Hey Its The time of Christmas and New Year.India is very Lucky to have a place where the people can have a Memorable Moment Celebrating and which is also known for French Culture and that is PONDICHERRY.It has the nick names as "PONDY","PUDUCHERRY".It is one of the Union Territories.It is on the east coast about 162 kms south of Chennai (Madras) located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal.
How To Reach
The closest airport is in Chennai, which is around 135 kms from puducherry (approx. 2½ hrs Journey.puducherry is well connected to all districts and major towns of various states like Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Andra Pradesh. puducherry is best accessible by road, either by bus or by taxi. There are frequent buses, almost every 15 minutes in the day from Chennai’s new bus stand in Koyembedu.The express buses takes 3 ½ hours to reach puducherry.
Once we are landed in Pondy,we can find French,Americans,Dutch People.Pondy has a special ambience, not felt anywhere else in India.
Now Places To Be Seen
Sri Aurobindo Ashram
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 to it for spiritual salvation.The Ashram was set up in 1926 by Sri Aurobindo Ghose, one of India’s greatest philosopher-poets, who originally came to Pondy to escape persecution by the British. It was after arriving in puducherry, that he was drawn into the spiritual realm and discovered the power of yoga. His philosophy deeply rooted in yoga and his writings inspired a number of followers.
One of them was a Parisian mystic, painter and musician called Mirra Alfassa, who was so inspired by his philosophy that she stayed on in puducherry and was instrumental in establishment of the ashram. After Aurobindo’s death in 1950, the running of the Ashram was entrusted to his chief disciple and companion, Mirra Alfassa, (also known as ‘The Mother’). The idea of Auroville or the “City of Down” was conceived by ‘The Mother’. She died in 1973 at the age of 93.
The ashram’s influence can be felt in most of puducherry.The main ashram building is where the mortal remains of Aurobindo and the Mother are kept.Their ‘Samadhi’ or mausoleum, which is generally surrounded by supplicating devotees, is in the central courtyard under a frangipani tree and is covered daily with flowers.
Auroville
Auroville or the ‘City of Down’ was conceived as a utopian paradise by the Mother, the spiritual successor of Sri Aurobindo. The idea was to build a futuristic city where people of goodwill would live together in peace and harmony. Auroville came into existence in 1968. The Auroville Charter says “To live in Auroville one must be a willing servitor of the Divine Consciousness” and describes it as belonging to “nobody in particular, but to humanity as a whole and as being a place of constant progress and a bridge between the past and the future”.
Located around 8 km northwest of puducherry, it was designed by the French architect Roger Anger. Around 1900 people live in communes, with names like Grace, Serenity, Fertile, Certitude and Transformation.Two-thrids of the residents are non-indians.The Matri Mandir is set in an area of 62 acres and reflects the Mother spiritual beliefs. It was conceived as “a symbol of the Divine’s answer to man’s inspiration for perfection. Union with the Divine manifesting in a progressive unity”.
During the inauguration ceremony of Auroville on 28th February 1968, the soil of 124 countries was poured into a lotus-shaped an urn, to symbolize universal oneness. This urn is today kept in the Matri Mandir. This spherical marble chamber has a crystal placed inside it, (believed to be the largest of its kind in the world) reflecting the suns rays. The concentrated light acts as a focal point to aid mediation.
Now Its Time To Talk About Beaches:
There is no one who can say NO for Beaches.In Pondy We can find 4 Beaches.
Promenade :
The 1.5 km long promenade running along the beach is the pride of puducherry. There one can relax or take a stroll at any time of the day. On the sea front are several land marks. The War memorial cold anddispassionate throbbing the memory of last dreams, the statue of Joan of Arc blazing an inspiration, the heritage town hall, the statue of Mahatma Gandhi standing tall, Dupleix statue, old light house, the remains of the old pier, the old customs house, speak the splendor of the by gone era. The well furnished tourist information centre is situated in esthetically heritage building facing the sea to cater to the need of visiting tourists.
