Chandratal Lake: Guide to the magnificient lake of Spiti Valley
Chandratal Lake – the most awaited part
Beaches, cafes, cute buildings, ancient architecture, “me time” – the trip to Pondicherry & Mahabalipuram has got everything for everyone.
Starts: from Chennai
Ends: at Chennai
Type: Mixed Gender
Start: 12 PM, 18 Feb 2024
End: 4 PM, 21 Feb 2024
₹ 26500
If you are looking for a relaxing trip full of good food, cute French architecture, pretty churches, beach fun, gorgeous sunsets, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, breathtakingly beautiful monolithic cave temples, chariots, group camaraderie, & and endless conversations, then this trip to Pondicherry & Mahabalipuram is for you.
Filled with scenic beaches, streets lined with colorful buildings, home to charming upscale cafes, and having a diverse multicultural heritage, Pondicherry is a traveler’s paradise. From end to end, Puducherry (as it is now known) is a culmination of myriad experiences. The city of Pondicherry is the capital of the Union Territory of Puducherry (India). Located on the southeast coast of India, Pondicherry is the most populous city in the Puducherry district. This Union Territory shares most of its culture, heritage, and language with its neighboring state of Tamil Nadu. Historically it was inhabited by the Dutch, Portuguese, British, and French traders. Their influence can still be seen in the architecture and certain aspects of the culture of this region.
Did you know that Pondicherry was the chief settlement of the French in India? In the year 1674, the French East India Company set up a trading center at Pondicherry. This marked the outpost eventually becoming the chief settlement of the French in India. The French governor of the time, François Martin made some significant improvements to the city. Now you know why we have cute & picturesque French buildings in the Latin quarter of Pondicherry where can’t stop gazing & clicking Instagram-perfect pictures.
Until the year 1814, Pondicherry was shifted back and forth between the French, Dutch, and the English. A number of treaties and resolutions ensued till post-independence in the year 1954, with this Union Territory eventually being merged with the Indian Union. All those years of occupation and even before that, having been part of the Indian Subcontinent ensured that Pondicherry developed into a beautiful nest of cultural diversity.
This sunny coastal habitation is a popular vacation spot for both people from India and abroad. With all the great food, attractions, and welcoming ambiance there is no doubt as to why Pondicherry is so well-loved.
Just a few kilometers from Pondicherry lies the beautiful city of Mahabalipuram. The crossroads of the past and the present are seen in the quaint little town of Mahabalipuram. Also known as Mamallapuram, this town in the Chengalpattu district of Tamil Nadu is known for its Historical Monuments. All of which have been categorized under the title of Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site.
One of two major port cities in the Pallava kingdom, this town was named after Pallava king Narasimhavarman I, whose moniker was Mahabali. Sometime during the 8th century, Thirumangai Alvar described this place in one of his texts as the ‘Sea Mountain’. He described this place to be a port where many would anchor their ships which were filled with wealth, exotic animals like elephants, and chests filled with gems. Booming with economic prosperity, this port city became the site of several royal monuments which were carved out of the living rock. These monuments date back to the 7th and 8th centuries and even today are very well-preserved. The current town plan was actually established by the British in 1827 during their occupation. Mahabalipuram is an archaeological treasure trove and is an extremely famous tourist hub.
Pondicherry is rightfully alluded to as a Traveler’s Paradise, even having a beach called the same. Paradise Beach, also known as Plage Paradiso is an extremely beautiful beach located in Chunnambar. The serene ambiance of the beach is the reason for its name. You need to take a boat ride from the main town of Pondicherry to reach this beach. The entire route from the town to the beach is such a tranquil experience. The coasts surrounding the backwaters are lined with mangrove trees, painting quite the picture. Once you arrive, your feet will be greeted by the extraordinarily soft sands of Paradise Beach. You can play beach volleyball or football on these sands, an activity extremely popular with tourists. You can even take a leisurely stroll along the waters and click some amazing pictures. If you are tired you can rest under the small shelters on the beach and if you are hungry you can grab a quick bite from the few shacks there.
In a charming little area of Pondicherry called White Town, you will find the remnants of the French Occupation left behind from almost 200 years ago. French Quarter, as it is more popularly known, is filled with elegant colonial mansions, charming cafes, and numerous parks. The houses have shuttered windows and colorful facades giving them a vibrant look and feel. Most of the older residents here still speak French, making the ambiance feel even more authentic. The best way to immerse yourself in the French culture of this part of Pondy is by taking the heritage walk. This walk explores the four main streets of the French Quarter: Rue Dumas, Rue Romain Rolland, Rue Suffren, and Rue La Bourdonnais.
A magnificent specimen of Neo-Gothic architecture, the Sacred Heart Basilica of Pondicherry stands proudly on South Boulevard. The rare stained glass panels adorning the frames of the church depict the life of Jesus Christ and Catholic Saints. The Eglise De Sacre Coeur De Jesus Pondicherry, as the French called it, is a renowned pilgrimage center for Roman Catholic Christians. It was established in 1908 by French Missionaries and attained the status of Basilica in 2011. There are a total of 28 glass paintings in the frames of this 50-meter long, 48-meters wide, and 18-meters high Church. This 100-year old Church has 24 main columns holding the Latin rite cross at the head of the building. On the entrance, you’ll find biblical words written in Latin which translate to –
“I have consecrated this house that My Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there forever”
The words symbolize the presence of the Sacred Heart of Lord Jesus Christ, hence the name.
