Pondichery, INDIA
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Bursting with French colonial influences and a thriving Tamil culture, Pondicherry is a place that urges you to slow down and question the hectic pace of life you have trapped yourself into. Roam the cobbled streets, be inspired by the saintly Sri Aurobindo, gawk at porticoed residences of the Tamil Quarter, and hang out in tree-shaded alfresco cafes. Then go beyond the obvious and track down the historical monuments of Pondy with an extensive walking tour that speak volumes about a colonial past.
Pondicherry’s French Town lures visitors with streets of cheerfully painted colonial villas, featuring tiled roofs, iron grilles, louvred windows and shady gardens. But there is more to the history of Pondy than pretty homes in idyllic streets. Stories of battles and warfare are immortalised in an assortment of memorials and heritage structures that lie scattered around the area. Peel away the layers of time as you explore the various monuments of Pondicherry during a trip to India.
During the day tour, you will come across the Palais Du Government, the old tribunals and Raj Nivas (official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Pondicherry). The statue of Governor-General Marquis Joseph Francois Dupleix, reminds of the era of French rule, as does the French War Memorial, erected in honour of the martyrs of the First World War.
Several churches dot Pondy, but none is as graceful as the Notre-Dame inspired Eglise de Notre Dame des Anges. Spend time admiring the original Greco-Roman structure, intricate gables, fine stained glass windows, and an imposing statue of Joan of Arc. At a park nearby, you may notice locals playing the game of petanque, another delightful French hangover from colonial times.
One of the most interesting landmarks is Aayi Mandapam, which forms a part of the official logo of Pondicherry. Keep your eyeballs on the monument while you hear the curious story of a courtesan and a king.
You will also visit the Old Lighthouse at the waterfront promenade, dating from the early 19th-century, which can be seen up to a distance of 29 kilometres from the sea. Return at sunset for a silhouette shot of the structure against the pink-orange splattered sky and declare that lighthouses are beauties forever.
Transport: Private Walking Tour 
Activity level: Moderate
Accessible to wheel chair: Yes 
Kid friendly: Yes 
Languages: English and Local Language 
Inclusions: Story teller (French / English) / 1 mini water bottle / 1 tea or coffee 
Exclusions: Food / Hotel transfer 
Gratuities: Not included in tour cost;payable at guest's discretion 
Meet up location: Childrens Park - Dupleix Statue (beach front ) 
End of tour location: Le Café ( Beach Road ) Duration: 1 Hour Price: upto 2 adults ₹3000 | Price upto 2 adults | : ₹3,000 |
| Children | : Complimentary for children below 10 years |
25% of the total cost will be charged, if cancelled 15 to 10 days prior to the tour date.
50% of the total cost will be charged, if cancelled 9 to 5 days prior to the tour date.
No refund if cancelled less than 5 days prior to the tour date.
For group size more than 4 adults, write to us at info@footprintholidays.com
We can arrange other language speaking guides based on your request and availability
The tour can be customised to suit your needs like change of time, change of pick-up point, etc. You can write to us to info@footprintholidays.com customise your tour as per your preferences.
I will begin by saying that I had a FANTASTIC time in India. It was one of the best trips I've ever taken and I'm truly looking forward to hopefully having you book other trips for me in India.
I must say everything was planned to perfection. Each guide in every city was knowledgeable; especially the guide you arranged for us in Udaipur. We really enjoyed getting to know our guides Musheer and Kishore. We experienced the real India and appreciated the detailed itinerary your team created for us. The hotels were fantastic! In every hotel, the chef paid us a visit to make sure that we had meals suitable for us. We also enjoyed all the extra shopping excursions that were suggested.
The trip was a mega success and your team did a great job. Thanks to Footprint for everything. The entire family had a great time! The exclusive kalaripayattu demonstration was absolutely engaging and we loved every bit of the special private stand-up by Alex Babu (of Alex in Wonderland fame).
Thank you for a great trip! We especially enjoyed driving through the desertland into Jaisalmer; we also thoroughly enjoyed Bikaner, its Havelis and the Fort. Catching the daily life in Mumbai was a unique and eye-opening experience! All the hotels chosen are excellent with wonderful staff. Thank you!
Thank you for a wonderful trip to Kerala. We loved the village life walk and Fort Cochin walk. The backwater cruise in a traditional country boat was an incredible experience. A meal with the local family, living on an island in the backwaters, offered us an excellent opportunity to interact, learn and share. We loved every minute of our holiday! Thanks!
As a solo traveller, I felt safe and was exceptionally well taken care of. The cooking class in Jaipur was extremely enjoyable. The food, chef, and his wife were all exceptional and made for a lovely evening. Also, our expectations were definitely exceeded at a private residence, spending time with the elephants and lunching. Thanks!!
I loved India and thank you very much for arranging everything. It was a fabulous trip. Big kudos to you and your team. The tour guides and drivers were excellent. I loved the artisan walk, discovering the artistic treasures of Udaipur, meeting local potters and painters.
Thanks for arranging everything to precision – it was super smooth and we had a very good darshan!
Thanks for organising a great trip to Lucknow and Varanasi. The hotels at both the places were excellent; we had a great guide in Varanasi who went beyond the designated tour route and showed us around. The food tour in Lucknow was amazing and re-discovering the Awadhi Cuisine was a great experience – the kebabs were out of the world!
It was a terrific experience to spot the King of the jungle in all their glory at Gir. We had a very good experience overall.
It was a perfect leisure getaway – thanks for organising this! We loved the French Connection Trail; the guide took us through the French quarter sharing some incredible stories from the colonisation. We enjoyed the hotel and the service!