Which are the must visit places in Pondicherry?

Answer 1

Although there are many places of interest, the following are the most notable :

Shri Aurobindo Ashram
Shri Aurobindo, the great seer, poet and prophet of the twentieth century, made Pondicherry his home from 1910 till his death in 1950. His vision and ideals continue to draw people from all over the world.

Auroville
Located 10 kms north of Pondicherry town, Auroville is envisioned as a Universal Town, where people from different nationalities, faiths and beliefs, can live in peace and harmony. The construction of this 'universal town' was started in 1968 under the guidance of The Mother, a Paris-born painter musician who became Sri Aurobindo's disciple and close companion from 1924 till his death in 1950.

Pondicherry Museum
On display are the findings of Arikamedu, the Chola bronzes and sculptures, glimpses of French heritage, specimens of modern and traditional handicraft, paintings, armouries, carvings and many other things of historical interest.

Chunnambar Resort - Water Sports Centre
Known for its virgin beaches and backwaters, Chunnambar has a Water Sports Centre.

Other places -
Botanical Garden
Villiayanur
Sri Gokilambal Thirukameswarar Temple
Mansion of Ananda Rangapillai
Eglise De Sacre Coeur De Jesus-

Answer 2

I think 2-3 days is enough. The must see places are Auroville Matrimandir, Pondicherry Museum, Gandhi Park, Botanical Gardens, Manakula vinayagar Temple, Pondicherry Beach and Boat House. You can enjoy shopping at Nehru street and MG Road.

Answer 3

am a resident of pondicherry.The places of main interest are

1.Aurbindo Ashram
2.Auroville which is a big meditation center
3.Pondicherry beach
4.Pondicherry Botanical Gardens
5.Pondicherry Museum
6.Auroville beach
7.manakula Vinayagar Temple if u want to

Answer 4

I am not gonna list out any names on the Pondicherry tour guide list, coz i tired it and wasn't exactly wat i expected. But its remains my favourite spot in the entire world. I tired the boat house... which iam not looking forward for the rest of my life after my first trip. To be frank after entering i realised i just wanted to go back and returned.

Ok this is not a discouragment... Ofcourse the other spots... are visitable.

But wat u must not miss at all is the Beach.... Oh yeah how can anybody ever miss that beauty. But if u wanna make it more memorable.... have lunch or dinner in a sea view hotel which are in plenty. And if u looking forward for some tradtional souvenirs... u gotta go to the shop on the beach.... sorry forgot the name.... its just right opposite to the Gandhi statue(On the right of the statue , opposite side)... ok now i remember it's name is "Podhumai " ( i hope i spelled it right). And u can definetly shop a lot in Pondy... and i would advise... take a walk and just enjoy the simple, beautiful street.

Do not expect anything to be great.... expectations leads to disappointments. Simple is beautiful.

Answer 5

» Beaches
Chunnambar, 8 km from Pondicherry, has a beach named Paradise.

» Gardens
Botanical Garden
The French established this in 1826. The park is open 6 am-6pm.

» Museums
Pondicherry Museum
this museum has an interesting collection of a variety of exhibits, ranging from French furniture to bead making, French Governer Dupleix’s bed and the pousse pousse, the French version of the rickshaw. The museum is open 9 am-5 pm, Tuesday to Sunday.

» Other Attractions
Auroville Representatives from 121 countries attended the opening ceremony for Auroville in February 1968. The brainchild of The Mother and designed by the French architect Roger Anger, the township was built with a spirit of idealism that is evident even today. The huge Matri Mandir is the soul of Auroville, but is open to visitos only on Sundays, between 2.30-5.30 pm. But you can roam around the gardens, the amphitheatre, café, bookshop and most important Boutique d’Auroville. Auroville is 20 km from Ponicherry.

» Religious Places
Aurobindo Ashram
Situated on the Rue de la Marine, this is where the Aurobindo Society conducts its various educational and cultural activities. The ashram was founded by Sri Aurobindo in 1926 and its philosophy represents a blend of yoga and modern science. The samadhis (tombs) of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother are situated here below a fragrant frangipani tree.

The ashram is open daily and one can glimpse the rooms where Sri Aurobindo and the Mother meditated daily. Sri Aurbindo’s samadhi is open daily between 11.30 am and 11.45 am, but make prior appointment by calling 2339648. Email: [e-mail].

Drowpathiamman Temple
This famous temple’s deity is fed meat and wine to give it strength to protect the temple. It is renowned for its 24-day Festival of Fire.