The Notre Dame des Anges Church, also known as Our Lady of Angels Church is a beautiful house of worship in the union territory of Puducherry. Commissioned in 1855 by Napolean III, it was constructed in a Greco-Roman architectural style by the engineer Louis Guerre. Because of its white color, it was also known as the White Chapel. A mixture of limestone and egg white created this one-of-a-kind color and also produced a texture resembling white marble. This gorgeous church is one of the oldest churches in Puducherry. Inside the church, there are numerous beautiful paintings and sculptures that will take your breath away. The entire structure has a very peaceful ambiance filled with a serenity that reminds you that it is a sacred place for many people.
Sri Aurobindo Ashram is a self-sustainable spiritual community with over 2000 members from all over the world. With a 90-year old heritage, Sri Aurobindo Ashram originally grew out of a small community of disciples. These people had followed and gathered around the Yogi, after his retirement from Politics. Sri Aurobindo then proceeded to settle down in Pondicherry in 1910. After another sixteen years, on the 24th of November 1926, the Yogi had a major spiritual realization. This marked his formal departure from the public eye, in order to continue his spiritual work. At this point, he handed over full responsibility of spiritual aspirants and the ashram to his spiritual collaborator, ‘The Mother’ (actual name Mirra Alfassa). Today, the ashram has grown a lot and it boasts several small buildings which are interconnected.
Stretching along the Bay of Bengal, a sharp contrast of gray rocks exists to the marine blue of the sea. A 1.2-kilometer-long beachfront that starts from the Pondicherry War Memorial till the Dupleix Park on Goubert Avenue awaits you. This stunning place is called Rock Beach and is also more popularly known as the Promenade Beach. You’ll find tiny crustaceans ambling along the coastline, constantly being swept away by the incoming waves. You’ll find yourself appreciating the effort of those tiny creatures as you feel the breeze floating across the waters. Situated in the heart of the city, a concrete pathway has been constructed beside this beach. This pathway is lined with several cafes, restaurants, and shops. This is the best place to come if you want to have a relaxing meal or just to hang out with your friends. Some of these places even have live music performances. Although you cannot take dips in the sea or seek out any water sport activities here, you can enjoy the stunning sunrise and sunset and go for walk or a stroll.
Located on St. Louis Street, you will find the mesmerizing Pondicherry Museum. A treasure trove of the rich history of South India. Also known as the Pondy Museum, it is known for its unique collection of sculptures. You will find several well-preserved relics from the Pallava and Chola Dynasties (3rd-10th Century). The displays consist of stone sculptures and about 81 Bronze Statues from the Chola Dynasty. These statues were obtained from a site located about 7kms from the main city. This site was formerly a trading center with recorded trade connections to the Roman Empire in the past. The Museum also houses several old and intricately designed bronze lamps and statues dedicated to different Gods and Goddesses. There is also an international collection with relics and artifacts belonging to ancient Romans, Greeks, and the Tsung Period of China. Another notable aspect of the Pondicherry Museum is the Geology section which has a few displays of coins, fossils, French Furniture, and the remains of a couple of ancient churches as well.
Located in the French Quarter (White Town) on Goubert Avenue is the French War Memorial of Pondicherry. It was built in the year 1971, to commemorate the efforts of the soldiers who laid down their lives during World War I. There are four white columns in the memorial with a life-sized statue of a soldier leaning on a rifle. On the memorial itself, an inscription has been carved which says,
‘Aux combattants des Indes Francoises morts pour la patrie, 1914-1918’
(Translation: French Fighters of India, who died for their country in 1914-1918)
The French War Memorial has a beautiful garden built around the monument increasing the solemnity of the place. On Bastille Day which is celebrated on the 14th of July every year, the Memorial is lit up ceremoniously.
This beautiful structure located within the Auroville Township is called the “Soul of the City ” by its citizens. It is a monument of spiritual significance for practitioners of Integral yoga. Established by The Mother (Mirra Alfassa) of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and is situated in the middle of a large open space called ‘Peace’. The Matrimandir is a magnificent structure measuring one hundred feet in height. This spherical structure has a lotus bud-shaped foundation, with its outer walls decorated in gold-encased discs. This golden dome centered in the midst of a plain view of the greenest grass is something that is bound to catch anyone’s eye. The entire picture fills you with a sense of spirituality and peace.
SVARAM is a place within Auroville that is dedicated to the science & research of sound, especially Indian Music. A visit to SVARAM & Sound Garden turns out to be quite therapeutic, and meditative when you hear the beautiful sounds produced by their innovative instruments.
