Pondicherry - Beyond Auro
A tourist destination; definitely not for the weather. It is as humid as Chennai but much cleaner!
We stayed in a guest house run by the Aurobindo Ashram. The location was priceless - just beside the sea. The fantastic sunrise over the horizon is worth missing the morning sleep. My brother was finally able to practice his French (reading the street names!). Policemen wearing little square- shaped red hats were constantly on the vigil thanks to the burgeoning foreign tourist population. The epicurean will be disappointed as the so called quaint european restaurants dish out fancy items with a heavy price tag. Stick with the dosas and even those seemed a rarity.
The sea is very rough and the sharp jagged rocks don't quite allow you to wallow in the waters. Of course as a typical desi would, I expertly climbed down the rocks to feel the waters (the cops are not out early morning). Tis heaven to feel the waves lapping against your feet (and before you know, you are completely drenched!). The Auro beach about 7 km from the beach road is a safer place to play with the waters.
The Ashram is so peaceful and tranquil with oblivious devotees from all over the world. Mother's samadhi is beautiful and even the faithless feel a certain bliss. The Manikula Pillayar temple seemed like any other ornate temple, till we watched an elephant enter the temple, accept the prasadam and do a pradakshanam. I am so proud to be a Hindu. Where else would animals and human beings exist in such harmony.
If you hate someone ask them to visit the Auroville town. It is one long bumpy dusty ride (some metaphorical meaning that I am missing ?) along the sepia colored plantlife. The village is open only in the morning and so we had to return along the same exciting rollercoaster path in the 2pm heat. We watched a few westerners braving the heat and riding 2 wheelers. I am sure they knew what we were thinking - "Why in the world are you here?"
There are other places of interest like the Bharatiyar's home, museum and other popular temples and cathedrals. A couple of my aunts had done their schooling in Clooney's Convent and Immaculate School there. So it was nice to reminiscence. (Though personally I thought it was horrible to subject young girls to the cruelty of having to eat bread for bkfast everyday)
Pondicherry is a great place for a short visit.
We stayed in a guest house run by the Aurobindo Ashram. The location was priceless - just beside the sea. The fantastic sunrise over the horizon is worth missing the morning sleep. My brother was finally able to practice his French (reading the street names!). Policemen wearing little square- shaped red hats were constantly on the vigil thanks to the burgeoning foreign tourist population. The epicurean will be disappointed as the so called quaint european restaurants dish out fancy items with a heavy price tag. Stick with the dosas and even those seemed a rarity.
The sea is very rough and the sharp jagged rocks don't quite allow you to wallow in the waters. Of course as a typical desi would, I expertly climbed down the rocks to feel the waters (the cops are not out early morning). Tis heaven to feel the waves lapping against your feet (and before you know, you are completely drenched!). The Auro beach about 7 km from the beach road is a safer place to play with the waters.
The Ashram is so peaceful and tranquil with oblivious devotees from all over the world. Mother's samadhi is beautiful and even the faithless feel a certain bliss. The Manikula Pillayar temple seemed like any other ornate temple, till we watched an elephant enter the temple, accept the prasadam and do a pradakshanam. I am so proud to be a Hindu. Where else would animals and human beings exist in such harmony.
If you hate someone ask them to visit the Auroville town. It is one long bumpy dusty ride (some metaphorical meaning that I am missing ?) along the sepia colored plantlife. The village is open only in the morning and so we had to return along the same exciting rollercoaster path in the 2pm heat. We watched a few westerners braving the heat and riding 2 wheelers. I am sure they knew what we were thinking - "Why in the world are you here?"
There are other places of interest like the Bharatiyar's home, museum and other popular temples and cathedrals. A couple of my aunts had done their schooling in Clooney's Convent and Immaculate School there. So it was nice to reminiscence. (Though personally I thought it was horrible to subject young girls to the cruelty of having to eat bread for bkfast everyday)
Pondicherry is a great place for a short visit.
posted by Subbu at 11:17 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home