Pondicherry

Unlike the rest of the country, Pondicherry, is dotted with buildings reminiscent of French colonial architecture. This may come as a welcome change to the sight. Located very close to Chennai, in the South of India, Pondicherry also has few churches and statues, with marked French influence. The streets and residential buildings lend a strong colonial ambience to the city. To top it all it has a wonderful beach and a world famous ashram

Major tourist attractions in Pondicherry:

Sri Aurobindo ashrama:
This famous ashrama is dedicated to Sri Aurobindo, a greatly respected freedom fighter and philosopher. The ashrama has been built by the active participation of members who come from all countries, castes, and communities. The underlying principle of the ashrama is to promote world peace by purging one self through meditation. It is the best example of unity in diversity. The ashrama is also known for the samadhi (memorial) of Sri Aurobindo and Sri Ma (mother). In an effort to spread excellence to diverse fields the ashrama also runs farms, cottage industries, library, and various other manufacturing units.

Auroville:
This is a newly built unique city close to Pondicherry and is considered to be among the tourist spots in Pondicherry. It is looked upon as a universal town where people from all cast, creed and community live in peace and harmony and work towards a common goal – peace through meditation.

Pondicherry museum:
If you want to see interesting artifacts related to the history of Pondicherry you must visit the museum of this place. You can find artifacts that go back to the 1st century AD. The Roman articles discovered at Arikamedu are a few such items. The French section highlights the history of French colonization in Pondicherry. The museum also has a nice collection of sculptures, paintings and sea shells.

Promenade:
Tourists love this place the most. The promenade is a 1.5 kilometer long stretch facing the Bay of Bengal. It offers a beautiful and serene retreat for locals and tourists alike. Important things to watch here
the statue of Mahatma Gandhi and a War memorial.

Chunnambar Resort:
This is one of the most popular tourist spots in Pondicherry. The fantastic beach and water sports opportunities in this place can help you have a great time.

Anglo – French Textile mills:
This is a historic mill. The fabrics manufactured here are well known for their quality and tourists are given rebates on purchases here.

Other important tourist attractions in Pondicherry include the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Bhartidasan Memorial Museum, the botanical garden, and the mansion of Ananda.

Pondicherry offers all that a curious traveler would want to see. So visit Pondicherry for a pleasant change.