India's Little France - Tamil Nadu Series #9
Let's walk through the French Colonies, along the beach
We hope you all had a pleasant time at Kodaikanal; Jeez, it’s been a long time only. Sorry for that.
Now, let us surf to beaches and the coastline; but this time, a bit special.
Hold on; it’s worth the drive.
India’s Little France - Pondicherry ❤️
It reminds you of something, right?😂
History
Puducherry is the Tamil interpretation of "new town" and mainly derives from "Poduke", the name of the marketplace or "port town" for Roman trade in the 1st century.
Starting from Pandya, Cholas, Sultans, Vijayanagari kings, it was then ruled by Polish and Danish. The colonial period began with the Portuguese, the first Europeans to conduct trade in textiles, in 1521, and subsequently, the Dutch and the Danes in the 17th century.
The French acquired Mahé in 1720, Yanam in 1731, and Karaikal in 1738. The British captured the city from the French but returned it following the Treaty of Paris.
In 1954, a number of resolutions were passed by the municipalities in Pondicherry, demanding an immediate merger with India.
Places to Visit
Seaside Promenade
Out of all the beaches in Pondicherry, Promenade Beach is one of its own kind of beach that is popularly known for its azure waters, ocean sprays, shimmering sand, beautiful coastline, and cosy ambiance.
You cannot enter the waters here, but the evening time coastal walk is recommended. if you want to enjoy it to the fullest, you should plan your getaway during the winter season that starts in October and continues until March.
Arikamedu
Timings - 10 AM to 4 PM
One site which has provided considerable insight into Silk Roads contacts on the south eastern coast of the Indian Subcontinent is Arikamedu. Excavations at the site have uncovered substantial evidence of a Roman trading settlement.
Basilica of Sacred Heart of Jesus
It is one of the most famous landmarks of Pondicherry and among the most revered 21 other Basilicas in the country. It was built by French missionaries in 1908 and was conferred the status of Basilica in 2011.
The church is made in Roman-Byzantine style and is believed to be the largest church in Puducherry.
Manakula Vinayakar Temple
It is said that, during the French rule, the French people built a fort right beside the temple in the year 1688.
To make an impact on their fort, they started throwing the idol of Ganesha in the sea. But to their surprise, every time they did, the idol used to reappear on its own. Seeing this, the French people gave up and became the ardent follower of the Lord.
Featuring a traditional Dravidian Architecture that deserves high praise, the Arulmigu Manakula Vinayagar Temple is beautifully decorated.
Shri Aurobindo Ashram
Dating its history back to almost 100 years ago, Sri Aurobindo Ashram was founded by Aurobindo Ghosh after he retired from politics. He was joined by a few of the followers who believed in his ideals and had the same aim just like him.
Auroville
Auroville is a universal township in the making for a population of up to 50,000 people from around the world. This town was a vision of The Mother from Sri Aurobindo Ashram at Pondicherry as it's an international town.
The representatives brought with them some soil from their homeland, to be mixed in a white marble- clad, lotus-shaped urn, now sited at the focal point of the Amphitheatre.
Chunnambar Boat House
Timings - 9 AM to 6 PM
The ride along the backwaters in the Chunnambar boathouse is an experience by itself. The backwaters are situated at the junction of the Chunnambar River and the Bay of Bengal.
Food to Try
Pondicherry is famous for its marine cuisine, sea food. Walk along the beach side, and you will get a lot of good street food - Fish, prawns, crab-based.
And on the other side, you have a lot of cafes to try out.
And yes, liquor on the other side, xD
Feel free to DM all your queries in the comments or on the social media handles of Footboard. Once again, thank you so much, and keep supporting us.
Thanks a lot for reading. Show us your love💖
Share Footboard with your friends and family.