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Pondicherry, officially known as Puducherry, is a Union Territory in South India. Formerly under French Rule, you can still see vestiges of French influence in the charming city even today. Pondicherry tourism offers a range of places to visit, suitable to every type of tourist. Pondicherry tour packages include visits to the many monuments this city boasts of, the White Town which houses colonial bungalows with impressive French architecture and the numerous beaches which provide spectacular sunrise and sunset vistas. You can walk along the promenade or pamper your taste buds at one of the many rooftop restaurants under the starry night. Winter months are pleasant and see tourists thronging to Pondicherry to enjoy the several must-see places and spend a relaxing vacation here. Here are some of the popular Pondicherry places to visit.
Explore your spiritual side at Pondicherry with a visit to Sri Aurobindo Ashram named after its founder Aurobindo Ghosh. Thousands of tourists from across the country flock to the ashram in pursuit of inner peace and spirituality. Set on sprawling grounds, the main building and library can be accessed only with a gate pass received from the Bureau Central or guest houses of the Ashram. People also come to pay respects to the samadhi of Sri Aurobindo and Mother, who looked after the ashram after his death.
Promenade Beach is a popular beachfront which stretches for 1.2 kms along the coast of Pondicherry. As you take a stroll along the beach and enjoy the cool sea breeze, you will find souvenir shops, street food and hawkers who sell local handicrafts. Apart from the usual beach activities, visitors can also enjoy traditional cuisine in restaurants found here. Other attractions along this beach include the War Memorial, statue of Joan of Arc, old lighthouse, Mahatma Gandhi statue and much more.
Rock Beach is the same as Promenade Beach which stretches for 1.2 kms along the coast of Bay of Bengal from the War Memorial to Dupleix Park. You can spend hours at the beach looking at the waves crashing against the black rocks or enjoy breath-taking sunrise and sunset views as you soak in the cool sea breeze. Nearby tourist attractions of Pondicherry are the War Memorial, statue of Joan of Arc, old lighthouse, Mahatma Gandhi statue and much more.
Pondicherry Museum houses an impressive collection of rare stone and notable lost wax bronze sculptures from the Pallava and Chola dynasties. This museum is ranked as one of the largest collections of Chola bronzes. It also has remains of archaeological excavations from the Arikamedu Roman trading port.
Auroville seeks to be a universal town where men and women of different countries and cultures rise above their differences and live in peace and harmony. The aim of Auroville is to attain human unity. Located around 15 kms from Pondicherry, Auroville lies in Tamil Nadu and was founded by Mirra Alfassa, a disciple of Sri Aurobindo, and fondly known as “Mother”. It started as a barren land which has now turned into a lush area thanks to all the green plantation work put in by the Aurovilleans. The architecture of this experimental township is very interesting with the Matrimandir lying in the centre of this circular town surrounded by gardens. The industrial zone, the cultural zone, residential zone and the peace zone lie just outside. This is one place you simply must visit in your Pondicherry trip packages.
French War Memorial is built to commemorate the brave soldiers who laid down their lives for their country in the First World War. It was erected in 1937 in and is located on Goubert Avenue in Pondicherry. Every year on 14th July, the memorial is illuminated brilliantly in memory of the martyrs.
Spread over 22 acres, the Pondicherry Botanical Garden is a popular tourist attraction. Home to more than 1500 exotic species of plants brought from different parts of the country and the world, this botanical garden is designed in elaborate French style with layered flower beds, beautifully trimmed trees, gravel pathways, an aquarium, a musical dancing fountain, a toy train and themed gardens.
Joan of Arc has a special place in history owing to her achievements at the tender young age of 19 years. A peasant girl who lived in medieval France, she is considered a heroine in French history because of her prominent role in the long-running war with England. However, later she fell into the hands of the English and was executed. Afterwards found innocent of all charges, she was declared a martyr. Due to the French influence in Pondicherry, a life-size statue of Joan of Arc, armoured and carrying a battle flag, made in white marble has been erected in the middle of a garden facing Our Lady of Angels Church, against the backdrop of the Bay of Bengal.
