Bike Travel

The best place for an long ride in bike is Pondicherry.

Pondicherry is a city, an urban agglomeration and a municipality in Pondicherry district in the Indian union territory of Puducherry. It is affectionately known as Pondy, and has been officially known by the alternative name Puducherry since 2006.

The distance from Chennai to Pondicherry is 169 Kms. It is an Beautiful place like

• Sri Aurobindo Ashram: ,A spiritual community established at Pondicherry by Sri Aurobindo Ghosh on November 24th 1926. The ashram has since become one of the prime destinations for tourists and spiritual seekers. The chief aims and ideals of the ashrams are based on the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and Mira Alfassa. The ashram contains several offices, a library, a printing press, playground, art gallery, a dispensary/nursing home, dairy, farms, guest houses, bakery etc. the main building in the establishment are the marble Samadhi which is the resting place of Sri Aurobindo and Mira Alfassa. The visiting hours are from 8 am to 12 noon and from 2 pm to 6 pm.
  

  Sri Aurobindo Ashram

• Auroville: With its name meaning ‘The City of Dawn’ is a township located 8 kilometers from Pondicherry. It was founded in 1968 by Sri Aurobindo and Mira Alfassa and was designed by the French architect Roger Anger. The idea was to create a universal town where people from all over the world would live in harmony and peace irrespective of caste, color, nationalities etc. During the inauguration soil from around 124 was placed in a lotus shaped urn to symbolize the idea behind the establishment of the township. The middle of the town is crowned by a temple which symbolizes the universal mother and is called ‘Matrimandir’. Today a population of 2,007 people houses the colony from over 44 different countries.
  

  Auroville

• Immaculate Conception Cathedral: Consecrated in 1791, the 300 year old church is the cathedral for the Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore. The Immaculate Conception Cathedral as we see today was built on the place where three other churches were built before the French occupation of Pondicherry. The construction started in 1791 and further improvements were made to the building till 1987. The feast of the church is celebrated on the 8th of December every year. The church was also visited by Mother Teresa and is one of the oldest churches in Puducherry. It is also known by the locals as ‘Samba Kovil’.
  

  Immaculate Church

• Ousteri Wetland and National Park: Located on the Pondicherry-Villuppuram road at a distance of 10 kilometers from the town of Pondicherry, the Ousteri Wetland and National Park covers an area of around 3.9 sq kilometers. Geographically the place lies in the territory of both Puducherry and Tamil Nadu. The place is home to a huge variety of aqua-fauna and avi-fauna. The place is frequented by several tourists because of the house boat services offered here. The several unique species of trees and herbs here attract a huge number of migratory birds and has become an important ecological niche in the south Indian region. The various birds and aquatic species found here make it a photographer’s delight and is a must visit for a shutterbug.
  

  Ousteri Park

• Promenade beach: About 1.5 long, the Promenade beach is one of the main beaches in Puducherry. The walk is characterized by various landmarks and statues including the statue of Joan of Arc, the Heritage town hall, Dupleix statue, the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, the old light house etc. if you need a calm and quaint place perfect for an evening stroll, this is a place you want to be at. The sea breeze and the sights and sounds work as a relaxing potion on your min. The beach is a recommended visit which is devoid of the hustle of the city streets. There is also a well established tourist center where you can get some extra information about the town of Pondicherry.
  

  Promenade Beach

• Basilica Of The Sacred Heart Of Jesus: Located at the south boulevard, the Basilica Of The Sacred Heart Of Jesus was consecrated on December 17th, 1907. The building is a fine specimen of gothic style architecture and has become a famous pilgrimage spot for the Christians in India. The structure of this church is 50 meters long, 48 meters wide and 18 meters high and is held by 24 columns. The windows are adorned with stained glass paintings of 28 saints who were devoted to the sacred heart of Jesus. The church premise also has a grotto dedicated to our lady of Lourdes, a parish hall and an adoration chapel. The church was fully renovated and restored in 2005 giving it its current look, however only minor physical changes were made to the structure.
• Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple: Located on M.G. road, Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple is considered to be the oldest Hindu temple in Pondicherry and dates back to 600 ad. The temple is built in Dravidian style of architecture evident by its sculpted pillars and a brightly colored gopuram adrorned with the sculptures of the Hindu Gods and Goddesses. The temple is dedicated to Sri Varadaraja Perumal an incarnation of lord Vishnu. According to local legend the temple was originally supposed to house the idols of Lord Rama, Lakshamana, Sita and Lord Hanuman which were brought from the sea by the local fishermen. Right behind the temple there is a shrine dedicated to Lord Narsimha, another incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The temple is a famous pilgrimage spot for the Hindus in Pondicherry and south India.
  

  Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple

• Botanical Garden: Located south of the new bus stand in Pondicherry, the botanical garden was founded in 1826 and is another example of French influence in Pondicherry. The structure of the gate makes the whole place stand out in its otherwise Tamil town location. It was originally laid out in a typical French style garden, with gravel lined paths, pruned trees and fountains. The place features many different species of exotic plants and shrubs from all around the world. The place was turned into a botanical garden in 1931 by the French botanist and horticulturist George S. Perrottet. The garden also features a musical fountain which has two shows during evenings at the weekends.
  

