Tourism in Puducherry
Pondicherry is the capital city of The Union Territory of Puducherry and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in South India.
Recently after the advent of the internet and social media, Pondicherry has also become a popular weekend destination, which can be reached easily from the nearby cities such as Chennai and Bangalore, principally because lower taxation on alcoholic beverages makes drinking in the Union Territory enclave much less expensive than in neighboring states.
[2] Due to its costal influence, this town offers a vast watersport events and water based tourism such as Boathouse, Kayaking, e.t.c.
The Ashram was founded in 1926 by Sri Aurobindo Ghose, an Indian freedom fighter, poet, philosopher, and yogi.
[4] Mirra Alfassa (also known as ‘The Mother’: French: La Mère) was spiritual collaborator of Sri Aurobindo, who was born in Paris and was so inspired by his philosophy that she stayed on in Pondicherry.
With Sri Aurobindo's full approval she became the spiritual guru of the community, a position she held until her death.
Auroville (City of Dawn: French: Cité de l'aube) is an experimental township which is situated 8 km north-west of Pondicherry in East Coast Road Bommayapalayam.
[7] Auroville is meant to be a universal town where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and progressive harmony, above all creeds, all politics and all nationalities.
[8] During the inauguration ceremony of Auroville on 28 February 1968, soil from 124 countries was placed in a lotus-shaped urn and mixed to symbolize universal oneness.
The community is divided up into neighborhoods with English, Sanskrit, French and Tamil names like Aspiration, Arati, La Ferme, and Isaiambalam.
Every year on 14 July (Bastille Day) the memorial is beautifully illuminated and homage is paid to those brave martyrs.
The museum also has a collection of rare bronzes and stone sculptures from the Pallava and Chola dynasties and artifacts excavated from Arikamedu (an ancient port just 7 km from city that had trade links with the Roman Empire).
95 Perumal Koil Street, is the former house of the Pondicherry-born poet and playwright - Bharathidasan (1891–1960) (meaning "Disciple of Bharathi").
His mansion, completed sometime in 1738, is one of the oldest surviving buildings on the west side - then known as "natives' quarters".
Subramanya Bharathi (1882–1921), commonly known as Bharathiyar, was a Tamil poet-patriot who arrived in Pondicherry in 1908, a fugitive from British India.
The gate leading to the garden is reminiscent of French architecture and it stands out from its immediate surroundings because it is in the middle of the old Tamil town.
The Botanical Gardens were laid out in 1826 in the ornate French style, with pruned trees, flower beds and gravel lined paths and fountains.
Ousteri Lake (French: Lac Oustéri) is located towards north at a distance of 10 km from Pondicherry town (Pondicherry– Villupuram road).
The wetland covers an area of about 390 ha (lies in both Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry) with a wide range of aquatic species and is mainly a bird sanctuary.
The vegetation ranges from small herbs to trees, which supports migratory avifauna as well as native birds during summer and winter.
[18] The government of Pondicherry is proposing to set up an Ousteri National Park in the region acquiring lands from neighbouring villages.
Governor's Palace, the Legislative Assembly, Government Hospital, Ashram Dining Room, the Cercle de Pondichéry private club, and the old Hotel Qualité.
[24] The temple built in the typical Dravidian style, complete with brightly coloured "gopuram" and sculpted pillars.
Legend has it, that the temple was originally built for the idols of Rama, Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman, which were brought to the present site by fishermen, from the sea.
Sri Vadukeeswarar Temple (Thiruvandarkoil) is located in Thirubuvanai, a village in Pondicherry on the Puducherry - Villupuram route.
[25] Kanniga Parameswari Temple, located on M.G.Road, is dedicated to the goddess Shakti and has a blend of both Tamil and French architecture.
With its arched walls, ionic columns, stained glass windows and even some angel decorations, it is reminiscent of a French building.
Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, situated on the south boulevard, is an oriental specimen of Gothic architecture.
There is a bronze Kallasas in the top of the façade minaret and the graves of Meeran who built this mosque and Suubhi Errai Perrar Mullah's in it.
It is said that during the 17th century, as the mosque was in the white area, the French ordered it and the Islamic neighbourhood shifted to the southern end of the town.
