally taking us into the Inner Chamber, one French gentleman took us all around the area, assembled us under a huge tree and gave us fascinating running information for about 10 to 15 minutes on The Matrimandir, how the original idea was conceptualized, how the people from different nationalities came together to give shape to this gigantic and marvelous structure. After a few minutes, we were carefully taken inside the Inner Chamber. At the main entry point, we were asked to remove our footwear, walked inside a little bear feet, when one lady staff very gently asked us to put on white socks and move inside to take a view of the Inner Chamber. What a breath-taking and magnificent structure. White, white and white. Everything inside was impeccably white, white marble, white carpets, white crystal ball, imported from Germany in the middle of the Inner Chamber that reflects 99.9 percent of the sun light that illuminates the inner chamber. Special arrangements were made to ensure that sun light falls on the crystal ball through a small opening made at the top of the sphere, irrespective of the position of the sun with the help of special reflectors at any point of the day. The entire inner chamber gets its illumination from the Sun. We were inside the inner chamber for about 15 minutes, at the end of which, we were politely led outside. Those 15 minutes we spent inside the Inner Chamber, were unforgettable, extraordinary and etched in our minds like writings on wet concrete. Inside the Inner Chamber, it was silence, silence, silence and more silence! In order to help the visitors to understand that the time was up for concentration, an orange light glows for a few seconds at an interval of about 5 seconds. The door leading to the Inner Chamber is opened and the visitors are escorted outside by the polite, gentle and caring Matrimandir staff. After the visit to the Inner Chamber is over, we were led outside to see and enjoy the gigantic banyan tree, the geographical centre of Auroville. It was reported that the Banyan tree was more than 300 years old. When construction of The Matrimandir first started, the banyan tree was having only one trunk; Now, it is spread in an area of more than an acre with more than 15 such trunks! Next to the banyan tree is the amphitheatre, with the urn standing in the middle. Visit to The Matrimandir was definitely once in a life-time experience, which can fortunately be had anytime and every time if one wishes to. A great place to see and feel the consciousness with which it was built by many and envisioned by The Mother."
Food, sight-seeing and shopping Food is great with availability of all cuisines in the information centre complex. Further, a few restaurants are also available within the vicinity of Auroville township which offer good food, which will definitely rev up one's taste buds. As far as shopping in and around Auroville is concerned, one can get exquisite handicrafts, various decorative items, incence sticks, festive candles, hand made paper, different paper articles, clothes, jewellery made ofvarious crystals and other gem stones, etc. all made by the Aurovellians. Though the products appear expensive, they are worth the price, considering the extraordinary craftmanship.
Activities & things to do The main activity the visitors are supposed to do at Auroville and Matrimandir is to observe perfect silence, preserve the nature and practice concentration, which is the main ideal with which The Matrimandir was built.
Travel tips, How to reach, travel warnings etc. One can easily reach Auroville and Matrimandir from Chennai by road and rail after visiting Pondicherry. Pondy is well connected by road, about 160 kms from Chennai by the scenic ECR (East Coast Road) and Auroville is about 12 kms from Pondicherry. While one can reach Auroville directly from Chennai, Auroville comes before Pondicherry, one can visit Auroville and Matrimandir after halting in Pondicherry also. Of course, there are many guest houses, in Pondicherry both Ashram maintained as well as private and in Auroville township managed by the Auroville administration and accommodation is not a problem even for the first timers. Nothing specific about travel warnings, except for the weather forecast one is required to follow, since the visit to The Matrimandir is weather dependant..
Pondicherry Museum
The Museum provides a glimpse into Pondicherry's rich past and present. It has the Sculpture gallery, an interesting French Gallery. The Museum brings back to memory the glorious past of Pondicherry from the days of the pre-Christian era down to the present day. It provides glimpses of the art and culture of the people of this region during the Pallava, Chola and Vijayanagar days.
Jawahar Toy Museum
The Jawahar Toy Museum is located in the old Light House building near Gandhi Maidan. Here toys and puppets from different parts of India are on display.
