Pondicherry

Situated on the Coromandel coast, about 160 kms south of Chennai, lies the Union Territory of Pondicherry. It is surrounded by Bay of Bengal on East, and on the other sides are the South Arcot District of Tamilnadu. This restored, attractive, former French colony, exudes a Mediterranean aura with its chic streets, elegant houses and ornamental gardens. Being a small and quiet enclave of Tamil Nadu, it has imbibed the Tamilian culture. Apart from the charming atmosphere, excellent restaurants and cheap beer, what attracts most travellers to Pondicherry is the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and its offshoot, Auroville, 10 km outside town. The ashram, founded by Sri Aurobindo in the year 1926, has brought international reputation to this coastal town. The ashram, the spiritual tenets of which combine yoga and modern science is quite popular within India and abroad. The town of Chidambaram in neighbouring Tamil Nadu, famous for the Chidambaram Temple, lies 58 km south of Pondicherry.