Puducherry (Pondicherry) Tourism - Paris of the East

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is one of the most visited places in Pondicherry. This church was set up by the French missionaries in 1908 and later given the Basilica in 2011. Considered as a very good example of Neo-Gothic architecture, this is one among the 21 basilicas in India. The twin bell towers that dominate the main façade are 59 feet tall. Events from the life of Christ and saints of the Catholic Christians are described by rare stained glass panels....

Immaculate Conception Cathedral was built for the worship of Roman Christians living in Pondicherry. It was constructed much similar to the Immaculate Conception Cathedral of France. At that time, when the Jesuit Fathers came here as missionaries in 1689, they prepared this land to build a church, In 1692, with the financial help of Louis XIV, king of France, they erected a church....

Aurobindo Ashram is named after its creator ‘Sri Aurobindo Ghosh’, one of the spiritual saints of the 20th century. It is one of the most well known and wealthiest ashrams in India, with devotees within the country and all over the world flocking towards it for spiritual salvation. Its set up was in the form of a small community of Aurobindo’s disciples, after he settled in Pondicherry in 1910. In 1926, Sri Aurobindo directed all the responsibilities of the ashram to his spiritual collaborator, Mirra Alfassa known as, ‘the Mother’....

This 500 year old Manakula Vinayagar temple is one of the few temples in Pondicherry, of historical importance. This temple that was in existence before the French came and settled here and the idol of Lord Ganesha is locally known as ‘Vellaikkaran Pillai’. Once, an atheist French officer decides to destroy this temple for official sites even though it was not required though. He wanted to throw the idol into the sea. Locals beg the officer to spare the idol as it is a powerful one but he was not the guy to listen....

Varadharaja Perumal temple is considered to be the oldest Hindu temple in Pondicherry with history dating back to 600 AD. Built in Dravidian architecture, one can find similarities of other temples of Tamil Nadu The idol here is self manifested. Legend has it that the temple was originally built for Lord Ram, an incarnation of lord Vishnu and his family, whose statues were being brought through sea....

A stretch starting from War memorial till Duplex park, Promenade Beach is a 1.2 kilometer long marine drive. It is a lane where almost all the tourists and the locals wish to spend the evenings. Its name came from being the promenade of the French heritage part of the town. Long walks and jogging are the activities here, so grab a pal and be sure to see everything this stretch offers. One can relax or take a stroll at any time of the day, though the best time would be early in the mornings and late evenings when the road is closed for vehicular traffic....

Paradise Beach, as the name indicates, the beach is very beautiful and gives you a great refreshing feel like in paradise. It is the place attracted by tourists because of its beauty and positive vibes. This beach can be accessed only from the Chunnambar Resort through boats, where the ferry ride of around 15 mins itself is a joy. The backwaters on the way to the beach are clear and have thick mangrove forests. We can spot a lot of birds while on the ride and photography enthusiasts would relish the opportunity to get some great photos here....

Located at the edge of the French Quarter, the Goubert market is an interesting mix of literally hundreds of fish, fruit and vegetable stalls and a host of other items for sale. The area is a narrow pathway though, there are probabilities to get lost in them. This is a place where the local restaurants get their daily raw products. One can find row upon row of colorful fresh fruits and vegetables as far as the eye can see. The fish market part is particularly interesting although the smell can be quite overwhelming....

India’s most popular experimental township, Auroville is often considered as one of the places to visit within Pondicherry, though it is geographically in Tamil Nadu. However, in recent years, Auroville and the areas around it have really proved as a standalone offbeat destination that deserves more than just a passing visit. While visiting the Auroville township, it requires prior permission. Conceived as the 'Universal Town', this township is an idea to create a place for everyone to live together in peace....

Thirunallar is a small village situated in Karaikal town. It is a Shiva temple (Dharbaranyeswarar) but the main glory of the temple is Lord Saneeswaran (Saturn). Under the influence of Saturn, king Nala loses his kingdom, separated from his wife leading his life to the edge. King Nala was advised to offer prayers to Lord Saneeswara at Thirunallar temple and take a bath in the temple pond. Lord Sani is appeased and King Nala regains everything he lost....