Pondicherry/Puducherry Map

Pondicherry/Puducherry is a city, municipality in Pondicherry district and an urban agglomeration in the Puducherry Union Territory. Fondly known as Pondy, it is the largest city of the union territory. The city has had been under several colonial rules like the Dutch, Portuguese, French and the British. Traces of these rules are still evident in the designs and architectures of the city. Just like Tamil Nadu, the average elevation of Puducherry is at sea level and it also has many sea inlets, known as "backwaters".

Places to See

Pondy was under French rule till 1954 and the French culture is still visible in the city. Hotels, restaurants and shops provide a glimpse of French style of architecture. The older part of the French colony is clean and quiet and comprises buildings which date back to the colonial era. Puducherry is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India and has many places of interests. Some of such places are:

Sri Aurobindo Ashram: Founded in 1926 by Sri Aurobindo and a French-born lady, Mirra Alfassa, Aurobindo Ashram is a spiritual community with over 1000 members who work in its different departments. This place is a major highlight of Puducherry and thousands of tourists visit it every year.

Pondicherry Museum: The museum has a great collection of handicrafts, sculptures and archaeological findings of Roman settlement and also items such as coins and furniture belonging to the French colonial era.

Church of Sacred Heart of Jesus: Located in the south boulevard of the city, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is considered one of the most revered religious places. It is a fine example of the Gothic architecture and the colourfully stained glass panels depict the life events of Jesus Christ.

Botanical Garden: This beautiful garden is a must visit place in Puducherry. The garden comprises a large aquarium, beautiful fountains, Japanese rocks, ornamental fishes and children's train. The garden remains open everyday from 10 am to 5 pm and the entry is free.

Visitors in the city can indulge themselves in many activities such as water sports, scuba diving, snorkelling and surfing. For peace and tranquility, tourists can also opt for yoga and meditation at Sri Aurobindo Ashram. From guest houses to budget hotels and from two-star to five-star hotels, the city provides many accommodations to tourists.

How to Reach?

Chennai Airport is the nearest domestic and international airport from the city, while the Pondicherry Airport, which has flights coming in from Bengaluru and Hyderabad, can accommodate small planes. Villupuram railhead is the nearest railway station and has direct trains from cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Trivandrum. Many buses ply from Puducherry to other cities like Madurai, Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Chennai and many more. The city falls on the National Highway (NH) number 45 which is connected to many cities in South India like Chennai and Bengaluru.

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Last Updated on : August 24, 2015