Introducing Puducherry                    (Pondicherry)            

    

Nestled amidst lush greenery, wide avenues, and classic French architecture, Puducherry (formerly known as Pondicherry) is a seaside town that houses quaint buildings, pristine beaches and forms an eclectic cultural mix of the traditional past and the modern present.

Puducherry, or ‘Pondy’ as it is more fondly known, is a former French colonial town that continues to retain much of its old worldly charm. A popular weekend destination, Puducherry is designed in a grid pattern, with a French quarter and a Tamil quarter. The French quarter is characterised by the wide roads and colonial-style buildings. The Tamil quarter is recognizable with its open verandahs and distinct Indian heritage.

Getting There:

The best way to reach Puducherry is by road. It is well connected to major cities. You can either book a taxi or take the Express bus from Chennai’s Koyembedu bus stand. The journey takes approximately 3 to 4 hours by bus. There are several private buses as well.

The closest airport is Chennai. Other airports are in cities such as Bangalore, Madurai or Trichy. From the airport, there are taxi services available.

If you would like to travel by train, the nearest station to Puducherry is Villipuram. The trains connect to the city of Chennai.

 Climate

The summer months are from March to July with temperatures varying between 35°C to 40°C. The monsoon season is from July to October- November, with the rains bringing much relief to the heat. The winter months are from December till February, with a temperature of about 30°C.

The winter season is usually the tourist season in Puducherry, due to the pleasant weather. While the summer months tend to be very hot, the evening breeze from the sea makes up for the humidity.

What to see

Sri Aurobindo Ashram

The Sri Aurobindo Ashram is well-known in Puducherry for its spirituality. The ashram’s philosophy is based on the power of yoga as its founder Sri Aurobindo Ghose, one of India’s biggest poet and philosopher, discovered the spiritual realm after arriving in Puducherry. After his death, the Ashram was run by his Chief Disciple Mirra Alfassa, (also known as “The Mother”). Their mortal remains are housed in the Ashram’s main building. The Ashram is open to the general public everyday between 8 am to 12 pm and again from 2 pm to 6 pm. Children below the age of 3 are not allowed to enter the Ashram. Photography is prohibited unless you obtain permission from the Ashram.

Auroville

The idea of Auroville was conceived by The Mother, the disciple of Sri Aurobindo. The city houses more than 2,000 people, most of them non-Indians. The idea behind the city was to build a city where people of goodwill can live together in harmony and peace. The residents are involved in agriculture, handicrafts, education and healthcare. For more information, you can check the Auroville website www.auroville.org

Beaches

The town has four main beaches and all of them are popular with both tourists and locals. The beaches are well-maintained and clean and not crowded. The beaches to visit are Promenade, Paradise beach, Serenity beach and Auroville beach.

Museums

The museum of Puducherry is open 6 days a week. Mondays are holidays, along with National holidays. The museum is open from 10 am to 5 pm. It features a significant collection of rare sculptures made from bronze and stone from the Pallava and Chola empires.

Shopping

Due to the low sales tax levied on goods, shopping at Puducherry is a true delight for anyone. There are several stores and botiques that cater to a wide range of tastes. The main shopping areas are Mahatma Gandhi Street, Nehru Street, Anna Salai, and Cathedral Street. You can pick up textiles, aromatic candles, incense sticks, pottery items, handicrafts, and a variety of jams, pickles and other preserves that are uniquely ‘Pondy’.