Camping Month

June is Camping Month, and time to stock up on marshmallows! Pack the tent or stock the caravan, and head out into the countryside. Get away from desks, television and the internet for a couple of days and experience the tranquility of camping out in the open world.

Let us find out some of the interesting places to camp around Pondicherry.

Auroville Beach

Auroville or Auro beach is about 12 km from Puducherry along the ECR. The beach is right opposite to the road that leads to Auroville from ECR. Its a hotspot for Aurovillians and tourists alike. Weekends on this beach tend to get fairly crowded with people from nearby towns coming in for a relaxation. With the fishermen community closely located, sea food is quite popular here.

Chunnambar/Paradise Beach

Chunnambar or Paradise Beach is 7 km past Puducherry along the Cuddalore main road. As the name suggests, its the Paradise on earth. The beach is accessible through boats from the Boathouse of Chunnambar which is located at Ariyankuppam. A 15-20 minute ride takes you to the clean and serene Paradise beach, a small stretch of island with blue sea and sky all around. The beach is the point where Chunnambar river mingles with the backwaters of Bay of Bengal. The sea is not very aggressive here and hence is ideal for swimming and safe for children. There are separate tickets for entering into the boat house and for boat rides. The ride to the beach takes a route surrounded by dense forests with hints of palm groves here and there. The sparsely populated beach is the perfect weekend getaway from your bustling busy city lives.

Ousteri Lake

Ousteri lake is the most important fresh water lake of Puducherry, situated towards north of the town some 10 km away (on the Puducherry-Villupuram road). Te lake was a primary source of drinking water for Puducherry town earlier. Now, it is basically a bird sanctuary and an internationally recognized wetland. The place sees many migratory birds during the migratory season starting in late August. There is a wide range of aquatic species too. There is a small children’s park which serves as a nice picnic spot. Boating facilities are also available.

Pitchavaram

It is one of the world’s largest mangrove forest spread out over 1100 Hectares consisting of numerous islands. The Pitchavaram mangroves attract a lot of local as well as migrant birds, the migratory season for birds here is between September and April. In February, one can participate in the” Dawn Fest” or ‘Vidiyal Vizha’, organised by the tourism department of Tamil Nadu. It is also a good picnic spot and you can entertain yourself in water sports like kayaking, rowing and canoeing.

Gingee

Famous for its fort, Gingee has become a popular tourist destination. The stone pillars and statues in the Bharathi Park and Gandhi Thidal on the Beach Road were brought by the French in Pondy from Gingee. The place is also popular due to the various temples here and its history. Gingee is located between three hills.

Let us find some time and have a great Camping Month ahead

Great Outdoors Month (June)

If you love getting out and about and enjoying yourself, Great Outdoors Month is the perfect month for you! It’s a great opportunity to encourage children in the importance of outside play and how getting out and about can be part of a healthy lifestyle. Getting out and about is often a free or cheap day out for families, and can be a lot of fun. It’s a great way to learn about nature and the environment and can form the basis of school projects.

Great Outdoors Week started in 1998 and expanded to Great Outdoors Month in 2004. It aims to encourage more people to get out and enjoy the world around them, whether that be simply by exercising or taking part in volunteer programs. There is so much the great outdoors has to offer so, this Great Outdoors Month, why not get out there and enjoy it!

Here we provide you with some of the best places to enjoy your outdoor month in Pondicherry

Bharathi Park:

Surrounded by important heritage buildings, the Bharathi Park is a soothing oasis of greenery centrally located in the old colonial town.

At the heart of the park is the Aayi Mandapam. Built in the Greco-Roman style during the reign of Napoleon III, it is a well-known landmark of Puducherry, and many regard it as the official symbol of the union territory. This monument commemorates the provision of water to the colonial city during Napoleon’s reign, and is named after a courtesan called ‘Aayi’ who is said to have demolished her home to build a reservoir for the town’s water supply. There is also a children’s playground in the park.

The children’s park

The children’s park is on the southern part of the beach road. It’s a small park with slides and swings for children. The park also houses the Dupleix statue which was built in recognition of the contribution of Francois Dupleix, former Governor of Puducherry from the French reign. The park marks the end of the boulevard.