Romain Rolland Library
The library established in 1872, has a rich collection of 300,000 volumes, including rare editions in both French and English. The reference section on the first floor is open to the public. The library has a mobile section that takes 8,000 books to the nearby villages for the interests of the people.
Anglo-French Textile Mills
Visiting the century old Anglo-French Textile mills in Pondicherry is not only educative but also of tourism importance. The mill gives 10% rebate to the tourists who go on guided tours/buses on the purchases made. The world claimed fabrics and products of the mill will not only be a memento of Pondicherry but also can be used as gifts besides being products of utilitarian/aesthetic value in the houses.
The Museum provides a glimpse into Pondicherry's rich past and present. It has the Sculpture gallery, an interesting French Gallery. The Museum brings back to memory the glorious past of Pondicherry from the days of the pre-Christian era down to the present day. It provides glimpses of the art and culture of the people of this region during the Pallava, Chola and Vijayanagar days.
Jawahar Toy Museum
The Jawahar Toy Museum is located in the old Light House building near Gandhi Maidan. Here toys and puppets from different parts of India are on display.
Romain Rolland Library
The library established in 1872, has a rich collection of 300,000 volumes, including rare editions in both French and English. The reference section on the first floor is open to the public. The library has a mobile section that takes 8,000 books to the nearby villages for the interests of the people.
Anglo-French Textile Mills
Visiting the century old Anglo-French Textile mills in Pondicherry is not only educative but also of tourism importance. The mill gives 10% rebate to the tourists who go on guided tours/buses on the purchases made. The world claimed fabrics and products of the mill will not only be a memento of Pondicherry but also can be used as gifts besides being products of utilitarian/aesthetic value in the houses.
Raj NiwasOnce the official residence of the French Governor Dupleix, Raj Niwas has a well laid out garden with a sculpture of Lord Vishnu (as Varaha avatar) together with Goddess Lakshmi at the centre. The building is a harmonious fusion of both French and Indian style of architecture. Now it is used as the official residence of the Lt. Governor of the UT of Pondicherry.
Statue of Mahatma GandhiStatue of Mahatma GandhiA statue of Mahatma Gandhi, 13 ft height stands on the beach front, surrounded by carved monolithic pillars built by the famous sculptor Roy Choudhary from Madras School of Art and Crafts. There is also the “French War Memorial” commemorating the sacrifice of the soldiers in the First World War.
Statue of DupleixStatue of DupleixJoseph Francois Dupleix, a great statesman was the Governor of Pondicherry between 1742 and 1754. His life was greatly associated with the people of the Pondicherry. He had tried his best to prevent British Supremacy from Indian Territory by making alliances with local princess. In the struggle for power between British and French, finally French was defeated in the Second Carnatic War. Hence Dupleix relinquished his Governorship and returned to Paris in disgrace. His memorial statue is located at Goubert Avenue.
French Institute of IndologyFrench Institute of IndologyThis classical colonial building is now called as the French Institute of Indology, a research institute that explores Indian civilization, history, society in ecology and environmental development in South and Southeast Asia. Established in the mid 1950s by an eminent French Indologist, Dr. Jean Fillozet, the institute was originally set up for the study of local language and culture. Now it has links with various French universities and research organizations in France. The centre is also dedicated in preserving palm leaf manuscripts and promoting the Indian languages. The building has a very well decked entrance gate with pediment, arched staircases, arcades and windows.House of Ananda RangapillaiLocated at Rangapillai Street, this house built in Tamil-French style was the home of an 18th century Indian nobleman – Ananda Rangapillai, the favourite courtier and chief Dubash (trade agent) of Francois Dupleix. The building represents an unusual fusion of French and Indian styles. This lavishly furnished house offered fascinating glimpses into a bygone era. Now it houses a museum that retains very little of its past glory. Prior permission is required to visit the mansion.
Statue of Mahatma GandhiStatue of Mahatma GandhiA statue of Mahatma Gandhi, 13 ft height stands on the beach front, surrounded by carved monolithic pillars built by the famous sculptor Roy Choudhary from Madras School of Art and Crafts. There is also the “French War Memorial” commemorating the sacrifice of the soldiers in the First World War.
