Des-T-Nation Inc. India

Rue De Pondicherry - Pondicherry Travel Blog

2013-07-15T16:31:00.000+05:30

Rue De Pondicherry

Pondicherry, recently renamed as Puducherry, is one of the union territories of India. Its attractions are a coastline of 32 K.M., beaches, backwaters, the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, the international city of Auroville and its French heritage. There are remarkable amount of French influence still present in Pondicherry. This town is divided into two sections: Native Town or Black town and French Town or White Town. Still there are many streets which retains their French name, as my blog name J

French Connection

Reach There:

Pondicherry is well connected with most part of South India. Our journey was from Hyderabad which is about 780 K.M. from Pondicherry. We booked our bus ticket from redbus.in and started our journey. Approximate travel time from Hyderabad to Pondicherry is around 14 hours (I am not sure about train journey time) and we had reached there around 7:00 a.m. in the morning. Bus tickets (AC Volvo Semi Sleeper) cost 1000 /- each.

After Reaching There:

We had already booked our hotel (Golden Sun Guest House – Budget Hotel) from Cleartrip.com and after reaching Pondicherry bus stop we took one auto to reach to our hotel. The hotel has great location and everything around is accessible by walking. (Though I am not an agent of the hotel or I will not get any commission, J I strongly recommend this hotel). The hotel is low cost (1600 Per night) , nicely situated (Aurobindo Ashram, Promande Beach etc are within walking distance) and last of all the owner is very well behaved and helpful (This was our first trip there and they helped us in all aspect, kudos)

Attractions:

Sri Aurobindo Ashram: This ashram is one of the most important destinations in Pondicherry for Spiritual Seekers as well as regular tourist. It is situated in a very peaceful lane near to the beach. The visiting hours to the Ashram for the visitors are from 8 a.m. -12 p.m. and then again from 2 pm to 6 pm. While you are visiting this place, please keep quiet and enjoy the positive vibration of this place. You can also buy books of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother. Beware of buying something from outside which is related to Aurobindo Ashram.

Aurobindo Ashram

Promande Beach: This beach is in heart of Pondicherry. This is a rocky beach, so don’t try to be more adventurous here. This beach is one of the wonderful attractions for its scenic beauty. Road in one side with some extraordinary French construction and sea in other side had made this beach extraordinary. Don’t miss fast food stalls in the beach. Also you can try ‘Le Café’ for breakfast or evening snack. Check the lighthouse near to the beach. Also don’t miss handicraft shops near to the beach. Watch out for French war memorial, Gandhi Statue in beach road.

View from Promande Beach

Le Cafe

French Memorial

All Peaceful Roads: Here most of the road name is in French like Rue De Marine and all the roads (near to beach and Aurobindo Ashram) are well maintained. You can enjoy the serenity here. (This is not a tourist spot, but I myself had enjoyed the calmness very much that’s why I had added it here)

Church, Church and More Churches: Pondicherry had many churches (search in Google and you will get hundreds of names) and most of them are beautiful.

Paradise Beach: Here is one of the stunners in Pondicherry. Chunnambar is around 8KMs from Pondicherry. You can take a normal boat or a speed boat to Paradise beach. You can enjoy whole day here relaxing. There is one small bar available and shades are there to protect from rain and Sun.

Manakula Vinayagar Temple: A small and beautiful temple with a good history. Probably has acquired importance because of being only temple in the former French part. Before entering the Temple one can seek blessings of the Elephant (Lakshmi).

Manakula Vinayagar Temple

Auroville International City: Auroville (City of Dawn) is an experimental township near Pondicherry. It was founded in 1968 by The Mother. In the middle of the town is the Matrimandir, which has been acclaimed as "an outstanding and original architectural achievement. It was conceived by "The Mother" as "a symbol of the Divine's answer to man's inspiration for perfection". Silence is maintained inside the Matrimandir to ensure the tranquility of the space and entire area surrounding the Matrimandir is called Peace area. You can take auto or private car to reach Auroville and then inside from office you can collect meditation pass for Matrimandir.

Matrimandir

Numbers of meditation passes are limited so you need to collect them early or else you can visit the peace area and watch the Matrimandir from outside. The areas surrounding Matrimandir is awesome and enjoy the calmness here.