Chunnambar or Paradise Beach

Chunnambar or Paradise Beach is 7 km past Puducherry along the Cuddalore main road. As the name suggests, its the Paradise on earth. The beach is accessible through boats from the Boathouse of Chunnambar which is located at Ariyankuppam. A 15-20 minute ride takes you to the clean and serene Paradise beach, a small stretch of island with blue sea and sky all around. The beach is the point where Chunnambar river mingles with the backwaters of Bay of Bengal. The sea is not very aggressive here and hence is ideal for swimming and safe for children. There are separate tickets for entering into the boat house and for boat rides. The ride to the beach takes a route surrounded by dense forests with hints of palm groves here and there. The sparsely populated beach is the perfect weekend getaway from your bustling busy city lives.

Matrimandir

Matrimandir is the central attraction of Auroville and represents the Universal Mother or the Divine Consciousness. This is the most sacred place for the Aurovillians. It is built like a golden globe with four massive pillars for support. It took a total of 38 years to build this beautiful and divine building. There are 12 rooms inside the Matrimandir which represent the 12 virtues of the Mother. The 12 gardens around the amphitheatre represent the 12 powers of the Universal Mother. The outer layer of the globe is gold plated, with ta giant crystal at the top through which sunlight falls inside. Entry into the Matrimandir is restricted. Prior passes are to be obtained from the Visitors Centre to gain entry.

Ousteri lake

Ousteri lake is the most important fresh water lake of Puducherry, situated towards north of the town some 10 km away (on the Puducherry-Villupuram road). Te lake was a primary source of drinking water for Puducherry town earlier. Now, it is basically a bird sanctuary and an internationally recognized wetland. The place sees many migratory birds during the migratory season starting in late August. There is a wide range of aquatic species too. There is a small children’s park which serves as a nice picnic spot. Boating facilities are also available.

Veerampattinam beach

Veerampattinam beach is one of the most beautiful beaches of the country attracting thousands of tourist from all over the world. It is the biggest coastal village of Puducherry located between Puducherry and Cuddalore and 7 km away from Puducherry. The village is surrounded by rivers on both sides with dedicated fishing sites. The fishermen here work with traditional fishing crafts and nets which adds to the ambience. Veerampattinam is famous for two things, one is the Car festival for which thousands throng the place every year during the Tamil month of Aadi (July – August) and the other is Maasi Magam, during the Tamil month of Maasi (February – March). The Sri Sengazhuneer Amman Temple of Veerampattinam is an immensely popular temple among the locals.

Top 7 Attractions for Pondicherry You Must Visit

Pondicherry, today, is an extremely vibrant town, it is growing economically and developing in to a major tourist hub. The city is also gaining popularity as a retirement destination owing to its peaceful, safe environment and slow pace of life. Artists, writers and designers too have come to settle here or spend some time. The cultural mix providing them with a good source of inspiration.

BHARATHI PARK / AAYI MANDAPAM

Surrounded by important heritage buildings, the Bharathi Park is a soothing oasis of greenery centrally located in the old colonial town.

At the heart of the park is the Aayi Mandapam. Built in the Greco-Roman style during the reign of Napoleon III, it is a well-known landmark of Puducherry, and many regard it as the official symbol of the union territory. This monument commemorates the provision of water to the colonial city during Napoleon’s reign, and is named after a courtesan called ‘Aayi’ who is said to have demolished her home to build a reservoir for the town’s water supply.There is also a children’s playground in the park.

PROMENADE OR ROCK BEACH

Goubert Avenue runs along the coast of the Bay of Bengal and gives Pondicherry a nearly 2 km stretch of sea front. Popularly known as the Promenade Beach or the Rock Beach, it is a major tourist attraction and also a favored spot for Pondicherrians. On average it sees more than a 1000 visitors a week.

Most mornings are filled with health conscious people having a brisk walk, exercising and jogging along the sea shore. In the evenings the road is closed to traffic and one can find street vendors selling balloons, handicrafts, toys and all sort of trinkets mingling with the crowds on the road and pavement. Carts offering street food are parked on the sand.

The beach road also features some of the important landmarks of Pondicherry. The statue of Mahatma Gandhi takes center stage, it is located at the spot that was the entrance to what used to be the erstwhile pier of Puducherry. It is surrounded by 8 imposing tall stone pillars, each intricately carved from a single piece of rock. Across from the statue is the fair ground on which cultural festivals and other public events are hosted.

Other landmarks to be seen are the Old Light House, the Customs House, The Kargil War Memorial, The Hôtel de Ville (which is the French equivalent for Town Hall) and at the far end the statue of Dupleix can be found in a small park.

MANAKULA VINAYAGAR TEMPLE

Not far from the Sri Aurobindo Ashram is Puducherry’s famous Ganesh temple. Predating the arrival of the French in the seventeenth century, this temple is frequented by locals and tourists alike. A major attraction of the temple is its elephant Lakshmi, who is generally outside the temple in the evenings. Make sure you have a few coins or a note ready for her, and she will gently bless you on the head with her trunk.

