The French tour is done and dusted! But you can’t get over it, right? Well, then try Puducherry, the city inspired by French architect and full of high-end hotels and heritage properties around. Away from the hustle bustle of vast cities, this place is a tranquil town on the southern coast of India. With clean and less explored beaches and tourist places, Puducherry is sure to make its presence felt on the global map as one of the top choices of travel enthusiasts. It is the perfect place to come if you want to indulge in peace and serenity.
Many a times the beautiful Puducherry is equated with popular tourist destination Goa, however it has been widely reported by visiting tourists and in many news reports that the place is far better than that as it is refreshingly untouched. Apart from beaches, Puducherry has many other activities such as water sports, heritage sites and sustainable living, at your disposal. Know a few of such marvels one by one here.
Away from the hustle bustle of vast cities, this place is a tranquil town on the southern coast of India.
1. Beaches
Saying that Puducherry is a swimmers delight, won’t be an exaggeration. The place has five major beaches- Auroville Beach, Paradise Beach, Promenade Beach, Serenity Beach and Veerampattinam Beach. Auroville Beach is popularly known as Auro beach due to its proximity to Auroville- an experimental township. Â This beach is situated around 12 km from the main town of Puducherry. Auroville Beach is ideal for swimming or playing on the shore or just taking a lazy stroll due to its small waves and surface water. Another beach- Paradise Beach, lives up to its name completely, it is truly paradise. This beach is perfect for playing beach volleyball. However, it can only be accessed from the Chunnambar Resort via boat because it is a private beach. While you can enjoy relaxed strolling on Promenade Beach and surfing on Serenity beach, Veerampattinam Beach is perfect for trying some water sports. Experience here the underwater world by doing scuba diving and snorkeling and discover underwater caves colorful fishes and unique aquatic flora and fauna.
Experience here the underwater world by doing scuba diving and snorkeling and discover underwater caves colorful fishes and unique aquatic flora and fauna.
2. Heritage Walks
If you are a fan of heritage sites then in that case Puducherry is the perfect place to satisfy that curious child in you. This Union territory of India not only has a few monuments in the name of heritage, but the town itself is a heritage town. Possible reason behind this might be unmistakable French connection and the old-fashioned colonial heritage buildings. It is a blend of different cultural influences that have been expressed in its architecture and streetscapes. The town is planned on a grid pattern. In the past, it was divided in two sections- French & Tamil. In the French Town, the roads are surrounded by colonial-esque buildings, consisting of stately gates and long compound walls. The exterior of the buildings often has tall windows coloured in pink, yellow and cream. Not only it is an architectural genius, the town is also a synthesis of eastern and western culture and ancient and modern spiritual disciplines. One of such examples is Auroville. Known as ‘city of Dawn’ the township runs on the principles of sustainability, love and peace. Auroville was first built in 1968 and designed by French architect Roger Anger with the idea of building a futuristic city. It brings forth people from the world, cutting across the boundaries of cultures and traditions, living together in peace and harmony. Around two-thirds of the residents here are non-Indians.
If you want time out from the stressful life, Sri Aurobindo Ashram, located on Rue de la Marine, is the best place to practice some meditation and Yoga. Other heritage sites in the town include Alliance Francaise De Pondicherry, Ananda Rangapillai House, Foyer Du Soldat And French Consulate to name a few.
If you wish to experience revered places of different religions, Puducherry has a lot to show.
3. Relish You Faith
Apart from modern tourist attractions like beaches, heritage walks and museums, the town also offers faith-based tourism. If you wish to experience revered places of different religions, Puducherry has a lot to show. On one hand there are beautiful and massive Hindu temples like The Kamatchiamman Temple, Kanniga Parameswari Temple, Sri Gokilambal, Thirukameshwara Temple and Vedhapureeswarar Temple on the other hand there are Churches like Church of Our Lady of Good Health and The Basilica of The Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mosques such as Jamia Mosque and Meeran Mosque.
If you are a fan of heritage sites then in that case Puducherry is the perfect place to satisfy that curious child in you.
Puducherry has vibes, different than rest of the country. It is fast gaining popularity amongst the travel enthusiasts. A considerable number of People here speak five languages including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, English and French. Your journey will certainly be fulfilling after having Pondy experience, to sum it up.