Paradise Beach :
Located 8 kms. from the town, along the Cuddalore Main Road this beach can be accessed from the Chunnambar Resort. Flanked by a quiet flowing creek on one side, the beach can only be accessed by boat.
Serenity beach :
This beach is a ten minutes drive to the north of the town. This virgin beach, with its serene surroundings is an ideal place to laze away your day.
Auroville Beach :
The Auroville Beach as the name indicates is close to Auroville. It is right off the ECR, opposite the road leading to Auroville. Located around 12 kms from the main puducherry town, its shallow waters and small waves make it an ideal place of swimming. It is a fairly popular destination on weekends. On weekdays it is relatively less crowded.
Mosques,Churches & Temples:In Pondy mostly people are of Americans and French,But still we can Find the Mosques,Churches and Temples.
Mosques in puducherry
Jamai Mosque
Meeran Mosque
Kuthbha Mosque
Mulla Mohhamed Mosque
Churches In puducherry
Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Church of the Capuchins
Notre Dame de’
The Notre Dame des Anges
Church of the Assumption
The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes
Church of Our Lady of Good Health
Temples in puducherry
Manakula Vinayagar Koil
Varadaraja Perumal Temple
Vedhapureeswarar Temple
Kanniga Parameswari Temple
Kamatchiamman Temple
Sri Gokilambal Thirukameshwara Temple
Gardens
Botanical Gardens
The Botanical Gardens are located south of the New Bus StandThe gate leading to the garden is reminiscent of French architecture and it stands out from its immediate surroundings because it is smack in the middle of the old Tamil town. The Botanical Gardens were laid out in 1826 in the ornate French style, with pruned trees, beautiful flower beds and gravel lined paths and fountains. The French introduced many exotic plants from all over the world, many of which thrived. With over 1500 species of plants, this could actually qualify as one of the best botanical gardens in South India.
The gardens also have a musical fountain which is active over the weekends, with two shows in the evening. Check for timings and the frequency of the shows as they may change depending on the season.
Bharathi Park
The Government Park or Bharati Park is in the green centre of the French Town and its lush trees provide ample relieve from the scorching sun on a hot summer day. With children playing in ponds, on their hill or in the traffic park, grown-ups sitting or lying on granite benches, families on a picnic and occassional sit-ins of striking citizens, the park is the most appreciated public area in town. Strolling under the cool trees is as dynamic as it gets. Unless people rush to the spot when an occassional movie is being shot.
The Aayi Mandapam has become the unmistakable centre from which four lanes divide the Park in four almost equal parts. The area is dotted with ancient sculptures and not so ancient statues. Around it stand a number of stately buildings:
The Raj Nivas - The residence of the Lt. Governor, formerly the Palace of the French Governor of puducherry.
The Museum - situated opposite the Raj Nivas on St Louis Street, houses an interesting collection of excavated artifacts from Roman Times and heritage from the French Period.
Towards the east, hidden behind a thick wall and huge trees lies the former French bandstand on which the French Army Band used to play.
On the southern side are the puducherry Art Gallery, Hotel Qualithe and the Chamber of Commerce, all built with a street front in colonial style. The UCO bank is surrounded by its own garden premises. A mighty stair invites you to the interior of a traditional bank.
Past the General Hospital on the western side are the Legislative Assembly and the Cercle de Pondichéry.
Turning back towards the Raj Nivas on the left is beautiful Villa Aroumé, which houses the Ashram Dining Room.
Keezhoor
There is a huge banyan tree near the village here. The canopy of the 400 year old tree covers a few acres at the very least. Kizhoor a border village is situated at a distance of nearly 28 kms from puducherry. It is a historic place in the sense that it is here only in the year 1954. Voting took place for the merger of puducherry with the Indian Union. As part of the celebrations of 50th Anniversary of De-facto puducherry, a permanent Exhibition of paintings relating to the merger of puducherry was opened at the Kizhoor Monument.
