The French formerly ruled Pondicherry. It consists of four non-contiguous districts or enclaves. It also consists of Karaikal Mahe and Yanam.

The Seaside resort Pondicherry has a special ambience, not felt anywhere else in India. It is a blend of spiritual aura, French colonial heritage, Tamil culture and the cosmopolitan flair of many nationalities in a small but varied town.

The inherent ambience of Pondy, as it is fondly called, becomes most evident in the oldest part of the town which flanks the seashore boulevard. Colonial buildings, some which trace back to the 18th century, line along a grid of straight clean streets and house the French institutions, private homes and businesses, and the sprawling premises of the famous Sri Aurobindo Ashram. Mellow colours of cream, yellow, pink and grey greet the visitor with flamboyant bougainvillea bursting over gates and compound walls of cool courtyards.
 
Quiet beaches and peaceful resorts to the north and south balance the town's bustling, yet easy going life.

Map of Pondicherry (click to enlarge)

Places you can see in PondiCherry

Sri Aurobindo Ashram
Established by Sri Aurobindo, a revolutionary turned poet, a philosopher and later developed by the Mother, the Aurobindo Ashram has grown into a center for the practice of Integral Yoga, a seat of learning and a training ground for sadhana. The activities of the Ashram include agriculture, industries, art and culture. In the main building of the Ashram is the Marble Samadhi where Aurobindo and the Mother have been laid to rest and the houses they lived in.

Beach
Pondicherry's beach is virgin; its golden yellow sand is unpolluted, the continental slope is gentle and safe. Pondicherry has a lovely beach, 1.5 Kms Long, where one can relax, sunbathe, swim or take a stroll along the promenade. The beach has historical connections too. These sands have witnessed some of the fiercest Anglo-French battles. On the sea front are two important monuments a) Statue of Mahatma Gandhi set amidst eight exquisitely sculptured monolithic pillars and b) the War Memorial raised by the French to honor the soldiers who died in World War I. The Light house and the 284 metre long new pier are further south of these monuments.

Pondicherry Musuem
Located opposite the Government Park, the Museum provides a glimpse into Pondicherry's rich past and present. The Sculpture gallery contains some specimens of Pallava and Chola art from Pondicherry and Karaikal. The Archaeological section displays a collection of the famous findings from Arekamedu, like Roman pottery, burial urns, etc. The French Gallery is the most interesting part of the museum which has an office and drawing, dining and bed-rooms with furniture typical of French India. The other sections of the museum are on geology, bronze images, arms, handicrafts and art. The Museum brings back to memory the glorious past of Pondicherry from the days of the pre-Christian era down to the present day providing glimpses of the art and culture of the people of this region during the Pallava, Chola and Vijayanagar days.

Anglo-French Textiles showroom
Visiting the century old Anglo-French Textile mills in Pondicherry is not only educative but also of tourism importance. The mill gives 10% rebate to the tourists who go on guided tours/buses on the purchases made. The world claimed fabrics and products of the mill will not only be a memento of Pondicherry but also can be used as gifts besides being products of utilitarian/aesthetic value in the houses

Manakula Vinayagar Koil (Temple)
The shrine dedicated to "Manakula Vinayakar" existed even at the time of the arrival of the French in Pondicherry in 1673. This Ganesh temple is situated on MV Street. Every Friday, people gather here to seek divine blessings for their new ventures.
There are about 32 temples in Pondicherry. Of these Manakula Vinayagar temple, Sri Vedapureeswarar temple, Kamatchiamman temple and Varadarajaperumal temple are famous.

Ashram's handmade paper factory
The Hand Made Paper Factory, started in 1959, is internationally known for the strong and beautifully colored paper it produces by hand. It specializes in white drawing paper and bond stationery paper in a range of forty colors. The grades of paper vary from thin bond (67gsm) to very thick drawing paper (660gsm). The most successful items are the special papers: bagasse, bamboo, ricehusk, gunny, straw, algae and tea leaves in paper pulp so that an abstract design is created on the paper when it finally emerges. Another successful item is marbled paper with which stationery items are made. Marbling is a Japanese art of abstract painting done on water. Every sheet of paper is an individual work of art and varies both in shade and design. 50% of the products made in the Hand Made Paper Factory are exported to USA, Europe and Asia.

Botanical Gardens
The Botanical Garden in Pondicherry was created in 1826. When the garden came under the control of the eminent botanist Perottet "rare and interesting plants" were procured from Calcutta, Madras, Ceylon and Reumian and introduced. Now it is having a proud collection of 1,500 species.

