Pondicherry: Experience the French Colonial Charm

South India’s first and the only luxury train, Golden Chariot embarked on its first journey on 10^th March, 2008. The luxury train offers two week long itineraries- Pride of the South and Splendor of the South- which encompasses destinations in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. When it comes to the Splendor of the South journey, Golden Chariot, for a longer duration, covers the temple cities of Tamil Nadu. The rest of the tour period is devoted to the exploration of the erstwhile French colony ‘Pondicherry’ and the ‘God’s Own Country’ Kerala. During the Splendor of the South, Golden Chariot, on the 3^rd day, enters the precincts of Pondicherry.

Pondicherry The Colonial Charm

In this post, I will mention what Pondicherry offers to the guests traveling on board the  Golden Chariot train. But before moving any further with the details of the 3^rd day sightseeing tour, let me give you a brief overview of Pondicherry.

Located 160 kilometers south of Chennai, on the Coromandel Coast, Pondicherry is enclosed by the Bay of Bengal on East and by South Arcot region of Tamil Nadu on the other three sides. It constitutes of diverse attractions which include palm fringed beaches, churches, mosques, Ashrams and French colonial mansions turned heritage hotels. From architecture to cuisine, each and every aspect of this Indian Union Territory has a French influence.

Some must-see attractions in Pondicherry include:

Beaches: Turquoise blue waters, swaying palm trees, backwater lagoons & estuaries, balmy winds and silvery ambience, all these characteristics define the ambience of Pondicherry beaches. These beaches are ideal escapade from the hustle-bustle of the city life.

Pondicherry Beachn View 

They are the ultimate place for canoeing, kayaking, sailing and boating. Some famous beaches include Karaikal Beach, Paradise Beach and Serenity Beach.

Auroville: Fondly dubbed as the ‘City of Dawn’, Auroville is a wonderful town where people belonging to different nationalities live peacefully. The town is surrounded by amazing greens which is a treat to the eyes.

Auroville Pondicherry

French Food Festival: Organized by the Department of Tourism of Pondicherry, the French Food Festival which takes place in August every year offers a wide variety of French culinary delights.

Pondicherry Museum: The Pondicherry Museum is housed with a fine collection of numerous artifacts dating back to the Chola, Pallava and Vijayanagara dynasty.

Pondicherry Museum

On the 3^rd day, after breakfast in the morning, set off to explore the famous attractions of Pondicherry which include Auroville, Sri Aurbindo Ashram and French styled colonial mansions. This concludes you Pondicherry tour aboard the Golden Chariot train.