Statue of DupleixStatue of DupleixJoseph Francois Dupleix, a great statesman was the Governor of Pondicherry between 1742 and 1754. His life was greatly associated with the people of the Pondicherry. He had tried his best to prevent British Supremacy from Indian Territory by making alliances with local princess. In the struggle for power between British and French, finally French was defeated in the Second Carnatic War. Hence Dupleix relinquished his Governorship and returned to Paris in disgrace. His memorial statue is located at Goubert Avenue.
French Institute of IndologyFrench Institute of IndologyThis classical colonial building is now called as the French Institute of Indology, a research institute that explores Indian civilization, history, society in ecology and environmental development in South and Southeast Asia. Established in the mid 1950s by an eminent French Indologist, Dr. Jean Fillozet, the institute was originally set up for the study of local language and culture. Now it has links with various French universities and research organizations in France. The centre is also dedicated in preserving palm leaf manuscripts and promoting the Indian languages. The building has a very well decked entrance gate with pediment, arched staircases, arcades and windows.House of Ananda RangapillaiLocated at Rangapillai Street, this house built in Tamil-French style was the home of an 18th century Indian nobleman – Ananda Rangapillai, the favourite courtier and chief Dubash (trade agent) of Francois Dupleix. The building represents an unusual fusion of French and Indian styles. This lavishly furnished house offered fascinating glimpses into a bygone era. Now it houses a museum that retains very little of its past glory. Prior permission is required to visit the mansion.
Pondicherry travel guidePondicherry, nicknamed, as "Pondy" is a union territory, situated on the Coromondal coast about 160 Kms South of Chennai. Pondicherry offers an amazing confluence of age-old heritage and modern advancement. Now known as Puducherry, this spiritual beach town used to be a French settlement comprising of Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam other than Pondicherry itself. The old French flavor is distinctly visible in the well-laid gardens, magnificent churches, historical monuments, magnificent mansions, and clean and wide roads, which still carry french names. Endowed with immense natural beauty and rich cultural heritage, Pondicherry has emerged as one of the most sought after tourist destinations in India. The city is renowned for its palm-fringed beaches, scenic fishing villages, Aurobindo Ashram, serene backwaters, French boulevard towns, and the international city of Auroville.
Tourism in PondicherryTourism in Pondicherry is an essential component of its service sector. The strategic location, awe-inspiring natural beauty, coupled with its French past and cultural heritage make Pondicherry tourism a major tourist destination. Over the last few years, Pondicherry tourism attracted a good number of domestic as well as international tourists from all parts of the world and this number is growing steadily every year.
Pondicherry has potential to improve and carve out a special place for itself on the world tourism map. Pondicherry tourism plans to convert this tranquil beach town from a day trip and weekend destination to a long haul destination. In order to move in this direction, Pondicherry tourism is upgrading hotel infrastructure to acceptable service standards, identifying potential new tourist sites, developing physical infrastructure, opening Pondicherry tourism reception centers at all major cities across India , introducing tourism related courses , training Pondicherry tourism guides , and promoting tourist attractions, heritage sites and arts and culture of Pondicherry.
Best time to visit PondicherryThe best time to visit Pondicherry is between the months of October to March.
Tourist Attractions PondicherryAuroville Ashram, Shri Aurobindo Ashram, Anglo - French Textile mills, Puducherry Museum, Promenade, Chunnambar Resort the French War Memorial, a 19th Century Light house, Romaine Rolland Library and the Ayi Mandapam are major tourist attractions in Pondicherry.
How to reach PondicherryTravel to Pondicherry by Air: The nearest airport is at Chennai, which is served by all major domestic as well as international airlines. Pondicherry is 150 Kms from Chennai.
Travel to Pondicherry by Rail: The closest railway station is at Villupuram (36kms), which is linked to Chennai, Madurai, and Trivandrum.
