Pondicherry French Quarter - Aurobindo Ashram

Uma and Jayant drove down to Pondicherry to have a relaxed week-end after a hectic period of work. They wanted to chill in this lovely coastal town steeped in French nostalgia, eat at the specialty cuisine restaurants, explore the antique shops, and enjoy mornings and evenings at the beautiful sea front. The superb East Coast Road from Chennai  makes driving down to Pondicherry a pleasure.

Highlights:

The Promenade lies along the picturesque seafront lining the rocky beach. At the centre is the huge Gandhi memorial statue, while on either side people stroll by, or simply sit on the steps eating snacks or enjoying the sea breeze. No matter how many tourists flock here, the place never feels crowded or noisy.

Government Place with the Raj Nivas at one end, is an old-fashioned tree-lined square from which the residential lanes of the town radiate. You can walk down these roads, still named in French, and admire the pretty colonial cottages and shops.

Aurobindo Ashram is the soul of Pondicherry. It was founded by the great spiritual leader Sri Aurobindo Ghose in 1926 and now houses his samadhi as well as that of The Mother, his main disciple. The ashram attracts thousands of visitors of all nationalities.

Pondicherry Museum is housed in a century-old building and has an impressive collection of artifacts, ranging from the Chola and Pallava period to the French colonial days.

Church of Sacred Heart of Jesus is an impressive 18^th century church near the station.

Botanical Gardens in the old town was established by the French in 1826 and displays the formal European garden design. You can see 1,500 types of shrubs and trees from all over the world here.