Chunnambar Backwater
Chunnambar is situated 8 kms from puducherry, along the Cuddalore Main Road. This tropical paradise is flanked by a quiet-flowing creek on one side. You can sail downstream to the sands and pitch up a cozy seaside tent for yourself. Overnighting within the tree-houses on the backwater banks provides a relishing experience of the great outdoors.
The beach at Chunnambar also known as Plage Paradiso, is located near the mouth of the backwater. The sand is pristine and the water, clean. It's and ideal place for sun bathing and beach sports.
A short, pleasant cruise into the sea from here could reward you with the memorable sight of playful dolphins in natural habitat, horsing around.
Chunnambar Beach and Backwater Resort, a PTTDC enterprise, has boating, backwater boat tours, trekking and picnics on Paradise Beach for friends and families.
The resort offers various kinds of rental boats (speed, motor, sail, rowed paddled and peddalled) in addition to beach volleyball and other beach sports.
Seagulls the multicuisine restaurant cum bar is a stone's throw from the backwater. It specialises in Chinese and Tandoori food. The restaurant too has a view of the backwaters. It is an ideal setting for a theme party or an offbeat get-together. It also serves food in the huts just outside the restaurant. You can also order a picnic lunch to the beach and you shall be served there in style.
Shopping:Any Trip would be bore without Shopping,
There are five major Shopping area's for visitors
Anna Salai
Nehru Street (J.N.Street)
Mahatma Gandhi Street (M.G.Street)
Cathedral Street (Mission Street)
Romain Rolland Street
puducherry is the favourite stomping ground of the passionate shopper. It's an octroi - free destination for everything from cars to consumer goods. In addition, there is an enticingly low incidence of sales tax. Shop - hoppers will also relish the pleasant ambience of the boutiques in puducherry, which cater to a wide range of tastes, offering stylish garments, semi - precious stones, perfumes, hand - made incense, candles embossed with real petals, marbled silks and aromatherapy products. One can also find a variety of handicrafts from Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Karnataka, Kashmir, Tibet and puducherry of course.
Textiles: puducherry has long been a centre for the production of household linen and garment textiles.
Furniture puducherry offers antique furniture and curios such as refinished Tamil, Keralite, and French and British colonial furniture.
Leather: Making leather the forgotten way, with exacting attention to detail, is what separates the puducherry brands from the rest. Carefully finshed, innovative products with quality can be found in many leather shops in Pondy.
Pottery : Excellent ceramic artists and artisans work in puducherry and Auroville. They keep a keen eye out for the right kind of clay and glazes and make the kilns appropriate to the local environment. Lending their signature an elegant simplicity and a unique decorative flourish.
Aromatics: The aromatics in puducherry is world famous for high - quality non - toxic incense sticks and cones as well as scented candles, perfumed oils and sachets, incense holders, ceramic holders and diffusers.
Foods: A variety of jams is produced by Naturellement in Auroville. Some of the produces available are jellies, jams, marmalades, chutneys, pickles, French mustard, peanut butter and other exotic preserves. One can also find snacking cheeses and the cooking kind in Auroville.
puducherry is famous for its mineral water of which Pondichérry Mineral Water by PASIC is the most known.
Unique Products of puducherry
puducherry art
Handicraft items
Leather products
Fashions from Auroville
Aromatics from locals, ashram and auroville
Handmade paper products
Ashram mementoes
Ceramic tableware and décor items
Décor items from village artisans
South Indian collectibles
Antique furniture
Modern design furniture
European cuisine and French bakery items.
World Class Products at Indian prices
Leather
Modern fashions
Silk saries & Textiles
Smart casual wear
Men’s Shoes
Jewellery
Watches
Modern décor items
Indian art
Glassware
Leather products and Luggage
Music and Film CDs and DVDs
Bicycles
Vegetables
Ice Creams & Pizza
Spirits
Its an Awesome Experience visiting Pondy.
Happy Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment