About

Pondicherry (or Puducherry), a French colonial settlement in India until 1954, is now a Union Territory town bounded by the southeastern Tamil Nadu state. Its French legacy is preserved in its French Quarter, with tree-lined streets, mustard-colored colonial villas and chic boutiques. A seaside promenade runs along the Bay of Bengal and passes several statues, including a 4m-high Gandhi Memorial.

Blossoming bougainvilleas, crumbling cathedrals on leafy boulevards and 18th-century colonial buildings colour the former French colony of Pondy, which sits on the Bay of Bengal. But it's also unmistakably Indian, with colourful festivals throughout the year, several mosques and the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. Quiet beaches stretch north and south from town, good for swimming and sunrise strolls. Pondy is a popular weekend getaway destination from Chennai and is easy to navigate on foot or by bicycle.

PONDICHERRY BEACHES

Pondicherry has many beautiful beaches out of which 6 are very popular among tourists, including: Auroville Beach, Promenade Beach, Paradise Beach, Serenity Beach, Mahe Beach and Karaikal Beach.

Top 10 Tourists Attractions:--

1-- Eglise de Notre Dame des Anges

The Eglise de Notre Dame des Anges known as the church of Our Lady of Angels is one of the best attractions of Pondicherry. Facing the Bay of Bengal, the church lies at the quite corner of Dumas street and Surcoof Street. One of the old world charms, the church is visited by tourist and locals alike. Experience the bliss of divine and marvel at the marvelous architecture.

The church of Our Lady of Angels is the only church in Pondicherry where mass is celebrated every Sunday, in all the three languages of the city: French, English and Tamil. Attend the holy congregation and feel the divine connection.

2-- Immaculate Conception Cathedral

Known as the mother church for the Roman Catholic Archideose of Pondicherry, it was destroyed and rebuilt a number of times in its long history. At the esplanade in front of cathedral, you can partake in the church ceremonies organized. The holy site is said to have been visited by Mother Teresa. Every year in the 8th of December, the church celebrates its annual feast.

3--- Sri Aurobindo Ashram

One of the most visited places in Pondicherry, the ashram is a retreat for your spiritual needs. Take a break from the world and focus on your evolution to higher spiritual beings with International Yoga Festival, meditation, sermons and other activities. Around 1,200 members along with 400 students can easily accommodate in the complex. Spread over 400 buildings, the ashram has facilities of library, printing press, playground, art gallery, dispensary/nursing home, dairy, farms, guest houses, etc.

4-- Puducherry Museum

Listed among the top attractions in Pondicherry, the museum has stone-carved statues, bronze sculptures of Indian Gods and Goddesses, fossilized trunks of ancient trees, models of modes of transportation, brass temple lamps, church relics, handicrafts, coins, shells and fossils. A completed section is dedicated to the history and legendary French colonial information. Do check out the painting gallery which has colonial prints, Tanjore paintings as well as contemporary works in glass, colors, pastels, and oils.

5--- Kallialay Surf

One of the premium surfing schools in India, Kallialay Surf School is one of the unmissable tourist attractions in Pondicherry. Located on the Serenity beach, the school was started by two brothers, Juan and Samai Reboul from Spain who settled down in Auroville.

6-- Paradise Beach

Like its name, Paradise beach is truly a world apart! Adorned with golden sands, this is a little-isolated haven, one of the top attractions in Pondicherry. Reaching the beach is amazing as the shoreline itself. You need to board the ferry traveling through the backwaters surrounded with thick mangrove forests that takes around 20-30 minutes to get to the golden shores.

7-- Promenade beach

The Promenade beach is among the most popular places to visit in Pondicherry. The rock-lined shore, 1.2km long stretch is marked with popular sites, monuments, cafes, eateries, restaurants, roadside food stalls, shopping options and hotels. Take a walk on the promenade. Stop to admire the statue of Marquis Dupleix. Pay respects to the Father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi. Visit the First World War Memorial. Sit on the rocks watching the playful waves hitting the rocks.

