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Treasures of Pondicherry
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What keeps a person all agog and hooked on to glee is a journey. For most, it’s a trip that makes them a tranquil soul and keeps their life frabjous. With no space for doubt, travelling provokes amicability in one’s behaviour and exploring new places gives rise to more skills. Coupled with a visit to a beatifying destination, the moments get converted well-nigh into euphoric state. When it comes to such a place, Puducherry (formerly known as Pondicherry), casually referred to as ‘Pondy’, holds one of the top positions to offer intense happiness and excitement to its guests.
Pondicherry is a union territory located in Tamil Nadu, the south-eastern state of Bharat. If it’s your first step in South India, there is whole lot to get excited about. If you dig into the history, it states that the territory took place in records after the colonial rule by British, Portuguese, French, and Dutch. France ruled over Pondy until 1954 and the impact is still reflected through the French dialect used by some people. Well, the next section brings the whole shebang including the challenges tourists may face; let’s read on.
I personally believe solo travelling is the best way to rejuvenate the soul. I, however, was accompanied by a large group of friends who were on the brink of 20’s and were avid for having a glimpse of pretty Pondy. You can also whisk away with your sweetheart and experience a peachy tryst once again. Golly! By a surprising coincidence during a get together, we finally planned to make it in December last year which undoubtedly is the best time to enjoy Pondicherry. You can experience a pleasant Pondy trip from October to March. You can also plan the trip between July to September (Monsoon) if you love to (who doesn’t?) soak in the drops showered by rain; nonetheless, despite rainy season, this place is hot and humid. During rest of the year, Pondy is obsessed by comparatively more heat and humidity hence lacks the potential to show its best.
We got air tickets booked from New Delhi (IGI Airport) to Chennai. No matter where you are coming from, you need to land in Chennai. Well, it was a fine Sunday morning when our flight was scheduled to take off. We avoided packing more than two bags each. You prolly know the hassles that may create due to too much of luggage. However, since it was winter season, we kept some light woollens with us; you also never avoid paying heed to the choice of clothes according to the season.
With so much excitement, we reached airport and festinated to catch the flight. Right after the departure we began yearning for sumptuous South Indian food, engaging culture, and scenic beauty. After duration of approximately 2h 40m, we got landed at Chennai airport. Subsequently, after checking out, we pushed our way through the throng on taxi stand outside the airport. We couldn’t find a polyglot, therefore, encountered language issues. You can see everyone speaking Tamil around you. Taxi drivers approached us to drive us to the desired destination; however, the language left us entirely confused.
Fortunately, we had pre-booked a car through Zoomcar, a group that provides a car on rent with a deposit of Rs. 5000 as security. The amount is non-refundable in case of accident or damage to the car. Therefore, it is recommended to take pics of the car as a proof and check meter reading to avoid pesky arguments. It provides both web based as well as mobile based applications. The latter is easy, fast, and time effective. Tariff varies depending on the class of car you choose. We opted for a Honda City and paid accordingly. Zoomcar includes unlimited fuel in its tariff and also suggests you to keep the receipt if you have fuelled the car by some extra litres. Note that no discount is offered and charges are a bit high during peak season.
We bore the total bill of Rs.12360 (approximately) for 3 days and 22 extra hours for a distance of 574 Kilometres. If hours were exceeded, extra money would be charged accordingly. You may also consider opting for a taxi from Uber, OLA, Meru, et cetera.
Visitors also take trains or buses that run frequently at fixed intervals from Chennai to Pondicherry; Volvo bus facility is also available which indeed is a comfortable option.
A Journey of Taste and Unique Flavours (Pondicherry)
Our first journey to cover at Chennai included breezy beach which is a serene place to be at. The charisma of this place is beyond the hustle & bustle of the city. It, however gets over-crowded on weekends. I have been an ardent fan of the food served by Sarvana Bhavan at Delhi and wished to experience it on its own land. So, in the evening, we couldn’t resist our temptation and entered Hotel Sarvana Bhavan. The service was unbelievably quick, and before we knew it, our order was before us. We took every bite with relish, beginning with a round of delicious kaima idli with raita, 14 idly with sambhar ghee which was followed by Kara Dosai and Kal Dosai. Next, a fresh lime soda and sweet lassi added a punch to the meal, but it was kaima idli that won the hour.