Travel to Pondicherry by Road: A good network of roads, national, and state highways connect Pondicherry with major cities in Tamilnadu. There are direct buses available from Pondicherry to all-important cities of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
Travel in PondicherryTamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, Pondicherry Tourism and many private owners operate regular buses that connect Pondicherry to all cities of Tamil Nadu and of the neighboring states. Unmetered Taxis, Auto-rickshaws, and local buses are also available for local transportation in Pondicherry. Pondicherry tourism and Tamil Nadu State Express also run deluxe buses for sightseeing tours to Chennai, Coimbatore, and Bangalore etc.
Tourism in PondicherryTourism in Pondicherry is an essential component of its service sector. The strategic location, awe-inspiring natural beauty, coupled with its French past and cultural heritage make Pondicherry tourism a major tourist destination. Over the last few years, Pondicherry tourism attracted a good number of domestic as well as international tourists from all parts of the world and this number is growing steadily every year.
Pondicherry has potential to improve and carve out a special place for itself on the world tourism map. Pondicherry tourism plans to convert this tranquil beach town from a day trip and weekend destination to a long haul destination. In order to move in this direction, Pondicherry tourism is upgrading hotel infrastructure to acceptable service standards, identifying potential new tourist sites, developing physical infrastructure, opening Pondicherry tourism reception centers at all major cities across India , introducing tourism related courses , training Pondicherry tourism guides , and promoting tourist attractions, heritage sites and arts and culture of Pondicherry.
Best time to visit PondicherryThe best time to visit Pondicherry is between the months of October to March.
Tourist Attractions PondicherryAuroville Ashram, Shri Aurobindo Ashram, Anglo - French Textile mills, Puducherry Museum, Promenade, Chunnambar Resort the French War Memorial, a 19th Century Light house, Romaine Rolland Library and the Ayi Mandapam are major tourist attractions in Pondicherry.
How to reach PondicherryTravel to Pondicherry by Air: The nearest airport is at Chennai, which is served by all major domestic as well as international airlines. Pondicherry is 150 Kms from Chennai.
Travel to Pondicherry by Rail: The closest railway station is at Villupuram (36kms), which is linked to Chennai, Madurai, and Trivandrum.
Travel to Pondicherry by Road: A good network of roads, national, and state highways connect Pondicherry with major cities in Tamilnadu. There are direct buses available from Pondicherry to all-important cities of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
Travel in PondicherryTamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, Pondicherry Tourism and many private owners operate regular buses that connect Pondicherry to all cities of Tamil Nadu and of the neighboring states. Unmetered Taxis, Auto-rickshaws, and local buses are also available for local transportation in Pondicherry. Pondicherry tourism and Tamil Nadu State Express also run deluxe buses for sightseeing tours to Chennai, Coimbatore, and Bangalore etc.
Arikamedhu
It is an archaeological site at a distance of 20 kms from the Pondicherry town. Recent excavations here have revealed some Roman coins, wine jars and other remains, which prove that Arikamedhu was the earliest Indo - Roman trading centre.AurovilleThe city of Dawn as it is also called was established in 1968. People from many parts of the world have settled down here making it a microcosmic replica of the world - a number of different communities living in harmony. There are about 40 settlements in Auroville.Bharati MuseumThe house of the famous poet Subramaniya Bharati at Easwaran Dharmaja Koil Street has been made into a museum.Bharatidasan MuseumAnother poet Kanaksubburatnam wrote under the name of Bharatidasan, he scaled the same heights in poetry as Bharati had done. His house at Perumal Koil Street has also been made into a museum.Boat HouseThe boathouse is on the bank of river Chunnambar at a distance of 8 Kms from Pondicherry.Botanical GardenThe garden was laid out in the year 1826. Many plants were brought here from the different parts of the country and also places like Ceylon and Reumian.
