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Pondicherry
Posted Date: 20 Jun 2008 Resource Type: Travel & Tourism Category: General
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Posted By: SajithkumarS Member Level: Diamond
Rating:  Points: 3
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The name Pondicherry has been derived from the Tamil word Puducheri signifying 'the new settlement'. It was a French settlement that comprised Pondy, Yanam, Karaikal, and Mahe.
The capital Pondicherry is situated in the state of Tamil Nadu at a distance of around 200 km from Chennai. While Karaikal is also a part of Tamil Nadu, Mahe is located in Kerala, and Yanam is in Andhra Pradesh.
There is a strong influence of French culture on Pondicherry town, especially on it's architecture, a result of the centuries-old relations this place maintained with France. Today, Pondicherry is more famous because of its relation with Sri Aurobindo.
Sri Aurobindo selected this peaceful and harmonious place to make his abode in the second decade of this century and remained there till his death. A political revolutionary before coming to Pondicherry, he became one of the most famous sages of modern times produced by India.
Sri Aurobindo Ashram :
The History of Pondicherry :
Not much is known about Pondicherry before the foreign settlement started. There are evidences of the Pallava, Chola and the Vijayanagar empires around the city. What is interesting are the relics of Arekmedu, the famous archaeological city with a port through which major trade was conducted with the Roman Empire. It is through this port that India used to export silk, spices, even birds, lions, elephants to the Roman Empire in exchange for gold."
In the 16th century, the Portuguese first arrived here and then the following century the Danes made an appearance. In 1673, the French arrived. Till then, Pondicherry was a weaving and fishing village. The French quarters started along the sea and extended to the south, all along the sea. The city slowly emerged with the fort at its center. The town planners tried to implement this grid system methodically. It required the reconstruction of many houses, mostly those of the Tamilians. It also required the strict implementation of regulations. In all, it took the French almost a century to implement the plan-that of the present concentric pattern with the fort at the center and boulevards surrounding it. It has, however, expanded beyond the boulevard in recent years.
Today, some adjacent areas, which were previously villages, have been included within the city limits. Around the 1760's, the British destroyed the city including the fort. When the French reoccupied it, most of the buildings were reconstructed but not the fort.
In the latter part of the 18th and early 19th century, Pondicherry again fell into British hands and all construction activity came to a standstill. Most of the present day buildings came up in the 19th century, which also marked the advent of water supply in the city and the railway link with British India. By the 20th century, the city had expanded to include many neighboring villages, although few changes were made in the inner city.
This French colony became a part of the Indian Union in the early 1950's, with the French voluntarily relinquishing control.
Today, the Union Territory of Pondicherry includes the other three French enclaves of Karaikal (in Tamil Nadu), Mahe (in Kerala) and Yanam (in Andhra Pradesh).
Area : 492 Sq Km
Population : 973,829 (2001)
Religion : Hinduism , Christianity and Islam
Annual Rainfall : 993.4
Temprature : Max(31.90 Degree Centigerade) Min ( 24.50 Degree Centigerade)
Capital: Pondicherry
Languages : Tamil , Malayalam and Telgu.
Literacy Rate : 81.49 %
Per Capita Income : 11,677 (1997-98)
Best Time to Visit : March to October
How to Reach Pondicherry :
By Air: Nearest airport from Pondicherry is Chennai 162 km. One can take flights for most of the important Indian cities many places abroad Chennai International Airport.
By Rail: Pondicherry is connected through a meter gauge railway line with Villupuram. There is only one railway station between Pondicherry and Villupuram i.e. Villianur. Most people generally do not prefer trains and take buses instead.
By Road: Pondicherry is well connected to most of the major towns of southern India by road. Buses ply between Pondicherry and Chennai regularly as well as for other important cities of this region.
Pondicherry Tourism
Arikamedhu
It is an archaeological site at a distance of 20 kms from the Pondicherry town. Recent excavations here have revealed some Roman coins, wine jars and other remains, which prove that Arikamedhu was the earliest Indo - Roman trading centre.
Auroville
The city of Dawn as it is also called was established in 1968. People from many parts of the world have settled down here making it a microcosmic replica of the world - a number of different communities living in harmony. There are about 40 settlements in Auroville.
Bharati Museum
The house of the famous poet Subramaniya Bharati at Easwaran Dharmaja Koil Street has been made into a museum.
Bharatidasan Museum
Another poet Kanaksubburatnam wrote under the name of Bharatidasan, he scaled the same heights in poetry as Bharati had done. His house at Perumal Koil Street has also been made into a museum.
Boat House
The boathouse is on the bank of river Chunnambar at a distance of 8 Kms from Pondicherry.
Botanical Garden
The garden was laid out in the year 1826. Many plants were brought here from the different parts of the country and also places like Ceylon and Reumian.
Eglise De Sacre Coeur De Jesus
A church dedicated to the sacred heart of Jesus with beautiful stained glass windows depicting scenes from life of Jesus Christ.
Government Square
The Governor's Square encloses a beautiful garden which has a monument Aayi Mandapam at its centre. There are some carved monolithic pillars, which were brought to Pondicherry from Gingee in 1751.