Marina Beach is just opposite to it; a complete hot and humid place. Not recommended for tourists. The parking guys dont issue a receipt; therefore, they do not vouch for the safety of your vehicle. Moreover, the way to beach is unpleasant or I must say it’s terrible to be here. Next, we decided to shop to boost up our mood and found our way to Pothys store. It is a nice and big shopping hub where you can buy garments, silk saris, and lungis as souvenir. Another happening shopping place is Express Avenue Mall where we hung out for hours. If you have enough time like we had, visit the mall for a grand shopping experience.Well, before heading to Pondy, we first decided to drive through some of the popular destinations in Chennai. We first dug into a south Indian plate at Murugan Idli Shop, ‘temple of idli’. However, our appetite for South Indian forced us to tickle our taste buds at Adyar Ananda Bhawan where we experienced ambrosial food with yummy coconut chutney.
Now was the time to get back to our itinerary. The drive to Pondicherry can be dangerous because of no availability of lights on the narrow highway at night, we planned a sojourn at Mahabalipuram.
We had enough leeway while proceeding towards Mahabalipuram, therefore, visited Madras Crocodile Bank that justifies the name to the full extent. Especially when you are with kids, it’s a must visit place which is popular to have contained a huge bank of crocodiles and snake pits; an absolute interesting place.
A Date with Ancient India - Mahabalipuram (Pondicherry)
Mahabalipuram measures the distance of approx. 56 kilometres from Chennai that took us hardly an hour to reach there. Golden Sun Hotel & Beach Resort was our stay point that charged us Rs. 2200 for a night. An old city Mahabalipuram is located in Kancheepuram district and is known for consisting of ancient temples and stone carved monuments. Therefore, we found it worth it to spend some time at Mahabalipuram and experience the glimpse of this ancient land. It cannot be gainsaid that Mahabalipuram is among the most loved cultural heritage sites of India. If you are culturati, you will fall head over heels in love with the sites offered by this age old town.
Shore Temple
The Shore Temple was the first destination we chose to touch. Lo and behold! This amazing place made me believe in the unlimited potential of human. The 1400 years old temple, perfectly situated on the sea shore dates back to Pallava Dynasty and has the images of Lord Shiva, Goddess Durga, Lord Vishnu, and Nandi carved on its walls. When the sun rises, the natural glow hovers over the water surface and demonstrates what real beauty truly stands for. The temple consists of two main shrines namely Vishnu Shrine and Shiva Shrine. It is believed that the Vishnu Shrine was built first. It has a flat roof. There are a number of narrow pathways within the temple that connect the two shrines. We were just wondering how many generations have gone through these narrow paths. We first entered Shiva Shrine that has its face directed towards east at the sea.
Through a narrow path we entered the Vishnu Shrine that is popular for Lord Vishnu’s sleeping posture. Here, Lord Vishnu is lying in Ananta Shayana pose; therefore, the shrine is named as ‘Narapathisimha Pallava Vishnugruham’. The entry fee for the temple is Rs. 10 per person that also includes entry fee to Panch Rathas. The temple is 7 days open from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. There is no entry fee for the kids below fifteen years. Visit duration is 30 minutes.
Mahabalipuram boasts 8 Cave Temples namely Varaha, Tiger, Krishna, Panchpandava, Trimurti, Mahishasuramardini, Atiranachanda, and Kotikal built by Pallava dynasty in 7th century. A fine and detailed rock cutting makes these caves a true demonstrator of finest ancient Indian art.
An Evening with Krishna’s Butterball
Krishna's Butterball is another interesting attraction to see. The Butterball of 5 meters diameter is balanced on a smooth slope & defies the laws of Physics. We enjoyed underneath the rock for a while and clicked many candid pics.
Towards Happier HoursOther attractions that we explored include Arjuna’s Penance, Pancha Rathas, and beaches. Wherever you go, almost all sites are coverable on foot so you can stroll along the city. Mahabalipuram has now been declared as UNESCO world heritage site.
Next day we started off our journey to Pondicherry at 5.30 AM with an amazing gut feeling. Since Pondicherry is located approx. 131 kilometres far from Mahabalipuram, it took us around two hours and a few minutes to reach there. Supported by scenic destinations, mouth-watering food, and lovely coastline, Pondicherry is a small town and allows visitors to explore and enjoy on foot.
It was early morning and no restaurant was open; on asking people around, we were told that restaurants start serving from 9:00 AM onwards. Till then we satiated our hunger with the snacks we had and quenched our thirst with a small amount of water left with us. We then proceeded to French Guest House that we found a nice place to stay. The guest house is located near to Promenade beach promising to provide a breath-taking view. For corporate travellers, Le Royal Park is a good choice that offers a pool and good amenities. More importantly, this place offers everything at commendable prices. An interesting feature of Le Royal is its mid-night buffet that is available till 2.30 AM. If you are not hungry at supper time, the buffet turns out to be your true companion and that too at a very reasonable price. However, the hotel most of the times encounters traffic in front of it, making it a bit unpleasant for tourists.