Darshan timings: Daily 5:45am-12:00pm, 4:00-9:30pm. Timings may vary on holidays and festival days.

SRI AUROBINDO ASHRAM

Every year, thousands of visitors from all over the world flock to Puducherry to visit its best-known spiritual centre, the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. The Ashram was established in 1926 by Sri Aurobindo, the great Indian freedom fighter, poet, yogi and spiritual guru. The Mother was Sri Aurobindo’s spiritual collaborator, and when he subsequently decided to withdraw from his outer life to focus on his spiritual work, she took over the running of the Ashram.

Located on Rue de la Marine, the main Ashram building is an old French house where the Mother and Sri Aurobindo lived. Today, the Ashram courtyard houses their Samadhi. The Samadhi can be visited all year round but the rooms are open to visitors only on Darshan days.

Visiting hours: Daily 8:00am-12:00pm, 2:00-6:00pm.

FRENCH QUARTER

One of the most striking features about Pondicherry is that it has a lot of colonial buildings which can be traced back as early as the 18th century. The speciality is that the roads are built along a grid of straight clean streets. You can find the grid pattern of roads even in other cities like Ernakulam which was done only of late.

The colours which are predominantly used in the buildings are cream, pink, yellow and grey with beautiful bougainvillea which you can find protruding from the compound walls and gates of the houses here.

The town was geographically divided during the colonial era as ‘French town’ and ‘Tamil town’ thanks to the architectural. The French quarters of the town is still unofficially called ‘White town’ by the locals.

CHUNNAMBAR / PARADISE BEACH

Chunnambar or Paradise Beach is 7 km past Puducherry along the Cuddalore main road. As the name suggests, its the Paradise on earth. The beach is accessible through boats from the Boathouse of Chunnambar which is located at Ariyankuppam. A 15-20 minute ride takes you to the clean and serene Paradise beach, a small stretch of island with blue sea and sky all around. The beach is the point where Chunnambar river mingles with the backwaters of Bay of Bengal. The sea is not very aggressive here and hence is ideal for swimming and safe for children. There are separate tickets for entering into the boat house and for boat rides. The ride to the beach takes a route surrounded by dense forests with hints of palm groves here and there. The sparsely populated beach is the perfect weekend getaway from your bustling busy city lives.
OUR LADY OF ANGELS

Facing the Bay of Bengal, this beautiful church on Rue Dumas was built in 1852and is well worth a visit. It features Greco-Roman architecture, and is modelled on la Basilique Notre-Dame-du-Rosairein Lourdes, in the south of France. The exquisite stained glass windows in this church and a rare painting of Our Lady of the Assumption are its principalcharms. The latter was a gift from Napolean III.

This is the only Church in Pondy which celebrates mass in English, French and Tamil.

Planning to Visit India

So you have arranged an excursion to India and are all situated to leave on your voyage. On the off chance that you have perused/ caught wind of go in India you will realize that the chances to invest time are essentially boundless and there is no limit to the different things to do, encounters to embrace and sights and sounds to wonder about. It can be truly trying for a voyager to take advantage of going in India since the nation is so immeasurable and there is simply such a great amount to do. In this article, we have shortlisted the most ideal approaches to invest time amid an excursion in India.

1. Make a go at Shopping for Unique Goods: This is a most loved hobby of all visitors in India. The crafted works industry in the nation creates pretty much every believable great, from materials and articles of clothing to gems and footwear, from painted creations and models to family unit utility things and home decorations. As opposed to acquiring the regular mementoes, invest time in the bazaars and �haats� of India to purchase the �real India merchandise and wares� and take back a little bit of your excursion to India with you. Delhi Haat in the capital city of Delhi, Lal Chowk in Kashmir and Meena Bazaars crosswise over different states in the nation are all extraordinary samples of shopping open doors.

2. Invest Time Trying Out the Food: Food is one of the greatest attractions of going by India. From the fiery hot nourishments of Rajasthan to the restricted Chinese food everywhere throughout the nation, from the sambhar-vada of South India to the extreme meat dishes of Kashmir, the cooking styles and mixture of nourishment in India are boundless. For genuine Mughal cooking visit Old Delhi and Chandini Chowk in Delhi while you can attempt different varieties of state foods at Pragati Maidan and Delhi Haat.

