Pondicherry Trip Overview
Pondicherry (also known as Puducherry) used to be a French colonial settlement in 1954, but now is an union territory of India. There is a strong French influence in the city, especially in the old quarters, with Rues and Boulevards lined with Mediterranean style houses and bakeries, although the city remains very much Indian. Explore this beautiful little city with our experienced and professional guide, comfortably in an air-conditioned vehicle.
Additional Info
Duration: 8 hours
Starts: Pondicherry, India
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Pondicherry Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Pondicherry, Union Territory of Pondicherry, India
Pondicherry (also known as Puducherry) used to be a French colonial settlement in 1954, but now is an union territory of India. There is a strong French influence in the city, especially in the old quarters, with Rues and Boulevards lined with Mediterranean style houses and bakeries, although the city remains very much Indian. Explore this beautiful little city with our experienced and professional guide, comfortably in an air-conditioned vehicle.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Rue de la Marine, Pondicherry India
The Ashram symbolises the ideals of Sri Aurobindo and is a centre of yoga, meditation and spirituality in India. The Samadhi of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother is under a frangipani tree and is always decorated with flowers by the devotees.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Arulmigu Manakula Vinayagar Temple, Manakula Vinayagar Koil St, White Town, Puducherry, 605001, India
It came into being even before the French settlements, before the year 1666. It’s a temple dedicated to the elephant God Ganesha and has a Deccan and South Indian architectural style. Located near Aurobindo Ashram, the stone carvings and the shrine of the deity in the temple create a blissful aura around the temple space.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Matrimandir Rd., Auroville India
The architecture of the city is as interesting as the concept. The city is planned in a circle of radius 1.25kms, and the center of the city is the famous Matrimandir along with the gardens surrounding it. Just outside this are the industrial zone, the cultural zone, the peace zone, and the residential zone. Outside this, the entire city is surrounded by a “green belt“ – this is supposed to act as a barrier against urban encroachment, a wildlife habitat, and sources of food/timber/etc. This entire area was created out of a wasteland, emonstrating the ability to conserve nature while developing a town.
The main attraction here is the “Matrimandir“ – you can watch an introductory video about the concept of the city, and sit here in silence to concentrate. With water pooling in from different sides, the sound of the water and cool breeze which always flows, provides a perfect atmosphere for meditation.
Another area of interest is Auroville, which is a small township of the “City of Dawn“ was conceived by the Maa, a disciple of Shri Aurobindo as a tribute to the poet and philosopher, with an entirely new concept in education and urban living. Locals here are engaged in a great variety of activities including afforestation, farming, education and handicrafts. It is internationally endorsed as an experiment in uniting humanity.
Duration: 1 hour
