Pondichery, INDIA
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Pondicherry is a paradise for surfers, a haven for the spiritual-minded, a hideaway for bohemians and a canvas for photographers. But further out from the eye-candy architecture and unspoilt beaches, lies a lesser-known gem that takes you by surprise. A short drive away stands one of the finest forts of India, Gingee, famously tagged by the Maratha King Shivaji as the ‘most impregnable fortress in India’ and by the British as the ‘Troy of the East’. Explore the massive ruins that sprawl over three hills and backtrack to the days of yore in this historic day tour from Pondicherry.
One of the lesser-known gems and a treat for ruin hunters is Gingee (from Senji meaning ‘Red Hills’ in Tamil) Fort. Counted among the finest forts in the country, Gingee is a trio of hilltop citadels, narrating the legacy of a powerful medieval empire. Under the Vijaynagara rulers, Gingee is said to have been the third most important city after Hampi and Madurai. The fort makes for an ideal side trip as it is located at a distance of just 60 kilometres from Pondicherry. No holiday to India is complete without a tryst with history, is it?
Even from the battered remains of the Gingee Fort, you can easily visualise a formidable citadel built over three hillocks, Krishnagiri, Rajagiri and Chandrayandurg. Prison cells, granaries, a temple dedicated to the Goddess Chenjiamman and a seven-storeyed marriage hall are some of the remarkable elements in the Fort. Your tour guide will narrate trivia of the timeline and historical events relating to the ancient fort dating back to the 9th-century.
Piece together the jigsaw in your mind’s eye and imagine the era when the site was a stronghold of the Cholas to the period of its zenith during the Vijaynagara Empire. An impregnable citadel, surrounded by high walls, a triple gate and guarded courts would have made Rajagiri a pipe dream for even the most indomitable of enemies.
Transport: Private Car 
Activity level: High
Accessible to wheel chair: Yes 
Kid friendly: Yes 
Languages: English and Local Language 
Inclusions: Guide / storyteller (English / French) / 1 Water bottle / Tea or coffee / Transfers / Entrance tickets / parking / driver beta / driver food / toll 
Exclusions: Personal Expenses and Souvenir. 
Gratuities: Not included in tour cost;payable at guest's discretion 
Meet up location: Hotel Pick Up 
End of tour location: Hotel Drop Off Duration: 6 Hours Price: upto 2 adults ₹4560 | Price upto 2 adults | : ₹4,560 |
| 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!