Give time a break from your hustle and bustle of modern life and experience the peace and beauty of serine beaches in Puducherry (earlier Pondicherry). People from all walks of life and from all over the world thong this cosmopolitan union territory for its high-end historical heritage and   mere serenity of the town. If you are looking for a divine bliss, Aurobindo Ashram and Auroville are the perfect places. And if you are looking for some fun filled activities, various cultural festivals and fairs are organized often to facilitate cultural heritage and social.

Puducherry, the capital of the union territory of Puducherry (which includes Pudhucherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam) and is located in the Coromadel coast of the Bay of Bengal. While Karaikal lies 150 km south of Pudhucherry on the east coast, Mahe is on the Malabar Coast and Yanam in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. Besides being a nesting place for many poets and laurels down the ages, The union territory also been a shore of different cultures, from the Romans to the French, who ruled for 300 years. The town is almost filled with a lot of heritage buildings and monuments. The attraction of the territory includes Botanical Garden, International yoga festival, annual French Food festival organized by The Department of Tourism of Pondicherry.

The historical French connection is still evident here after a half a century of independence. Puducherry is a visual treat for tourists with its calm spirituality, soft breezing beaches, cobbled streets, elegant houses, the backwaters, temples, churches, mosques, antique furniture gallerie, Cotton textile mills, handmade paper, leather aromatics and particularly pleasant shopping experience. If you want to have a memorable vacation, no doubt, Puducherry is worth spending tourist destination and wonderful place ever.

AUROVILLE

Auroville (also called as The City of Dawn) is located around 6 km from Puducherry and accommodates people across 35 nations to live as a community in making a universal city. On the 28th of February, 1968, the International township of Auroville was founded.

While introducing the project, The Mother, President of the Society, declared: “Auroville wants to be a universal town where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and progressive harmony, above all creeds, all politics and all nationalities. The purpose of Auroville is to realise human unity”.

The Matrimandir is both the physical and spiritual center of Auroville. Matrimandir, in Sanskrit, means “Temple of the Divine Mother”. Its inner chamber is meant to be a place for quiet and concentration, void of any ritual, where anyone can sit to meditate in silence. Matrimandir is a 100-foot-high elliptical sphere resting on four pillars each pillar representing an aspect of the Divine Mother: Wisdom, Strength, Harmony, Perfection. The Matrimandir will be surrounded by a network of 12 gardens and a lake. Matrimandir stands as a living example of human unity in diversity.

Arikamedu

Arikamedu is one of the must visit places in Pondicherry and a great tourist spot with great historical relevance. Arikamedu which is located on the banks of the Ariyankuppam River about 4 km from Pondicherry had been the trading centre of the Romans in the past. Archaeologists and students are seen often on a study tour or else in searching of any Roman coins, ceramics and other materials excavated here. Age old treasures of romans were preserved in Puducherry museum.

Pondicherry Beach

Beaches in Pondicherry are always seen with playing kids and chatting couples who enjoy the coolest air of the bay of Bengal. They are extremely neat and clean with clean water and clear sand. We can see the less-crowded beach, cafes and cottages, highly furnished roads and sideways. Gandhi statue in the beach road is one of the important tourist destinations in Pondicherry. See side buildings are constructed in a way that they do not affect the natural beauty of the beach.

The Promenade Beach and the monuments around speak of the rich heritage of Pondicherry. Some of the important monuments of the city include Mahatma Gandhi, Joan of Arc and Dupleix, the War Memorial etc.  One more beach attraction is Auroville beach which is about 12 km from the pondicherry town. Most of the foreigners would like to have a dip whenever they like to warm themselves.

Pondicherry Aurobindo Ashram

The great Indian philosopher Aurbindo  Ghose set up the Aurbindo Ashram in the year 1926 where he lived and spent his days until his death. Nowadays Pondicherry is synonymous with Aurbindo Ashram. The Ashram is in the hot of the town near Manakula Vinayakar Temple.  It is the place where the great Indian philosopher Aurbindo lived and died.

