The Ashram - our stay

The Evening:…..Hitting back to MG Road back to where the car was parked, we drove to the place where we were going to stay. Just a few kilometers along the ECR and after crossing the Pondy-Tamil Nadu border, we reached the place. It was kind of an ashram for the Jains but also offered accommodation for other people as was apparent from a signboard which said some hotel name. I am not able to recall the hotel name though now. We were to stay in a large hall on the first floor. Later we came to know that the hall was an art gallery or workshop. There weren’t any bed or such. This was “not” a great accommodation, but was kind of different and we liked it. The “Ashram” as we called it was a place for art (paintings). There were loads of books on art in the library which was in fact also in the hall where were to stay. Apart from that, a large dining table with few chairs and a heavy study table were the only furniture there. There were a couple of large paintings towards the long end of the hall and just a sink at the other end. One or two Ashram guys came and set up four beds on the floor for four of us. There was however one problem. There wasn’t any scope of privacy; there being no curtains over the large windows. We lived with that, whatsoever. In spite of all these, we were charged a decent amount as in any other hotel for our stay. New Year bonanza!

Downstairs was a nice restaurant managed by the ashram itself. From the first floor, the place looked very neat. There was a small open area in between all the constructions with a medium sized tree with nicely constructed base around it for people to sit around. It was like a garden with small shrubs and bushes here and there. It made a nice landscape though being a small area. While there was the compound wall on one side of the open space, on one end of it was the restaurant while in the opposite side there was a small statue of Lord Krishna with focus lights to keep it illuminated during the night. The end opposite to the compound wall was the art museum.

We got fresh and spent sufficient time relaxing and it was now time to satisfy our tummies. We all went to the restaurant downstairs. This being a Jain ashram, there were only veg items available. The restaurant also had its unique appeal. There were perfumed candles on one end of it for sale. This, along with the beautiful lightings created a pleasant environment in it. After the dinner all of us were too worn out to go out. One of us got a vodka bottle. Drinks were of course prohibited there but we had it camouflaged it in a 2 ltr sprite bottle back in our so called room – the art gallery.

Technorati Tags: Pondicherry, Puducherry, Pondy

First day evening time

Place to Stay…… There was already a large crowd of people from different places who had flocked in for the New Year like us by evening. Done with the relaxing, R and J inquired about hotels and luckily got an autorickshaw driver who knew a few hotels. Usually most such drivers would have knowledge of accommodation for tourists. So those two went with the driver, while I and P walked along the rocks and explored a bit of the shore.

We clicked some snaps with the sea waves rising to as high as 7-8 feet when struck on the sharp rocks. The rocks are so sharp and slippery near the sea due to the continuous striking by the sea waves that one has to be very careful when exploring that area. P had never seen any sea or Ocean before and so here he was completely enjoying the Arabian Sea and its breeze.

We then walked along the street Goubert Avenue which goes along the shore. The whole landscape was filled with families, kids and boyfriends-girlfriends. It was just a place to sit and feel the breeze. Apart from watching the ships and boats in the distance, it was only about gazing at the horizon as far as possible. There was the crowd almost along the full stretch of the shore. To break out, I and P went in one of the lanes.

There was the Aurobindo Museum just a few footsteps away and there was a moderate crowd here too. The museum was basically the showplace of the life and work of Sri Aurobindo who had settled in Pondicherry when he was released from jail during the independence time. Both of us were curious to see inside. The shoes had to be removed outside and then we were in
queue to go in to take the museum tour. All had to keep silence and there was strictly no photography allowed inside. We toured around the rooms which had books, paintings and other such antique items for display. At the center of the building was a tomb. Around that we saw few aged and middle aged men and women praying and sitting in a Samadhi. It was surprising to see few of them even weeping. I didn’t know why and didn’t bother as well. The tour included walking around the tomb and then it was over. The museum wasn’t much large. It wasn’t much appealing for us as well. May be we were too young to appreciate the peace and calm nature inside. Within 15 minutes we came out and again put our shoes on. We went back towards the shore and waited for the other two to return.

