Places to visit in Pondicherry – Pondicherry or Puducherry is one the most visited tourists spots in India. French, Dutch, British and Portuguese had ruled over this place over different time periods.
This colonial association in amalgamation has resulted into diverse sets of cuisine, preferences and cultural standards. The White town has many buildings built in the French style of architecture along with a number of quaint cafes.
There are beaches where you can go for beach walks and have tranquil surroundings. There are also restaurants serving French food, a Botanical garden boasting of some exotic variety of plants, ancient churches and picturesque backwaters.
Therefore one would spoilt with choices on the places to visit while on trip to Pondicherry. We however have tried to create a list of few of the best places to visit in Pondicherry by narrowing down this very list. Here they are
#1 Paradise Beach
The Paradise Beach in Pondicherry is one of the most pristine and tranquil beaches. This isolated beach is surrounded by coconut groves and backwaters. One has to take a ferry to reach this place and it generally takes around 20-30 minutes.
The shorelines of these backwaters are lined with mangrove forests. A number of birds can be spotted on the way to the beach from the ferry in these forests.
The waters of the Paradise Beach are not suitable for bathing but is a great place to witness spectacular sunrises and sunsets or go for long beach walks.
There are a few small shacks from where you can buy food and coconut water. For people who love adventure, there are facilities for various different kinds of water sports.
#2 Auroville
Auroville was a township that was built as an experiment in line with the changing times. It was founded by Mirra Alfassa also called as the Mother by her close ones.
She founded this township with the idea of accommodating all types of people across the world irrespective of their caste, creed and gender. The Matrimandir is situated at the center of Auroville which is a golden circular dome and surrounded by gardens.
There are various zones in this township each demarcated for a different purpose. There are farms, small industries and water bodies inside the township for meeting the demands of the township. The tranquil surroundings are great places to meditate or even just relax.
There are a number of small cafes and restaurants in and around the place as well. The Auroville Beach is also located nearby where you can go for beach walks in the evenings.
#13 Rock Beach
The Rock Beach is one of the most visited beaches in Pondicherry and draws huge crowds. The beach is around a kilometre long and is lined with rocks.
Most people prefer sitting on these rocks and witnessing the sea waves hit the rocks. It is lined by hotels, restaurants and cafes. Buildings like the War Memorial, the Chief Secretariat and the Dupleix park are also located along this beach.
#5 Botanical Garden
The Botanical Garden in Pondicherry is home to around 1500 species of plants from across the world. It was established by C. S. Perrotet and the French basically wanted to see if plants from different parts of the world could be grown here.
The garden has been planned typically in mind the French aesthetics. The main gate at the front is designed in French architecture. There are also toy train rides, an aquarium and fountains to keep anyone engrossed.
This is great place to know about plants belonging to this region. It is one of the best maintained botanical gardens in South India.
#6 Serenity Beach
The Serenity beach totally lives up to its name and is just about a twenty minute drive away from Pondicherry. It is not crowded like the Rock beach and is lined with palm trees.
It is a great place to go for surfing as the waves are suitable for that activity. There is a surf school and a cafe on the beach. On weekends a flea market is organised where people especially tourists come and buy items in large numbers.
#7 Manakula Vinayagar
The Manakula Vinayagar shrine is dedicated to Lord Ganesha and was built in the 15th century. The walls are adorned with beautiful paintings depicting mythological stories.
The idol of Lord Ganesha here sits on a golden chariot which is taken out during the Dussehra to let people worship and see it. It is located within the White town which was once the quarters where the French resided.
#8 Cafe Xtasi
Cafe Xtasi is the best place for pizza lovers and there are around 25 different types of pizzas. The place has cool ambiance and decor. The wood fired and thin crust pizzas are one to die for.
The prices are also quite reasonable. It is located on the busy M.G road and attracts huge number of tourists and local people. There are enough options for both vegetarians and non vegetarians. The ingredients are also fresh.
Conclusion
Pondicherry has a vast number of places to visit. You can visit temples, have food at some great cafes and even choose to know about the historical past of this place. Pondicherry is a great place to relax and take off from a quick weekend break to refresh the mind and the soul.It is one of the best beach destinations that we have in India. We are sure you will equally enjoy a trip to Pondicherry.
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