Trip to Pondicherry

Pondicherry is one place that I have been longing to visit ever since I studied about Pondicherry in school. Well, that was a good old 20 years back. Finally, here was that day when I could fulfill a wish that has been lying at the back of my mind for almost 2 decades. We started out (me, my sister and 2 cousins) from Chennai to Pondicherry on the newly commissioned Dindivanam Highway. The beginning of the journey itself was very fascinating considering the extent of planning and detailing that has went into the laying of the Highway. It is one of its kinds; I haven’t seen such a well laid road in any other part of India that I have traveled to. It passes through quite a few remote areas. However, the highway maintains its width all along and can easily be compared to the free ways one finds in the US. Finally, it was Pondicherry for us and we went straight to the beach side. The clean yellow sand, the mighty rocks and the calm sea soothes you no end and what makes the beach in Pondicherry unique is its cleanliness. The Gandhi smriti mandap and the old bridge that extends into the sea add to its charm. You have the well laid promenade across the beach with all major government offices and the posh hotels and restaurants lining it. We also visited the Samadhi of Aurobindo and Mother and the ashram at Auroville. The famed Ganapathy temple is a must- visit and the elephant at the temple that wears silver anklets in its front feet is a sight that one can never forget. For lovers of nature, there is the neatly maintained and extremely tranquil park and for those of you interested in getting deep into the history of the city, there is the museum on Pondicherry. Both are good enough to spend some time on. We also had a walk across a few of the streets of Pondicherry that still carries that unique French touch. The buildings that have stood the test of time seem to stress on the wonderful era of French colonialization and bear testimony to the rich history of Pondicherry. The wide and well laid streets with imposing colonial structures on both its sides are definitely a sight to see. Another thing that interests you is the cosmopolitan crowd that frequents the city. You have a microcosm of the world unfolding in front of you with inhabitants from all parts of the city visiting Pondicherry throughout the year, thanks to its stable climate. Everyone is busy with their own stuff and no one is bothered about what the other person is doing. Looks like everyone wants to take his/ her share of tranquility that the city has to offer.

If a peaceful getaway is your idea of a perfect holiday, Pondicherry is the place for you. The sun, the sand, the beaches and the remnants of a bygone era that Pondicherry has to offer will stay with you for quite a period of time after your visit.