Activities in Northern Tamil Nadu
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French Quarter
The best way to see the slightly tattered heritage buildings and broad streets of the French Quarter (bounded roughly by NSC Bose St, SV Patel Rd and Goubert Ave) is to take Puducherry's heritage walk. Start at the north end of Goubert Ave, the seafront promenade, and wander south, past the French consulate and the Gandhi Statue.
Turn right at the town hall on Rue Mahe Labourdonnais, past the shady Bharathi Park. From there it's a matter of pottering south through Dumas, Romain Rolland and Suffren Sts. Focus Books sells heritage walking trail brochures.
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Sightseeing Tours
The Puducherry tourist office runs half-day sightseeing tours that take you to the water sports complex at Chunnambar, Hanuman temple, Auroville and Sri Aurobindo Ashram. Full-day tours cover the same area plus the botanical gardens, paper factory, sacred Heart Church and a couple of Hindu temples; both tours need a minimum of six people to operate.
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Jayalakshmi Fine Arts Academy
Jayalakshmi Fine Arts Academy is an established place with classes in bharatanatyam (dance), singing, veena (Indian stringed instrument), tabla (drums) and a range of other musical instruments. Private tuition fees start at Rs200 per hour for a minimum of five hours, and there’s a one-off registration fee (Rs350).
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Krishna
There are numerous places offering massage, reiki, yoga and ayurvedic practices. Sessions cost around Rs350 for 30 to 45 minutes. Krishna is recommended by both male and female travellers, as is Kamaraj Ayurvedic, which can be contacted through Moonrakers restaurant.
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Hi!Tours
Hi!Tours runs bicycle tours to sights like the Tiger Cave. Tours run from 8am to 2pm and include guide and lunch. Hi! Tours also organises day trips to Kanchipuram and Vedantangal Bird Sanctuary.
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MGM Dizzee World
You can ditch the inimitable cultural heritage of one of India’s oldest states for a day at one of India’s largest amusement parks, MGM Dizzee World, just north of the Crocodile Bank.
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Sri Aurobindo Handmade Paper Factory
Fine handmade paper is sold here, and you can ask at the counter about tours of the factory. There’s a wider choice of goods at Auroboutique near the ashram; all sales support ashram work.
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International Centre for Yoga Education & Research
Also known as the Ananda Ashram, this renowned centre conducts annual six-month yoga teacher-training courses and 10-day summer courses.
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Ayurvedic Holistic Healing Centre
Performs detox services, back procedures, varna point massage, skin treatment and offers ayurvedic massages and yoga courses.
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Sri Chakra
Sri Chakra offers ayurvedic massage as well as yoga sessions (Rs150) at 7am.
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Prana Ayurvedic Massage
Ayurvedic massage, steam bath and yoga classes. Inquire at Satsanga restaurant.
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Kamaraj Ayurvedic
Kamaraj Ayurvedic massage can be contacted through Moonrakers restaurant.
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