Planned for a short day trip to Pudhucherry over the weekend as a getaway. On a lazy morning left Chennai by 7:30 AM on the ECR. Around 9:30 AM had a breakfast stopover at Saravana hotel near Marakanam. But for that we had a continuous drive with not much traffic and good road to support till Puducherry.
We went straight to Aurobindo Ashram. Leaving our foot wear in the opposite stall we had to switch off our mobile phones before entering the ashram. Due to renovation work, there are enough restrictions inside. After offering our prayers to the Mother we are allowed to sit around for sometime in meditation. As the Ashram closes by 12:30 PM there visitors were slowly decreasing.
Our next place was the Manakula Vinayagar temple. This was crowded with devotees but we were able to get the darshan of Vinayagar in silver kappu in some time as the queue started moving fast. The adjoining class of young kids were praying Vinayaga in Sanskrit slokas, proving a positive vibe to the whole atmosphere. Once seated after offering our prayer, we were gladly invited for prasadams. Hot pongal prasadam from the Lord filled in stomach even before we felt hungry for lunch. This is a old temple but has under gone modernisation. Several Vinayaga's painting adorn the temple walls. Murugar resides here with his brother and Siva his father in the form of Spadiga Lingam. Outside the temple are shops with souvenirs.
From the temple we slowly walked towards the beach. The beach which looked deserted from the road, actually had lot of visitors we noticed on getting into the sands. On a hot day the icy chill ocean waves just cooled us in seconds. It just felt like heaven standing before the waves on a sultry day. Could see many of them collecting shells as the waves washed over the shores. Unlike the Marina its a very short distance from the ocean to the road. The famous icon of Puducherry - Gandhi Statue also is very near by followed by a small light house. The government offices of Puducherry - the Secretariat is just opposite to the beach.
We had some refreshments near the main road after out tryst with the beach. There are numerous stalls around due to the proximity to the office so we can have whatever food one craves for from tea, coffee, snacks to cool drinks and tender coconuts. From here we roamed across the streets to a feeler of the French architecture - the huge door and windows are a mark of it. The French names of the streets and their translations are not to be missed. Most of the buildings in this area stand testimony to the earlier French colonialism. All along the way you could see foreign faces and many north Indians - particularly Bengalis. Puducherry is truly cosmopolitan.
On reaching the car we next wanted to visit ISKCON but were told it has been recently shifted. To avoid the search we skipped it and went to Sacred hearts church. As a marriage team was just moving the church was sparsely crowded giving has enough time to pray to the Almighty. This an old church with ancient style glass windows and roof. There is Kodi maran outside the church and with in the church campus.
From here we drove towards Auroville, while were told technically falls to the other side of the border and hence its in TamilNadu and not Puducherry. A few kilometres from the highway lies Auroville. There are boutiques, restaurant and an information centre before we could actually get to the Matri Mandir where the mediation happens. The restaurant here offer organic food starting from refreshments to meals. The boutiques are stocked up with items mostly done in house with materials available here. In the information centre one can read about the existence and foundation of Auroville and get a pass that will get us to the view point to the Matri Mandir. To get in to the Mandir one will have to register for the first time in person for meditation and can follow up future visits online. With the pass we have to walk for a kilometre to reach the view point and are brought back in bus by the Ashram.
Had tea and snacks in the restaurant before we started our on to ward journey back to Chennai. It was just the getaway we wanted. Until we escape again its by to Pondy :)
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