Drive from Pondicherry to Tada - 8th day of our 14 days long trip through east coast of India || Noida to Rameshwaram
On the 8th day of our 14-days-long trip from Noida to Rameshwaram and back via Eastern Ghats, we made one of the most intriguing stops. We will get to that, but let's start with the morning first.
We woke up while it was still dark(ish) and headed to the beach to view the sunrise. During our walk up to the beach we came across some really nice looking guest houses and homestays. In fact, there were many homestays right on the beach as well.
The beach was mostly empty. We found a handful of tourists enjoying the white sands and lapping waves. As the sun slowly emerged from the horizon, more and more people walked on to the beach. There were some tourists who were surfing. It was thrilling to watch them knowing that this was Bay of Bengal, one of India's most restless waterbodies. But that also means that it throws some really fantastic waves that are suitable for surfing.
After this we got ready and checked out of the hotel. We explored the French Town, the Promenade, the Sacred Heart Basilica, Pondicherry Museum, and Sri Aurobindo Asharam on foot. While walking we came across the Hope Cafe and its brilliant graffiti. That lured us in and we ended up having our breakfast there.
Then we drove on toward Auroville, which is a very interesting place. The vibe around the place is completely different from Pondicherry. It is right next to Pondicherry and as you get closer to it, you start observing some really cool eateries and shops and places where you can spend some good time with friends discussing the philosophies of life.
Inside Auroville, one can walk up to the Matrimandir (the golden domed temple), but unless you are an Aurovillian or an approved guest, you cannot go in. In order to get initiated you need to write to Auroville and need to be willing to explore spiritual research. It seemed like a great place to experience and is an experimental township run by Aurovillians who have come and made it their home. We found this place interesting and will definitely explore it more closely sometime in future.
Then we drove on to Pulicat, but discovered that there aren't many stay options there. So we searched for some hotels on the highway at Tada, found one that suited our requirements and budget. After checking in, we went for dinner at a nice little restaurant and had some really good biryani before turning in for the night.
%20to%20see%20the%20Danish%20fort%20in%20Tamilnadu%20state%20of%20India-3.jpg "Do you know about the 'Danish' Fort in India which is located at a beautiful location round the coast of Bay of Bengal?")
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