The Mahatma Gandhi Statue standing at four metre height in Pondicherry is the biggest Mahatma Gandhi Statue in Asia and is a major tourist attraction. The statue is surrounded by eight grand granite pillars. The statue situated in the middle of a beautiful garden opposite the old Pier and located at Dumas Street draws thousands of tourists every year.
Park Monument also known as Aayi Mandapam ranks high on Pondicherry tourist places. It has a very interesting story behind it about a prostitute called Ayi who tore down her house and built a well in its place which helped resolve the acute water shortage that the area faced. This incredibly beautiful white monument was built during the reign of Napolean III in the Greco Roman style and is located at the centre of Bharathi park in memory of Ayi. Surrounded by lush lawns, blooming flowers, fountains and granite benches, this is a must-see monument.
This lake also called Ossudu lake is a man-made 800 hectares fresh water lake which lies partly in Pondicherry and the rest in Tamil Nadu. Home to more than forty migratory birds which reside here throughout the year makes it a prominent tourist spot in Pondicherry. Feast your eyes to the different species of open-bill stork, tailor bird, golden oriole, painted stork and many more in this remarkable bird sanctuary.
This church is the first ever basilica in Pondicherry and is one of the important pilgrimage spots for Christians. Thousands of tourists throng to this impressive church which captures events from the life of Christ and the saints of the Catholic Church in the stained glass panels which make it an unmissable destination in your Pondicherry tour package. The church which is lit up brightly with chandeliers and flood lights is a sight worth watching during your city tour.
This immense church which overlooks the Bay of Bengal is a notable tourist spot in Pondicherry holiday packages. It is built in Greco-Roman architecture style with two square bell-towers on the front façade. A soft glow of light filters into the white marble altar through the eight lattice work glass windows of the dome, enhancing the divine ambience. It is the only church in Pondicherry where mass is offered every Sunday in the three languages of the city – Tamil, French and English.
Also called Meeran Mosque, Meerapalli is the oldest mosque in Pondicherry. It serves as a resting place of graves of the Meeran, the builder of the mosque as well as Suubhi Errai Perriar Mullah. The unique architecture of the mosque makes it a special destination in your Pondicherry trip. Constructed according to Gothic Islamic style, there are four pillars which support the dome. A bronze Kallasa is placed on the front facing minaret which accentuates the beauty of the structure.
Sadhana Forest is a beautiful world tucked away within the international community of Auroville, Pondicherry. It is dedicated to the reforestation of 70 acres of harshly eroded land. People from all across the globe come here to work together to practice an eco-friendly, sustainable and compassionate way of life. Veganism, solar energy, compost toilets, recycling and so much more is followed here making it an ideal and exemplary community.
If you have children with you, the Puducherry Science Centre and Planetarium simply should not be missed. Sprawled over 3 acres, this centre conducts exciting live experiments and demonstrations for its visitors. The Children’s Corner is specially designed to challenge and engage children with science kits and puzzles. The Fund Science Gallery is an interactive and interesting section for visitors of all ages. An absolute must-see!
Any guide will tell you that you most certainly will not want to miss this Shiva temple with a-75-feet tall, five tiered colourful ‘gopuram’ or gateway tower adorned with Hindu deities. The idol is considered to be ‘swayambu linga’ meaning that it manifested on its own and is worshipped in its current form. Experience spirituality here during your trip to Pondicherry.
Tucked away in a secret hidden garden, there exists a small universe called Golconde in Pondicherry. Recognised as the ‘first modernist building in India’ it is a private residence of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. Despite not having any mechanical cooling system, this structure is considered very cool and comfortable thanks to the science behind its construction which eases heat and humidity with the help of reinforced concrete. Find yourself engulfed in peace and tranquillity here.