Aurbindo’s ardent disciple and companion Mirra Alfassa (The Mother) who was from Paris is the key person behind Matrimandir Project in Auroville. The Samadhi of Sir Aurbindo and the Mother are kept in the main Ashram building where plenty of flowers and followers gathered together.  Aurbindo and Aurbindo Ashram are the spiritual embodiment of Pondicherry.

Chunnambar Boat House

Chunnambar boat house is one of the most desirable tourist destinations in Puducherry which is located along the banks of Ariyankkupam River. As a major tourist place, this place is known for beach sports, cruising, boat tours along the river and the natural beauty of the place. Chunnambar resort has facilities in international standards that eventually invite a lot of foreign and domestic tourists as well. While you take a boat tour in the resort, there is a beach at the closure of the river where kids and grown up play endlessly with joy.

Monuments in Pondicherry

Pondicherry is not only a tourist destination but also a place of immense importance with its historical monuments. These monuments represent the footprints of the past activities like battles and sieges, Maharajas, courtesans, the French rule and War Memorial so on. Along the cost of the Promenade beach, you can find an array of statues of Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru statue, Joan of Arc and Dupleix, the War Memorial etc.

Aayi Mandapam standing in the middle of the Bharathi Park is famous for its elegance. Another remarkable monument worth a visit is Ananda Ranga Pillai Mansion which is a unique mix of French and Indian Architecture. Ranga Pillai dairy remains a very great resource to know about the French rule in India. The union territory has monuments and statues for poets, writers, freedom fighters, labors and national leaders. These monuments reflect the high national and cultural heritage of Pondicherry braving with glory against the test of time.

Handicrafts and Shopping

Besides being a historical and spiritual land, pondicherry is also a great place for shopping because of duty free service and low price.  Pondicherry is known for its textile industry, doll making industry, leather products, perfumed candles, pottery, handmade paper, handicrafts Products. Aurbindo Ashram plays a major role in manufacturing a lot of these shopping items that are exported to foreign countries. December to February is absolutely a splendid shopping festival time in pondicherry.

How To Reach Pondicherry

Road:

Chennai is 150 km from Pondicherry and Bangalore being 320 km , one can easily access Pondicherry from these two cities. Pondicherry is well reached by road from Chennai, Bangalore and even from Kerala.

Road Network Of Pondicherry - Well connected road network is there in Pondicherry with National Highway No. 45

Road Network Of Pondicherry - Buses leave from Chennai at the Tamil Nadu State Express Bus Stand (also known as the Thiruvalluvur Bus Stand ) and take about four hours to reach Pondicherry bus stand.

Rail :

The nearest railway junction is Villupuram which is 36 km away and is connected to Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram . You also have the option of taking train from Bangalore to Cuddalore. Southern Road Network Of Pondicherry ways operates here.

Air:

Ways to Reach Pondicherry - As Pondicherry does not have an airport in its territory so visitors avail the facility of Chennai International Airport while coming to Pondicherry. This airport is just 135 km from Pondicherry and regular flights arrive here from Europe, Middle East, USA .At Chennai Airport all the private and public airlines operate.

Mysore or Mahishur as it was called then traces its history back to the mythical past, when Goddess Chamundeshwari of Chamundi Hills killed the wicked buffalo-headed demon, Mahishasura.

140 Kms from Bangalore lies the abode of untold grandeur and glory. Mysore, the capital city of the Wodeyars has always enchanted its admirers with its quaint charm, rich heritage, magnificent palaces, beautifully laid-out gardens, imposing buildings, broad shady avenues and sacred temples. There’s an old world charm about the city that reaches out and leaves no one untouched.

Mysore is the second largest city of Karnataka. Today, Mysore is a vibrant city teeming with tourists and visitors. It is known the world over for its exotic sandalwood and rich silks.Its grand and imposing palaces, majestic temples, gardens leave an ever-lasting impression on the visitor.