8--- Serenity beach

Serenity Beach, like its name offers peacefulness to all its visitors. The relaxing spot along the Bay of Bengal, 12 km from the town is one of the must visit places in Pondicherry. The warm golden sand with a trail of rocks leading to the cerulean sea is perfect for basking in bliss.

9-- Auro Beach

Close to Auroville, Auro Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Pondicherry. Known for the shallow waters and small waves, it is one of the must visit tourist attractions in Pondicherry, especially during sunrise or sunset.

10--- Water Sports & Adventure

Adventures abound in Pondicherry. Cycling, horse riding, trekking and hiking, rock climbing, rappelling, abseiling and parasailing are some exciting activities to indulge in. Lying in close proximity to the cerulean spread of Bay of Bengal, the union territory has lots of scope of water sports include surfing, banana boat rides, body boarding, scuba diving, free diving, kayaking, boat rides on backwaters through mangrove forests, and more.

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Rameswaram is a town on Pamban Island, in the southeast Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It’s known for Ramanathaswamy Temple, a Hindu pilgrimage site with ornate corridors, huge sculpted pillars and sacred water tanks. Devotees bathe in the waters of Agni Theertham, off the beach east of the temple. Gandamadana Parvatham is a hill with island views. A chakra (wheel) here is said to bear an imprint of Lord Rama’s feet.

The Top 8 Things to Do in Rameshwaram

1--- Visit ramanathaswamy temple

The Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple stands out of all the Rameshwaram temples because of its religiosity and architectural magnificence. The temple houses the idol of Lord Shiva and possesses one of the twelve unique jyotirlingas, found in the world. Unlike other temples in Rameshwaram, devotees flock here throughout the year to earn the blessings of Lord Shiva and catch a sight of the Jyotirlinga.

The Spatika lingam darshan (cost: 50 rupees) from 5 a.m. to 6 a.m., is particularly auspicious. Mahashivratri, in February or March, is one of the temple's biggest festivals.

Timings--(1st slot)Morning- 5 a.m. to Afternoon-1 p.m.
(2nd slot)Evening -3 p.m. to Night-9 p.m

Everyday

2--- Wash Away Your Sins at Agnitheertham

Taking a dip in the 23 theerthams (holy water bodies) in and around Ramanathaswamy Temple is an integral part of washing away sins. All are inside the temple premises except for Agnitheertham, which is located at the sea a few hundred meters before the temple's east gate.

Timings-- (1st slot)Morning- 5 a.m. to Afternoon-1 p.m.

(2nd slot)Evening -3 p.m. to Night-9 p.m

Everyday

Entry-cost: 25 rupees

3--the Eerie Ghost Town of Dhanushkodi

In 1964, a cyclone hit the flourishing trade town of Dhanushkodi, near Rameshwaram, at about 280 kilometers per hour (170 miles per hour), wiping most of it and a passenger train out. It's estimated that nearly 2,000 people were killed in the storm. The town, which sat on a thin strip of land that juts towards Sri Lanka, was submerged under meters of sea water. The government declared it a ghost town, unfit for habitation. All that's left are the fragmented windswept remains of a few buildings such as the church, post office, and railway station. There are also railway tracks under the sand. The railway line used to end at a pier at Dhanushkodi, from where Sri Lanka was connected by ferry.

However, a scenic new road now goes through Dhanushkodi to the land's end at Arichal Munai (Erosion Point), where the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal meet. Travel time is about 30 minutes from Rameshwaram.

Entry Timings

Entry is only permitted from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(although it's possible to remain there until 6 p.m.).

4--- Stand at the Edge of India

Arichal Munai, just beyond Dhanushkodi, is technically the border between India and Sri Lanka. Since the distance between the two countries is only 18 nautical miles, it doesn't fulfill international laws for a feasible boundary line. Hence, the governments decided on an imaginary one. A chain of limestone shoals, known as Adam's Bridge, extends all the way to the coast of Sri Lanka. Hindus call it Ram Setu and regard it as remnants of the bridge that Lord Ram built. Some even say it was possible to walk on the bridge until it was destroyed by a cyclone in 1480.

