Location<\/strong>: Coast of Tamil Nadu, > 150 Kms south of Chennai
\nRoute<\/strong>: Chennai – ECR – Mahabalipuram – Pondicherry
\nWe were<\/strong>: Nisa, Sanjeev and me\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We had been planning to visit Pondicherry for quite a long time. I had gone there once for a short stay in the Pondicherry University, but in a hurry to return. So this New Year, we finally made it. Sanjeev, Nisa and me took a \u201cbreak from time\u201d, as the Tourism logo goes. And we did really! Feel so happy that I am back to my travel blogging, after so many travels. <\/p>\n

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Everyone knows about Pondicherry, the sea town in Tamil Nadu, the sun and the beaches, the French\/Dutch\/Roman influences, Aurobindo spiritualism, economical liquor. But to experience Pondicherry is always a personal one. For myself \u2013 I felt like saying in one of the tourism T-shirts \u2013 \u201cDon\u2019t ask me time, I’m just back from Pondicherry”. Yes! Truly!
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\nPondi, (people still haven\u2019t started calling it Puducherry), is a calm seashore; crowded with local and international tourists, but still laid back; nobody is in a hurry. It has Past and Present standing together, putting a hand over each other\u2019s shoulders; a combination of different cultures coexisting, and you take a walk down the history at each step. This is the capital of the Puducherry Union Territory, which has enclaves strewn around Mahe in Kerala, Yanam in Andhrapradesh and Karaikal in another part of Tamil Nadu. <\/p>\n

Go there to relax, spend a day on a clean beach or in an old club with a beer. Do not run around to catch up with all that is to see. It is okay even if you miss a building or a museum \u2013 but do not miss that experience of taking a deep breath with eyes closed. <\/p>\n

Where we stayed<\/h2>\n

We started our journey from Chennai on New Year\u2019s eve. Quite a huge rush in the Chennai Pondi bus that we took. We could not enjoy the drive on the beautiful The East Cost Road (ECR)! Doesn\u2019t matter, we had seen it when we had gone to Mahabalipuram. <\/p>\n

We had already tried and failed to get accommodation in any of the guest houses. That would have been the right choice. So we had booked rooms in Ginger, Pondicherry; a big mistake! The self-service hotel for Rs. 3000\/- per night could not manage it all well. The floors were sticky and paper pieces and wrappers were swept under the cote. The toilet exhaust fan was not working and we tried our maximum not to visit it often. AC was not fully functional leaving us open to the Pondi sun. Complaints do not work. Thank goodness, we had booked it only for 2 days. <\/p>\n

We enquired with a few hotels and was lucky to get a very good hotel \u2013 Surguru<\/a> at Sardar Vallabhai Patel Road – a very good hotel with very good service. It was was a total different experience from Ginger; neat, clean and full of warm hospitality for half the price! Very good location and the South Indian Vegetarian food is amazing! Even if you do not stay in the hotel, do eat at least once in its restaurant \u2013 really good South Indian Food!<\/p>\n

What we did<\/h2>\n

Heritage Walk<\/strong> \u2013 One of the best things we did was to take the Heritage Walk. Do not miss this!
\nIf you reach on a Friday or Saturday, the best way to start your Pondi experience is to walk. Go straight to Le Caf\u00e9 on the beach road (The Promenade, as they call it) in the evening; that is walk South till you see Bay of Bengal, look for the only building on the beach. That is Le Caf\u00e9. Plan to reach a little early so that you can also enjoy a cup of coffee looking on the sea. Do visit the Tourism department office on the opposite side. Collect a free brochure. That would be very handy in deciding your days, eating, shopping and stay in Pondicherry. Very informative! Now about the walk.<\/p>\n

INTACH organizes a Heritage Walk from Le caf\u00e9 at 4.00 PM. INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) is an all India organisation, with headquarters in New Delhi, dedicated to heritage conservation and awareness. INTACH works with restoring the old French and Tamil houses and buildings. Check out their website<\/a>to see how they restore buildings in the Before-and-After photographs. <\/p>\n

The French quarter<\/strong>
\nThere are walks that introduce you to the French and Tamil quarters of the town. We took the French walk, that is the longest. Ashok from INTACH, took us for the walk explaining each building and its history. The French quarter, that is the closest to the sea, is easily recognizable \u2013 very neat and beautiful with well laid out roads, distinct buildings with garden courtyards and large windows.
\nHotel de l\u2019Orient on Rue (street in French) Romain Rolland is a very good example of INTACH\u2019s works. They have pictures taken during restoration framed in the hotel; the hotel as it stays now is beautiful. I loved the inner courtyard with big trees! We all got a welcome drink of Hibiscus juice, very refreshing!
\nSome photos from the French Quarters.
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