Pristine Pondicherry

Day 1: Pick up at your convenient location – Gandhi memorial – Auroville – Matri Mandir – Botanical Gardens – Paper Factory

Auroville:Auroville wants to be a universal town where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and progressive harmony above all creeds, all politics and all nationalities.
The purpose of Auroville is to realize human unity.

Aurobindo Ashram:This is a well known spiritual ashram in India, with devotees and seekers from India and all over the world flocking to it for spiritual salvation. Its spiritual tenets represent a synthesis of yoga and modern science. The idea of Auroville or the “City of Dawn” was conceived by ‘The Mother’.
In the middle of the town is the Matrimandir, which has been acclaimed as “an outstanding and original architectural achievement. It was conceived by Alfassa as “a symbol of Universal Mother”. The Matrimandir, a golden metallic sphere in the center of town

Botanical Garden: The Botanical Garden in Pondicherry was opened to the public in 1826. The Botanical Gardens situated in the center of the city provides a cool retreat from the oppressing heat and humidity of Pondicherry. It sprawls over a 22 acres area and here you can just relax and listen to the twittering of birds and explore the rich variety of flora here.The Botanical Gardens is 178 years old and here you will find each and every tree or plant labeled with scientific, common and Tamil names.

Paper Factory: In the mid 1940’s sadhaks of Sri Aurobindo Ashram prepared handmade paper on a very small scale from waste material as a creative and useful work. In 1959 larger-scale papermaking equipment was installed in a coconut garden, including a beater, lifting vats, and a calendaring machine. The coconut garden is the location of the factory today, in the heart of Pondicherry.

Day 2: Sacred Heart Church – Manakula Vinayagar Temple – French War Memorial – Scuba and Snorkeling- Surfing – Promenade Beach

Sacred Heart Church: After breakfast, proceed to the sacred Heart Church. Archbishop Mgr.Gandy consecrated the Archdiocese of Pondicherry to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He wished to build a new church in devotion of Sacred Heart of Jesus. Rev. Fr. Telesphore Welter, the parish priest of Nellithope prepared the building plan and parish priest of Cathedral Rev. Fr. Fourcaud commenced the construction of the new church in 1902 at the Southern side of Pondicherry.
The blessing of the church and the first mass was held at the western wing of the present church by Mgr. Gandy on 17, December 1907 and the new parish surrounding this church has been established on 27, January 1908.

Monuments and Statues:The Gandhi Statue is a four-meter statue of Mahatma Gandhi surrounded by eight granite pillars, which were supposedly brought from Gingee, a fort some 70 km from Pondicherry.
Located across as an integral part of Pondicherry’s colonial past. It is situated in Goubert Avenue. Another example of the French influence in Pondicherry is a marble statue of the heroic French damsel Joan of Arc, which is located in front of the Church of Our Lady of the Angles.
The statue is placed in the middle of a garden. Statue was erected in 1923. It is situated at Dumas Street. Aayi Mandapam (Park Monunemt) is a white monument built during the time of Napoleon III, Emperor of the France. It is situated in center of Bharathi Park.

Manakula Vinayagar Temple:Manakkula Vinayagar Temple, dedicated to Lord Ganesh, is located behind the Raj Niwas in Pondicherry town. The temple is assumed to be constructed nearly 5 centuries back. The Vinayaka, called as a Vellakkaran Pillai, in the sanctum is a grand figure. A major draw is on the 18 day celebration of Brahmotsavam.

Promenade Beach:This is the popular stretch of beachfront in the city of Puducherry, India, along the Bay of Bengal. It is a 1.2-kilometre-long stretch in Pondicherry, starts from War Memorial and end at Dupleix Park on the Goubert Avenue.

Day 3: Drop Back home.

After breakfast drive back to end the tour.