5--- Take the Train Over Pamban Bridge

Pamban Island is joined to the Indian mainland by two noteworthy bridges. One is Pamban Rail Bridge, the oldest sea bridge in India. It was completed in 1914. The other is Annai Indira Gandhi Road Bridge, which opened in 1988 and runs parallel to the rail bridge. Spanning 2.35 kilometers (1.46 miles), it's the second longest sea bridge in India (the Bandra-Worli Sealink in Mumbai is the longest). A train ride over the rail bridge is particularly exhilarating as it sits quite close to the sea—so low in fact, that the central part of the bridge opens to allow boats to pass. Here are the Indian Railways trains that depart from Rameshwaram and arrive in Rameshwaram.

6---Learn How to Kite Surf

It may come as a surprise that Rameshwaram, which is prominently known for temple tourism, is one of the best kite surfing destinations in India! Quest Expeditions has a kite surfing school and two boutique places to stay—Kathadi North and Kathadi South—on Pamban Island. Kathadi North is more upmarket, with cottages that have open-air bathrooms and gardens. Kathadi South is more rustic, with beach huts and tents. Packages, including accommodations and lessons, are offered. The kite-surfing season follows the wind flow of the monsoon. The summer season runs from April to September at Kathadi South, while the winter season is from December to March at Kathadi North. If you're not interested in kite-surfing, you can still enjoy other water sports such as snorkeling, kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding.

7---- Spot Flamingos and other Migratory Birds

Nature-lovers will be delighted to find a number of bird sanctuaries that can be visited on day trips from Rameshwaram. Arichamunai Bird Sanctuary, near Dhanushkodi, is closest to Rameshwaram. Go from December to March, and you may be lucky enough to see flamingos that have flown all the way from Australia. They stand together in the sea looking for food. Chitrangudi and Kanjirankulam sanctuaries are also worth visiting on the mainland. They're both situated near Mudukulathur in the Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu, a couple of hours from Rameshwaram.

7---See Where Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Grew Up

The childhood home of India's 11th president, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, is in Rameshwaram and has been converted into a museum that's maintained by his elder brother. As well as being a popular president who served from 2002 to 2007, Kalam was a respected scientist who specialized in aerospace engineering. The museum's exhibits narrate the story of his life and achievements. It's located on Mosque Street and is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.(monday-Friday)
sat-sun(closed)

8--Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam National Memorial

The everlasting memory of India’s great leader, former president, and a renowned scientist – Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, now welcomes the visitors to the temple town of Rameshwaram. Dr. Kalam, who always reflected the simplicity, depth, and calmness of Rameshwaram through his life, is remarkably showcased in his memorial. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam National Memorial was inaugurated by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi on 27th July, 2017. Presenting as an interesting sightseeing choice, the memorial of the former president invites the tourists from all over the world to witness India’s diversity and different culture.

Timings--(MONDAY-FRIDAY);-
MORNING 9:00AM-EVENING6:00PM
(SATURDAY-SUNDAY);-9:00AM TO 5:00PM

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Kanyakumari is a coastal town in the state of Tamil Nadu on India's southern tip. Jutting into the Laccadive Sea, the town was known as Cape Comorin during British rule and is popular for watching sunrise and sunset over the ocean. It's also a noted pilgrimage site thanks to its Bagavathi Amman Temple, dedicated to a consort of Shiva, and its Our Lady of Ransom Church, a center of Indian Catholicism.