Mysore Dasara is the celebration of this victory of good over evil. Mysore also has associations with the Mahabharata and King Ashoka of the 3rd century B.C. During the Wodeyar rule Mysore reached the Zenith of its glory as a fabled centre of oriental splendour.

The word Mysore is derived from Mahishuru or Mahishasurana Ooru, meaning the town of Mahishasura, the demon king who is believed to have lived here. The history of Mysore can be traced back to the time of Mahabharata. It was ruled by the Ganga Dynasty from the 2nd century to approximately 10th century. Later it was ruled by the Cholas for a century which was followed by the Chalukyas, Hoysalas, the Vijayanagar Empire and finally the Mysore Yadu rules in the 13th century.

During the reign of Chamaraja Wadiyar the city is said to have gained prominence. For a brief period the Wadiyars got dethroned, but finally returned to power under the British command at the end of the 17th century.

Situated 770m above sea level, Mysore has a warm and cool climate throughout the year.

Places of Interest in Mysore:

• Mysore Palace
• Brindavan Gardens
• Chamundi Hills
• St. Philomena’s Church
• Mysore Zoo
• The Art Gallery
• Rail Museum
• Karanji Lake Nature Park
• Kishkindha Moolika Bonsai Garden

Around Mysore

Daria Daulat Bagh

Tipu’s Summer Palace,built in 1784,is located here.Made of teak,this Indo-Sarcenic structure has ornate and beautiful frescos.It is now a museum and tells eloquently of Tipu’s valor and his losing battle against the British.

Fort

It is here that Tipu charged at the British soldiers with his legendary sword.An obelisk in the fort marks the place where he fell -betrayed by his own men.The fort holds within it,a mosque and the Ranganathaswamy Temple.Outside the fort is the Gumbaz,Tipu’s tomb with splendid ebony doors inlaid with ivory.

Reach Mysore

By Road
Mysore is 139kms to the south west of Bangalore. The state highway that connects these two cities is very well maintained. Traveling from Bangalore to Mysore by road is a pleasant experience and will take about 3hrs. The Karnataka Road Transport Corporation has excellent bus service to Mysore. Every half an hour there is a non-stop bus to Mysore from Bangalore Bus Station. Corporations of other states and private tour operators have buses plying to Mysore as well. All these facilities have made Mysore extremely accessible by road.

By Train
Mysore is connected with a number of trains to Bangalore. The super fast luxury train the Shatabdi Express connects Mysore to Madras. The quickest and most comfortable way to reach Mysore is via Bangalore.

By Air
The nearest airport to Mysore is Bangalore (139 km). All the domestic airlines in the country operate their flights to Bangalore from all the major cities in the country. Some international airlines too have flights to Bangalore international airport.

Goa, the best tourist place for India offers several tourist attractions. Beaches and churches are the key tourist attractions in Goa. Christian Pilgrimage tours and Goan Carnival attract numerous visitors. In the local dialect, Goa is often referred to as “Goa Dourada,” (meaning “Golden Goa”) because of its beaches, forts, churches, waterfalls, seminaries, and caves. Today, Goa Beach Resorts are attractions in themselves.

“The queen of Indian beaches,” Calangute is a stretch of 7 km. Baga beach is a handy commuting point to Anjuna. At a distance of 7 km from Panaji is the beach of Dona Paula, which is a good site for relaxation and sunbathing. At a distance of 6 km away from Margao is another beach, Colva, which offers good accommodation. Calangute, Baga, Candolim, Colva are dominated by package tourism. Anjuna, the traditional rave center is popular with the bag packers. Benaulim falls between hype and hip, and is filled with beach shacks and low-key Goa beach resorts. Arambol in the north and Palolem in the south are idyllic by nature. Other famous beaches include Miramar and Agonda. Goa Beach Resorts along these beaches in Goa are excellent accommodation options.

The Dudhsagar waterfall and Arvalem waterfall attract many tourists every year. The rock-cut caves of Khandepar and Arvalem are also worth mentioning. The Pilar monastery, Saligao seminary, and Rachol seminary attract the religious minded travelers.

