Pondicherry / Puducherry (Tamil Nadu)

Hotels & Resorts in Pondicherry
Hotel	Grade	Rate per couple	Plan
The Promenade	********	Tariff	Room with breakfast.
Le Dupleix	********	Tariff	Room only
Calve Heritage Hotel	*******	Tariff	Room only
Anandha Inn	*******	Tariff	Room with breakfast.
Hotel Mass	*******	Tariff	Room with breakfast.
The Soorya Beach Resort	*******	Tariff	Room with meals.
Lotus Comfort Hotel	**	Tariff	Room with breakfast.
Hotel du Parc	**	Tariff	Room only
The Oasis Resort	**	Tariff	Room only

Pondicherry embodies emerald green waters, tall, swaying palms, the sky mirroring varied hues, and diverse cultures entwining to form a beautiful union. The essence of Pondi is a blend of spiritual aura, French colonial heritage, Tamil culture and a cosmopolitan flair of many nationalities.

Pondicherry…………..the land of emerald green waters……..tall, swaying palms…where the sky mirrors varied hues…….and diverse cultures entwine to form a beautiful union. This breathtaking locale continues to remain untouched and virgin. It provides a blend of spiritual aura, French colonial heritage, Tamil culture and a cosmopolitan flair of many nationalities. Pondicherry needs to be experienced for one to truly understand its essence.

Pondicherry Tamil Nadu

The old colonial part of the town flanks the seashore boulevard. The Government Park forms the centre. It provides a cool and lush green anchor, around which most of the government buildings are situated. Colonial buildings, tracing back to the 18th century, lie along a grid of straight clean streets. These house French institutions, private homes and businesses, and the sprawling premises of the famous ‘Sri Aurobindo Ashram’. This bustling, yet tranquil town has quiet beaches and peaceful resorts to the north and south.

Monuments abound in Pondy and each one has a story to tell. The Aayi Mandapam at the centre of the Park is the most well-known monument. There is also the French Consulate in Pondicherry and several cultural organisations, and even the Foyer du Soldat for war veterans of the French Army. Of the cultural organisations, the French Institute, the Alliance Francais and the Ecole Francais d'Extrème Orient are noteworthy.

Pondy is a perfect base to explore the rich destinations around it - Auroville, the international City of Unity; the imposing Gingee Fort, the holy temple towns of Kanchipuram, Tiruvannamalai and Chidambaram, the heritage sculptures and magnificent rock temples of Mamallapuram, and the cool and lush hill stations of Yercaud and Kodaikanal.

Pondy is a favourite shopping destination of the southern metropolitan cities. It is known for its traditional doll-making, textiles and silks and also world class brands in leather, pottery, aromatics, fashion and handmade paper. A new trend is the proliferation of exquisite boutiques offering lifestyle products and export quality antique furniture galleries.

Around Pondicherry :

SRI AUROBINDO ASHRAM : Ashram known renowned for the Integral Yoga, meditation and a place to attain inner peace was established by Sri Aurobindo, a revolutionist who turned poet came from Calcutta. Mother Alphorns, a Paris born painter and musician who became Sri Aurobindo's disciple had been instrumental for many of the literary work created by Sri Aurobindo.

BEACH PROMENADE : The 1.5 km long promenade running along the beach is the pride of Pondicherry. On the sea front are several landmarks; the stautues of Mahatma Gandhi, Jeanne d'arc and Duplex, the elegant war memorial raised by the French, the heritage building 'Marie Hall", the 27m tall old light house and many more colonial architecture adds charm to this beach avenue.

AAYI MANTAPAM AND BHARATHIAR PARK : A park named after the great Indian revolutionary poet Sri Bharathi and the monument constructed during the French rule in Pondicherry was known as 'Place du Pantheon' is now known as 'Aayi Mantapam' is a beautiful land mark located adjacent to the beach avenue.

MUSEUM : The Museum brings back memorie of the glorious past of Pondicherry, from the days of the Roman era down to the present days, providing glimpses of the art and culture of the people of this region during he Pallava, Chola and Vijayanagar days.