It is an archaeological site at a distance of 20 kms from the Pondicherry town. Recent excavations here have revealed some Roman coins, wine jars and other remains, which prove that Arikamedhu was the earliest Indo - Roman trading centre.AurovilleThe city of Dawn as it is also called was established in 1968. People from many parts of the world have settled down here making it a microcosmic replica of the world - a number of different communities living in harmony. There are about 40 settlements in Auroville.Bharati MuseumThe house of the famous poet Subramaniya Bharati at Easwaran Dharmaja Koil Street has been made into a museum.Bharatidasan MuseumAnother poet Kanaksubburatnam wrote under the name of Bharatidasan, he scaled the same heights in poetry as Bharati had done. His house at Perumal Koil Street has also been made into a museum.Boat HouseThe boathouse is on the bank of river Chunnambar at a distance of 8 Kms from Pondicherry.Botanical GardenThe garden was laid out in the year 1826. Many plants were brought here from the different parts of the country and also places like Ceylon and Reumian.
Promenade
An ideal place for a stroll, the Promenade is a 1.5Km long walk built along the beach. On the beachfront, there are statues of Mahatma Gandhi, Jeanne d'Arc and Dupleix, a war memorial, the Heritage building and an old lighthouse that is 27 metres tall.
Raj Niwas
This palatial building is completely French in style and was the residence of Joseph Francois Dupleix. It is now the residence of the Lieutenant-Governor of Pondicherry.
Shri Aurobindo Ashram
Shri Aurobindo, a famous poet established the Ashram in 1920. The Samadhi in the Ashram premises is the final resting place of Sri Aurobindo and the mother. The Ashram has become a centre for the practice of Yoga and a place of learning. The ashram activities include agriculture, industries, art and culture.
Thiruvakkarai
Thiruvakkarai or Tiruvakkarai is at a distance of 30 kms from the Pondicherry town. The first Wood-Fossil Park of the country is situated here. The Chandramouliswara Temple is another tourist destination in this place.
Pondicherry Beach
Pondicherry has a beautiful unpolluted beach that is 1.5km long.The other places of tourist interest in Pondicherry are: -
French Institute
Jawahar Toy Museum
Manakula Vinayanagar
Mansion Anandha
Mailam Murugan Temple
Mandagupettu
Ousteri Lake
For more information :-
Tourist Information Bureau,
Goubert Avenue, (Beach Road),
Pondicherry,
India
Ph: +91-413-34575
Inspite of its diminutive size, attracts a large percentage of tourists visiting India. The unique spiritual charm of the place in enhanced by the fact that it was a home to the great poet Sri Aurobindo and the Mother (whose real name was Mirra Alfassa and she was born in Paris. An accomplished pianist and a painter, she became a follower of Shri Aurobindo and later came to be known as the Mother). The Auroville, with its multinational, multilingual and multicultural population is the realized dream of both these visionaries, to build a universal society living in complete harmony. Pondicherry is at present, a union territory with its area scattered over three different states in the country. The capital of the union territory of Pondicherry is also known as 'Pondicherry' and is situated on the Coromandel Coast on the Bay of Bengal, at a distance of 162 Kms from Chennai. Karaikal is another part of Pondicherry, which is also situated in the state of Tamil Nadu. The other two parts are Yanam in Andhra Pradesh and Mahe located on the southern side of river Mahe in the westcoast of kerala. Once a French colony, Pondicherry still has a few French families living there and French is an important language. The French spirit can be discerned in the very layout of the township. The magnificent statues of Joseph Francois Dupleix and Joan of Arc, the warrior saint of France tell of a significant French influence on the history of the place. The French Institute of Indology and Ecole Francaise d'Extreme Orient are the living legacies of the former French occupation of the territory.
Languages
Languages spoken in Pondicherry are Tamil, Telugu, Malayam, Hindi, French and English.
Climate
The state enjoys a tropical climate, it is usually hot and humid and the monsoon lasts from October to December.
Religion
Hindu, Christian, Buddhism, Jainism and Islam.
Capital
Pondicherry
An ideal place for a stroll, the Promenade is a 1.5Km long walk built along the beach. On the beachfront, there are statues of Mahatma Gandhi, Jeanne d'Arc and Dupleix, a war memorial, the Heritage building and an old lighthouse that is 27 metres tall.
