Puducherry is a Union Territory of India. It is a former French colony, consisting of four non-contiguous enclaves, or districts, and named after the largest, Puducherry.
Puducherry is situated on the Coromandel coast, about 160 kms south of Chennai, lies the Union Territory of Puducherry. It is bound on the east by the Bay of Bengal and on the other three sides by the South Arcot District of Tamil Nadu. About 150 kilometres south of Puducherry, on the east coast, lies Karaikal, while Mahe is situated on the Malabar coast. Yanam is situated in the adjoining East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.
Today, it exudes a charming picture of a quaint French town with its neat, cobbled streets, elegant houses, policemen with red kepis, quaint signboards, statues of Dupleix and Joan of Arc and pretty gardens. The entire town is divided into the French Quarter (Ville Blanche or White town) and the Indian quarter (Ville Noire or Black Town).The Aurobindo Ashram founded by Sri Aurobindo in 1926, and Auroville (10 km) with its quiet spiritual experience, draw people from all over the world.
Sightseeing Highlights:
Raj Nivas, the former palace of Dupleix now the residence of Pudhucherry's Lieutenant Governor, Botanical Gardens, Chunnambar boat house, Bharathi Park, Museum, Romain Rolland Library, Botanical Garden, Anglo-French textile mills, the 400-year old banyan tree at Keezhoor, and the coastal town of Marakanam that was a major port in the 1st Century AD, are all worth the visit.
There are a great many temples (nearly 350) in the vicinity. Do not miss the 7th century cave temples at Mandagapattu (60 Kms), Gingee (68 km) and Singavaram (72 km), the Shatru Malleswaralayam rock cut temple at Thalavanur (16 km from Gingee) and the temple town of Chidambaram (58 kms).
A number of 18th and 19th century churches can also be seen here. Among them are the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Eglise de Notre Dame de la Conception, the Eglise de Notre Dame des Anges, the Eglise de Notre Dame de Lourdes and the Chapel of the Sisters of Cluny.
Activities:
Heritage walks cover French and Tamil sectors and the Aurobindo Ashram; there is a warm and inviting Pondicherry Beach and a seaside to unwind at after all the sightseeing.
Getting there:
Closest Airport: Chennai Airport
Closest Station: Villupuram Junction
Closest Highway: East Coast Road, NH 45-A