Sri Aurobindo Ashram (Pondicherry)
After freshening up, we had tasty bites of breakfast and discussed our plan for rest of the day. We then found our way around the city beginning with Aurobindo Ashram which is also a centre for education. The Ashram opens from 8:00 AM to 12 noon and 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The highlights at the Ashram include:
Samadhi: Visit the inner courtyard to see the Samadhi of Sri Aurobindo and his disciple Mirra Alfasa whom Sri Aurobindo considered the divine mother and entitled her as ‘The Mother’. She was French and recognized that Sri Aurobindo was the one whom she had been seeing in her vision, and became the lifetime disciple.
Art Gallery: The Art Gallery was named ‘The Studio’ by the Mother who had keen interest in arts and painting. The gallery consists of paintings and photographs from the Mother’s collection and the paintings made by the people of Ashram. It opens from 9.00 AM to 11.00 AM, 3.00 PM to 4.00 PM.
Bureau Centre: Dedicated to visitors, Bureau Centre features an exhibition that explains the life of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, a detailed map of Pondicherry, video programs, and information about the Ashram.
Library: Recognized as an intellectual sanctuary by the Mother, the Library possesses eighty thousand books in twenty five languages.
The Ashram society also provides accommodation for visitors; however, it is easily available for Ashram guests only. Others need to get reservations in advance.
Near to Ashram (almost 7 km. drive) there is Auroville that welcomed us as warmly as if it had received instructions from nature to engulf us with ecstasy. Yes, this place is worth forgetting the routine life you live and living the life you always dreamt of. This place was established by The Mother and is adorned with utmost peace and spiritual atmosphere. Auroville is worth a stay of at least 4-5 days, cherish freedom, and give yourself a treat to live a little. We unfortunately didn’t have enough time so had to come back after spending a few hours out there. Additionally, the day just turned perfect owing to the murky weather. Auroville is often frequented by foreigners. The place is richly decorated with a beautiful beach known as Auroville beach; an ideal place to spend a spectacular, calm, and splendid evening. If possible, hire a scooty at Pondy to add more joy to your experience in the town. However, do not forget to bargain and limit them to max. Rs. 200 as the scooty rent varies between Rs. 150-200.
Time to Enjoy French Bites (Pondicherry)
After a busy yet enthralling day, we felt ravenous. Voila! Baker Street, a French Bakery served as a saviour. Tuna sandwich, doughnuts, mushroom puffs and other French delicacies satiated us. The restaurant provides WIFI connection; it is, however, better to take away. We enjoyed each French bite at Promenade Beach (Pondicherry Beach) that is a walk only zone at night. Taking a stroll or sitting by the beach and getting fresh air is an incomparable experience. The beach is a great place to be, surrounded by fascinating shops, water beyond, outstanding view, and relax.
While doing quite a little walking, we found a Gandhi statue and a sea facing restaurant named Le Cafe, a number of chaiwalas and chaatwalas, making it a more happening place. We enjoyed local chaats while celebrating tickling sounds of roaring waves.
At supper hour, we chose to taste the offerings of Le Café restaurant. It’s an open restaurant next to the beach where we enjoyed yummy cuisine while having a look at different facets of the sea. Though the restaurant draws many customers owing to its location and quality of food, the service was up to the mark despite good crowd; staff is quite attentive. Skipping the starters, we directly starved for the main course. Being a pure veggie, I ordered BBQ Paneer Tikka that pleased me with every spoonful. There is a variety for non-vegetarians, such as Chicken Tikka, Prawns, and much more. Following, our desire for Apple Tartlet remained disappointed as it was not as good as it should have been.
An important thing to keep a sincere check on is prices of food or any other item. Be it Pondicherry, Chennai or other places in South India, if you are a North Indian, you must possess good bargaining skills to avoid yourself from being looted.
An Italian Lick (Pondicherry)
With a wonderful experience throughout the day at Pondy, our tired body begged us to hit the hay. We drove to the hotel and had a sound sleep. The next morning, we woke up to glowing sun. Over breakfast, we decided to rush to the market and shop for local things.Ibaco is another nice ice-cream parlour which is located on Villianur Main Rd. It takes hardly 15 minutes to cover the distance from Promenade Beach to Ibaco. Other ice-cream shops are Richy Rich Snowflakes Ice Cream Parlour, etc.