Raj Niwas
This palatial building is completely French in style and was the residence of Joseph Francois Dupleix. It is now the residence of the Lieutenant-Governor of Pondicherry.
Shri Aurobindo Ashram
Shri Aurobindo, a famous poet established the Ashram in 1920. The Samadhi in the Ashram premises is the final resting place of Sri Aurobindo and the mother. The Ashram has become a centre for the practice of Yoga and a place of learning. The ashram activities include agriculture, industries, art and culture.
Thiruvakkarai
Thiruvakkarai or Tiruvakkarai is at a distance of 30 kms from the Pondicherry town. The first Wood-Fossil Park of the country is situated here. The Chandramouliswara Temple is another tourist destination in this place.
Pondicherry Beach
Pondicherry has a beautiful unpolluted beach that is 1.5km long.The other places of tourist interest in Pondicherry are: -
French Institute
Jawahar Toy Museum
Manakula Vinayanagar
Mansion Anandha
Mailam Murugan Temple
Mandagupettu
Ousteri Lake
For more information :-
Tourist Information Bureau,
Goubert Avenue, (Beach Road),
Pondicherry,
India
Ph: +91-413-34575
Inspite of its diminutive size, attracts a large percentage of tourists visiting India. The unique spiritual charm of the place in enhanced by the fact that it was a home to the great poet Sri Aurobindo and the Mother (whose real name was Mirra Alfassa and she was born in Paris. An accomplished pianist and a painter, she became a follower of Shri Aurobindo and later came to be known as the Mother). The Auroville, with its multinational, multilingual and multicultural population is the realized dream of both these visionaries, to build a universal society living in complete harmony. Pondicherry is at present, a union territory with its area scattered over three different states in the country. The capital of the union territory of Pondicherry is also known as 'Pondicherry' and is situated on the Coromandel Coast on the Bay of Bengal, at a distance of 162 Kms from Chennai. Karaikal is another part of Pondicherry, which is also situated in the state of Tamil Nadu. The other two parts are Yanam in Andhra Pradesh and Mahe located on the southern side of river Mahe in the westcoast of kerala. Once a French colony, Pondicherry still has a few French families living there and French is an important language. The French spirit can be discerned in the very layout of the township. The magnificent statues of Joseph Francois Dupleix and Joan of Arc, the warrior saint of France tell of a significant French influence on the history of the place. The French Institute of Indology and Ecole Francaise d'Extreme Orient are the living legacies of the former French occupation of the territory.
Languages
Languages spoken in Pondicherry are Tamil, Telugu, Malayam, Hindi, French and English.
Climate
The state enjoys a tropical climate, it is usually hot and humid and the monsoon lasts from October to December.
Religion
Hindu, Christian, Buddhism, Jainism and Islam.
Capital
Pondicherry
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 Mairie building which house 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.
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 Mairie building which house 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.
There are five major Shopping area's for visitors
Anna Salai
Nehru Street (J.N.Street)
Mahatma Gandhi Street (M.G.Street)
Cathedral Street (Mission Street)
Romain Rolland Street
All the sops open from 10.00 a.m to 01.00 p.m and 04.00 p.m to 10.00 p.m. Most shops close on
Sunday.
puducherry is the favourite stomping ground of the passionate shopper. It's an octroi - free destination for everything from cars to consumer goods. In addition, there is an enticingly low incidence of sales tax. Shop - hoppers will also relish the pleasant ambience of the boutiques in puducherry, which cater to a wide range of tastes, offering stylish garments, semi - precious stones, perfumes, hand - made incense, candles embossed with real petals, marbled silks and aromatherapy products. One can also find a variety of handicrafts from Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Karnataka, Kashmir, Tibet and puducherry of course.
Textiles:
puducherry has long been a centre for the production of household linen and garment textiles.Furniture puducherry offers antique furniture and curios such as refinished Tamil, Keralite, and French and British colonial furniture.
Leather:
Making leather the forgotten way, with exacting attention to detail, is what separates the puducherry brands from the rest. Carefully finshed, innovative products with quality can be found in many leather shops in Pondy.
