Pondicherry Tourism

The Union Territory of Puducherry, commonly called Pondicherry, with its awe-inspiring natural beauty is one of the favourite tourist destinations. Coupled with its French past and cultural heritage, Pondicherry comprises of four coastal regions, namely, Pondicherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam. From beaches to historical monuments to temples and churches, there is so much to explore here.

From historical monuments, to magnificent sightseeing spots, this place has something for everyone. A beautiful blend of French architecture and authentic Indian charm is what makes Pondicherry worth visiting. Auroville, also known as the City of Dawn, is one of the must visit attractions here. The term auroville means a universal town, where people can live peacefully, irrespective of nationality, colour, caste and creed.
Another must visit attraction is Sri Aurobindo Ashram, which is famous for seeking spiritual harmony and enlightenment. People from all around the world visit the ashram to achieve inner peace. It once served as a spiritual community and is known for being the abode of spiritual guru, Sri Aurobindo. The ashram gained its popularity for developing the concept of peaceful co-existence.

Symbolising the nine grahas (deities) in Hindu mythology, the Navagraha Temple is another major attraction of Pondicherry. Located in and around Karaikal in Pondicherry, the temple exhibits architectural styles of the Chola Empire. The main God Saneeswara effigy is about 27 feet tall and all other star effigies are 15 feet tall. People from all over the world come here to witness the marvel. Saturdays are the days when the temple is packed with devotees, as this is the day preferred by Lord Saneeswarar.

Another interesting part about this temple is that there are 108 trees of different breed and of different age around this temple. There are statues of all 27 stars, Siva, Ganesha and even Vastu Bhagavan, all above 15 feet tall. These factors make this temple unique in its own way.

Famous tourist attractions of Tamil Nadu

• Chennai
• Kanyakumari
• Kodaikanal
• Ooty
• Rameswaram
• Pondicherry