PALAIS DE PONDICHÉRY
ACTIVITIES
Activities in Heritage Town
Rock Beach /Promenade Beach
(Plage de la Promenade)
Rock Beach /Promenade Beach (Plage De La Promenade) is a popular stretch of beachfront in the city of Puducherry, along the Bay of Bengal. It is a 1.2-kilometer-long stretch.
Attractions: Mahatma Gandhi Statue, First World War French Memorial, Dupleix Park, The old lighthouse.
Activities: Jog, walk or stroll upto midnight: The Rock Beach is open for visitors till midnight to spend some quality time with their families and sweet hearts.
Mahatma Gandhi Statue
Dupleix Park
First World War French Memorial
The Old Lighthouse
( 27metres tall – first beamed light on 1 September 1836)
Manakular Vinayagar
Temple
The Manakular Vinayagar Temple is one of the ancient temples, that predate the French occupation of the territory.
Dedicated to Lord Ganesa, it is a popular pilgrimage site and tourist destination in Puducherry.
With traditional Dravidian architecture, The golden chariot made of teak wood and gold racks
It is open for its devotees from 5:45 AM to 12:30 PM during the day and from 4:00 PM to 9:30 PM during the evening on all days.
Heritage Walk @ The French Quarter
Learn about the history & heritage of Pondicherry by heading on this fun walking tour.
Explore the rustic lanes with French architecture & lively markets of the colonial city.
Visit attractions like Notre Dame Church, Bharathi Park, Aayi Mandapam, Puducherry Museum, Sri Aurobindo Ashram, etc.
Aurobindo Ashram
Sri Aurobindo Ashram is a spiritual community located in Pondicherry. The ashram grew out of a small community of disciples of Sri Aurobindo and his spiritual collaborator The Mother(Mirra Alfassa).
A peaceful and calm place for meditation.
Entry free.
Timings: 08:00 – 12:00 & 14:00 – 18:00
Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is an elegant architectural marvel set up by the French in 1908.
It is one of the 21 Basilicas in India and thus the most famous sightseeing place of Pondicherry.
Renowned for its Gothic architecture, the Basilica lures visitors throughout the year.
Cycle rickshaw rides
A cycle rickshaw tour for your pleasure & fun. The traditional mode of transportation in Pondicherry is to get a typical experience of enjoying the Tamil and French quarters.
Duration : 2 Hours | Ideal time for the tour: 6AM; 8AM; 3.30PM
Scuba diving
Scuba dive in the pristine waters of the Bay of Bengal at the only diving spot on the eastern coast.
Witness beautiful reefs, underwater caves, colorful fishes & a variety of marine flora as you go 12 metres into the depths of the ocean. Grab the opportunity to capture your underwater moments with videos and photos.
Fun & Food
Shopping, Photo shoot, Rest o pubs, Micro brewery, International cuisines , Bakeries, Chocolates, etc…
Activities OUTSIDE Heritage Town
Pondy Marina Eco Beach
Pondy Marina Beach is the “Food-based” theme beach in Pondicherry. This is a new attraction for tourists located near the new lighthouse 1.5km from Heritage Town.
Activities: Food, Rides & Adventures.
Timing: 06.00-23.00
Paramotoring
Food Court
Quad Bike, Horse and Camel Ride
New Lighthouse
Botanical Garden
Located on the Boulevard of the Heritage Town. The 22-acre garden was built by the French with more than 1500 species of plants & an aquarium
Mangrove Forest Boating
The Arts and Crafts Village in Murungapakkam offers this unique experience. This is one of the hidden gems of Pondicherry, located just 5 km from the White town.
Mangrove forest boating timing is from 08.00 to 17:30
Arikamedu Archaeological Site
The Arikamedu Archaeological Site was discovered in 1945 by British archaeologist Mortimer Wheeler, who identified it as an ancient Roman trading centre. Arikamedu is a popular destination for tourists and history enthusiasts, and the site is preserved and maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Timing: 09.00-16.00
Paradise Beach & Chunnambar Boat House
The twin spots are a popular tourist attraction.
About 8 km from Puducherry, on Cuddalore Road near Nonankuppam, is where you’ll find the Chunnambar Boat House.
It is the gateway to Paradise beach. In addition to providing quick access to Paradise Beach, the Chunnambar boathouse cruise along the backwaters is a unique experience in and of itself.