How To Reach Goa?

By Air

Goa’s international airport is Dabolim, at a distance of 29 km from Panaji, on the coast near Vasco Da Gama. Most domestic airlines operate in Goa apart from chartered private airlines operating from UK and Germany. Indian Airlines has direct flights from Delhi and Mumbai daily. Air India also flies to Goa

By Rail

Reaching Goa by train is easy from Mumbai (490 km), Bangalore (430 km), and Delhi (1,874 km). Goa’s two main stations are at Margao and Vasco Da Gama.

By Road

Goa, Maharashtra, and Karnataka state transport corporations operate from the Kadamba bus stand at Panaji. Frank Shipping operates a boat service between Mumbai and Panaji.

Moving around in Goa is quite easy. One can find bus as well as car rental services. A unique experience is that of the motorcycle taxi. Several ferry services are also available.

Once you are in India, you will be surrounded by a host of activities. India has a number of wildlife sanctuaries and riding in the elephants back to get a glimpse of wildlife is a heavenly experience. Even camel safaris through Thar Desert are an experience that defies all imagination. The snow-clad Himalayan Mountains offer a host of breath-taking activities, including mountaineering, trekking and rock climbing. Its done usually during April to November, when the sky remains pleasant and Himalayas remain refulgent in the sunny brightness.

Another attractive set of activities includes para gliding, mountain camping, ice-skating and river rafting makes you feel the magic in the bracing air. For all those who are ready to fight the tide can go for Rafting in India. The snow of the Himalayas melts down and flows fiercely in to the rivers, thereby proving to be perfect for the rafting lovers.

Places like Manali, Kullu Valley, Narkhanda, Sangla etc are blessed with speechless beauty, which can be well explored by means of the mentioned adventure task. Besides, its worth a while to play golf on world’s highest golf course at Gulmarg. The largest group of islands, Andaman and Nicobar Island is one such place which attracts water sports lover from all across the world. For the thrill seeking traveller India is an all-in-one deal. The Indian Himalayas and the many hill formations present the trekker with innumerable hiking and trekking options.

Hang gliding, ballooning and gliding are also becoming more widely available for those who wish to obtain a bird’s-eye view of some of the landscape. Skiing is fast becoming a popular sport, and facilities are offered by some resorts in the north of the country (including Gulmarg and Kufri), set in some of the most beautiful mountain landscape in the world. Horse riding is available in hill stations.

India is a religious land. Ever since the dawn of civilization, India has been the birthplace of many religions. Being so, the country boasts of a lot of pilgrim destinations within its precincts. Rich in mythology, it has a number of temples, mosques, monasteries, churches and gurdwaras, which attract lakhs of devotees every year. People belonging to various religions come here to visit the various pilgrimages and obtain the divine blessings of God, seeking forgiveness for all their sins.

Pilgrimage tourism forms an important segment of domestic tourism in India. India as a confluence of different religions has always attracted pilgrims from all over the world. India is home to many religions like Hinduism, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Islam and all of them have their important places of worship.

Hinduism, the oldest religion of the world, has many shrines all over India. Hindus settled in various parts of the world come to India to visit their scared temples and get darshan of the Divine Being. Similarly, the country has numerous shrines belonging to other religions as well. Buddhists come to visit Bodhgaya, where Lord Buddha received enlightenment, and Sarnath, where He delivered his first sermon. Sikh pilgrimage sites in India include the Golden Temple founded by Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh Guru. This is the most sacred shrine of the Sikhs and is in the town of Amritsar. Jain temples in India are an attraction to all the devotees following Jainism religion. One of the most important Jain pilgrimage sites located in the Karnataka state is the monolithic statue of Bahubali at Sravanabelagola. Christianity has had long and glorious relations with India. History states that St. Thomas sailed to India from Eastern Asia in AD 52 and spent 12 years in India, the last eight of his life in Mylapore in Madras (now Chennai).