Top 9 Places to visit in Kannyakumari

1---Kanyakumari Pier

The first off beat place which we found was some sort of man made extension into the sea. It was a bridge built from rocks. This place is called the Kanyakumari Pier and is an extension of about 500 meters from Kanyakumari into the sea. You can take your bikes on this tier till almost the end. After a point there is no path and only stones on which you can jump and reach the end of pier. It's a relatively unexplored area and only locals come here. You can sit here and enjoy the waves hitting the rocks. Because of it's isolation, sometimes a few sea creatures also find their way to the rocks. We were lucky to spot a sea urchin in the waters. One of the kids actually jumped in the waters and caught it. The views from here area amazing and and matches any viewpoint in and around Kanyakumari minus the crowd.

2---Kannayakumari Beach

3---Sunset View

Popular destination for sunset views from a scenic point overlooking the ocean & rocky beach.Initially I was apprehensive about sunset view place, but when I went there, I was pleasantly amazed by spectacular view. Was a great experience and enjoyed throughly. Best experience of Kanyakumari.

4---Thiruvalluvar Statue, or the Valluvar Statue

Vivekananda Rock Memorial is a popular tourist monument in Vavathurai, Kanyakumari, India. It was built in 1970 in honour of Swami Vivekananda who is said to have attained enlightenment on the rock. According to local legends, it was on this rock that Goddess Kumari performed tapas in devotion of lord Shiva. A meditation hall known as Dhyana Mandapam is also attached to the memorial for visitors to meditate. The design of the mandapa incorporates different styles of temple architecture from all over India. The rocks are surrounded by the Laccadive Sea.

5---Bharat Mata Temple

6---Padmanabapuram Palace Gallery

Padmanabhapuram Palace, also known as Kalkulam Palace, is a Travancore era palace located in Padmanabhapuram in the Kanyakumari district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The palace is owned, controlled and maintained by the government of the neighbouring state of Kerala. Padmanabhapuram is the former capital city of the erstwhile Hindu kingdom of Travancore. It is around 20km from Nagercoil, 39km from Kanyakumari town and 52 km from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. The palace is complex inside with an old granite fortress around four kilometers long.

7---Mathur Aqueduct & Hanging Waterfall

Mathoor Aqueduct or Mathoor Hanging Trough, is an aqueduct in southern India, in the kalkulam taluk of Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu state. Built over the Pahrali River, it takes its name from Mathoor, a hamlet near the aqueduct, which is about 3 kilometres from Thiruvattar town and about 60 km from Kanyakumari, the southernmost town of India. It is one of the longest and highest aqueducts in South Asia and is a popular tourist spot in Kanyakumari District. The nearest railway station is Kuzhithurai Railway Station which is about 15 kilometres away and the nearest airport is the Trivandrum International Airport which is about 70km.

8---Thirparapu Water Falls

Thirparappu Falls, Poovar Overview

Located at a distance of about 55 kilometres from Kanyakumari, the cascading waters of the Tirparappu Falls make up for an enchanting sight. This waterfall is a manmade one and falls from a height of 50 feet. The water collects in a quaint pool below which is an ideal place to frolic around, especially for children. The falls are surrounded by thick green foliage and indigenous fauna, which make it a nature lover's paradise. Thirparappu Falls are best seen on a day trip from Kanyakumari or as a stopover while you travel between Kanyakumari and Trivandrum.
These falls are a unique combination of streams that flow together to form a magnificent waterfall. The containment below is no less than a top-tier waterpark and is perfectly safe too. The entrance of this destination has a small temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and is highly revered by the locals.

9---Thirparapu River

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1-- Eglise de Notre Dame des Anges

2-- Immaculate Conception Cathedral

3--- Sri Aurobindo Ashram

4-- Puducherry Museum

5--- Kallialay Surf

7-- Promenade beach

8--- Serenity beach

10--- Water Sports & Adventure

2--- Wash Away Your Sins at Agnitheertham

4--- Stand at the Edge of India

5--- Take the Train Over Pamban Bridge

7---- Spot Flamingos and other Migratory Birds

8--Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam National Memorial

5---Bharat Mata Temple

6---Padmanabapuram Palace Gallery

8---Thirparapu Water Falls

Thirparappu Falls, Poovar Overview

9---Thirparapu River

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