PONDICHERRY

Highlights

Pondicherry is a former French Colony which was settled in the 18th century.The Union Territory of Pondicherry consists of four areas: Pondicherry, Mahe, Karaikal and Yanam.

The main settlement of Pondicherry is situated on the Bay of Bengal, 197 kms South-east of Chennai. Karaikal is in Thanjavur, Mahe is a pocket in Kerala and Yanam is in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.

Pondicherry is well known as the seat of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. The present name comes form "Pudu cherri" or "New Village", but its ancient name was Vedapuri suggesting that the place was meant for Vedic learning. Though the French have left its territory it still has the French -connection flavor in its life.

Pondicherry Entrance

Pondicherry has one of the finest beach promenades in the country. The city presents an unusual combination of European culture and Indian traditions. French style buildings, parks, Ashram atmosphere in the Auroville region and a handful of good hotels make it a pleasant tourist destination.

Orientation

Pondicherry is well- laid out on a grid plan surrounded by a semicircular boulevard. A north -south canal divides the eastern side from the western -side. The Aurobindo Ashram, its offices, schools , guest houses, and many French Institutions , Restaurants are in the Eastern portion. The railway station is in the southern edge of the town and the bus stand is in the west along the main road called Lala Bahabhur street.

Pondy Seafront

Festivals

Pongal- this festival is celebrated in Janaury as a harvest festival by the agricultural community. Houses are cleaned, cattle are washed and special feasts are enjoyed on this day.

International Yoga Festival- this festival in Janaury gathers an international community on yoga. Seminars, shows and practices are conducted.

Maasi Magam- this festival in March is celebrated by the village of Kuruchikuppam near Pondicherry. Deities from some 38 villages are brought to Pondicherry in a musical procession and then they are immersed in the sea.

Mangani- Celebrated in July as a mark of respect for Karaikal Ammaiyar in Karaikal , a part of Pondicherry. Important events from the life of the Ammaiyar are enacted. Later a procession of the Shiva Idol is taken and pilgrims throw mango fruits over it.

Bastille Day- This Indo -French Pageantry is held on July 14th. Uniformed war veterans march through the streets singing the Marseillaise.

Fete De Pondicherry- this takes place from 15th to 17th of August. This is a cultural pageant coinciding with the Liberation day and the Independence Day. The Park Monument is brilliantly decorated with lights for the function.

Sri Aurobindo Ashram

Sri Aurobindo was born in Kolkata and had his education in England. Following a mystic inspiration he came to Pondicherry in 1910.He was a yogi. He made a synthesis of the various Yoga principles and called them the integral Yoga. Later Sri Aurobindo grew with the arrival of Mother, a French by birth in 1920. Aurobindo founded the Ashram in 1926 and it is one of the most sought after by the westerners and the affluent today. After Aurobindo's death in 1950, the Mother was the sole guide for the Ashram till her death in 1973. The Ashram hums with activities, as work is an offering to the ashramites to the Divine.

The main ashram building is on Marine street. It is surrounded by many educational and cultural buildings of the Aurobindo Society. The ashram is open daily from 8 am to noon and from 2 to 6pm

Samadhi of Sri Aurobindo and Mother- this is in the main premises of the Ashram, where Aurobindo and the Mother lived. The Samadhi is always decorated with flowers in charming patterns. It is nice place for meditation. The Mother's birthday and Sri Aurobindo's birthday are known as Darshan days when people visit the ashram and seek their blessings.

Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education - It is a wing of the ashram where education is imparted keeping the integral development of the student in view. The classes are from Kindergarten to Higher Courses.

Cottage Industries - Hand-made paper, perfumes, incense sticks, embroidery, batik, marble works are the different types of cottage works involved by the Ashram inmates.

Other Sights in Pondicherry

Museum - the Museum of Pondicherry is on the Romain Rolland Road and it displays some fine archaeological finds.