Pondicherry houses local markets, boutiques, and Ashram shops most of which are located at MG road and Nehru Street. Special things worth buying at Pondy include arts & handicrafts, paper mache, room aromas, fragrance candles, bags and soaps that you can keep as souvenirs or present to your friends. We bought a bagful of aromatic items from a boutique at Auroville. There are several similar outlets at Pondicherry as well. Sunday market with vendors sitting alongside the street offers a good reason to spend an interesting time. From cheap clothes, shoes, bags to metal plates and pots, everything available in market makes people go gaga.
In the evening we were set to head to Paradise Beach, aka Plage Paradiso Island, one of the best beaches in India. In order to reach the beach, we had to first reach Pondicherry-Cuddalore highway which is approx. 7 kilometres far from the main city. From here a regular boat rode us to the island of Paradise Beach in 15-20 minutes.
With calm surroundings, array of tall coconut trees, incredible sound of sea waves and breeze, and picturesque landscape, the very much quintessential island, Paradise Beach is a hidden surprise. Playing and having fun at the beach like happy kids made us extremely happy. Sitting like someone with no worries and taking a deep breathe filled my heart with a feeling of immense pleasure and appreciation for everything our planet offers. Visit this paradise in the evening and stay thankful to this place for offering you such an amazing piece of peace. The time of over 3 hours spent at Paradise Beach is unforgettable. It’s a must visit place especially for those who love swimming. Along with a joyous time, we didn’t forget examining the zoomcar and taking clicks for an easy refund.
Cheers! (Pondicherry)
Our last activity at Pondy included enjoying liquor sips. Believe it or not but a large number of people visit Pondicherry for buying liquor. With the ‘no tax’ tag, the cheap liquor has made Pondy the cynosure of all alcoholics. After getting awesomely greeted by the Paradise Beach, now was the time to get into a restaurant cum bar. We were told by locals of a place named LB2 Lounge located on the La Bourdonnais Street. It’s a good place to enjoy night life as the lounge is open till 12 midnight. We chose to begin with cocktails; those guys undoubtedly have a good hand with cocktails. Our cocktail was coupled with the duo of starters – white sauce pasta and some fries that were later accompanied by a bottle of wine. The best things about the lounge include full of life ambience, good music played at standard sound levels, and comfortable sitting arrangement. However, it sounds sad that despite having everything up to the mark these people are a bit slow when it comes to service. You may have to wait for little more time than you thought.
We of course wanted to carry liquor for our friends, for which we were given the reference of PAPSCO, a government organization that supplies liquor and food products. The PAPSCO wholesale store at Pondy provides authenticated liquor at cheaper prices. We also bought the world class Amrut Fusion Single Malt whisky for just Rs. 2200. It was another moment to express gratitude to the great Pondy. Make sure you don’t get trapped by any unauthenticated and fraudulent liquor supplier. They will give you lower quality products at higher prices. In the next slot of hours, we went back to hotel room, did some chit-chat, and celebrated our last giggles at Pondy till the moment we were ready to drop. Another thing that may be pesky for some and interesting for others is wearing lungi which is the traditional bottom wear in South India. Lungi will act as a saviour while you cross the border with liquor by private vehicle. Cops usually do not restrict people wearing lungi at the border, holding an opinion that lungi people are locals. In case of carrying different attire, chances are higher that you may be nabbed by cops and it will take hours for you to deal with the situation with no guarantee if you will be allowed to take the liquor with you.
Adieu Pondy
Next morning, while buckling up for a journey back to Chennai, we realized that the charm and serenity was short-lived. To outsiders, it may be a barren town, but it is a home to amazing people, scenic beauty, rich culture, and cheap pegs we have ever encountered. Hope to come back again with an ample time and date Pondicherry for long.
While reminiscing about the beautiful moments, we finally reached Chennai, headed to zoomcar centre, left the car in good condition and got back the deposited security. We then proceeded to the airport and caught flight that was scheduled to depart at 8:00 PM.
Helpful Tips:
Try the mushroom buns (tastes like an omelette)
Taste the Masala Bread at Adyar Bhawan (Spicy)
Raw mango on streets
Buy perfumes & lungis as souvenirs
Hire a Scooty or Bike to commute withing Pondy
Experience the stay at a French Guest House
Buy tax free alcohol
Guest Houses Links:
www.tripadvisor.in/Hotel_Review-g659792-d1055323-Reviews-...
patriciaguesthouse.wordpress.com/
www.tripadvisor.in/Hotel_Review-g659792-d1908811-Reviews-...
www.tripadvisor.in/Hotel_Review-g659792-d1600492-Reviews-...
www.tripadvisor.in/Hotel_Review-g659792-d2374480-Reviews-...
www.yatra.com/hotels/hotels-in-pondicherry/la-maison-blan...
www.tripadvisor.in/Hotel_Review-g659792-d1603369-Reviews-...
