Auroville Globe
Auroville was founded as a project of the Sri Aurobindo Society on Wednesday 28 February 1968 by Mirra Alfassa, "The Mother". She was spiritual collaborator of Sri Aurobindo, who believed that "man is a transitional being". Mother expected that this experimental "universal township" would contribute significantly in the "progress of humanity towards its splendid future by bringing together people of goodwill and aspiration for a better world.
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. The purpose of Auroville is to realize human unity."
Sri Aurobindo
The Sri Aurobindo Ashram located on Rue de la Marine, is one of the most well known and wealthiest ashrams in India, with devotees from India and all over the world flocking towards it for spiritual salvation. Its spiritual tenets represent a synthesis of yoga and modern science. It is open to the public daily between 0800-1200hrs and 1400-1800hrs. Children below 3 years of age are not allowed into the Ashram and photography is allowed only with permission of the Ashram authorities.
Manakula Vinayagar
Religion tourism is a popular trend among the tourists and hence ixigo brings to you all the prominent Hindu pilgrimages in Pondicherry right here. Check out information, location and other details about all the temples that you can visit during your stay in Pondicherry. Fulfil your spiritual quest by offering prayers at the religious sites. Some of the Pondicherry temples are quite ancient and considered highly sacred. Pilgrims turn up in large numbers to seek blessings of the deities to which these Hindu Mandirs are dedicated. You can check out all the essential information here and plan your trip to these shrines likewise. With scores of temples in Pondicherry, it can take a couple of days or more to pay a visit to all of them. During the festive seasons, there is a huge rush of pilgrims to these temples. So, make your hotel bookings in advance and choose the hotel location as per your convenience. On your quest of religion tourism, you can further visit the popular churches in Pondicherry.
Ousteri Lake
The century old man-made Ousteri Lake - also referred to as Osudu Lake - is situated about 10 kms from Puducherry town and has been recognized as one of the important wetlands of Asia by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and it is the most important freshwater lake in the Pondicherry region.
PTDC operates a small boat club at the lake. The 20-seater boats offer a 30min ride that allows visitors to enjoy the cool breeze and visual treats. If lucky, one could spot birds rarely seen in the region.
Pondicherry Bharathi Park Aayi Mandapam
Aayi Mandapam (Park Monument) is a white monument in Pondicherry, India built during the time of Napoleon III, Emperor of France. It is situated in center of Bharathi park. The monument commemorates the provision of water to the French city during his reign. It was named after a lady courtesan called Ayi. She destroyed her own house to erect a water reservoir to supply water for the city.
Pondicherry Beach
The most popular tourist destinations are the four beaches in Pondicherry, which are Promenade Beach (also known locally as the Rocky Beach), Beach, The Auroville Beach and Serenity Beach. Sri Aurobindo Ashram, located on rue de la Marine, is one of the most well known and wealthiest ashrams in India.
Pondicherry Botanical Garden
Established in the year 1826 by C.S. Perrotet, this 22-acre park is located favourably near the southern entrance of Pondicherry's New Bus Stand. Over 1500 species of plants populate this park – some of which are indigenous to the region and some brought from other parts of the world. To help to easily understand about the flora, each plant/tree has been labelled with common, scientific and locally called names. Do not miss to attend the musical fountain show that is organised twice in the evening (during weekends)..
Pondicherry Paradise Beach
Chunnambar is situated 8 kms from Puducherry, along the Cuddalore Main Road. The beach at Chunnambar also known as Plage Paradiso or 'Paradise Beach' is located near the mouth of the backwater. The sand is pristine and the water is clean.Chunnambar Beach and Backwater Resort, a PTDC enterprise, has boating, backwater boat tours, trekking and picnics on Paradise Beach for visitors and their friends and families.
Pondicherry Museum
Pondicherry Museum has a gallery with sculptures and has the remains of archaeological findings from the Arikamedu Roman settlement. 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 empires).The Bharathidasan Museum is the former house of the Pondicherry-born poet and playwright - Bharathidasan (1891–1960) (meaning "Disciple of Bharathi").[15] Bharathidasan's poems compare with Bharathi's in literary achievement and poetic fervour. He also wrote scripts for films on issues such as Dravidian culture and the rights of women.
Pondicherry Churches
Pondicherry is home to several famous Churches.One such example of a church is the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This church is full of eye pleasing paintings in stained glass and also has beautiful marble decorations.This church was supposed to have been erected in 1700s by French Missionaries And Church of Our Lady of Good Health Church of Capuchins holds the distinction of being one of the first churches in Pondycherry. Though this church has lost its old charm; it is still revered and houses an orphanage Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus situated on the south boulevard of Pondicherry in Puducherry, India, is an oriental specimen of Gothic architecture. It contains rare stained glass panels depicting events from the life of Christ and saints of the Catholic Church. In recent years it has become one of the famous pilgrimage spots for Christians.
pondicherry Arikamedu Historical Site pondicherry
Arikamedu, the ancient Roman trade centre Arikamedu, a fishing colony was used as a port for trading with the Romans and the Greco-Romans. An ancient Chola coin dating back to 1 B.C. suggests involvement of Cholas in various port related activities. Some names on seals that were found here have been mentioned in the Sangam literature as well. Besides maritime commerce, there seems to be evidence of inland trade with other 'megalithic' sites such as Kaveripattinam, Alagankulam, Musiri and Suttukeni which are situated along river valley routes. Jouveau-Dubreail identified .
Senji Fort
The Gingee Fort or senji fort is impossible to miss during a trip in Pondicherry. The fort is so fortified, that Shivaji, the Maratha king, ranked it as the "most impregnable fortress in India" and it was called the "Troy of the East" by the British. fort once ruled by Raja Desingh and his successors, and now in its irrecoverable ruins. It was a fortified strong hold built around the hills and on their tops in Gingee in 1200 AD, ruled by different Indian kings, later it fell and foreigners captured. The remains of the fort are left as monuments which decidedly depict and different cultures and civilization that existed these days.
Tiruvannamalai Temple
The temple at Tiruvannamalai is one of the biggest and grandest temples in South India. With the hill as back ground it gives the appearance of a fort to those who see it from a distance. It is unique on account of its stately towers, high rampart walls, broad quadrangles, spacious gateways, large mantapams and fine tanks. It has also much architectural importance and sculputural beauty.Tiruvannamalai should have been under the sway of the Pallava Kings who ruled from Kancheepuram before the ninth century A.D.
The towers, the pillars in the Mantapams and Vimananms consist of figures of Sculptures Excellence. In the side walls of the Entrance of East Gopuram there are dance poses and figures of Bewitching Beauty. Generally stone-Idols are fixed with what is called "Ashtabandana". But in this case it is "Swarnabandana" (Gold) which is of Special Importance. There are five inner rounds. Including what is called Madavilagam running just outside the temple walls and the four car streets and the path round the Giri the temple is said to have Seven Prakaras.