The Botanical Gardens - Established in 1826, it is a well-maintained exhibition of rich flora.The gardens are near the sacred heart Church. There is also an aquarium here.It is open from 10am to5 pm, from Tuesday to Sudnay.

French Institute - founded in 1965 by a French Ideologist, the institute involves research in Indian culture with a scientific aspect.

Churches- There are many churches and cathedrals around Pondicherry town. Notable among them is the large brown and white Sacred Heart Church which is at South Boulevard.

Temples - The Villianur temple of the 12 th century Lord Tirukameswara, the Tiruvandar temple of Lord Shiva with sculptures of the 7th century, the Manakula Vinayagar temple for Lord Ganesha, the Vedapuriswara temple for Lord Shiva are the temples worth mentioning.

Chunnambar Boat house- the backwater and lush greenery on both sides of the river Chunnambar which is 8kms from Pondicherry is an ideal setting for boating.

Excursions

Auroville

Along the borders of Tamilnadu and Pondicherry, 10kms from Pondicherry is this township meant for people aspiring for a higher goal in life. It was the brainchild of The Mother and was designed by the French Architect, Roger Anger. The foundation for it was laid in 1968.It is said that the opening ceremony of the project was attended by Representatives from 121 countries.

Sponsored by Sri Aurobindo Society, the township has done commendable experiments in collective living, agriculture, gardening and many other useful fields. The project has 70 settlements spread over 20kms and about 1200 residents including many foreigners. Accommodation is available at the guest house.
	The Mother

Matri Mandir is the physical and spiritual center for the Auroville. The meditation chamber here is lined with white marbles and houses a huge solid glass sphere. Suns rays are beamed into this sphere from a tracking mirror on the roof. Auroville can be reached from the coast road at the village of Chinna Mudaliar Chavadi. It can also be entered from the main Pondicherry to Chennai road at Promese.

Karaikal - this is situated on one of the estuaries of the river Cauvery in Thanjavur. It has a temple for Jataeswaraswami. A festival is held here every year in honor of Jayatsu, the eagle who tried to save Sita form Ravana on the way to Sri Lanka.

Mahe - This part in Kerala has a shrine dedicated to St. Teresa of Avila, built in 1736. It is the oldest Catholic Church in the Malabar region. The local Muslims, Hindus and Christians join together and are maintaining this Church.

Light House- this abandoned light house is 5kms form Pondicherry. It stands on the Red hills, west of the city and 29 meters above sea level. The light- house was replaced by a new one in 1979.

Arikamedu- this historical site is 4kms form Pondicherry. It has ruins that tell that the Romans traded with Indians in the 2nd century B.C. Ruins of the 18th century house of the French Jeusit Mission are also here.

Getting there

Air

The nearest airport is at Chennai, at 135kms.

Rail

Pondicherry is a Railway Terminus on the Southern Railway. It is connected by a meter gauge line with Villupuram, the nearest broad -gauge link, some 36 kms from it. It is connected by direct links with Chennai on the meter gauge line. The railway station is located one km downtown.

Road

Pondicherry is linked by an excellent network of roads with all major centers of the area.

Some important distances are:

The East Coast Highway is one of the best routes to Pondicherry from Chennai. The 163 kms travel passes through the coastal line and some important amusement parks like those of VGP, MGM, etc are on the way. There are frequent buses to Pondicherry from Chennai and Villupuram.

There are two main bus stands in Pondicherry, the State Express Bus stand and the General bus stand both ,located close to each other downtown.

Accommodation

Eating Out

Rice is the staple food in Pondicherry. Being a coastal town, Pondicherry has lots of fish dishes. The French cuisine is also available for the asking. There are good Chinese, Chettinad, South Indian, North Indian and French Cuisines along the Beach Road.

Some notable ones are:

Ajanta, Le Café, Seagulls on Beach Road

Rendezvous and Seagulls in Chunnambar

Tourism Information

Tourist information Office

Government of Pondicherry

40, Goubert Avenue, Ph: 339497