It’s tall but abandoned structure can be seen from afar. . It is post lunch time, sun right above our heads, a little late realization but our timings are totally wrong. It takes about a couple of hours to leisurely explore the French Quarter, looking out for the best preserved buildings and the prettiest lanes, and is the best place to start your exploration of the best places to visit in Pondicherry. This is perhaps the real colonial version of Palais de Mahe. Queues here are very long when pooja (prayer) times are on, and everything is pretty well organised. See more ideas about Pondicherry, Puducherry, French colonial. Auroville is open from 9am to 5.30pm (auroville.org). Auroville is near Pondicherry, which had been a French colony. In front of the lighthouse is a statue of Gandhi surrounded by granite monoliths and with great sea views. The Matrimandir has an urn in the middle with soil from all 124 countries who had representatives present at the time of inauguration and can only be approached by members of the community for the purpose of meditation. But the renewed interest from locals, The owner was the first person to take a leap of faith, but many followed. With this our weekend trip from Bangalore to Pondicherry concluded. The. At 4m tall, it is the third largest Gandhi statue in the world. Hence I recommend spending at least a night or 2 in the Pondicherry city preferably at the boutique hotels at French quarter to absorb the culture. The Muslim Quarter is located at one end of the old city and is much smaller. It is an experiment because it has not ended yet and there are no express results, but the idea is to learn from it. I didn’t see the prismatic crystal; my wife spotted it, but said she didn’t feel that it emanated any special energy. This is a photographer’s paradise and the best expression of India. There is Gandhi Memorial, Saint Joan of Arc Statue, French world war I memorial, Kargil war memorial, Pondicherry beach, rock beach all on the same stretch. Ironically, they are both outside the French Quarter. Building on its success, waiting lists for all the benefits of Auroville are also growing. My favorite place in the Tamil Quarter is the Grand Bazaar also known Goubert Market. including the few cafes and restaurants and the shops selling organic cosmetics, incense, clothing, handmade pottery, etc. We didn’t use auto as we had a plan to rent a 2 wheeler from Vijaya Bike rentals and its barely a half kilometer distance from the bus stand. Going to reset, Breath in and out.. it’s just the full moon , Tapis rouge de patate douce #batatadoce #sweatpota. In about 1-2h depending where in Chennai your journey starts, you can arrive in Pondi, as the locals refer to it. Continue your walking tour of the french Quarter at the. We moved to the nearest sightseeing place – serenity beach, The beach was not up to our expectations as local people were sitting and drinking alcohol in public, and this was the primary reason why the beach was unclean. The temple name translates as the temple near the sand pond and is renowned for its elephant God which gives blessings to the devotees everyday. Disclaimer: This page may contain affiliate links. After exploring the center itself, make sure to spend some time admiring the facades of the rest of the buildings in the street. The sea is lapping gently on my left, whilst on my right a set of aristocratic buildings line up along a road that has no traffic; amazingly, this seaside promenade is pedestrianized. This is my selection of the best places to stay in Pondicherry. The NGO INTACH worked a lot in Pondicherry to preserve the old buildings and heritage of the white … Enjoy their private beaches and just chill. The restaurant makes homemade food with ingredients grown at Auroville and has a. too. . Walking Tours are offered on Friday Saturday and Monday at 10.30 am and at 2.30 pm. The highlight of Auroville is the Matrimandir (Temple of the mother). Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. She traveled to Pondicherry to meet who would become her mentor, Sri Aurobindo, with whom she created the Aurobindo Ashram in Pondi in 1926, and when he died, she decided to create a community based around their teachings. The articles, information and suggestions here are based on our personal experiences. Boundaries. It is. So, what is so special about Lakshmi. We arrive at Chennai Airport in the wee hours of the morning, Hop into our pre-booked cab and head towards Puducherry / Pondicherry / Pondy. Auroville is the largest existing eco-city attempt in the world. