Places To Visit In Pondicherry

The very mention of Pondicherry is enough to fill your minds with vivid images of French colonial buildings, mouth-watering seafood, endless beaches and wonderful monuments. This sleepy little town, famous for its long-lasting affair with French, is a paradise for the shoppers. Some of the local inhabitants here, especially the elders, can be heard speaking in French even today. So, in case you chance upon them, don't miss the opportunity to learn a few basic French words. Pondicherry, renamed as Puducherry, is lifeless without fish markets that add certain vivacity to this town. The must-see attractions of this town are Auroville, Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Puducherry Museum, Pormenade and Arikamedu. Pondicherry is fast turning out to become one of the top popular weekend destinations in the country, mainly owing to its easy accessibility. Besides enjoying the multicultural landscape, you can also relish the Pondicherry cuisine that uses mindboggling array of aromatic spices and flavors. Given below are the tourist attractions which every traveler ought to visit at least once in their lifetime. Check them out.

Tourist Attractions In Pondicherry

Puducherry Museum
Wish to go back to past or want to feel the touch of good old days? If yes, then make a visit to Puducherry museum that has a valuable collection of old artifacts. From Roman articles and paintings to beautiful sculptures and seashells, you are sure to find an intriguing array of collectible over here. Within the museum, an eye-gripping French Gallery will transport you to the days of French colonization. Puducherry museum is kept open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on all days

Auroville
Pondicherry's pride, Auroville is definitely not a place to be missed out. Located 8 km off the town, Auroville's popularity has reached peaks and even international tourists halt over to know what life in this tourism post is like. Famously referred to as the city of dawn, this experimental town is inhabited by people belonging to different countries, caste and religion.

Pondicherry Aurobindo Ashram
Another popular tourism attraction in Pondicherry is the peaceful Aurobindo Ashram that is set up in Rue de la Marine. This is the place where great Indian philosopher Sri Aurobindo Ghose lived and died. Within the ashram, there are several buildings, library and guesthouses. Here you will also find a factory that manufactures handmade papers, incense sticks, greeting cards, perfumed candles and the likes in bulk.

Botanical Garden
Apart from the ashrams and the museums, the Botanical Garden, which is located in the heart of Auroville, is one place that attracts scores of visitors every day. Set up in the year 1826, the garden has some amazing assortment of flora and birds. A tourist can just leisurely stroll along or indulge in some serious bird watching session. What is most interesting about this botanical garden is that each plant or tree carries scientific, common and Tamil names.

Promenade Beach
This is the right place to hit if you want to enjoy fun-filled activities like sunbathing, surfing, swimming, boating, etc. Evenings are the best time to visit this place since it is usually cool and pleasant during this time. There are many attractions in and around the beach such as lighthouse, heritage building and magnificent two storied structures. Near the beach side, many vendors gather to satiate the taste buds of hungry tourists by offering tasty snacks.