Immaculate Conception Church
Built in 1791, the church is a striking example of medieval Jesuit architecture. There is a stunning entrance, and on entering the church one is overcome by a sense of peace and quiet.

Sacred Heart Church
This is a classic Gothic structure with bright stained glass windows.

Notre Dame de Anges Church
This completes your church-hopping in Pondicherry. While indoors, do look at the spotless white walls. They are made with limestone and eggshells!

Manakkula Vinayaka Temple
This temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesha, one of the most popular Gods in the Hindu pantheon. The walls of the temple are decorated with lovely friezes of Ganesha in various manifestations.

Answer 6

More than anything else, the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, where Sri Aurobindo and the Mother lived for the most parts of their lives, attracts tourists to this little city. The Pondicherry Museum is home to some of the most exquisite collections on architecture and sculpture. Pondicherry also has a pleasant beach alongside promenade and historical monuments. Some of the other interesting sites include the Bharti and Bharthidasan Memorial museums and the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.



Sri Aurobindo Ashram



The ashram was founded in 1920 when Sri Aurobindo reached Pondicherry, a French colony and put in place his ideas of peaceful community. The ashram for long was run by his French companion Mirra Alfassa, universally known as the Mother. Each member of the Ashram is free to mediate the way he or she prefers; there are no rituals, obligatory practices, and systematic instruction. The ashram is a diversified community with more than 1,200 members out of which 400 are the students of the Centre of Education. To support the administrative system of the ashram, it has various departments to look after basic needs of the members. In addition, there are farms and gardens, printing press, libraries, and a number of small-scale industries.

The ashram houses the samadhi of Sri Aurobindo and the mother. It is open to everyone for fixed hours everyday.



Pondicherry Museum



Situated in the Government Park, the Pondicherry Museum has a good sculpture gallery and a section of archaeological finds from the Roman settlement at Arikamedu. There is also a French section charting the history of the colony. The objects include the four-poster bed in which Dupleix is believed to have slept. There is also a superb collection of snail shells from the Pondicherry region.



Promenade



A lovely beach within bike range from the city centre in the north is a pleasant surprise. With a 1.5-km-long promenade, this is the most delightful part of the city. A stroll, sunbath, or a swim enhances the quality of experience. On the beachfront are located many sites such as a statue of Mahatma Gandhi surrounded by eight exquisitely carved monolithic pillars and a war memorial.



Bharti and Bharthidasan Memorial Museum



Bharti Museum is located at Eswaran Koil Street, the place where the legendary Tamil poet lived after arriving here in 1908 in search of refuge. Bharthidasan Memorial Museum is situated at Perumal Koil Street where Kanakasubburatnam, a disciple of Bharti, lived. He changed his name to Bharthidasan, meaning the disciple of Bharti, and his home is now the second important place of literary pilgrimage in Pondicherry.



Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus



Built in the Gothic style, this massive church is one of the most beautiful churches in Pondicherry.



Weekend Trips/Excursions



Pondicherry is the part of a region rich in architectural and cultural wealth. The grand temples of this region are a matter of great pride. Auroville was established as a tribute to Sri Aurobindo. Chidambaram is a temple town in Tamil Nadu famous for its temple of Nataraja, the dancing form of Lord Shiva. Thiruvannamalai is also an important pilgrimage site for the Shaivites from across South India who visit it to pay their reverence at Arunachaleshwara Temple.



Auroville



Situated just across the border in the state of Tamil Nadu, Auroville, about 10 km away from Pondicherry, is a unique experience in itself. The place, also known as 'City of Dawn,' was founded in 1968 as a tribute to Sri Aurobindo. It is a lush green cover created over 25 years by sheer hard work and dedication. The place is spread over 50 sq. km and has a population of over 900. The Mata Mandir situated in the centre of the town is the spiritual centre with a 30-metre-high globe with lotus-shaped foundation urn.



Chidambaram



Chidambaram is a temple town situated in Tamil Nadu around 58 km off Pondicherry. The place is famous for its temple complex where the renowned Nataraja Temple is housed. Every year during Mahashivratri in February/March, the temple celebrates the Natyanjali Dance Festival.



Thiruvannamalai



Thiruvannamalai, situated around 107 km from Pondicherry, is home to the Arunachaleshwara Temple, which is one of the most important Shaivite temples in South India. The ashram of the famous saint Sri Ramanna Maharshi is situated at a distance of 3 km from the temple.



Events and Festivals



International Yoga Festival is held at Aurobindo Ashram in the month of January every year. Other important festivals of Pondicherry are Sani Peyarchi Festival, which is organized once in every three years, and Panguni Uthiram in the month of March-April every year.

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