Those two were back in less than an hour. That itself was too long for a place like this. They had reserved a hotel a bit far towards the north. That was good news.

We four then walked along the Goubert Avenue from the French War Memorial to Place de la Republique where there was a life size statue of Gandhiji. This place was filled with lots of kids who were playing with the slopes along the pedestal of the statue. It was sheer fun for the jovial kids. Around the statue were eight tall pillars. This brought a wonderful look to the whole landscape. A few steps ahead was a small park.

French War Memorial

Place de la Republique

After seeing this bit of the place, we decided to go to the hotel. We needed some rest and loads of food for sure.

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New Year at Pondicherry Day 1

Day 1-: Reaching there ......

Though its been eleven months we did this trip, I thought it would be great to jot it down as another new year is ahead. This was the new year 2006 break. With no plans towards the end of the week, which also turned out to be the last weekend of the year, there happened to be an instant plan on Friday after returning from office late. Jitumon was going with Randeep and Premjit to pondy for 3 days. From my companies side a trip to Nandi Hills was planned but got cancelled that evening itself. I was free and so I also jumped in. Earlier, for Diwali also we same guys had planned for this but it didn’t visualize. At that moment, 2006 happened to end with instant decisions.

30 dec ’06. We had to wake up early as we had planned to start from Bangalore by 7 to 8 AM. After packing with few necessary items in my backpack soon I and J were off to Silk Board junction which was our meeting place. R was waiting for us and P, taking the wheels in his dad’s Maruti Zen. By 8:10 we started our engine and we swept along the Hosur Road. Money was an important aspect for unplanned tours like this and so we halted at Electronics City where two of us loaded the purse with some cash. Cruising ahead, we reached a toll road after which for the next 30 kms it was a smooth ride. On the way we stopped for breakfast at A1 Plaza, a restaurant maintained by the Reliance group.

But smooth rides do not last long. On the way just before reaching the Krishnagiri hills, we detoured planning to go and visit a fort that was on a different track. It was P who willed to go to the vellore Fort. Thanks to the Bangalore Weekends book I took with me. I also took the Pondy map for reference. But on the way, we missed track and came back to the road to Pondy. Destiny had only that as our New Year destination I suppose. Once crossing the rocky hills while entering Krishnagiri, the road had all the pits and humps that a typical Indian asphalted road has. It was like torture to the car but then, the same car had crossed many road miles in Assam which are worse than this. But somewhere in between the road was worse. We were going fast when suddenly a hump appeared and we saw the registration plate fly past the windscreen. R pulled over. There weren’t any mechanic nearby. We found some discarded wires in the car and used that to tie the plate.

Next few kilometers went smooth. There was Kamelot playing in the background and the serene beauty. What a combination! Then we reached this place. Just beside the highway, we noticed a lovely landscape with still water, plain land and a flock of cranes sitting on the branches of the trees nearby. It was very soothing and refreshing. We halted here and relaxed. It was mainly for R, who was driving constantly and needed a break. We then moved ahead and by afternoon reached a populated city – Villupuram or somewhere around that. This appeared a very crowded place. We noticed that there was a wonderful temple in the city and planned to visit while returning. We halted here for lunch and filled our tummies. After this, we didn’t stop for anything.

Before coming, we hadn’t booked any hotel for staying at Pondy. When we felt we were near, I made some futile calls to few hotels for accommodation. All were filled. But still we hoped that would be arrangements in some form and proceeded ahead. By 3 or 4 PM, R pulled over the car and parked on the busy MG Road. We walked through the city inquiring for accommodation. There was one right in the middle of the city but we didn’t like it and went towards the beach.

Evening at the rocky sea shore

I saw the rocky shore for the first time and it didn’t quite impress me. Yet I enjoyed the wind blowing past the shore. Finally we were in that union territory of India which was once the original French headquarter in India – Pondicherry. We four sat on the rocks and relaxed again. There was one little problem none of us overlooked yet. We needed a place to sleep!

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