Pottery :
Excellent ceramic artists and artisans work in puducherry and Auroville. They keep a keen eye out for the right kind of clay and glazes and make the kilns appropriate to the local environment. Lending their signature an elegant simplicity and a unique decorative flourish.
Aromatics:
The aromatics in puducherry is world famous for high - quality non - toxic incense sticks and cones as well as scented candles, perfumed oils and sachets, incense holders, ceramic holders and diffusers.
Foods:
A variety of jams is produced by Naturellement in Auroville. Some of the produces available are jellies, jams, marmalades, chutneys, pickles, French mustard, peanut butter and other exotic preserves. One can also find snacking cheeses and the cooking kind in Auroville.puducherry is famous for its mineral water of which Pondichérry Mineral Water by PASIC is the most known.
Unique Products of puducherry
puducherry art
Handicraft items
Leather products
Fashions from Auroville
Aromatics from locals, ashram and auroville
Handmade paper products
Ashram mementoes
Ceramic tableware and décor items
Décor items from village artisans
South Indian collectibles
Antique furniture
Modern design furniture
European cuisine and French bakery items.
World Class Products at Indian prices
Leather
Modern fashions
Silk saries & Textiles
Smart casual wear
Men’s Shoes
Jewellery
Watches
Modern décor items
Indian art
Glassware
Leather products and Luggage
Music and Film CDs and DVDs
Bicycles
Vegetables
Ice Creams & Pizza
Spirits
Anna Salai
Nehru Street (J.N.Street)
Mahatma Gandhi Street (M.G.Street)
Cathedral Street (Mission Street)
Romain Rolland Street
All the sops open from 10.00 a.m to 01.00 p.m and 04.00 p.m to 10.00 p.m. Most shops close on
Sunday.
puducherry is the favourite stomping ground of the passionate shopper. It's an octroi - free destination for everything from cars to consumer goods. In addition, there is an enticingly low incidence of sales tax. Shop - hoppers will also relish the pleasant ambience of the boutiques in puducherry, which cater to a wide range of tastes, offering stylish garments, semi - precious stones, perfumes, hand - made incense, candles embossed with real petals, marbled silks and aromatherapy products. One can also find a variety of handicrafts from Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Karnataka, Kashmir, Tibet and puducherry of course.
Textiles:
puducherry has long been a centre for the production of household linen and garment textiles.Furniture puducherry offers antique furniture and curios such as refinished Tamil, Keralite, and French and British colonial furniture.
Leather:
Making leather the forgotten way, with exacting attention to detail, is what separates the puducherry brands from the rest. Carefully finshed, innovative products with quality can be found in many leather shops in Pondy.
Pottery :
Excellent ceramic artists and artisans work in puducherry and Auroville. They keep a keen eye out for the right kind of clay and glazes and make the kilns appropriate to the local environment. Lending their signature an elegant simplicity and a unique decorative flourish.
Aromatics:
The aromatics in puducherry is world famous for high - quality non - toxic incense sticks and cones as well as scented candles, perfumed oils and sachets, incense holders, ceramic holders and diffusers.
Foods:
A variety of jams is produced by Naturellement in Auroville. Some of the produces available are jellies, jams, marmalades, chutneys, pickles, French mustard, peanut butter and other exotic preserves. One can also find snacking cheeses and the cooking kind in Auroville.puducherry is famous for its mineral water of which Pondichérry Mineral Water by PASIC is the most known.
Unique Products of puducherry
puducherry art
Handicraft items
Leather products
Fashions from Auroville
Aromatics from locals, ashram and auroville
Handmade paper products
Ashram mementoes
Ceramic tableware and décor items
Décor items from village artisans
South Indian collectibles
Antique furniture
Modern design furniture
European cuisine and French bakery items.
World Class Products at Indian prices
Leather
Modern fashions
Silk saries & Textiles
Smart casual wear
Men’s Shoes
Jewellery
Watches
Modern décor items
Indian art
Glassware
Leather products and Luggage
Music and Film CDs and DVDs
Bicycles
Vegetables
Ice Creams & Pizza
Spirits
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.
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