Pondicherry Museum
Here are many artifacts that belong to the bygone era of Pondicherry. The relics of the Chola, Pallava and the Vijaynagar periods trace the history of this place.
Promenade
An ideal place for a stroll, the Promenade is a 1.5Km long walk built along the beach. On the beachfront, there are statues of Mahatma Gandhi, Jeanne d'Arc and Dupleix, a war memorial, the Heritage building and an old lighthouse that is 27 metres tall.
Raj Niwas
This palatial building is completely French in style and was the residence of Joseph Francois Dupleix. It is now the residence of the Lieutenant-Governor of Pondicherry.
Shri Aurobindo Ashram
Shri Aurobindo, a famous poet established the Ashram in 1920. The Samadhi in the Ashram premises is the final resting place of Sri Aurobindo and the mother. The Ashram has become a centre for the practice of Yoga and a place of learning. The ashram activities include agriculture, industries, art and culture.
Thiruvakkarai
Thiruvakkarai or Tiruvakkarai is at a distance of 30 kms from the Pondicherry town. The first Wood-Fossil Park of the country is situated here. The Chandramouliswara Temple is another tourist destination in this place.
Pondicherry Beach
Pondicherry has a beautiful unpolluted beach that is 1.5km long.
The other places of tourist interest in Pondicherry are: -
• French Institute
• Jawahar Toy Museum
• Manakula Vinayanagar
• Mansion Anandha
• Mailam Murugan Temple
• Mandagupettu
• Ousteri Lake
For more information : -
Tourist Information Bureau,
Goubert Avenue, (Beach Road),
Pondicherry, India
Ph: +91-413-34575
Inspite of its diminutive size, Pondicherry attracts a large percentage of tourists visiting India. The unique spiritual charm of the place in enhanced by the fact that it was a home to the great poet Sri Aurobindo and the Mother (whose real name was Mirra Alfassa and she was born in Paris. An accomplished pianist and a painter, she became a follower of Shri Aurobindo and later came to be known as the Mother). The Auroville, with its multinational, multilingual and multicultural population is the realized dream of both these visionaries, to build a universal society living in complete harmony.
Founded in 1926, the Sri Aurobindo Ashram has grown, under the Mother's guidance, from a small group of two dozen disciples into a large diversified community with almost 1200 members. Counting the 400 students of the Centre of Education and the hundreds of devotees who live nearby, the larger ashram community consists of more than 2000 people.
Situated in a busy city of over 700,000 people, the Ashram is not a quiet place of retreat but a vibrant centre of life in a modern urban setting. The dynamic character of the community reflects the life-affirming aim of Sri Aurobindo's Yoga. Work as an offering to the Divine is an essential aspect of the Yoga, and all Ashramites do a certain amount of productive work each day in one or another of the Ashram's departments.
In the sadhana or spiritual discipline at the Ashram, there are no obligatory practices, no rituals, no compulsory meditations or systematic instructions in Yoga. Sadhaks are left free to determine the course and pace of their sadhana in accordance with their own natures. But the general principle of the sadhana is the same for all: there must be a surrender to the Divine and an opening to the Divine Force so that it may work to transform one's being.
The Ashram is located in the eastern part of Pondicherry. Ashramites live and work in a large number of buildings spread throughout the area. The focus of community life is the Ashram main building, usually called simply "the Ashram", which consists of an interconnected block of houses, including those in which Sri Aurobindo and the Mother lived for most of their lives. At its centre, in a tree-shaded courtyard, lies the Samadhi, a white-marble shrine where their bodies are laid to rest.
The Ashram provides its members with all they need for a decent and healthy life. Various departments have been organised to look after the basic requirements of food, clothing and shelter, as well as medical care. The Ashram has farms and gardens, a printing press and a number of small-scale industries. There are also libraries for study and facilities for a variety of cultural pursuits.
Once a French colony, Pondicherry still has a few French families living there and French is an important language. The French spirit can be discerned in the very layout of the township. The magnificent statues of Joseph Francois Dupleix and Joan of Arc, the warrior saint of France tell of a significant French influence on the history of the place. The French Institute of Indology and Ecole Francaise d'Extreme Orient are the living legacies of the former French occupation of the territory.
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Responses
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| Author: SajithkumarS 20 Jun 2008 | Member Level: Diamond Points : 2 | To get there:
The best option is to take the Chennai Mail from Bangalore or reach Central railway station and then take a cab or bus. The journey is a good three hours so be prepared. Cabs cost anywhere from 1600 to 2400 from Airport and Central railway station respectively.
Stay:
There are a lot of good hotels to stay which are reasonable. Ginger has launched its 10th branch in Pondicherry. It is 50 Rs. by autorikshaw to town.
Must see:
Auroville: Ensure you have your own means of transport. It is Rs.200 and above from town by auto plus extra waiting charges. You need not carry any food as there is a restaurant inside.
Auroville beach is better and less crowded than Pondicherry beach and you can enjoy your time in the sand. Advisable not to stay beyond six for ladies and couples.
Must eat:
French cuisine: Rendezvous is a reasonable place. You will find some other good places also.
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