Up until 1954, Pondicherry (also known as Puducherry) was a French colonial settlement in India. Today, it is a Union Territory town bordered by the state of Tamil Nadu in the southeast. Its French Quarter, with its tree-lined streets, mustard-colored colonial villas, and upscale boutiques, preserves its French heritage. A 4 m-tall Gandhi Memorial is among the many statues along the seaside promenade that runs alongside the Bay of Bengal.

Arulmigu Manakula Vinayagar Temple, Aurobindo Ashram, Paradise Beach, Auroville, The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Rock Beach, etc. are some of the best spots in Pondicherry for sightseeing.

1. Arulmigu Manakula Vinayagar Temple

A Ganesha temple located in Puducherry, India’s Union Territory is called Manakula Vinayagar Temple. It is a well-liked pilgrimage and tourist destination in Puducherry, dedicated to the god Ganesa. The temple predates the French occupation of the area and is quite ancient. Encompassing an expansive 7913 square feet, the focal point of this temple is the 18-foot-tall gold-laminated Kodi kambam.
The idol of Lord Ganesha perched atop the golden chariot is another intriguing feature.It is one of the oldest temples in the area and has a distinguished history, having been around for more than 500 years. The Tamil words Manal, which means “sand,” and Kulam, which means “pond near the sea,” are the source of the temple’s name. Previously, the temple was called Manal Kulathu Vinayagar.

2. Sri Aurobindo Ashram

In the Indian region of Puducherry, in Pondicherry, is the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, a spiritual community. A small group of followers who had gathered around Aurobindo following his retirement from politics and 1910 move to Pondicherry gave rise to the ashram. Following a significant spiritual epiphany, on November 24, 1926, Sri Aurobindo left the public eye to focus on his spiritual work. At this point, he gave his spiritual partner “The Mother,” formerly known as Mirra Alfassa, complete control over the inner and outer lives of the sadhaks (spiritual aspirants) and the ashram.

The Puducherry Sri Aurobindo Ashram does not charge admission. It is open to the public every day from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM during the day and from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM at night. A two to three-hour exploration period is advised.

3. Paradise Beach

At the point where the Chunnambar River and the Bay of Bengal meet, this quiet, private beach is situated on a peninsula. Although it is officially known as Chunnambar Beach, locals who enjoy getting away to a peaceful sanctuary near the city center gave Paradise Beach its common name.

Although Paradise Beach is well known for being a party beach, it’s actually just a lovely beach during the day with a long, curving stretch of sand, pristine water, and gently crashing waves. It wasn’t boisterous or uncomfortable loud, but it did have a lively, enjoyable vibe.

4. Auroville

Auroville, the radical concept of a global village where thousands of people from across the world have given up their nationalities and are living as global citizens. Auroville was conceived with the vision that- “There should be a somewhere on earth, a place which no nation could claim as its own, where all human beings of goodwill who have a sincere aspiration could live freely as citizens of the world and obey one single authority, that of the supreme truth; a place of peace, concord and harmony…”.

5. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is an example of Gothic Revival architecture from Asia, and it is located on Pondicherry’s south boulevard in Puducherry, India. Rare stained glass panels that depict events from Christ’s life and Catholic saints can be found within.

In 1902, Fr. Fourcaud started building the new church on Pondicherry’s southern edge. On December 17, 1907, Mgr. Gandy blessed and celebrated the first mass in the current church’s western wing. On January 27, 1908, the new parish surrounding this church was founded.

6. Rock Beach

The well-known beachfront stretch along the Bay of Bengal in Puducherry, India, is called Rock Beach. tidy and generally in good condition. Although it’s not permitted to swim, we still enjoyed the waves lapping at our feet. In particular, my sister enjoyed going there first thing in the morning.

It is roughly 1.5 kilometers long. From here, you can see the remnants of the former pier, the old lighthouse, and the statue of Mahatma Gandhi.

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