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          PONDICHERRY TRAVEL GUIDE

Pondicherry (help·info)) is a Union Territory of India. It is a former French colony,
consisting of four non-contiguous enclaves, or districts, and named for the largest,
Pondicherry.

In September 2006, the territory changed its official name from Pondicherry to the
vernacular original, Puducherry, which means "New village" in the Tamil language.

The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, of the 1st century, mentions a marketplace
named Poduke or Poduca (ch. 60), which G.W.B. Huntingford identified as possibly
being Arikamedu (now part of Ariyankuppam), about 2 miles from the modern
Pondicherry. Pondicherry was apparently an important element of Roman trade with
India. Huntingford further notes that Roman pottery was found at Arikamedu in 1937,
and archeological excavations between 1944 and 1949 showed that it was "a trading
station to which goods of Roman manufacture were imported during the first half of
the 1st century AD".

Before this period nothing is known with certainty. The "Bahur Plates", issued in the
8th century speak of a Sanskrit University which was here from an earlier period.
Legend has it that the sage Agastya established greatly his Ashram here and the
place was known as Agastiswaram. An inscription found near the Vedhapuriswara
Temple hints at the credibility of this legend.

History continues at the beginning of the fourth century A. D. when the Pondicherry
area is part of the Pallava Kingdom of Kanchipuram. During the next centuries
Pondicherry is occupied by different dynasties of the south: in the tenth century A.D.
the Cholas of Thanjavur took over, only to be replaced by the Pandya Kingdom in the
thirteenth century. After a brief invasion by the Muslim rulers of the North, who
established the Sultanate of Madurai, the Vijayanagar Empire took control of almost
all the South of India and lasted till 1638, when the Sultan of Bijapur began to rule
over Gingee.


GENERAL INFORMATION

Time zone             IST (UTC+5:30)
Area                       492 kmē (190 sq mi)
Capital                   Puducherry
Largest city           Puducherry
District(s)              4
Population            973,829 (2nd)
Density                  1,979/kmē (5,126/sq mi)
Language(s)        Tamil, French, Telugu, Malayalam


PLACE TO VISIT

Manakula Vinayagar Temple
Pondicherry Beach
Auroville
Aurobindo Ashram
Chunnambar boat house
Bharathi Park
Museum
Romain Rolland Library
Botanical Garden
Anglo-French textile mills


HOW TO REACH


Pondicherry is well connected from all sides. Chennai, the erstwhile Madras, is
situated about 160 km in the North.Getting to Pondicherry involves a three hour road
journey from Chennai. One can get a bus from CMBT in Koyambedu or from
Thiruvanmiyur or Guindy. You can be sure of a seat only from CMBT in Koyambedu.

Chennai is well connected to all metros in the country and to many international
airports. The road from Chennai to Pondicherry (the East Coast Road, commonly
called ECR) is a scenic highway and a normal journey would take about three hours.
Most tourists, however, cannot resist the seashore kissing the road and take a
number of stops en route. This route travels through Mahabalipuram, Kalpakkam,
Pudupattinam, Idaikkazhinadu (Alambara Fort), Mudaliarkuppam (has a cool boat
house), Marakkanam (contains large areas under salt pans),
Kanagachettikulam/Kalapet, etc and reaches Pondicherry.

The other route that can be taken to reach Pondy is through the National Highway 45
(NH - 45) famously called as the Grand Southern Trunk GST Road. The advantage of
taking this route is that the traffic is clearly divided into two sections (of 2 lanes each).
Taking this route will also take you about two and a half to three hours to reach
Pondy. This route passes through Tambaram, Chengelpet, Madhurantakam,
Melmaruvathoor, Tindivanam, etc before reaching Pondicherry. Both the major roads
from Chennai are toll roads.

Pondicherry is about 320 Kms from Bangalore. Drive down Hosur road till
Krishnagiri, take a left off the main highway (roadsigns mark the route) and then join
the National Highway to Pondicherry. Towns enroute are Uttanagarai, Chengam,
Tiruvannamalai, Tindivanam. One can reach Pondicherry either through Tindivanam
or Villupuram. Gingee fort, is also on the way to Tindivanam and worth spending
some time. It is a Archealogical survey of India (ASI)Heritage site!! The total travel
time should be about 5-6 hours. Do pack some food or snacks for the way as there
are no good restaurants enroute.

Pondicherry is well connected to Cuddalore, Chidambaram, Karaikal, Nagapattinam,
Velankanni, etc to the South by a road not so commonly called as ECR. The road is
well maintained till Chidambaram.

Pondicherry connects to the GST or NH - 45 in two places viz. at Villupuram by
NH-45A and at Tindivanam by NH-66.

Pondicherry is also connected to Chennai by an electric broad gauge railway line
through Villupuram. It runs regular services to Chennai Egmore Railway station and
Tirupathi and has a weekly once train service to Bhubaneswar.

Pondicherry has an airport with facilities for the landing of small aircraft like Dornier,
Cessna, etc. But it is not available for public use presently.