Pondicherry or Puducherry whatever you like calling, people affectionately call it pondi.
The British ruled during the 1850s when they gave the liberty to French people to make settlements in India they choose Pondicherry along with Mahe, Karaikal and other places and made it’s headquarters there.
1 November 1954 it was established as a union territory.
On our way out from Chennai airport we had with us a Parsi elderly couple the uncle-aunty were so grateful they helped us with metro and bus routes from the airport, they were cute together and the quarrels they had were so filled with love.
When we bid goodbye uncle said this line, “ Asa lagta hai tum humara guzara hua waqt jee rahe ho”
The journey itself is a soothing experience sitting on a window seat with a sight of lush green tall coconut trees making a trail on the road covering the coast enhanced by the melody of a shore, the chilly wind makes the face moist and the sight of the ocean goes on till your vision becomes extinct plus some good music, makes it more liberating.
All it takes for a place is to be enthralling.
And here nature has it all.
Rock beach: early morning yogis sitting peacefully
watching the sunrise beholden by it felt like we could sit there for hours.
People walking on the sidelines,
sitting on the rocks, sipping coffee, licking ice-cream.
the chattering sound was dumbed by the melancholy of the waves,
the sound of a baby cooing, ice-cream vendor sounding his bell And old duties sitting on the park bench talking about politics and cricket.
At 3:00 am it was a dark night and the sky filled with dim lit stars with the moon gloomier than ever.
Auroville: It’s about 15-18 km from the white town
One can rent a motorbike for a mere 250₹ per bike from mission street.
It’s the peace quarter of the whole.
People from across the world came here to earn some peace and to pay respects to ‘The Mother’,
A French lady who believed the thought of equality without following any religion just holding to the thought of being together and helping everyone
The vision which she had met Shree Aurobindo’s beliefs.
People help the underprivileged by doing daily deeds. One can truly find thy self and look for a greater purpose in life.
(please read some history about this place you will find something containing.)
Along the way, bread and chocolate is a great place for breakfast if you are up for it.
Chunumbar lake:
The withholding sight of the lake is at the middle of the lake watching the sunset returning from the island in a ferry at that moment you wish for the moment, for that 15 min to stop and let time take its toll for a while.
The Paradise:
The leisure you seek it’s all about it,
you can enjoy sunbathing, reading for a bit, or lay down under an umbrella
making sand castles and of course, take a splash in the lap of the ocean.
Highlight- there was a man handling an NGO for women’s betterment, a woman sponsored their entire trip, he happened to notice me sitting there and came to me and told me about the work they did.
The Serenity:
The playful atmosphere, nice to soak your foot in the sand and sit near the bay till the sun goes down admiring the mesmerising sight of it.
we got to see a man-size shark captured by the local fishermens when they returned from their sail.
The word “Anna” reamins fond to me.
People are so helpful and welcoming there.
We met an uncle who worked at women’s college he shared his experiences and journey so far, he helped us with our way to Chennai.
It was the first trip which I have planned and worked out on my own so it will always remain close to my heart.
Beh chala..musafir kaha beh