BOTANICAL GARDEN : The Botanical Garden in Pondicherry was crated i 1826, once called as 'Colonial Park'. When he garden came under he control of the eminent botanist Perottet 'rare and interesting plants' were procured from Calcutt, Madras, Ceylon and Reunion. Over 1500 species are found in this garden.

TEMPLES & CHURCHES : There are 32 temples in Pondicherry. Manukula Vinayagar temple, Sri Vedapureeswarar temple, Kamatchiamman Temple and Varadaraja perumal temple are well known and located in the heart of the city. Apart from these temples there are 18 ashrams founded by Siddhars (saints), they were known for their 'Thapas' and spirituality.

CHURCHES : French missionary zeal in the 17th and 18th centuries saw a number of imposing churches built here. The Sacred-Heart church, situated on the south bouleward, stands out as an oriental specimen of Gothic splendour. It contains rare and beautiful stained glass panels depicting saints and events from the life of Christ. The immaculate conception cathedral, on Cathedral street, was first built in 1692. Our Lady of Angels church is notable for its masonry and still masses are done in French.

LAKE AND RIVER BOAT RIDE : Chunnambar - a river closer to the sea filled with back waters is a charming place to take a boat ride during the sunrise and sunset of the day. Ousteri Lake is located 10 kms west to the town attracts lots tourists with its beautiful country background and the migrating birds on season.

COTTAGE INDUSTRIES : Pondicherry is known for its cottage industries spread around the town and nearby villages. Paintings, terracotta arteries, potteries, agarbathies, hand woven textiles, hand made paper, paper made articles, wooden and stone carvings, jewelleries and many more artistic articles are available around town. There are so many handicrafts shops in the downtown and if you are interest you can directly visit to the manufacturing places spread around Auroville.

SHOPPING : It is a pleasant experience to shop in Pondicherry. Almost all the leading brands are available in just a walk around the downtown. Major Silk showrooms, jewelleries, silver ware, leather articles, furniture's and home need gadgets and plenty of souvenirs are available in a single road called Nehru street. PICK UP A CITY'S SHOPPING GUIDE AT OUR RECEPTION COUNTER.

AUROVILLE - THE INTERNATIONAL TOWNSHIP : Auroville was inaugurated on 28th February 1968 with representation from 124 countries. Auroville was envisioned as a Universal Town, where people from different nationalities, faiths and beliefs, can live in peace and harmony.

It is an attempt to realize a new society as envisioned by Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. Nearly 2000 people from 35 countries are living here to realize human unity and transformation of consciousness.

Auroville welcomes people from all parts of the world to live together and explore cutltureal, educational, scientific, spiritual and other pursuits in accordance with the Auroville Charter.

Auroville information centre and Matri Mandir (meditation hall with the world's biggest man made crystal ball) are the places open to most of the visitors. It offers less to see and lots to experience.

OTHER BEACHES : Reach a sandy virgin beach by boat on the Chunnambar river. Auro Beach near the ECR is accessible by road.

Connectivity :

By Air Chennai has an international airport, which directly connects to the highway to Pondicherry.

LOCATION : Pondicherry is located about 135 kms south from Chennai on the Coramandal Coast, well connected by a coastal road via Mahabalipuram. From Bangalore it is about 360 kms towards east well connected by road via Tiruvannamalai.

From CHENNAI : 135 kms on East Coast Road, connected via Neelangarai, Mahabalipuram, Marakkanam. Another route on the National Highway (NH 45) connects via Chengalpet and Tindivanam.
There are frequent buses plies from Chennai to Pondicherry almost every 15 mins. An excellent facility of Cab service is also available from the Chennai International Airport. There is exclusive travel counter managed by Pondicherry Tourism available for your asistance.

Pondicherry is also connected by a train plies everyday from Chennai to Pondichery. The train covers Pondicherry from Chennai in 5-6 hours where as by road it takes 3-4 hours time.

From BANGALORE : 360 kms towards east from Bangalore. The best way to travel from Banagalore is by road. The well laid FOUR WAY road till Krishnagiri and TWO WAY from their till Pondicherry give a pleasant driving experience.

From Bangalore via Hosur, Krishnagiri, Tiruvannamalai, Gingee, Tindivanam, Pondicherry can be reached in 6 hours. There are plenty of buses operated by private and government plies every day and night between Bangalore and Pondicherry.