PondicherryTourist Places in Pondicherry
Puducherry which means “New Town”, till recently called Pondicherry, was a French colony. The French gave back this colony to India only in 1962. It has the status of a Union Territory comprising of four districts namely Puducherry, Karaikal, Yanam & Mahe with a total area of 492 sq.km and a population of 973,000.
Languages spoken are Tamil, Telegu, Malyalam and French. The architecture of Puducherry’s monuments, churches and temples reflect its historical past. The colonial government buildings, beautiful avenues with old cottages lining the sides of the streets provide an ambiance which sets this town apart from others in India. The main tourist places in Pondicherry are the beach, the Aurobindra Ashram,the Bharti and Bhartidasan Memorial museum, the botanical gardens and the Anglo-French textile mills. Puducherry is also famous within the country because of the large number of temples which dot the state.
Certain excavations near Pondicherry reveal that a settlement of Romans might have existed 2000 years ago. French influence came in since 1675. They fought many a battle with the British who were intent on setting up their dominance on the sub-continent. In the process, Pondicherry has in its archives several important records of the period and has thus become a centre for historical research. The persistence of the French to stay put in this coastal town thus led to the construction of roads, streets and buildings in a European style distinctively different from the British colonial structures as in the rest of India. Much earlier, the Chola kings who ruled between the 10th. and the 12th.centuries put their stamp on this territory having built 350 temples.
Amongst the tourist places in Pondicherry, the numerous temples here are worth mentioning. Within Puducherry on MG Road is the Varadaraja Perumal temple built in 600 A.D. dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Manakula Vinayagar Koil is dedicated to Lord Ganesha. The Vedhapureeswara Temple, also known as Eashwaran Koil, is dedicated to Lord Siva. The Kanniga Parameswari temple dedicated to Goddess Sakthi is a blend of French and Tamil architecture. Kamatchiamman Temple is dedicated to Durga/Parvati. In contrast to the other temples, this one is rust coloured, conveying an antique look. Amongst prominent Christian centres is the Church of Sacred Heart of Jesus. Puducherry is also the birth place of the great Tamil poet Bharathy Subramanya. Interestingly, it is also the birth place of the famous movie maker, M.Night Shyamalan.
The climate ranges between temperatures of 25 to 45 degrees. Its hottest in May-June while monsoon arrives in July-August. Winters start in November which is the best time for tourists. The north eastern winds bring light showers and the temperature hovers at 25 degrees. Puducherry in a way represents the communities south of the Vindhya mountains and today, alongside its French colonial past and modern India’s English colonial past, the territory presents a very curiously mixed culture.
Foreign tourists fondly refer to the place as “Pondy” and it is a home away from home to them. Pristine beaches, superb cuisine and cheap beer make it an excellent international tourist destination.
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