The Union Territory of Pondicherry lies 162 kms from Chennai ( formerly Madras ), on the east coast of India. It comprises of four coastal regions - Pondicherry and Karaikal in Tamil Nadu, Yanam in Andhra Pradesh, and Mahe in Kerala. Pondicherry is the capital of this Union Territory.

Like most ancient cities, the origin of Pondicherry lies buried in legends. Excavations in the Arikamedu area near Pondicherry, have brought to light, the remains of a trading port, which had connections with the Greco-Roman world, more than a century before the dawn of the Christian Era. The glorious remains of Arikamedu are on display in the Archaeology section of the Pondicherry museum.

Having remained capital of the erstwhile French India, the city's cultural legacy has a unique hue to it, not to be found anywhere else in the country.

Established by Sri Aurobindo, a revolutionary turned poet, the Aurobindo Ashram has grown into a centre for the practice of Integral Yoga. In the main building of the ashram, is the Marble Samadhi, where Aurobindo and the Mother have been laid to rest.

The 18th century Palais du Gouverneur, the old Tribunal now housing the Legislative Assembly, the cercle de Pondicherry, the hospitals, and the UCO Bank are all lined up to form the 'Place de Gouvernement' or the Government Square. Some exquisitely carved monolithic pillars adorn the place.

The 1.5 km long promenade runnning along the beach is the pride of Pondicherry. On the sea front are several landmarks like the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, Dupleix, the elegant war memorial raised by the French, and the 27 m tall lighthouse.

The museum evokes the impressive past of Pondicherry, from the days of the pre-Christian era, down to the present day. It provides insightful glimpses into the art and culture of the people of the region, during the days of the Pallava, Chola and Vijayanagar empires.

Created in 1826, the botanical garden has a collection of over 1,500 species of plants.

Of the thirty two temples in Pondicherry, the most famous are the Manakula Vinayagar temple, Sri Vedapureeswarar temple and the Varadarajaperumal temple.

Facilities for boating and canoeing, are available at the boat house, on the river Chunnambar, 8 km from Pondicherry. The backwaters and luxuriant greenery on both sides of the river, provide an idyllic setting for boating.

How To Get There

Air: The nearest major airport is at Chennai, 162 km away. Vayudoot Air service has regular flights from Chennai to Pondicherry

Rail: Trains ply regularly from Chennai to Pondicherry.

Road: State Government buses as well as private buses, and taxis ply regularly from Chennai to Pondicherry.

Package Tours

The Pondicherry Tourism Development Corporation conducts daily sight-seeing tours, in and around Pondicherry. The tour starts from Tourist Information Bureau, No. 19, Goubert Avenue, Pondicherry - 605001 at 9:00 a.m and ends at 2:30 p.m .
The Tourism Corporation also offers facilities for pleasure sea - cruising, dolphin - watching and deep sea fishing. 

Tourist Offices