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India » Pondicherry
 City Guide
 
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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. The visitor is greeted by mellow colours of cream, yellow, pink and grey with flamboyant bougainvillae bursting over gates and compound walls of cool courtyards.
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Air
The nearest major airport is at Chennai, 162 km away. Vayudoot Air service has regular flights from Chennai to Pondicherry.
Rail
Trains ply regularly from Chennai to Pondicherry.
Road
State Government buses as well as private buses, and taxis ply regularly from Chennai to Pondicherry.
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Population
9,73,829
Language Spoken
Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, English and French
Best seasons to Visit
October to March
STD codes
0413
CLIMATE
semitropical and the monsoon is mainly in the month of November. From December to March the day temperature is between 24 Degree Celsius to 30 Degree Celsius. From April onwards it rises and reaches its peak in May/June (38 Degree Celsius). Occasional rainfall in July brings the temperature down. Nights are generally about 5 Degree Celsius cooler than the days.
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 Sri Aurobindo Ashram
The Ashram was established by Sri Aurobindo, a revolutionary turned poet, and has grown into a center for the practice of Integral Yoga. In the main building of the ashram, is the Marble Samadhi, where Aurobindo and the Mother have been laid to rest.
Government Square
The Government Square or the Place de Government ,comprises of the 18th century Palais du Gouverneur, the old Tribunal, now housing the Legislative Assembly, the circle de Pondicherry, the hospitals, and the UCO Bank .Some exquisitely carved monolithic pillars adorn the place as well.
Promenade
The 1.5 km long Pomenade running along the beach is the pride of Pondicherry. Several landmarks like the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, Duplex, the elegant war memorial raised by the French, and the 27 m tall lighthouse can be found along the water front.
The Pondicherry Museum
The museum evokes the impressive past of Pondicherry, from the days of the pre-Christian era, down to the present day. It provides insightful glimpses into the art and culture of the people of the region, during the days of the Pallava, Chola and Vijayanagar empires
The Botanical Garden
Created in 1826, the botanical garden has a collection of over 1,500 species of plants.
Temples
Of the thirty two temples in Pondicherry, the most famous are the Manakula Vinayagar temple, Sri Vedapureeswarar temple and the Varadarajaperumal temple.
Boat House
Facilities for boating and canoeing, are available at the boat house, on the river Chunnambar, 8 km from Pondicherry. The backwaters and luxuriant greenery on both sides of the river, provide an idyllic setting for boating.
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Pondicherry, being an octroi-free destination, is a shopper s paradise.
Buy pretty perfumed candles at boutiques lining the streets, along with mementos, ranging from French antique furniture to quaint Tibetan handicrafts.
Pick up simple elegant pottery made by ceramic artistes of Auroville and Pondicherry.
Manufacturing leather the old-fashioned way, with exacting attention to detail, is what distinguishes the Pondicherry leather from the rest. Neatly finished, innovative products with quality brass buckles and locks come for a steal.
Since 1959, the Aurobindo Ashram factory has popularised the use of handmade paper. Its textures and colours have made it one of Pondicherry s best-loved products in markets all over the world.
Another exciting shopping venue is the Sunday Market, a fair of sorts, where almost all kinds of goods are sold.
Slip into comfortable crochet shoes with soft leather soles, a specialty of the town.
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