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| Travels
States in South India |
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Pondicherry
is a union teritory which lies
within the state of Tamil Nadu.The
inherent ambience of Pondicherry
becomes most evident in the
oldest part of the town which
flanks the seashore boulevard.
Quiet beaches and peaceful resorts
to the north and south balance
the towns bustling, yet easy
going life. But Pondy hasn't
only its own special attractions
to offer.
Colonial buildings which trace
back to the 18th century, line
along a grid of straight clean
streets and house the French
institutions, private homes
and businesses, and the sprawling
premises of the famous Sri Aurobindo
Ashram. The visitor is greeted
by mellow colours of cream,
yellow, pink and grey with flamboyant
bougainvillae bursting over
gates and compound walls of
cool courtyards.
Though there is usually a high
humidity in Pondicherry, during
the months of May and June there
may be at times a hot dry landwind
blowing. The summer runs from
March till July. The skies are
cloudless and temperatures are
soaring upto 40 degrees and
beyond in May and June. The
monsoon on the west coast brings
some relief in July-August with
milder temperatures and occasional
showers, which may last till
October.
Cotton clothes are the most
comfortable choice. Pondicherians
are used to western style casual
clothing within limits.Chappels
and sandals are practical and
there is a wide choice,
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in
case you didn't bring with you. During
the monsoons a light raincoat or umbrella
are useful and are locally available.
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Every
place has its own distinguishing
landmark which draws
hordes of visitors for
that place. Paris and
Eiffel Tower, London
and Big Ben, think Pondy
and the first thing
that strikes ur mind
is the Aurobindo Ashram.
Founded in 1926 by one
of India's famous sons,
Sri Aurobindo and the
Mother. Its a unique
spiritual concept revolving
around offering work
as a Divine offering.
There are no rituals,
no compulsory meditation,
no practices. But it
revolves around only
one principle: One must
surrender to the Divine
principle and an opening
to the Divine force.
Here lies the Samadhi
or final resting place
of Sri Aurobindo, and
the Mother, which draw
devotees. Sri Aurobindo,
a saint-cum-yogi, taught
Integral Yoga, synthesising
yoga and modern science.
The activities of the
ashram include the development
of art, culture, and
spiritually, besides
agriculture and cottage
industries.
The main building encompasses
the houses of Shri Aurobindo
and The Mother (Mirra
Alfassa, a French woman
who accepted Aurobindo
as her spiritual mentor
and guide and later
became his most important
disciple). In the courtyard
are the samadhis of
Aurobindo and The Mother
where their mortal remains
have been enshrined.
The worth visiting at
the Ashram complex are
the International Education
Centre, guest houses,
libraries and the cottage
industries.
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The
beach-comber and
the sun-worshipper
have miles of nirvana
in Pondicherry.
The waters are cool
and soothing. The
sands clear and
sparkling. In splendid
seclusion. Quite
often, your only
company is a lone
seagull. Or a sandpiper.
Many resorts, cottages,
cafes and bars command
an excellent view
of the sea.
Serenity
Beach:
A ten-minute drive
to the north of
the town brings
you to these virgin
sands. The ambience
is well-captured
in its name. You
can touch the calm.
Ideal for a quick
dip, a touch of
the sun and a cool
reprieve in the
shade.
Plage
Paradiso (Paradise
Beach):
At Chunnambar, 8
kms from the town,
along Cuddalore
Main Road, lies
this stretch of
tropical paradise.
Flanked h a quiet-flowing
creek on one side.
In fact, you can
sail downstream
to the sands and
pitch up a cozy
seaside tent for
yourself. Overnighting
within the tree-houses
on the backwater
banks provides a
relishing experience
of the great outdoors.
A short, pleasant
cruise into the
sea from here could
reward you with
the memorable sight
of playful dolphins
in natural habitat,
horsing around.
Karaikal
Beach:
Sunrise-watchers
can catch their
magnificent view
over the bay, with
the pretty Arasalar
river reaching out
to the sea. Alternatively,
you can canoe or
kayak in picture-book
surroundings. Have
a round of beach
volley ball. Or,
armed with the angling
gear, you can reel
in a surprise. |
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There
are several of churches
that are worthy of a
visit. One of the most
beautiful is the Church
of the Sacred Heart
of Jesus located on
South Boulevard. It
is built in the Gothic
style and has three
stained glass panels
in a corridor behind
the altar which exhibits
the life of Christ.
The Eglise de Notre
Dame des Anges on Rue
Dumas was built in 1865.
The church has an oil
painting of Our Lady
of Assumption that was
donated by Napoleon
III. The Eglise de Notre
Dame de Lourdes situated
in Villiyanur on the
outskirts of Pondicherry
is built on the same
pattern as the Basilica
at Lourdes in France.
French missionary zeal
in the 17th and 18th
centuries saw a number
of imposing churches
built here. The Eglise
de Sacre Coeur de Jesus,
situated on the south
boulevard, stands out
as an oriental specimen
of Gothic splendour.
It contains rare and
beautiful stained glass
panels depicting events
from the life of Christ.
The Eglise de Notre
Dame de la Conception
Immaculee, on Cathedral
Street, was first built
in 1692. It took its
present shape in 1791.
The
Eglise de Notre Dame
des Anges, in Rue
Dumas, is notable
for its masonry -
which uses the finest
of limestone mixed
with white of the
egg - making for a
texture identical
to that of white marble.
It is modelled on
the Basilica at Lourdes,
in southern France.
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There
are many temples in Pondicherry that
were erected by the Cholas between
the 10th and 12th centuries. Most
of them are dedicated to the local
goddesses of the villages where they
were built. There are also quite a
few temples dedicated to Lord Vinayaka
or Ganapathy.
Villiannur:
You can locate the architecturally
fine sight of the Sri Gokilambal Thirukameswara
Temple, 10 kms from Pondicherry. Thousands
of devotees converge here for a ten-day
annual festival (Brahmotsavam), held
during May - June along with the appearance
of the full moon.
Thirunallar
Temple: Thirunallar
is 5 kms west of Karaikal. The sanctum
sanctorum of Lord Dharbaraneswara
Temple holds Siva as the main deity.
However, its shrine dedicated to Saneeswaran
(Saturn) which figures in the story
of Naki Damayanti; makes this the
most famous Saturn temple in India.
The
blessings of Saturn are said to be
overwhelming, while its wrath causes
great misery. The temple hosts a mammoth
festival (Shani peyarchi), each time
Saturn moves from one sign of the
zodiac to another.
The
Varadraja Temple: The
Varadaraja Temple (12th century) is
the most important Vishnu temple in
town, located just west of Gandhi
Road, off Tyagraja Street. Here Narasimha
sits behind Venkatachalapathy, the
main deity.
Masthan
Saheb Darga: Dedicated
to Masthan Saheb Syed Dawood Buhari,
a Sufi saint who came to Karaikal
from Buhara two centuries ago. He
died aged 120, in 1829. Various miracles
are attributed to him. The above 170
year old Kandhuri Festival (November)
is celebrated in his commemoration.
It starts with the hoisting of a huge
flag on a pole - reminiscent of a
ship mast and a sea-fairing tradition.
And winds up, 10 days later with a
spectacle of floats lit with electric
colours. |
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