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The best way to enjoy the entire sea view is with a drink from the rooftop restaurant-bar of, Inland from the sea promenade there are a few other places to visit. Because of its proximity of the capital of the Tamil Nadu State, and the great roads, Pondicherry is one of the best day trips from Chennai. Photography: We have a very enthusiastic and talented photographer in our group, hence I have borrowed all the pictures on this page from her collection. After that, walk a few more streets down and observe the streetscapes that give name to the quarter between Cazy and Mullah Streets. I would recommend auroville visit early morning or late evening. Before this and other properties started to refocus on the tourism potential of its heritage, Pondi was a rather peaceful and sleepy coastal town. and opened in 1826. Its a magnificent property, beautiful restaurant, delicious food, sports activities and green lush grasslands. Building peace in the minds of men and women: the same mission as UNESCO. Located in the south of India near the former French colony Pondicherry, it brings together in the same place the 100 communities scattered across the globe that I have been able to see until today. What has already been collected for the international zone is on display in the center of the visitor’s part. , the NGO that has done, and continues to do, most to preserve Pondicherry’s heritage by lobbying, teaching, educating and working on research projects to conserve its past in the best way possible. This hotel has an amazing location right by the promenade and the sea and a great rooftop with the best views in town. To become an Aurovilian, you must prove yourself by staying there for at least a year as a volunteer and respect the Auroville charter: Auroville has greatly changed its organic region. Look out also for the Old Court Building which is now under renovation but was a functioning institution in various roles from 1766 until 2008. The French brought with them Catholicism and Pondicherry is one of the few places in India where you can see such a high concentration of Catholic churches. With 50 years of experience and the support of the Indian ministry and institutions like UNESCO, Auroville has managed to build a social and economic system that is approaching stability. There are a few ice cream shops selling creamy gelato and open air cafes with great coffee. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. It is a place where people from different cultures, nationalities come to attend several workshops, therapies, and sessions to seek inner peace. White Town, although obviously referring to the French settlers, is also the name given to Chennai’s original British Settlement around Fort. The French colony of Pondicherry has a typical French colonial style of buildings with compounds and high walls. It’s tall but abandoned structure can be seen from afar. and the park around it. I had mentioned in my previous post that the remnants of the French colony of Pondicherry can only be seen in 10% of the total area of the union territory. This is not just a dining spot with great views but also a historical customs house. The French name, Auroville, means the city of Sri Aurobindo, who is the founder of the community along with a French lady called Mirra Alfassa, and also known as “The Mother.” Auroville – a town with no Religion, no Racism, and a place for youth that never ages. This temple is an incredibly intricate building which does not look much from the outside but is an explosion of color inside. The quarters are beautiful with tree lined streets, and gorgeous mustard–coloured villas. Part of the CGH Hotels group with other properties around the south of India, this is a boutique hotel set in a modern house designed to look like the old French mansions. When we think about the Weekend gateway for a Couple of Days from Bangalore, there are a lot of places that come in our mind, like Mysuru, Chikmangaluru, Sakhleshpur, Mahabalipuram, The Grand Canyon of India, and many more. It is best to stop there on your way down from Chennai to Pondi because it makes for a great lunch break spot. This Beach is located next to the French colony, the architecture, cleanliness is worth watching, the place is serene and will take you in memories of James bond movies ( did you recall the tune?). Built inside a monumental porch referred to as Mandapam, this is the spot where the fountain that supplied water to the city was. The colonial style French villas have huge compounds, grand walls and majestic doors. There are a few buildings and place worth stopping by in the French Quarter. India isn't known for being cool, calm and collected. First is the Ecole Francaice d’Extreme-Orient, which is a research institution focused on the study of Indology and has a beautiful courtyard. Interesting story here as well (I really love stories don’t I?? Also there is graffiti on the ground as well as on the walls at several places here. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Pondicherry is one of the most fascinating states in India. original British Settlement around Fort. Best time to visit: Pondicherry has a warm climate all year long. When you are done exploring, don’t miss the chance to have lunch at. 2 days trip to from Bangalore to Pondicherry, 4 Time Observatories or Jantar Mantar in India, Best Beaches In India- Uncovering the Best Beaches - Lifetime Traveller, Best Beaches in India on East Coast | SmileyTraveller, Weekend Food and Falls Journey | SmileyTraveller, 5 Best Beaches of India on the Eastern Coast, Pasta shapes with Pronunciations & Pairings, Travel Route  –  Bangalore- Hosur -Thiruvannamalai – Pondicherry. All Rights Reserved. We hired one of their senior staff members, an Urban Planner by profession, who walked us through the French Quarter and told us about all the main landmarks. Queues here are very long when pooja (prayer) times are on, and everything is pretty well organised. This meditation center is about 1-1/2 walking distance from visitors point, electric shuttles are also available for people with health complications.