Sacred Heart of Jesus Church.
French missionary zeal in the XVII and XVIII Centuries saw a number of grandly embellished churches built in Pondicherry.

Auroville (Matrimandir)
Auroville is described as the city of Tomorrow where an attempt is made to replicate on much larger scale the experiment that is being carried out in Sri Aurobindo Ashram for the evolution of a new society envisioned by Sri Aurobindo and the Mother where people could live "freely as citizens of the world, obeying one single authority that of the Supreme Truth, a place of peace, concord, harmony". Under the Mother's direction it was launched in 1968 with the co-operation of many nations.
A French architect, Roger Arger, designed the small township of Auroville or the City of Dawn. It is an entirely new concept in education and urban living. There are about 40 odd settlements located around a central focus called the Matrimandir. These settlements are engaged in a variety of activities, including afforestation, farming, education and handicrafts. The total area of Auroville is about 50 sq km. No local transport is available inside the township. A conducted tour of Auroville from Boutique d'Auroville, 12 Nehru Street, Pondicherry, takes interested visitors around settlements of Auroville.

Chunnambar water sports complex, Chunnambar
Facilities for boating are available at a Boat House, on the River Chunnambar 8 kms from Pondicherry. The backwater and the lush greenery on both sides of Chunnambar provide an ideal setting for boating. Boats are available on hire on all days of the week. A most enjoyable hydroplane and facilities for boating and fishing make this an ideal site for relaxation and picnic.

Gingee (75 kms)
Gingee is one of the finest forts in India, is built on 7 hills and still houses several interesting structures.

Events and Festivals of PondiCherry

French Food festival
Gourmet, a food festival to celebrate the great French cuisine is organized by Tourism department every August. Virampattinam Car Festival This is the grand car festival of Pondicherry when the decorated temple car is pulled in a procession, with the Lieutenant governor participating in the ritual.

Birth Anniversary of Sri Aurobindo
August 15, the birth anniversary of Sri Aurobindo, is a holy day in Sir Aurobindo Ashram. On this day, thousands of people from all over the world come to the ashram to pay their homage to the great sage, poet and philosopher of the twentieth century and also visit his personnel quarters. Fete De Pondicherry
During august 15-17, the department of celebrates a cultural pageant, coinciding with the liberation day and the Independence Day celebrated by the department of Art & Culture and the south zone cultural Centre.
Leading artists in classical and folk arts from all over India, participate in this event.

Bastille Day
On July 14, the bastille day, Pondicherry witnesses and indo - French pageantry. Dolling their uniforms, war Veterans march through the streets singing Marseillaise. More interestingly, the French flag can be seen flying along side the Indian flag on many Housetops. Villianur Temple car Festival
Around the middle of May, the exact date depending on the appearance of the full mon, the decorated car of the thirukamemswarara kukilambal temple is taken out in a procession to pulled by hundreds of devotees

Essentials

Reaching PondiCherry

Air
Chennai airport is 135 kms from Pondicherry and flights connect to major cities in India and directly to destinations in Europe, Asian, Middle East and the US.

Road
The best choice for getting to Pondy from Chennai (150 km) and Bangalore (320 km) is by taxi or bus. Buses depart from Chennai at the Tamil Nadu State Express Bus Stand (also known as the Thiruvalluvur Bus Stand) at Parry's Corner on a regular basis and take about four hours to reach Pondy's bus stand. If you have a choice of buses, the East Coast Road is more scenic than National Highway 45 through Tindivanam.

Train
Pondicherry is connected by rail to Villupuram (36 kms), which connects to Chennai and Madurai/Trivandrum. The trains to and from Pondy are slow and few.
Another possibility is to take a train from Bangalore to Cuddalore. But you'll end up to have to take taxi or bus to reach Pondicherry

Where to Stay
Pondicherry offers a wide choice of affordable accommodations for the visitors, tourists and businessmen. The absence of "luxury tax" makes Pondicherry even more attractive to guests.

Weather 
Pondicherry has a hot and humid climate with temperatures ranging between 26 and 38°C. During this time it is mostly dry with a blue sky. The main rainy season is in November-January and the 'small' monsoon in July-September relieves Pondy from the summer heat with light showers.
Though there is usually a high humidity in Pondy, during the months of May and June there may be at times a hot dry landwind blowing.

Best Time to Visit: July to October.. August is the best

Languages: Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, French and English.

STD Code: 0413