Like most ancient cities, the origin of Pondicherry lies buried in legends. Excavations in the Arikamedu area near Pondicherry, have brought to light, the remains of a trading port, which had connections with the Greco-Roman world, more than a century before the dawn of the Christian Era. The glorious remains of Arikamedu are on display in the Archaeology section of the Pondicherry museum.

Having remained capital of the erstwhile French India, the city's cultural legacy has a unique hue to it, not to be found anywhere else in the country.

Prime Sites

• Sri Aurobindo Ashram :
  Established by Sri Aurobindo, a revolutionary turned poet, the Aurobindo Ashram has grown into a centre for the practice of Integral Yoga. In the main building of the ashram, is the Marble Samadhi, where Aurobindo and the Mother have been laid to rest.

• Government Square :
  The 18th century Palais du Gouverneur, the old Tribunal now housing the Legislative Assembly, the cercle de Pondicherry, the hospitals, and the UCO Bank are all lined up to form the 'Place de Gouvernement' or the Government Square. Some exquisitely carved monolithic pillars adorn the place.

• Promenade :
  The 1.5 km long promenade runnning along the beach is the pride of Pondicherry. On the sea front are several landmarks like the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, Dupleix, the elegant war memorial raised by the French, and the 27 m tall lighthouse.

• The Pondicherry Museum :
  The museum evokes the impressive past of Pondicherry, from the days of the pre-Christian era, down to the present day. It provides insightful glimpses into the art and culture of the people of the region, during the days of the Pallava, Chola and Vijayanagar empires.

• The Botanical Garden :
  Created in 1826, the botanical garden has a collection of over 1,500 species of plants.

• Temples :
  Of the thirty two temples in Pondicherry, the most famous are the Manakula Vinayagar temple, Sri Vedapureeswarar temple and the Varadarajaperumal temple.

• Boat House :
  Facilities for boating and canoeing, are available at the boat house, on the river Chunnambar, 8 km from Pondicherry. The backwaters and luxuriant greenery on both sides of the river, provide an idyllic setting for boating

How To Get There

• Air : The nearest major airport is at Chennai, 162 km away. Vayudoot Air service has regular flights from Chennai to Pondicherry.
• Rail: Trains ply regularly from Chennai to Pondicherry.
• Road: State Government buses as well as private buses, and taxis ply regularly from Chennai to Pondicherry.

• Pondicherry
  Tourism Information Bureau
  Directorate of Tourism, 19,
  Goubert Avenue ( Beach Road ),
  Pondicherry - 605001
  Tel : (0413) 34575, 33590, 39497