INDIALINE
Complete India Travel Guide

Pondicherry Day Trips

Mahabalipuram

98 kms. Nestling along the Bay of Bengal, Mahabalipuram  (Mamallapuram) was a 7th century port of the pallava kings. The cave temples here were carved out of a granite hill mostly between the 5th and 8th centuries, Besides, you also will find the famous Shore Temple to the east and the Chariot Temples to the south.

Chidambaram

74 kms from Pondichenoy and 65 kms from Karaikal. The Nataraja Temple located at the centre of the town, sprawls over an are of 40 acres. With the roof of the Sanctum Sanctorum covered wit II gold plates. The presiding deity is represented by air -known as Akaasa Linga.

Pitchavaram

7kms. You can choose your picnic spot within thousands of acres of lush mangrove forests. A number of backwater canals criss-cross the area forming several islands.

Kancheepuram

130 kms. A temple town with a history dating back to 23 centuries, Kancheepuram is called "The City of Thousand Temples". The Ekambareswaran Temple said to be the largest Siva temple has a 1000 pillared hall and one of the tallest gopurams (185 m) in South  India. Today, the town is perhaps more widely known for its1ovely silks.

Tiruvannamalai

105 kms. The Arunachaleswara Temple, a renowned Siva Temple, is situated at the foot of a hill here. The ashram of Sri Ramana Maharishi is only 3kms from this temple.

Gingee

75 kms. Gingee, one of the finest forts in India, is built on 7 hills and still houses several interesting structures.

Local Travel Agents

AGS Travels: (0413) 341446, Amsam Travels :(0413)338513, .Auro Travels:(0413) 359056 Balaji Travels: (0413)335062,Hindustan Travels: (0413)337353, Sindu Cabs : (0413)237953, Universal  Travels : (0413)331639, Vijay Tourist Cabs: (041})341363.

From  Karaikal

Tharangambadi

12kms. AIso known as Tranquebar, this  former Danish settlement, contains the fairy tale-like remains of a 400-year-old fort on the seashore.

Poompuhar

35 kms. On confluence of River Cauvery  with the Bay of Bengal, lies this ancient historic port city of  the Chola dynasty. Also known as Kaveripoompattinam.

Velankanni

29 kms. The healing powers associated with the Basilica of Our Lady of Health here,draws pilgrims across an religions and faiths.

Kumbakonam

60 kms. Famous for the Sarangapani, the Kubereshwara, the Nageswara and the Ramaswamy temples. The Mahamagam congregation takes place once in 12 years.

Thanjavur

100 kms. Thanjavur rose to glory as a centre of learning and culture during the Chola reign between the 10th and the 14thcenturies.Renowned for its 11th century Brihadeswara temple, the finest of its kind in South India. Moreover, the Fort Serfoji Museum holds the richest collection of Chola bronzes.

Nagore

12 kms.  The Hazrat Meeran Sultan Sayed Shahabdul Hameed Dargah, attracts devout Muslims from far and wide. Local travel agents: Paris Travel : (04368) 22667, Shameem cabs : (04368) 21199