Activities: Boating, Beach, Picnics.
AUROVIILE, The City of Dawn
Auroville is an experimental community located around 15 kms from Pondicherry that aims to promote peace, harmony, and sustainable living. It attracts visitors from around the world who are interested in spirituality, meditation, and alternative lifestyles.
Attractions: Auroville Visitors Center, Matrimandir(Soul of Auroville), Auro beach, Boutiques & Craft Bazar. Auroville has several restaurants that serve organic, vegetarian, and vegan food in a variety of cuisines like Indian, Italian, and French.
More information is available at https://visit.auroville.org/
pilgrimage
The city of Pondicherry is renowned for its distinctive fusion of French and Indian traditions. It is also home to a number of temples, churches, and mosques that highlight the city’s rich spiritual past. Here are some of Pondicherry’s most well-known places of worship
Sri Manakula Vinayagar Temple
This is one of the most popular temples in Pondicherry, dedicated to Lord Ganesha. The temple is located in the heart of the city and is known for its beautiful architecture and intricate carvings.
Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple
This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is located in the heart of the city. The temple is known for its exquisite architecture and intricate carvings, and it is a popular spot for both locals and tourists.
Sri Vedapureeswarar Temple
This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located in the heart of the city. Both residents and visitors like visiting the temple because of its exquisite carvings and stunning architecture.
Immaculate Conception Cathedral
In 1689, the Jesuit Fathers arrived in Puducherry as missionaries and acquired a sizable garden to the west of the French Fort. With the financial support of Louis XIV, king of France, they built a church in 1692. During her tour of Pondicherry, Mother Teresa visited Immaculate Conception Cathedral.
Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
During the 1700s, French missionaries built the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, an example of Gothic Revival architecture in the East. Through its spectacular glass panels, the church depicts the events in Christ’s life in a lovely way. Twenty-eight saints, who were devoted followers of Jesus Christ, are shown in stunning glass images.
Our Lady of Angels Church
The Our Lady of Angels Church is Puducherry’s fourth-oldest church. Napoleon III commissioned Louis Guerre, a French architect, to design the original building, which was constructed in Greco-Roman style. One of the old-world beauties of this place is the amazing architecture. The church grounds also include a large number of relics, all of which are worth seeing.
Khuthbha Mosque
It is believed that the 17th century saw the construction of the Khuthbha Mosque, also known as the Jamia Mosque. In addition, it’s believed that Jamia Mosque was the first mosque ever built in Pondicherry. The mosque is an outstanding illustration of Pondicherry’s and India’s secular cultures with Mecca facing outward.
Meeran Mosque
One of the oldest mosques in the area is the Meeran Masjid, which was built over 350 years ago. The Meeran Masjid was built by the Arcot Nawabs and features a distinctively Muslim mediaeval style. Four imposing columns support the dome of the Meeran Mosque, and the bronze kallasas on the front minaret’s top side add to the mosque’s aesthetic appeal.
Panchavati Panchamukha Anjaneyar Temple
Jayamangala Panchamukha Anjaneyar Swamy Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman beams with the pride as it has the world’s second largest Anjaneyar Idol. The Panchavati Panchamukha Anjaneyar Temple is famous for the 36-foot high Lord Hanuman temple, believed to have been carved out of a single granite stone.
Sri Irumbai Mahakaleshwar Temple
This ancient Hindu temple is hailed as one of the 275 Thevara pedal petra sthalas, with Lord Siva as the prime effigy. This is one of the three places where Lord Shiva resides as Mahakaleshwar – the first two being at Ujjain in MP and the Ambar-Maakalam near Mayiladuthurai in Tanjavur Dt, Tamil Nadu.
Mailam Murugar Temple
Mayilam is located fifteen kilometres from Tindivanam and thirty from Pondicherry. The temple, situated on a small hill, is connected with Bomayapalaiyam village on the Coromandel coast, very near to Pondicherry, where a Veera Saiva mutt is found.
Singirigudi
Nava Narasimhar temple, Narasimhar Position is Ugra Posture Killing the demon Hiranya Kasibu on his lab. There are Separate Shrines for Thayar Kanagavalli and Andal, they both facing opposite direction of the God.
Poovarasankuppam
Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar with Thayar Amirthavalli temple also, called as South Ahobilam, is Approximately 1200 years old.