Auro Beach: This is situated opposite to Auroville International City and one of the dirtiest beach in Pondicherry. Personally I did not like this beach.

Government Museum: If you are a history lover and then you can spend one lazy noon in this museum. Collection is quite good but there is lack of good English speaking guide in this museum.

Bharathi Park: Enter here, take some picture, take some rest and leave for other destination.

Eat:

Pondicherry had wide range of food starting from authentic South Indian food to Sea Food to authentic French food. While travelling everyone should try French food once atleast. (Bong Tip: If you feel you are missing Bengali food, try searching at the road just behind Aurobindo Ashram, you will find one Bengali Restaurant)

Drink:

Yes, here comes the show stopper J Pondicherry is well known for its drinking culture. You will get almost all (yes, almost all) type of liquor here (that’s too almost in half price). There are many bar and wine shops present throughout the city. I had seen police create some problem after 11 p.m. so beware.

Buy:

Try exploring weekend roadside market; you will get many things cheaper. Try exploring handicraft shops (search for govt shops) and buy a lot of handicraft. Buy some t-shirt form Offbeat Pondi store. Also check some Dubai stores.

Roaming within City: To roam within city you can rent a bicycle, or gear less scooter. You need to submit any of your identity cards and some caution money and then enjoy the city.

Here is one video of lonely street in Pondicherry, near beach road:

Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh, India)

2012-03-11T22:39:00.002+05:30

Srisailam is a holy town, situated in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is on the banks of River Krishna. This place is located at about 232 km south of Hyderabad. ‘Bhramaramba Mallikarjunaswamy Temple’ of Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy and Devi Bhramaramba is located here and it is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples. During your journey from Hyderabad to Srisailam, you will find ‘Srisailam Dam’ and a Tiger Reserve Forest.

Reach There:

Road to Srisailam

Srisailam is about 232 km from Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh, and there are buses connecting the town with Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Guntur and Kurnool. For service from Hyderabad to Srisailam, tickets and reservations can be made at the Central Bus station Hyderabad.

The approximate travel time from Hyderabad to Srisailam is 6 hours. But I am not sure about train root. But if you are traveling from Hyderabad and you are a group of 5-6 people best travel option is private cab (both comfortable and pocket friendly). While hiring a cab, ensure that the driver has experience in ghat section. Most of the roads have lots of pothole. So, please drive safe. For nature lovers Srisailam trip leaves immense pleasure as you travel through deep forests. From Dornala to Srisailam you will find excellent view and the road is full of curves and U turns.

Attractions:

Gate of Temple

Sri Brahmarambika Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple: Temple of Brahmarambika Mallikarjuna Swamy (Lord Shiva) is one of 12 Jyotirlinga in India.

Mallikarjuna in an ancient temple that is architecturally and sculpturally rich. It is one place where Shakti peeta and Jyotirlingam are together. Visit to the temple is must. Make sure that you don’t have camera with you (like most of the temple in south India). Must try the ‘prasadam’ here, it is too testy.

Patal Ganga River:

Patal Ganga River a.k.a. Krishna River

Krishna River is known as Patal Ganga here. People take a holy bath here. The water is supposed to be very pure and have healing properties for skin diseases.If you are not physically very fit (like me) DO NOT TRY to take stairs to reach the river, there are around 1500 stairs (approximately). So choose yourselves. Other option is, you can opt for rope-way to reach the river.

Srisailam Dam

Srisailam Dam: Srisailam Dam is built on the Krishna River and is 512 m long. It is set amidst beautiful natural scenery — ghats, cliffs, craggy ridges, plateaus and dense forests.

Ista Kameswari Temple: From Srisailam you need to travel 16 km into deep forest to reach the temple. Don't try to go in your own vehicle because the way is sprinkled with huge rocks and water. Engage a jeep from Srisailam. If you have a team of 8-10 they will charge Rs 1000-1200. Else you can share with other in which case you will be charged 300 Rs. Bargain the amount with the drivers. See waterfalls and valleys there.

Akkamahadevi Caves: This is the most interesting part of the journey in Srisailam.

Journey to Akkamahadevi Caves

To reach the caves you need to go to Patala Ganga.You can reach Patala Ganga by rope way and ride a boat from there to reach the caves. After traveling 16 km (for more than an hour) on the Krishna river with high mountains on either sides and walking for some distance, you will reach the caves.