Eden beach is one of the most beautiful and cleanest beaches in Pondicherry. It’s a white sand beach where one could just spend hours and hours as the minimal crowd and clean waters make it very peaceful and serene. It is also the first beach in the Union Territory to get the coveted ‘Blue Flag’ certification from the Denmark-based Foundation for Environment Education (FEE).
This holy structure located in the heart of Puducherry has a rather riveting history. Constructed almost 500 years ago, this temple was dedicated to Lord Ganesha and it is still an important pilgrimage site for Hindus. Arulmigu Manakula Vinayagar Temple temple had a long-standing heritage predating the French Occupation. Yet, during Dupleix’s (Governor-General of French India) tenure, several attempts were made to destroy this temple. But, the temple was saved due to the strong protests from the Hindu community. Moreover, there was the looming threat of a possible British or Maratha invasion of the territory. The name of the temple is derived from two Tamil words – “Manal” meaning ‘sand’ and “Kulam” meaning ‘pond near the sea’. Earlier the temple was called Manal Kulathu Vinayagar. Inside the temple are carvings of all 40 incarnations of Lord Ganesha!
The Shore Temple is an 8th-century temple complex in Mahabalipuram, and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This complex of temples and shrines, overlooking the Bay of Bengal is a stunning structure. Made with solid blocks of Granite, the site was actually an important port during the reign of the Pallava Dynasty’s Narasimhavarman II. This two-temple structure stands facing the sea and many legends say that there were originally five structures altogether. It seems that the structures were so beautiful that they incited the envy of the Gods who submerged the structures under the sea. A fun fact is that there are actually a few submerged structures in the area, so perhaps this myth may have some truth in it!
Off the Coromandel Coast in the Kancheepuram District of Tamil Nadu is another magnificent architectural structure. The Panch Rathas (five chariots) are glorious stone structures, serving as an excellent example of Indian Monolithic Rock-Cut architecture. Each Ratha has been carved out of a single huge boulder and each of them represents one of the five Pandava brothers. Believed to have been constructed during the 7th century, all of the stone structures are decorated with intricate carvings and fine artwork by skilled artisans. Often mistakenly referred to as temples, the structures were actually never blessed as a sacred ground because following the death of Pallava King Narasimhavaram I, they were never completed.
Krishna’s Butterball is a gigantic granite boulder resting on a short incline part of the Group of Monuments at Mamallapuram. Originally it was called “Vaan Irai Kal” which is Tamil for “Stone of Sky God”. According to Hindu mythology, Krishna was known to be fond of stealing butter since he was a kid. It seems that one day this big orange stone was dropped from the sky. It was compared to a giant dollop of butter dropped by the Sky God. Although we do not know whether this legend is true or not, Krishna’s Butter Ball is quite fascinating. The giant boulder, although on the verge of an incline, appears to be frozen in place. No one knows why. From the Pallava King Narasimvaharam to Governor of the City during British Raj, Arthur Havelock, many have tried to move this boulder but to no avail.
Commissioned in 1887, the Mahabalipuram lighthouse became fully functional in 1904. This Light House stands proudly on the rocky patches near the Mahabalipuram shore. With a circular masonry tower made of natural stone, this beautiful building is 85 ft in height. India’s oldest Light House built around 640 AD by Pallava King Mahendravarman I is situated right next to this tall structure. In 2001, the Mahabalipuram Lighthouse was closed following a perceived threat from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (Militant Group). It was reopened to tourists in 2011. Once you reach the summit after climbing the spiral staircase you will be greeted by a stunning panoramic view. The scenery of the vast seashore, the innumerable rock structures, and the town below are all a visual delight.
You will find one of the most exquisite specimens of ancient Indian rock-cut cave architecture in Mahabalipuram. Namely in the Varaha Cave Temple. Dating back to the late 7th century, this temple is part of a hilltop village, 4 km to the north of the main Mahabalipuram sites of Rathas and the Shore Temple. This temple is known for four exquisite carvings idolizing images of Lord Vishnu, Lord Trivikama (Lord Vishnu’s 5th Avatar), Goddess Gajalakshmi, and Goddess Durga. A sculpture of Lord Vishnu’s Varaha (boar) Avatar lifting Bhudevi (Goddess Mother Earth) from the sea is the most prominent relic. Several other mythical characters have also been carved on the walls of this cave temple, along with majestic depictions of seated lions.
One of the best ways to understand the richness of a place’s culture is by exploring its markets. Seeing streets and tiny or big shops filled with life and color is a wonderful feeling. In most places like Pondicherry, you can find a refreshing amalgamation of the old and the new, the traditional and the modern. On one hand, you will find hand-made embroidery and classic antiques; on the other hand, you will also find new and upcoming designers with their boutiques and fusion handicrafts. In some other places like Mahabalipuram, you will find special items that you cannot find anywhere else like stone and wooden handicrafts or soapstones and jewelry made out of seashells. Wherever it is, market exploration is always exciting and filled with new experiences.
Our small group size ensures a personal touch and our group leaders make sure to bond the entire group like long-lost friends. Hence, along with an amazing travel experience, you are in for great social bonding.
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Chandratal Lake – the most awaited part
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