Pondicherry town is a surprise
in India. This you'll realise as you pass through well-laid, wide streets
carrying French names and kept unpolluted. Clean. A French past is still present.
Pondicherry cheers the heart of the romantic. With grand boulevards and quiet
promenades. You'll be greeted with large bouquets of bougainvillea hanging
over the ivory-coloured walls of colonial mansions. Pondicherry with its ashram
charm, is sought out by the peace-seeker. And with its safe and secluded beaches,
by the tan-seeker. Pondicherry is richly cosmopolitan. A staggering number
of 55 languages are spoken here. By an easy, relaxed set of people.
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About
Pondicherry Travel Guide
Pondicherry town is a surprise in India. This you'll realise as you pass through
well-laid, wide streets carrying French names and kept unpolluted. Clean.
A French past is still present. Pondicherry cheers the heart of the romantic.
With grand boulevards and quiet promenades. You'll be greeted with large bouquets
of bougainvillea hanging over the ivory-coloured walls of colonial mansions.
Pondicherry with its ashram charm, is sought out by the peace-seeker.
more....
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Places
to See
Auroville,
The
French Heritage,
Pondicherry
Museum,
Chunnambar
Resort,
Botanical
Garden,
Villaiayanur,
Mansion of
Ananda,
Eglise
de Sacre Coeur De Jesus,
Anglo
- French Textile Mills more....
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Beaches
in Pondicherry
The beach-comber and the sun-worshipper have miles of nirvana in Pondicherry.
The waters are cool and soothing. The sands clear and sparkling. In splendid
seclusion. Quite often, your only company is a lone seagull. Or a sandpiper.
Many resorts, cottages, cafes and bars command an excellent view of the sea.
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Churches
in Pondicherry
French missionary zeal in the 17th and 18th centuries saw a number of imposing
churches built here. The Eglise de Sacre Coeur de Jesus, situated on the south
boulevard, stands out as an oriental specimen of Gothic splendour. It contains
rare and beautiful stained glass panels depicting events from the life of
Christ. The Eglise de Notre Dame de la Conception Immaculee, on Cathedral
Street, was first built in 1692. It took its present shape in 1791.
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Fairs
& Festivals
Almost every month, there is an import fair or a festival in Pondicherry.
Some are religious in nature, others cultural and spiritual and still others,
purely gourmet!
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Monuments
A wondrous history of this place is told by obliging Pondicherrians. As well
as the striking grid-like street planning, buildings and monuments. About
the arrival of the European maritime powers of the 16th century - the Portuguese,
the Dutch, the Danes, the English and importantly, the French, setting foot
first in 1670. About the transformation of a tiny fishing village into a grand
port city by the 18th century. About fierce Anglo-French battles. Ravages.
And sieges. About brave generals. Friendly maharajas. And even, philanthropic
courtesans. And about an undisturbed French rule for 138 years till 1954.
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Temples
& Mosques
Pondicherry is a place of many faiths. If you look at the places of worship
which dominate the landscape you will realize why pilgrims flock to Pondy.
In and around Pondicherry there are a whopping 350 temples - big and small.
Neighbouring Karaikal has another ninety nine. Some were built by the Chola
kings between the 10th and 12th centuries. A sizeable share is dedicated to
the deities of the villages they are located in.
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Yoga
& Spirituality
There is an air of spirituality in Pondicherry that comes on strong. Ever
since the revolutionary-turned-yogi from Bengal, Sri Aurobindo, settled here,
peace-seekers from all around the world have beaten a track into Pondicherry.
Yoga centres abound and anyone can guide you to one nearby. You will discover
Yoga as a practical aid for a sound, healthy body and a focused, balanced
mind.
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