Going down to river

There will be a guide with you in the boat who will lead into the caves. You need to take a candle with you as the caves are 80 feet deep and very dark.

Stay:

There are lots of budget hotels and lodges around the Mallikarjuna Swami Temple in Srisailam. Most of these do not require any prior reservation except during peak seasons and festivals, and most Mondays. The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Department runs a few hotels by name Ganga Sadan, Gouri Sadan and Punnami Guest House.

Eat:

Only vegetarian food is available here in the temple town. So, all non-vegetarian people hold your taste buds for few days.

Drink:

Water is not really good, so mineral water is better option.

Alcohol is not available here.

Buy:

You can buy pure Girijan honey, AGMARK certified honey which is supplied by government of Andhra Pradesh.

Chenchu Lakshmi Tribal Museum

It is regarded as very pure and tasty. You can get it in Chenchu Lakshmi Tribal Museum. Don't buy it elsewhere.

Do Not:

Sometime you may get into problem during smoking. In most of the shops you will not find cigarette, so if you are regular smoker make sure that you have enough stock.

Here you will find problem if you are a regular credit card or debit card user as most of the shop don’t have punching machine. So, bring enough cash.

Other Attraction:

Ista Srisailam-Nagarjuna Sagar Tiger Reserve: This is the only tiger reserve in Andhra Pradesh. Three forest rest houses and 40 bed capacity dormitories for tourists.

More Pics:

Agatti Island (Lakshadweep)

2012-02-12T23:38:00.000+05:30

Agatti Island View from Flight

Agatti island is the gateway to Lakshadweep, lying about 320 Km off the south west coast of India on Arabian Sea. Very seldom does one get to live so close to nature as you will find in Agatti. No traffic, no pollution, no smoke, no rush and run. Here you will find only 3 things – Lagoon, White Sand and Fresh Air rather say it you will find 3 things nature, nature and nature.

Season:

Raw Nature

October to End of April

Entry Permit:

All visitors (BOTH Indian & Foreign Nationals) to Lakshadweep Islands require Entry Permit which shall be arranged by your tour operator. For Indian national required information: Full Name, Age, Full Address, Occupation and Date of Birth.

Getting There:

Kingfisher Red and Indian Airlines flights are available from Bangalore (via Kochi / or starting from Kochi). Mostly the flights are ATR and you may feel some bumping in Air, though the islands from the sea are most amazing scene. Also you will find an exciting flight landing at Agatti Airport. The average transfer time from the Agatti Airport to resorts is around a two minute walk. Total journey time is around 3 hours (starting from Bangalore, includes half an hour stop at Kochi Airport). Kingfisher Red has a daily non-stop flight from Bangalore.

Also ships ply from Cochin to Agatti. The travel time from Kochi (Cochin) to Agatti Island is 24 Hours and the passengers have to spend the night in the push-back chair. The seating capacities of these ships are 150 passengers each.

Stay:

Agatti Island Beach Resort

Agatti Island Beach Resort and SeaShell are two resorts. Agatti Island Beach resort offers some beach huts and beach bungalows and a private beach. Cottages are good as per standards. You will get some service there which you must not expect in a small island like Agatti. SeaShell Resort is also quite good.

Your Des-T-Nation

2012-02-12T20:11:00.000+05:30

Des-T-Nation Inc. India is not an organization; it is not a business establishment or not a travel agency. This is a dream child of couple of people who love to travel, or rather who love to travel in India. Here we will not promote any tour or travel operator, we will promote India’s natural beauties and its vastness. From Hills to Sea, from greenery to desert, from lagoon to backwater India has everything. There are still many yet to be explored places in India, so why not explore them.

Recent market trends reflect that we are more going outside of India for a holiday. Why not here in India? India has everything so why to fly abroad?

We, Des-T-Nation Inc. India will try to promote tourism of India in this blog. We with our limited scope and resource will try to give information about some places in India, which can include a much known place or a yet to be fully explored place in India.

Please note that this is our first blog writing, so we welcome all the suggestions, criticisms and feedback.

Our journey will start from smallest Union territory of India, Lakshadweep (or Laccadive).