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Places of Tourist
Interest
Sri Aurobindo Ashram
Established by Sri Aurobindo,
a revolutionary turned poet and later developed by the Mother, the Aurobindo
Ashram has grown into a centre for the practice of Integral Yoga, a seat
of learning and a training ground for sadhana. In the main building of
the Ashram is the Marble Samadhi where Aurobindo and the Mother have been
laid to rest and the houses they lived in.
Government Square
The XVIII Century Palais
du Gouverneur (now Raj Nivas) the old Tribunal now housing the Legislative
Assembly, the cercle de Pondichey, the hospitals, the Ashram Dining Hall,
the UCO Bank are all lined up to form "Place de Gouvernment" (Government
Square) with a monument Aayi Mandapam at the Centre of a well laid garden.
Some exquisitely carved monolithic pillars adorn the "place". These pillars,
ascribed to the XVII Century were brought from Gingee to Pondicherry after
the capture of its fort in 1751.
Promenade
The 1.5 km long promenade
running along the beach is the pride of Pondicherry. There one can relax
or take a stroll at any time of the day. On the sea front are several landmarks
the statues of Mahatma Gandhi, Jeanne d'Arc and Dupleix, the elegant war
memorial raised by the French, the heritage building Mairie, the 27 metre
tall old lighthouse, the circular shaped two storied structures on either
side of Gandhi maidan.
The Pondicherry Museum
The Museum brings back to
memory the glorious past of Pondicherry from the days of the pre-Christian
era down to the present day providing glimpses of the art and culture of
the people of this region during the Pallava, Chola and Vijayanagar days.
Auroville
Auroville is described as
the city of Tomorrow where an attempt is made to replicate on much larger
scale the experiment that is being carried out in Sri Aurobindo Ashram
for the evolution of a new society envisioned by Sri Aurobindo and the
Mother where people could live "freely as citizens of the world, obeying
one single authority that of the Supreme Truth, a place of peace, concord,
harmony". Under the Mother's direction it was launched in 1968 with the
co-operation of many nations.
The Botanical Garden
The Botanical Garden in
Pondicherry was created in 1826. When the garden came under the control
of the eminent botanist Perottet "rare and interesting plants" were procured
from Calcutta, Madras, Ceylon and Reumian and introduced now it is having
a proud collection of 1500 species.
Temples
There are about 32 temples
in Pondicherry of these Manakula Vinayagar temple, Sri Vedapureeswarar
temple, Kamatchiammalle temple and Varadarajaperumal temple are famous.
Churches
French missionary zeal in
the XVII and XVIII Centuries saw a number of grandly embellished churches
built in Pondicherry. The Church of Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Cathedral,
the Eglise de Notre Dame A'es Angles are paraticularly noteworthy.
Boat House, Chunnambar
Facilities for boating are
available at a Boat House on the River Chunnambar 8 Kms from Pondicherry.
The backwater and the lush greenery on both sides of Chunnambar provide
an ideal setting for boating. Boats are available on hire on all days of
the week.
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