Pondicherry (Puducheri) literally means 'the new settlement'. The French settlement comprising the town Pondicherry, fondly called Pondy and three other pockets in the different states, Karaikal (Tamil Nadu), Mahe Kerala), and Yanam (Andhra Pradesh), is what makes today's Union Territory of Pondicherry, which is 200 km south of Chennai (Madras).

On the way to Pondicherry, one gets to see the scenery typical of the Deccan plateau. Striking red soil and deep green vegetation, consisting mainly of cashew, palm and neem, forming a stunning landscape.

The township of Pondicherry is planned on a grid system, which is to say that the roads meet each other at right angles. On the seaward side is the long Petit Canal which divides the town so that the French township is on the side facing the sea and the predominantly Indian/Tamil one on the other.

Tourist Attractions in Pondicherry

In the heart of the town lies the Samadhi, or the ashram of Shri Aurobindo Ghosh. At the Ashram's hand-made paper factory one can buy the most wonderful paper products. The Ashram also has departments selling hand-painted saris, ties, and dress material. On the way, one can notice people playing a strange game with iron balls, which was a French form of amusement.

The beach road is like the mall of a hill station, where everyone comes for a stroll. The footpath is interspersed with trees, flower beds and has lots of benches to sit on and enjoy the evening. Here one can even take a ride in a catamaran by requesting the fishermen, as is the practice. Overlooking the sea among the many mansions, the most striking is the one called Marie. It is built in the French style and is actually the Municipality office. The other buildings which are reminiscent of the French architectural style are the Samadhi, French Institute, Ecole Francaise, Raj Niwas to name a few.

Exactly parallel to the beach road runs the Rue Dumas Street, which was the first street to be built here in the year 1706. Strolling northwards one would come to a large park, which is Government Square.

Auroville, about 10 km away from Pondicherry, is a unique experience. The place has been transformed into a lush green cover from a highly eroded area, by 25 years of sheer hard work. Ousteri and Kaliveli near Pondicherry are a birdwatchers' paradise. Kaliveli is famous for flamingoes, while Ousteri is great for observing water birds.

Nehru Street is a paradise for a shopper where one can buy leather and pottery goods. Besides a lot of gift items like bags, bed sheets, paper lanterns and trendy T-shirts can be bought.

The other attractions in Pondicherry are the Duplex and the Botanical Gardens.

Hotels in Pondicherry

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The various hotels packages offer the best of facilities. The well-furnished rooms place most of the comforts at your feet. Enjoy the luxuries of life on your stay at the hotel. Take your pick from a range of luxury and budget hotels in Pondicherry besides the star categorized accommodation hotels though most of the hotels offer excellent view of the landmarks through their suites. We at IndiaHotelsAndResorts.com will provide all the travel services like air ticketing, hotel booking, car rental et al to make your holiday at Pondicherry unforgettable.

3 Star Hotels

• Hotel Ashok
• Hotel Anandha Inn

• Hotel Annamalai International

• Hotel De L'Orient
• Hotel Mass