Places to Visit in Pondicherry

Pondicherry is situated along the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. According to a legend, Pondicherry was known as Veda Puri and this place is also considered to be the abode of the saint Agastya. Pondicherry attracts a large number of tourists every year with its attractive tourist destinations. Pondicherry was a French colony until 1954, hence it is known in India as the mini France. The roads here are very clean and paved, and the people here also follow French culture and talk in French too.

Pondicherry was renamed Puducherry in the year 2006 which means “New village” in the Tamil language. It is also known for its Small Beautiful Beaches. Tourists can witness the fascinating views of sunset and sunrise during their visit to Pondicherry. Steeped in French history and culture, this place attracts everyone with its French colonial buildings and monuments. The best time to visit Pondicherry is from October to March when the weather is pleasant and the temperature is low. Tourists can enjoy many water sports here at Karaikal Beach and Paradise Beach, which include Kayaking, jet skiing, Canoeing, Scuba Diving and Backwater Boating.

Places to visit in Pondicherry

Aurobindo Ashram

Aurobindo Ashram is located in the White Town of Pondicherry and is a famous site named after its creator Sri Aurobindo Ghosh. The first stone of this ashram was laid down on 24 November 1926 when he settled in Pondicherry after retiring from politics. Amir Alfassa was one of Aurobindo’s followers who played an important role in the establishment of this ashram and took care of it soon after the death of Sri Aurobindo Ghosh in 1950. She was known as the mother of the ashram. At present, the ashram consists of more than 500 devotees, 500 students and 13 patients. This ashram is established to help people attain salvation and inner peace. If you are going to visit Pondicherry and want to experience spiritual enlightenment then you must visit this Ashram.

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Promenade Beach

Promenade Beach is spread over 1.2 km from War Memorial to Duplex Park on Gobert Avenue. Promenade Beach is a famous place that is often crowded with groups of people playing volleyball. Tourists can do activities like jogging, walking, skating, yoga and swimming in the evening on this beach. There are many attractive places in the vicinity of this beach – War Memorial, Joan of Arc statue, Heritage Town Hall, Old Light House, and a statue of Mahatma Gandhi. Tourists can see rocks and boulders on the north coast, apart from this there are many famous restaurants located on the beach which serve traditional food.

Serenity Beach

Serenity Beach is located in Kottakuppam at a distance of 10 km in the hilly areas of Puducherry This beach is originally known as thanthirayan Kuppam Beach or Saade Kottakuppam Beach. This beach is very much liked by the people who come for their Honeymoon.

Auroville

Auroville is also called a Universal Town because people from all cultures and traditions from all over the world live in peace here. Auroville is located in Tamil Nadu, about 15 km from the city of Pondicherry, which was established in 1968 by Aurobindo’s disciple Meera Alphassa. Currently, over 28 hundred people from over 195 countries are the official residents of this township.

Arikamedu

Arikamedu is an ancient Roman trade centre and fascinating historical site located within a half-hour drive from the city of Pondicherry. The port city was occupied by the Romans, Cholas and the French as a famous maritime centre from the 1st century BC to the 2nd century AD. Arikamedu The city’s glass-mind manufacturing factory is the most famous here. The first excavations at Arikammedu began in the 1940s and have been continuously excavated since then.

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Botanical garden

The Botanical Garden is a popular tourist attraction of Pondicherry which was established by C.S perotate in the year 1860. The Garden is also a fish house with various exotic plants.

Gokilambal Thirukameswar Temple

Gokilambal Thirukameswar Temple is situated at a distance of 11 km from Pondicherry. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. French influence is clearly seen in this temple. A car festival held at the temple clearly depicts and showcases French heritage. During this festival, a 15-meter high chariot is pulled by the devotees on the streets of the city.

Pondicherry Light House

Light House in Pondicherry is an attractive place where tourists can see amazing birds in many ways. There are two lighthouses – one is old and another is new. The new lighthouse is 157 feet high and hosts cultural events, concerts and commercial activities.

Basilica of The Sacred Heart of Jesus

This church is one of the most sacred and religious places of Pondicherry which is situated 2.5 km from Pondicherry Bus Stand on Southern Boulevard of the city. Located in Pondicherry, one of the 21 basilicas in India, this church was established in 1908 by French missionaries and was later given the status of Basilica in 2011. Occasions like New Year’s, Christmas and Easter Day are celebrated in a grand manner in the church.

French War Memorial

It was built in memory of the soldiers who lost their lives in the First World War. An annual memorial ceremony is held every year on 14 July during which it is decorated very beautifully.

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How to Reach Pondicherry

By Air: Domestic flights served by Pondicherry Airport include connections from Chennai International Airport. This airport is served by airlines like Spicejet and Indigo, with local transportation provided by buses and prepaid taxis.

By Rail: Puducherry Railway Station connects Pondicherry to various Indian cities with frequent trains to Chennai, links to Delhi and Bangalore, etc. Located 4 kilometres from the city centre, it’s reachable by bus, taxi, or auto-rickshaw.

By Road: The city is connected through an expansive network of highways to its adjacent cities with important routes like East Coast Road (ECR) coming in from Chennai.

About Pondicherry Airport

Pondicherry Airport is situated in the Lawspet area of Pondicherry. It is located approximately 8 km far from the Auroville Universal Town. It has only one Terminal for the Arrival and Departure of Domestic Flights. This can handle the capacity of 300 people in peak season. The IATA code of Pondicherry Airport is PNY. Only Domestic Flights operate from here. No International Flights are Operating Currently from here. 

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