While you walk around in the streets of Puducherry, you’d be in love with the classic architecture of the landmarks here. This town has a feel of France to offer to you. It is small, beautiful and has the breeze of freshness blowing from the southern coast to you which when gets in, makes you feel lighter in the head and fills you with a strange wave of happiness.
How to reach- if you plan to travel by plane, the nearest airport is that in Chennai around 135kms away from Puducherry. Busses and taxies are available to help you cover this two and a half an hour journey.
Rail journey to Puducherry isn’t as popular; the nearest railway station is Villipuram. Both the railway station as well as the air route is well connected to other part of the country. Road journeys from the nearby states are also preferable, it is suggested that you take the east coast road from Mahabalipuram instead of the national highway. The prior has extremely beautiful landscape and scenic beauty to accompany you throughout your way.
Climate- winter season last from December to February, this is the peak season in terms of tourism. The temperature stays around 30 degree Celsius during the way and it’s cold and pleasant at night. March to July are the summer months, it is very hot and humid here, with temperature ranging from 35 degree Celsius to 40 degree Celsius. Though the west coast brings occasional showers after July, the actual monsoon months are October and November.
Places to visit- Keezhoor, 28kms away from the main town, the Banyan tree here is well known. This 400 year old tree covers a few acres of land and is widespread. This place has a huge historic value as it was the voting place in 1954 which decided the merger of Puducherry with the Indian union.
The Bharathi Park will look like heaven to you if you’re a nature lover. Lush greenery, walking under the shade of trees, fresh air everything about this place gives you a feeling of bliss.
Other places that must be visited are Chunnambar Backwater to enjoy an amazing sea vie, boating session and the sight of seagulls, located south of the New Bust Stand is the Botanical garden, your love for flora would float to the surface. The best part about being in a coastal city is that you can do nothing just sit by the beach, paint, draw, write, read or just relax, the day wouldn’t go wasted. It is totally worth it. Beaches in Puducherry are Auroville beach, Serenity beach, Paradise beach and Promenade.
There are a lot of temples and churches here, Manakul Vinayagar Koli dedicated to lord Ganesha, Varadraja Perumal Temple, Vedhapureeswara Temple, Kamatchiamman Temple, Church of the sacred heart of Jesus, church of capuchins, The Notre Dane des Anges to name a few.
There is a long list of museums that can be explored like the Jawahar Toy Museum, Bharathi dasan Museum, Ananda Ranga Pillai Museum and the Puducherry museum.
The languages spoken here are Tamil, Malayalam, French and English. Being a popular tourist destination, this city has all kinds of accommodation facilities and eating destinations available to suit every pocket and taste bud. The best time to visit would be from December to February, it will lovely to discover the French town in that amazing breezy weather.