  Botanical Garden

• French War Memorial: Located on the Goubert Avenue, the French war memorial was built in 1971 to commemorate the loss of the brave French soldiers during the First World War. Every year on Bastille Day (July 14th) the memorial is illuminated and pays homage to the soldiers. It is a must visit place for the tourists, especially when visited on Bastille Day as the commemoration ceremony is a marvelous sight to gander at and offers an amazingly pleasant experience.
  

  French Memorial

• Pondicherry Museum:  Located in Bharathi Park in the center of the town, Pondicherry museum houses various sculptures and other archeological findings from the Arikamedu Roman settlement which is an ancient port 7 kilometers from the city. The museum also boasts of its various rare statues and bronze sculptures which belong to the Chola and Pallava dynasties. One can also gather detailed knowledge about the history and French colonial details in this museum. A collection of snail shells, temple lamps and other handicrafts are also displayed in this museum and is a must visit.
  

  Pondicherry Museum

  Pondicherry is also a popular weekend destination for the neighboring cities of Chennai and Bangalore. One of the reason being the low taxations on liquor which makes alcoholic beverages cheaper in Pondicherry. Nevertheless tourist places in Pondicherry are a must visit place in every tourist’s itinerary.

Weekend Travel

The Place which can be visited on an Weekend is Vellore.

About Vellore

Vellore had the privilege of being the seat of the Pallava, Chola, Nayak, Maratha, Arcot Nawabs and Bijapur Sultan Kingdoms. It was described as the best and the strongest fortress in the Carnatic War in the 17th Century. It was witnessed the massacre of European soldier during the mutiny of 1806.

Vellore district lies between 12° 15’ to 13° 15’ North latitudes and 78° 20’ to 79° 50’ East longitudes in Tamilnadu State. The geographical area of this district is 6077 sq. k.m. The total population as per 1991 Census is 30,26,432.

Vellore District

Vellore is the Head-Quarters of Vellore District is well connected by Rail and bus routes to major towns of the neighboring states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala. The history of the District assumes a great significance and relevance, as we unfold the glorious past. The Monuments found in the district give a vivid picture of the town through the ages. In the 18th Century Vellore District was the scene of some of the decisive battles fought in Ambur 1749 A.D., Arcot 1751 A.D. and Vandavasi 1768 A.D. as a result of the long – drawn struggle between the English and the French for Supremacy.

One of the monuments of Vellore is the Fort. A very close examination of the stone inscriptions suggests that the Fort in all probability might have been built during the rule of Chinna Bommi Nayak (1526 to 1595 A.D.). The Fort is one of the most perfect speciments of Military architecture in South India. The Jalakandeswarar Temple inside the Fort is a very fine example of Vijayanagar architecture. The Kalyanamantap on the left of the entrance, with intricate carvings and delicacy of execution bears testimony to the engineering marvel and advanced state of sculpture of the times. Another landmark that has put Vellore on the Centre stage of Medical world is the Christian Medical College & Hospital.

The outstanding performance of this district in contributing to the Military service is commendable, as more and more men have enlisted themselves to the Military service, to serve the national indomitable spirit and courage. The clock tower in the long bazaar, Vellore was built in 1928 A.D.. A stone inscription in the building reads “VELLORE – FROM THIS VILLAGE 277 MEN WENT TO THE GREAT WAR 1914-18, OF THEM 14 GAVE UP THEIR LIVES” . This is a recorded testimony to the Vellore and Military prowess of men of this area.

Himalayas

The north face of Mount Everest seen from the path to the base camp in Tibet Autonomous Region, China

The Himalayas, or Himalaya, is a mountain range in South Asia which separates the Indo-Gangetic Plain from the Tibetan Plateau. This range is home to nine of the ten highest peaks on Earth, including the highest, Mount Everest. The Himalayas have profoundly shaped the cultures of South Asia. Many Himalayan peaks are sacred in both Buddhism and Hinduism

The Himalayas are bordered on the north by the Tibetan Plateau, on the south by the Indo-Gangetic Plain, on the northwest by the Karakoram and Hindu Kush ranges, and on the east by the Indian state of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh. The western anchor of the Himalayas — Nanga Parbat — lies just south of the northernmost bend of the Indus River, while the eastern anchor — Namcha Barwa — is situated just west of the great bend of the Yarlung Tsangpo River. The Himalayas span five countries: India, Nepal, Bhutan, China, and Pakistan, with the first three countries having sovereignty over most of the range.

The general location of the Himalayan range

Lifted by the collision of the Indian tectonic plate with the Eurasian Plate,the Himalayan range runs northwest to southeast in a 2,400 kilometres (1,500 mi) long arc. The range varies in width from 400 kilometres (250 mi) in the west to 150 kilometres (93 mi) in the east. Besides the Greater Himalayas, there are several parallel lower ranges. The southernmost of these, located along the northern edge of the Indian plains and reaching about a thousand meters in altitude, are called the Sivalik Hills. Further north is a higher range, reaching two to three thousand meters, known as the Lower Himalayan Range.

NASA Landsat-7 imagery of Himalayas

Three of the world’s major rivers — the Indus, the Ganges and the Brahmaputra — arise in the Himalayas. While the Indus and the Brahmaputra rise near Mount Kailash in Tibet, the Ganges rises in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. Their combined drainage basin is home to some 600 million people.