3. Narrating styles and puppetry are a fundamental piece of the society of India. No trek to India is finished without going to a few shows. The India Habitat Center in Delhi is frequently a venue for different road plays, shows and little exhibitions. Delhi Haatal ways has progressing topical celebrations, ordinarily with concentrate on particular states at once, and one can not just purchase merchandise and go for cooking styles of the state additionally go to theater, moves and music exhibitions of the state. These occasions are exuberant and energetic and are an incredible exertion on the patrons� part to keep the old conventions and society of the nation alive. You can watch these age-old expressions wake up, meet the entertainers, find out about the historical backdrop of these performing expressions and take excellent pictures and features that you will love forever.

Presently that you have a rundown of the three most ideal approaches to invest time on an outing to India, verify you take after this exhortation and do these things. Separated from going to the landmarks and vacation destinations and investing time at all the acclaimed spots it is additionally key to investigate the society, cooking and soul of the nation on any venture plan.

With a specific end goal to get more subtle elements on shopping, eating and social chances of India do some exploration on the Internet. Along  these  lines you will have a broad rundown of spots to go to, diverse calendars and value records to depend on amid travel.

@zoompondy

World Tourism Day 2014

WORLD TOURISM DAY

World Tourism Day (WTD), celebrated every year on 27 September, is a global celebration to highlight tourism’s social, cultural, political and economic value. Since 1980, the United Nations World Tourism Organization has celebrated World Tourism Day and this year’s theme is Tourism & Community Development. The main focus on the day by UN would be on “Sustainable Development Goals” that would be promoted from the year 2015 and beyond.

With the unique concentrate on the group, WTD 2014 highlights how tourism might be helpful for progressing practical advancement from the grassroots level. Group based tourism includes the neighborhood populace in the choice making methodology as per nearby necessities. The chance to wind up a piece of the tourism quality chain earnestly includes host groups in the advancement process. Tourism therefore turns into an impetus of social attachment, going past the prompt effect of occupation creation and its sure monetary outcomes and improves, for example, neighborhood influence capacities which duplicate the tourism effect much further.

This current year’s official festivals will occur in Guadalajara, Mexico which will be included with high level officials and experts in the area across the globe. On the same day Pondicherry Tourism Department also has arranged for eye-catchy events in Beach area. WTD’14 is celebrated in the theme called as “PUDUCHERRY CARNIVAL” with host a lot of events like Folk Music and Dance, Decrorative Boats, etc. To keep up-to-date with this year’s WTD activities visit our page www.zoompondy.com or follow us at facebook.com/zoompondy

Puducherry Carnival 2014 image brought you by zoompondy.com

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Pondicherry – A Travelers Place

Pondicherry (Pondichéry in french) is a small French Town, a refinement separated from Boomtown India. By 1850, the British had secured their grip on India. They allowed the retreating French to remain in four small pockets of South Indian territory. Pondicherry was the capital for the other parts. Pondicherry gained its full independence in 1963. The French laid out the streets in a formal grid pattern for the city of Pondicherry during their period.

Most of the people use bicycles inside the city of Pondicherry, or they strolled along the tree-lined boulevards. It was as if an elegant French country town had been shifted to the Bay of Bengal.

In 2006, Pondicherry became Puducherry – having reverted to its age old Tamil name. It was no longer irregular. This was indeed French colony of India. Pondy – as its long-term residents like to call it – is expanding rapidly. As in so many Indian cities, the economic break through has had its way, growing the population of Pondicherry of over 20 per cent in the past two censuses.

A neary town Auroville is an experimental city, located a few miles out of Pondicherry, that grew out of the Sri Aurobindo ashram that dominates social and educational life in Pondi. Its “citizens” opt out of conventional society but remain very actively involved in its problems and challenges.

Travel essentials

Getting there

Pondicherry is well connected by Road and Train. People can either take a Public transit or can afford an individual cab.

Further details about Pondicherry one can visit http://www.zoompondy.com which provides with comprehensive data of the city along with the local events to happen.

Pondicherry Photos

Scenic view of Pondicherry Beach

Sideways of Beach

 

Good Veggie Restaurents in Pondicherry

It may really be an incredible thought to appreciate the veggie lover side of menus while you hit the East Coast Road to Pondy. We propose a couple of enchanting eateries in and around Pondicherry and Auroville that commend the uniqueness of its curious food Surguru Spot For real South Indian nourishment, Surguru Spot, a vegan restaurant, is ideal for a speedy nibble.
Administration is super quick administration and its menu is a pleasure for southern delights. Request their Surguru Special Thali to experience diverse curries and rice arrangements or run valid with plain Dosa, Masala Dosa or Rava Masala. Served just for supper, the Chilly Parotta is an unquestionable requirement attempt. Call: 413-4308084.