Treasures of Pondicherry
www.clickconnectgo.com/treasures-of-pondicherry/
What keeps a person all agog and hooked on to glee is a journey. For most, it’s a trip that makes them a tranquil soul and keeps their life frabjous. With no space for doubt, travelling provokes amicability in one’s behaviour and exploring new places gives rise to more skills. Coupled with a visit to a beatifying destination, the moments get converted well-nigh into euphoric state. When it comes to such a place, Puducherry (formerly known as Pondicherry), casually referred to as ‘Pondy’, holds one of the top positions to offer intense happiness and excitement to its guests.
Pondicherry is a union territory located in Tamil Nadu, the south-eastern state of Bharat. If it’s your first step in South India, there is whole lot to get excited about. If you dig into the history, it states that the territory took place in records after the colonial rule by British, Portuguese, French, and Dutch. France ruled over Pondy until 1954 and the impact is still reflected through the French dialect used by some people. Well, the next section brings the whole shebang including the challenges tourists may face; let’s read on.
I personally believe solo travelling is the best way to rejuvenate the soul. I, however, was accompanied by a large group of friends who were on the brink of 20’s and were avid for having a glimpse of pretty Pondy. You can also whisk away with your sweetheart and experience a peachy tryst once again. Golly! By a surprising coincidence during a get together, we finally planned to make it in December last year which undoubtedly is the best time to enjoy Pondicherry. You can experience a pleasant Pondy trip from October to March. You can also plan the trip between July to September (Monsoon) if you love to (who doesn’t?) soak in the drops showered by rain; nonetheless, despite rainy season, this place is hot and humid. During rest of the year, Pondy is obsessed by comparatively more heat and humidity hence lacks the potential to show its best.
We got air tickets booked from New Delhi (IGI Airport) to Chennai. No matter where you are coming from, you need to land in Chennai. Well, it was a fine Sunday morning when our flight was scheduled to take off. We avoided packing more than two bags each. You prolly know the hassles that may create due to too much of luggage. However, since it was winter season, we kept some light woollens with us; you also never avoid paying heed to the choice of clothes according to the season.
With so much excitement, we reached airport and festinated to catch the flight. Right after the departure we began yearning for sumptuous South Indian food, engaging culture, and scenic beauty. After duration of approximately 2h 40m, we got landed at Chennai airport. Subsequently, after checking out, we pushed our way through the throng on taxi stand outside the airport. We couldn’t find a polyglot, therefore, encountered language issues. You can see everyone speaking Tamil around you. Taxi drivers approached us to drive us to the desired destination; however, the language left us entirely confused.
Fortunately, we had pre-booked a car through Zoomcar, a group that provides a car on rent with a deposit of Rs. 5000 as security. The amount is non-refundable in case of accident or damage to the car. Therefore, it is recommended to take pics of the car as a proof and check meter reading to avoid pesky arguments. It provides both web based as well as mobile based applications. The latter is easy, fast, and time effective. Tariff varies depending on the class of car you choose. We opted for a Honda City and paid accordingly. Zoomcar includes unlimited fuel in its tariff and also suggests you to keep the receipt if you have fuelled the car by some extra litres. Note that no discount is offered and charges are a bit high during peak season.
We bore the total bill of Rs.12360 (approximately) for 3 days and 22 extra hours for a distance of 574 Kilometres. If hours were exceeded, extra money would be charged accordingly. You may also consider opting for a taxi from Uber, OLA, Meru, et cetera.
Visitors also take trains or buses that run frequently at fixed intervals from Chennai to Pondicherry; Volvo bus facility is also available which indeed is a comfortable option.
A Journey of Taste and Unique Flavours (Pondicherry)
Our first journey to cover at Chennai included breezy beach which is a serene place to be at. The charisma of this place is beyond the hustle & bustle of the city. It, however gets over-crowded on weekends. I have been an ardent fan of the food served by Sarvana Bhavan at Delhi and wished to experience it on its own land. So, in the evening, we couldn’t resist our temptation and entered Hotel Sarvana Bhavan. The service was unbelievably quick, and before we knew it, our order was before us. We took every bite with relish, beginning with a round of delicious kaima idli with raita, 14 idly with sambhar ghee which was followed by Kara Dosai and Kal Dosai. Next, a fresh lime soda and sweet lassi added a punch to the meal, but it was kaima idli that won the hour.
