The erstwhile French colonial settlement of Puducherry (formerly known as Pondicherry) was declared a Union Territory of India on November 1st, 1954, ending 280 years of French rule.
But unlike most colonial settlements, this vibrant city lying on the southeast coast of India in the state of Tamil Nadu remembers its colonial past with panache.
The White Town or the French Quarter, a charming neighbourhood spread over an area of about just a kilometre in Puducherry is replete with colonial-era villas painted in light shades of pastel yellow, its cobbled streets called 'Rue' in French still carry French names and the entire town has quirky cafes that offer an interesting assortment of French, Indian and Tamilian cuisines.
It's also intriguing to note that a small community of French people continue to live in Puducherry and French is one of the official languages of the city.
How to reach
The nearest airport to Puducherry is Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, at a distance of about 151 kilometres.
Puducherry is quite well connected by road with Chennai, the East Coast Road will take you to Puducherry through small towns, quaint little villages and scenic countryside. Transport options include very economical state-owned buses and private cabs. The journey takes about 3 hours.
More about Puducherry
Puducherry sees a regular inflow of tourists, both Indian and foreign. So, although the local language is Tamil, most people can understand English which makes going around the city quite easy. Local transport includes a variety of two-, three- - and four-wheeler vehicles available at very reasonable rates.
Being a coastal town, the city experiences a sweltering and humid summer from March to May and heavy rainfall from June to September. The best time to visit Puducherry is the winter months from October to February.
A visit to Puducherry must include these 5 Must-See Attractions
White Town
I presume White Town gets its name from the white French people who inhabited it 70 years ago. Now, this neighbourhood is a tourist destination in Puducherry. There are many things to see and do here, so it's a good idea to walk around the White Town and stroll along its many avenues and tree-lined streets.
Goubert Avenue and Promenade Beach, also called Rock Beach
We start our excursion with a walk around the White Town, I believe this is what all first-time-tourists to Puducherry do.
The person at the reception desk sets us in the direction of the Promenade Beach. We can see a lot of mopeds parked in front of a barricade since the area is a vehicle-free zone.
Promenade Beach offers a beautiful calming sight, we are surprised to see hundreds of walking enthusiasts, locals and tourists alike, soaking in the fresh sea breeze, walking along Goubert Avenue, taking pictures or grabbing a bite in the small eateries that line the entire stretch of the Beach.
Goubert Avenue is the 1.5-kilometre-long paved corridor flanked by the Coromandel Coast on the one side and the White Town on the other and is a pedestrian's delight. The entire area comes alive in the morning and evening when people from all over town gather here to watch the sunrise or the sunset.
The avenue is lined with many interesting monuments like the French War Memorial, Gandhi Memorial, Old Light House and Tribute Wall among others.
We spend the rest of the evening loitering around Goubert Avenue and munching on delicious knick-knacks at Baker Street.
You can learn about our culinary outings in Puducherry in a separate post by clicking here
Aurobindo Ashram
We started our second day's outing with a visit to Aurobindo Ashram.
The ashram is like an oasis of peace and tranquillity in the hustle and bustle of Puducherry.
There is an air of austerity around the simple structure of the ashram. We remove our shoes in a shoe rack placed opposite the ashram gate. Photography inside the ashram is strictly prohibited. So much so, that the guard at the gate, sensing that there are some tourists around makes us switch off our phones so that we cannot take any kind of pictures inside.
The ashram opens from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm and then from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm each day.
As we step inside, we are led to a small courtyard surrounded by trees and thick greens. In the centre of the courtyard is a pristine-white marble shrine, the Samadhi of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother.
A lot of people are sitting around the shrine, eyes closed, hands folded in prayer.
One can easily spend about 2 to 3 hours in the ashram, there is a library and a bookshop in case you're interested in buying books about the ideology of Sri Aurobindo.
There is also a bulletin board with events of the day with free entry for everyone.
Arulmigu Manakula Vinayagar Temple or Ganesh Temple
Very close to the Aurobindo Ashram is Ganesh Temple. The temple is over 500 years old and one of the oldest in the region.
What makes this temple special is the interesting folklore that surrounds it. In 1688, the French wanted to erect a fort close to the temple. They decided to demolish the temple and throw the Ganesha idols into the sea. But each time they threw the idol, it would re-appear in its original place. To honour this divine miracle, they let the temple and its idols stay.
To this day, Lord Ganesha is the presiding deity in the temple and is worshipped with a lot of fervour by its devotees.
The outer facade of the temple has been done in classic Dravidian style with multi-coloured figurines and stuccos and the interiors are equally stunning with different kinds of idols of Lord Ganesha and other deities.
Eglise De Notre-Dame des Anges, also known as Our Lady of Angels Church
After a rather calming start to our day, we head to Our Lady of Angels Church. This beautiful Catholic church is one of the oldest churches in Puducherry and is located right in the heart of White Town. The church with its European-style architecture has an unmistakable colonial vibe.
Entry is free. If you have time, you can spend some time here in peace and calm.
Immaculate Conception Cathedral
This 300-year-old cathedral offers a beautiful sight with its stained-glass windows and tall archways. Entry is free.
Half-day trip to Paradise Beach
We plan to spend the second half of the day at Paradise Beach.
There are a few things to remember before you go -
The beach is open for tourists from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Entry fee to reach the beach is INR 150 per head.
Paradise Beach can be reached via a short boat ride from Chunnambar Boat House.
Chunnambar Boat House is 12 km away from Puducherry and can be easily reached by any kind of transport.
The boat takes you to the beach and back. The last boat leaves the beach at 5:30 pm. So, kindly ensure you do not miss your boat back to Puducherry.
You can plan to spend about 2 - 3 hours at the beach.
There are no specific activities like any water sports available at the beach. I saw camel rides and mud biking for kids though.
There are not many eateries at the beach, there is a restaurant with a very limited menu and a small shack selling coconut water. If you plan to spend more time at the beach, carry your snacks and drinks.
Paradise Beach is a sandy beach and perfectly safe for bathing and splashing around in the water.
However, bathing facilities are limited. There are washrooms but there was no running water available. We saw big cans of stored limited water.
Day trip to the Pitchavaram Mangrove Forest
A trip to this mangrove forest is certainly worth your time and money. Read all about it in the link below
Day trip to Auroville
The experimental township in Viluppuram District of Tamil Nadu is an experience that you will cherish for a lifetime.
Join me on this amazing tour by clicking the link below
Cafes in White Town
Sampling the eclectic mix of cuisines that the White Town has to offer in its many cafes is an experience worth cherishing. Traditional Tamilian fare is fused with Indian and French cuisine to create mouth-watering delights.
Let me take you on a tour of some of the most reputed cafes in White Town Puducherry...
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