Best places in pondicheri
Eglise de Notre Dame des Anges
Eglise de Notre Dame des Anges, also known as Our Lady of Angels Church is one of the most popular places to visit in Pondicherry. Reputed for its brilliant masonry, the church has an appearance that is inspired from the churches in France, especially the breathtaking Basilica at Lourdes in Southern France.
Limestone mixed with white of eggs were mixed to create a mixture that gives it a marble-like appearance. The church altar has a statue of Our Lady holding a baby Jesus in her arms. Inside the church, there are eight barrel vaults and a central dome that is pierced with eight round openings.
Immaculate Conception Cathedral
Moving on to another relic of the French colonial days, we come to the immaculate Conception cathderal. One of the oldest churches in Pondicherry, it was built by the very first Jesuit Fathers that came to the French colony in 1689. Pay a visit to marvel at its typical Jesuit edifice.
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.
Sri Aurobindo Ashram
Spiritual bliss is one of the reasons that tourists from far and wide plan a holiday in Pondicherry. The Sri Aurobindo Ashram is a famous spiritual community founded by Sri Aurobindo and Mirra Alfassa (The Mother) in 1926.
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.
Puducherry Museum
Trace the French roots and even older histories at the Puducherry museum. Explore the wonderful collection of artifacts, relics and historic treasures. From archeological findings of Arikamedu Roman settlement, to Chola and Pallava dynasties, there are various eras of history preserved here.
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.
Kallialay Surf School
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.
Catch some waves and enjoy the thrill of riding one, if you are a learner you can choose from different kinds of packages and training according to your interest, budget and requirements. You can also avail surfing equipment of international standards. Also, an annual festival, the Summer Swell Challenge calls for visitors from all around the world.
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.
Spot birds, walk on the silky sands, enjoy the opportunity to get some great photos or sitting and enjoying the waves. A variety of water sports facilities are also available for enthusiastic tourists to try a hand at fishing as fishing rods and nets, easily available for rent.