Cafe Des Art in the French quarter offers crisp nourishment and has an interesting, eccentric vibe to it.

ECR Dhaba Located close to the crocodile rely upon the East Coast Road, ECR Dhaba is an incredible stop for north Indian nourishment. With a decent assortment for veggie lovers, the restaurant serves an enormous menu of Indian and Indo-Chinese cooking. Attempt the Gobi Manchurian, Dal and Paneer, joined by naan, tandoori roti or the customary chapati. Estimated a bit on the costlier side, ECR Dhaba pontoons of a natural atmosphere. Call: +918056011121

Villa Shanti A lodging with contemporary French structural engineering, this restaurant and bar has a fine determination of veggie lover nourishment. An open patio encompassed with plants and lamps, it is ideal for supper. Begin the night by tasting on their mixed drinks, joined by the Green Papaya Salad or Masala Fried Vegetables (a tweak on Masala Fried Chicken recorded on the consistent menu). Veggie lover curries and Dals are flavourful yet for a Continental flare attempt, the Zucchini Pancakes with walnuts or the Mr. & Mrs. Smith Pasta. Close down your feast with the Orange & Almond Cake or Crepe Suzette. Call: 413-4200028.

Tanto is the main place that serves wood-terminated pizza in the middle of Pondicherry and Auroville. It has a tendency to get packed over weekends and occasions. Attempt one of the pizzas from their enormous mixed bag joined by crisp greens or pastas. End the supper either with the Panna Cotta, Tiramisu or a Fresh Fruit Sorbet. Call: 413-2622368.

Cafe Des Arts Tucked on Rue Suffren in the French pocket — Cafe Des Arts is an enchanting find. A notable Franco-Tamil house changed over into a bistro, the spot has an unpredictable vibe. All dishes are readied with crisp elements. Attempt their Tabbouleh Salad with crisp juices or else pick their Crepes or Toasted Baguette Sandwiches. Call: 413-4210540.

A surrounding perspective of Pondicherry with the Promenade Road that confronts the Bay of Bengal. The union domain offers a shockingly wide mixture of veggie lover admission La Maison Rose An excellent bistro found in a restored building, its perfect to unwind over great nourishment. Spotted in a yard encompassed by plants, trees and a fishpond, it offers dishes from over the world. Vegetable Couscous and Grilled Zucchini Carpaccio are extraordinary vegan decisions. Go hand in hand with your dinner with their La Maison Rose extraordinary beverage (gin or vodka with lychee juice, pop, mint and ginger) and end on a sweet note with the New York Cheesecake. Call: 413-4210806.

Naturallment Cafe Tucked away in the foliage of Auroville, Naturallment Garden Cafe is a curious space with an assortment of pastas, mixed greens, crisp squeezes and breads. An outdoors style-bistro encompassed by a lavish enclosure its perfect for brunch or lunch. All nourishment is made with nearby, naturally developed elements. Attempt their Bruschettas, Gnocchi with Tomato Sauce and Cheese, Herbed Crepe with Tomato Sauce and Tiramisu. Naturallment additionally has a wide determination of jams, jams, granola, syrups and pickles all created in-house. An unquestionable requirement visit. Call: 413-2622034.

Hotel Mamalla One of the most mainstream visitor spots is Hotel Mamalla. Found close to the popular spot of Mahabalipuram — Mamalla is a veggie lover restaurant serving customary South Indian food. This cooled restaurant (dependably an easing with high temperatures here) offers fast administration and costs are amazingly competitive. Attempt their real Dosas, Uttapams or Thalis — the flavors are certain to provide for you a gastronomic welcome to the area. Call: 044-27442060

Pondy: The blend of cooking styles The union domain of Pondicherry was once called ‘The French Riviera of the East’. It was a French settlement till 1954 and henceforth offers a colossal French impact in its society and cooking. Separated from crisp fish, it gloats of beguiling French bistros that offer espresso and heated indulgences. The Tamil cooking gives level with rivalry to the French sustenance alongside the Creole cooking that make Pondicherry a mixture of societies and nourishment. Time: It takes about 3 hours to reach Pondicherry from Chennai.

Happy eating and for more details of restaurants you can visit ZOOMPONDY

Vegetarian Dishes in Pondicherry hotels

Vegetarian Dishes in Pondicherry hotels

Vegetarian Dishes in Pondicherry hotels