The French Riviera of the East (Pondicherry, India)

The Incredible India 5-years before Covid-19 (Part 3)

Ahhh ze French colonial city of India!

Pondicherry (Puducherry) started as a small fishing village that was desired to be converted into a thriving port-town by François Martin, the first governor of French India, in the 1670s.

Pondicherry even fell into the hands of the Dutch in 1693 but returned to France by the Treaty of Ryswick after 6 years, and was also occupied several times by the British troops.

Nevertheless, it remained a French colonial possession until it was passed on to India in 1962.

Just a stroll down the streets of Pondicherry and you’ll feel the French influence upon seeing the sunburnt yellow buildings and some cafes.

The famous spot to visit in Pondicherry is the Promenade beach. It’s a 1.2km-long rocky beach stretch along the Bay of Bengal. 

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Some even call it the Mahatma Gandhi Beach because of the famous statue fronting the coast.

The road along Promenade Beach is closed to all vehicles between 6:00 pm to 7:30 am. Any vehicle parked on the road will be towed – so be warned!

We had to learn it the hard way, but we were able to retrieve our motorbike from a nearby police station.

Renting a motorbike would be a convenient way to freely roam around town. Especially if you want to visit the famous Matrimandir in the center of Auroville, which is 8km northwest of Pondicherry.

Auroville is an experimental town that aims for an international community free of government, religion, money, and conflict.

Matrimandir is the soul of Auroville and symbolizes the birth of a new consciousness.

It is made of stainless steel and plated with gold.  People come inside this golden ball to stay in silence and concentrate in order to find one’s consciousness.

You’ll have to walk through the 12 gardens of Matrimandir before reaching the golden ball.  The gardens’ main purpose is to stir up the visitor’s various states of consciousness.

You’ll encounter 12 of these stones namely: Existence, Consciousness, Bliss, Light, Life, Power, Wealth, Utility, Progress, Youth, Harmony, Perfection

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To know more about Auroville, check out their official website.

Not far off Auroville, you’ll pass by this interesting statue of the Hindu goddess, Kali. She’s tearing out the innards of some poor soul!

Kali is the destroyer of evil in order to protect the innocent.

Where to eat

Selva’s Restaurant by the Promenade beach serves some tasty local food and is just right on budget! Try their delicious Mushroom Pepper Fry!

We were still quite new to India’s flavorful cuisine, so we needed some neutralizers! The oven brick pizza at Tanto is also a must-try!

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Where we stayed

We stayed at Vedanta Wake up. It’s about 4 km away from Auroville and 8 km from the Promenade beach. They charge ₹500-₹600 ($6.80-$8.20) per night.

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How to get to Pondicherry

By Train

It’s best to take a train to Chennai Central railway station (station code: MAS), 165km away from Pondicherry,  as there’s only 1 weekly train from New Delhi to Puducherry railway station (Station code: PDY).

From Chennai take another train to Puducherry railway station or a bus at Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminal.

Check the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation’s official website for train schedules and online ticket booking

Or you can download the IXIGO app, IRCTC’s official booking partner right on your mobile phone for a more convenient train booking!

By Air

Puducherry Airport is only less than 7 km from the city center. Take a prepaid taxi or an auto-rickshaw from the airport to your hotel.

Now, let’s go further up North, to the holiest city in India

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Disclaimer: 

We’re not sure if the hotels and restaurants in the blog are still open due to Covid-19.

Please help us know by writing in the comment box.

Nevertheless, we encourage everyone to support them if ever you visit India as we enjoyed their warm hospitality!

Shukriya!

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