Marina Beach is just opposite to it; a complete hot and humid place. Not recommended for tourists. The parking guys dont issue a receipt; therefore, they do not vouch for the safety of your vehicle. Moreover, the way to beach is unpleasant or I must say it’s terrible to be here. Next, we decided to shop to boost up our mood and found our way to Pothys store. It is a nice and big shopping hub where you can buy garments, silk saris, and lungis as souvenir. Another happening shopping place is Express Avenue Mall where we hung out for hours. If you have enough time like we had, visit the mall for a grand shopping experience.Well, before heading to Pondy, we first decided to drive through some of the popular destinations in Chennai. We first dug into a south Indian plate at Murugan Idli Shop, ‘temple of idli’. However, our appetite for South Indian forced us to tickle our taste buds at Adyar Ananda Bhawan where we experienced ambrosial food with yummy coconut chutney.
Now was the time to get back to our itinerary. The drive to Pondicherry can be dangerous because of no availability of lights on the narrow highway at night, we planned a sojourn at Mahabalipuram.
We had enough leeway while proceeding towards Mahabalipuram, therefore, visited Madras Crocodile Bank that justifies the name to the full extent. Especially when you are with kids, it’s a must visit place which is popular to have contained a huge bank of crocodiles and snake pits; an absolute interesting place.
A Date with Ancient India - Mahabalipuram (Pondicherry)
Mahabalipuram measures the distance of approx. 56 kilometres from Chennai that took us hardly an hour to reach there. Golden Sun Hotel & Beach Resort was our stay point that charged us Rs. 2200 for a night. An old city Mahabalipuram is located in Kancheepuram district and is known for consisting of ancient temples and stone carved monuments. Therefore, we found it worth it to spend some time at Mahabalipuram and experience the glimpse of this ancient land. It cannot be gainsaid that Mahabalipuram is among the most loved cultural heritage sites of India. If you are culturati, you will fall head over heels in love with the sites offered by this age old town.
Shore Temple
The Shore Temple was the first destination we chose to touch. Lo and behold! This amazing place made me believe in the unlimited potential of human. The 1400 years old temple, perfectly situated on the sea shore dates back to Pallava Dynasty and has the images of Lord Shiva, Goddess Durga, Lord Vishnu, and Nandi carved on its walls. When the sun rises, the natural glow hovers over the water surface and demonstrates what real beauty truly stands for. The temple consists of two main shrines namely Vishnu Shrine and Shiva Shrine. It is believed that the Vishnu Shrine was built first. It has a flat roof. There are a number of narrow pathways within the temple that connect the two shrines. We were just wondering how many generations have gone through these narrow paths. We first entered Shiva Shrine that has its face directed towards east at the sea.
Through a narrow path we entered the Vishnu Shrine that is popular for Lord Vishnu’s sleeping posture. Here, Lord Vishnu is lying in Ananta Shayana pose; therefore, the shrine is named as ‘Narapathisimha Pallava Vishnugruham’. The entry fee for the temple is Rs. 10 per person that also includes entry fee to Panch Rathas. The temple is 7 days open from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. There is no entry fee for the kids below fifteen years. Visit duration is 30 minutes.
Mahabalipuram boasts 8 Cave Temples namely Varaha, Tiger, Krishna, Panchpandava, Trimurti, Mahishasuramardini, Atiranachanda, and Kotikal built by Pallava dynasty in 7th century. A fine and detailed rock cutting makes these caves a true demonstrator of finest ancient Indian art.
An Evening with Krishna’s Butterball
Krishna's Butterball is another interesting attraction to see. The Butterball of 5 meters diameter is balanced on a smooth slope & defies the laws of Physics. We enjoyed underneath the rock for a while and clicked many candid pics.
Towards Happier HoursOther attractions that we explored include Arjuna’s Penance, Pancha Rathas, and beaches. Wherever you go, almost all sites are coverable on foot so you can stroll along the city. Mahabalipuram has now been declared as UNESCO world heritage site.
Next day we started off our journey to Pondicherry at 5.30 AM with an amazing gut feeling. Since Pondicherry is located approx. 131 kilometres far from Mahabalipuram, it took us around two hours and a few minutes to reach there. Supported by scenic destinations, mouth-watering food, and lovely coastline, Pondicherry is a small town and allows visitors to explore and enjoy on foot.
