PONDICHERRY
Situated on the Coromandel coast, about 160 kms south of
Chennai, lies the Union Territory of Pondicherry. The French ruled this
territory for 300 years, and today, it stands as a living monument of the
French culture in India. It is bound on the east by the Bay of Bengal and on
the other three sides by the South Arcot District of Tamil Nadu. About 150
kilometres south of Pondicherry, on the east coast, lies Karaikal, while
Mahe is situated on the Malabar coast. Yanam is situated in the adjoining
East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.
Pondicherry traces its origin to Saint Agasthya, the revered sage of the
south. The excavations near Pondicherry reveal, that a Roman settlement
existed here, 2000 years ago. It was also the site of many a battle between
the British and the French, and was the capital of French India, before it
attained its independence.
This restored, attractive, former French colony, exudes a Mediterranean aura
with its chic streets, elegant houses, ornamental gardens and the Hotel de
Ville. Being a small and quiet enclave of Tamil Nadu, it has imbibed the
Tamilian culture. Apart from the charming atmosphere, excellent restaurants
and cheap beer, what attracts most travellers to Pondicherry is the Sri
Aurobindo Ashram and its offshoot, Auroville, 10 km outside town. The
ashram, founded by Sri Aurobindo in the year 1926, has brought international
reputation to this coastal town. The ashram, the spiritual tenets of which
combine yoga and modern science is quite popular within India and abroad.
Festivals of Pondicherry differ from the rest of India, for the French
influence still persists prominently here. Masquerade, held in March -
April, is a popular mask festival, during which brilliantly costumed and
masked people of Pondicherry, dance down the streets to the music of
trumpets and accordions. During the Eve of the Bastille Day, retired
soldiers parade the streets in war finery, singing the French and Indian
National Anthem. French is still widely spoken, and the seaside villas and
the cobbled streets are more reminiscent of the south of France than the
south of India!!
Tourist Attractions More than
anything else, the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, where Sri Aurobindo and the Mother
lived for the most parts of their lives, attracts tourists to this little
city. The Pondicherry Museum is home to some of the most exquisite
collections on architecture and sculpture. Pondicherry also has a pleasant
beach alongside promenade and historical monuments. Some of the other
interesting sites include the Bharti and Bharthidasan Memorial museums and
the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Sri Aurobindo Ashram
The ashram was founded in 1920 when Sri Aurobindo reached Pondicherry, a
French colony and put in place his ideas of peaceful community. The ashram
for long was run by his French companion Mirra Alfassa, universally known as
the Mother. Each member of the Ashram is free to mediate the way he or she
prefers; there are no rituals, obligatory practices, and systematic
instruction. The ashram is a diversified community with more than 1,200
members out of which 400 are the students of the Centre of Education. To
support the administrative system of the ashram, it has various departments
to look after basic needs of the members. In addition, there are farms and
gardens, printing press, libraries, and a number of small-scale industries.
The ashram houses the samadhi of Sri Aurobindo and the mother. It is open to
everyone for fixed hours everyday.
Pondicherry Museum
Situated in the Government Park, the Pondicherry Museum has a good sculpture
gallery and a section of archaeological finds from the Roman settlement at
Arikamedu. There is also a French section charting the history of the
colony. The objects include the four-poster bed in which Dupleix is believed
to have slept. There is also a superb collection of snail shells from the
Pondicherry region.
Promenade
A lovely beach within bike range from the city centre in the north is a
pleasant surprise. With a 1.5-km-long promenade, this is the most delightful
part of the city. A stroll, sunbath, or a swim enhances the quality of
experience. On the beachfront are located many sites such as a statue of
Mahatma Gandhi surrounded by eight exquisitely carved monolithic pillars and
a war memorial.
Bharti and Bharthidasan Memorial Museum
Bharti Museum is located at Eswaran Koil Street, the place where the
legendary Tamil poet lived after arriving here in 1908 in search of refuge.
Bharthidasan Memorial Museum is situated at Perumal Koil Street where
Kanakasubburatnam, a disciple of Bharti, lived. He changed his name to
Bharthidasan, meaning the disciple of Bharti, and his home is now the second
important place of literary pilgrimage in Pondicherry.
Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Built in the Gothic style, this massive church is one of the most beautiful
churches in Pondicherry. Auroville
Situated just across the border in the state of Tamil Nadu, Auroville, about
10 km away from Pondicherry, is a unique experience in itself. The place,
also known as 'City of Dawn,' was founded in 1968 as a tribute to Sri
Aurobindo. It is a lush green cover created over 25 years by sheer hard work
and dedication. The place is spread over 50 sq. km and has a population of
over 900. The Mata Mandir situated in the centre of the town is the
spiritual centre with a 30-metre-high globe with lotus-shaped foundation
urn.
Chidambaram
Chidambaram is a temple town situated in Tamil Nadu around 58 km off
Pondicherry. The place is famous for its temple complex where the renowned
Nataraja Temple is housed. Every year during Mahashivratri in
February/March, the temple celebrates the Natyanjali Dance Festival.
Thiruvannamalai, situated around 107 km from Pondicherry, is home to the Arunachaleshwara Temple, which is one of the most important Shaivite temples
in South India. The ashram of the famous saint Sri Ramanna Maharshi is
situated at a distance of 3 km from the temple. |