It was early morning and no restaurant was open; on asking people around, we were told that restaurants start serving from 9:00 AM onwards. Till then we satiated our hunger with the snacks we had and quenched our thirst with a small amount of water left with us. We then proceeded to French Guest House that we found a nice place to stay. The guest house is located near to Promenade beach promising to provide a breath-taking view. For corporate travellers, Le Royal Park is a good choice that offers a pool and good amenities. More importantly, this place offers everything at commendable prices. An interesting feature of Le Royal is its mid-night buffet that is available till 2.30 AM. If you are not hungry at supper time, the buffet turns out to be your true companion and that too at a very reasonable price. However, the hotel most of the times encounters traffic in front of it, making it a bit unpleasant for tourists.
Sri Aurobindo Ashram (Pondicherry)
After freshening up, we had tasty bites of breakfast and discussed our plan for rest of the day. We then found our way around the city beginning with Aurobindo Ashram which is also a centre for education. The Ashram opens from 8:00 AM to 12 noon and 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The highlights at the Ashram include:
Samadhi: Visit the inner courtyard to see the Samadhi of Sri Aurobindo and his disciple Mirra Alfasa whom Sri Aurobindo considered the divine mother and entitled her as ‘The Mother’. She was French and recognized that Sri Aurobindo was the one whom she had been seeing in her vision, and became the lifetime disciple.
Art Gallery: The Art Gallery was named ‘The Studio’ by the Mother who had keen interest in arts and painting. The gallery consists of paintings and photographs from the Mother’s collection and the paintings made by the people of Ashram. It opens from 9.00 AM to 11.00 AM, 3.00 PM to 4.00 PM.
Bureau Centre: Dedicated to visitors, Bureau Centre features an exhibition that explains the life of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, a detailed map of Pondicherry, video programs, and information about the Ashram.
Library: Recognized as an intellectual sanctuary by the Mother, the Library possesses eighty thousand books in twenty five languages.
The Ashram society also provides accommodation for visitors; however, it is easily available for Ashram guests only. Others need to get reservations in advance.
Near to Ashram (almost 7 km. drive) there is Auroville that welcomed us as warmly as if it had received instructions from nature to engulf us with ecstasy. Yes, this place is worth forgetting the routine life you live and living the life you always dreamt of. This place was established by The Mother and is adorned with utmost peace and spiritual atmosphere. Auroville is worth a stay of at least 4-5 days, cherish freedom, and give yourself a treat to live a little. We unfortunately didn’t have enough time so had to come back after spending a few hours out there. Additionally, the day just turned perfect owing to the murky weather. Auroville is often frequented by foreigners. The place is richly decorated with a beautiful beach known as Auroville beach; an ideal place to spend a spectacular, calm, and splendid evening. If possible, hire a scooty at Pondy to add more joy to your experience in the town. However, do not forget to bargain and limit them to max. Rs. 200 as the scooty rent varies between Rs. 150-200.
Time to Enjoy French Bites (Pondicherry)
After a busy yet enthralling day, we felt ravenous. Voila! Baker Street, a French Bakery served as a saviour. Tuna sandwich, doughnuts, mushroom puffs and other French delicacies satiated us. The restaurant provides WIFI connection; it is, however, better to take away. We enjoyed each French bite at Promenade Beach (Pondicherry Beach) that is a walk only zone at night. Taking a stroll or sitting by the beach and getting fresh air is an incomparable experience. The beach is a great place to be, surrounded by fascinating shops, water beyond, outstanding view, and relax.
While doing quite a little walking, we found a Gandhi statue and a sea facing restaurant named Le Cafe, a number of chaiwalas and chaatwalas, making it a more happening place. We enjoyed local chaats while celebrating tickling sounds of roaring waves.
At supper hour, we chose to taste the offerings of Le Café restaurant. It’s an open restaurant next to the beach where we enjoyed yummy cuisine while having a look at different facets of the sea. Though the restaurant draws many customers owing to its location and quality of food, the service was up to the mark despite good crowd; staff is quite attentive. Skipping the starters, we directly starved for the main course. Being a pure veggie, I ordered BBQ Paneer Tikka that pleased me with every spoonful. There is a variety for non-vegetarians, such as Chicken Tikka, Prawns, and much more. Following, our desire for Apple Tartlet remained disappointed as it was not as good as it should have been.
An important thing to keep a sincere check on is prices of food or any other item. Be it Pondicherry, Chennai or other places in South India, if you are a North Indian, you must possess good bargaining skills to avoid yourself from being looted.
An Italian Lick (Pondicherry)
With a wonderful experience throughout the day at Pondy, our tired body begged us to hit the hay. We drove to the hotel and had a sound sleep. The next morning, we woke up to glowing sun. Over breakfast, we decided to rush to the market and shop for local things.Ibaco is another nice ice-cream parlour which is located on Villianur Main Rd. It takes hardly 15 minutes to cover the distance from Promenade Beach to Ibaco. Other ice-cream shops are Richy Rich Snowflakes Ice Cream Parlour, etc.
Pondicherry houses local markets, boutiques, and Ashram shops most of which are located at MG road and Nehru Street. Special things worth buying at Pondy include arts & handicrafts, paper mache, room aromas, fragrance candles, bags and soaps that you can keep as souvenirs or present to your friends. We bought a bagful of aromatic items from a boutique at Auroville. There are several similar outlets at Pondicherry as well. Sunday market with vendors sitting alongside the street offers a good reason to spend an interesting time. From cheap clothes, shoes, bags to metal plates and pots, everything available in market makes people go gaga.
In the evening we were set to head to Paradise Beach, aka Plage Paradiso Island, one of the best beaches in India. In order to reach the beach, we had to first reach Pondicherry-Cuddalore highway which is approx. 7 kilometres far from the main city. From here a regular boat rode us to the island of Paradise Beach in 15-20 minutes.
With calm surroundings, array of tall coconut trees, incredible sound of sea waves and breeze, and picturesque landscape, the very much quintessential island, Paradise Beach is a hidden surprise. Playing and having fun at the beach like happy kids made us extremely happy. Sitting like someone with no worries and taking a deep breathe filled my heart with a feeling of immense pleasure and appreciation for everything our planet offers. Visit this paradise in the evening and stay thankful to this place for offering you such an amazing piece of peace. The time of over 3 hours spent at Paradise Beach is unforgettable. It’s a must visit place especially for those who love swimming. Along with a joyous time, we didn’t forget examining the zoomcar and taking clicks for an easy refund.
Cheers! (Pondicherry)
Our last activity at Pondy included enjoying liquor sips. Believe it or not but a large number of people visit Pondicherry for buying liquor. With the ‘no tax’ tag, the cheap liquor has made Pondy the cynosure of all alcoholics. After getting awesomely greeted by the Paradise Beach, now was the time to get into a restaurant cum bar. We were told by locals of a place named LB2 Lounge located on the La Bourdonnais Street. It’s a good place to enjoy night life as the lounge is open till 12 midnight. We chose to begin with cocktails; those guys undoubtedly have a good hand with cocktails. Our cocktail was coupled with the duo of starters – white sauce pasta and some fries that were later accompanied by a bottle of wine. The best things about the lounge include full of life ambience, good music played at standard sound levels, and comfortable sitting arrangement. However, it sounds sad that despite having everything up to the mark these people are a bit slow when it comes to service. You may have to wait for little more time than you thought.
We of course wanted to carry liquor for our friends, for which we were given the reference of PAPSCO, a government organization that supplies liquor and food products. The PAPSCO wholesale store at Pondy provides authenticated liquor at cheaper prices. We also bought the world class Amrut Fusion Single Malt whisky for just Rs. 2200. It was another moment to express gratitude to the great Pondy. Make sure you don’t get trapped by any unauthenticated and fraudulent liquor supplier. They will give you lower quality products at higher prices. In the next slot of hours, we went back to hotel room, did some chit-chat, and celebrated our last giggles at Pondy till the moment we were ready to drop. Another thing that may be pesky for some and interesting for others is wearing lungi which is the traditional bottom wear in South India. Lungi will act as a saviour while you cross the border with liquor by private vehicle. Cops usually do not restrict people wearing lungi at the border, holding an opinion that lungi people are locals. In case of carrying different attire, chances are higher that you may be nabbed by cops and it will take hours for you to deal with the situation with no guarantee if you will be allowed to take the liquor with you.
Adieu Pondy
Next morning, while buckling up for a journey back to Chennai, we realized that the charm and serenity was short-lived. To outsiders, it may be a barren town, but it is a home to amazing people, scenic beauty, rich culture, and cheap pegs we have ever encountered. Hope to come back again with an ample time and date Pondicherry for long.
While reminiscing about the beautiful moments, we finally reached Chennai, headed to zoomcar centre, left the car in good condition and got back the deposited security. We then proceeded to the airport and caught flight that was scheduled to depart at 8:00 PM.
Helpful Tips:
Try the mushroom buns (tastes like an omelette)
Taste the Masala Bread at Adyar Bhawan (Spicy)
Raw mango on streets
Buy perfumes & lungis as souvenirs
Hire a Scooty or Bike to commute withing Pondy
Experience the stay at a French Guest House
Buy tax free alcohol
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