Rest of South India

One of the unique features of the union territory of Pondicherry is the Promanade. The Promanade Beach is one of the popular and most frequented Pondicherry beaches visited by the local people and the tourists alike.

The Promanade lies over a stretch of 1.5 kilometers or 1500 meters. On the southern end of the Promanade lies the statue of the most popular French Governor of the region, Monsieur Dupleix. Beyond the statue of the governor is the new pier that stretches along 284 meters. The port also stands near the coast. A 4.25 meters tall statue of Mahatma Gandhi stands on the Promanade facing the Gandhi Maidan which lies in the middle of the boulevard. The statue

is surrounded by eight tall monolithic structures. The Hotel de Ville and the Mairie now popularly referred to as the Town Hall also adorns the Promanade. War memorials stand erected on the Promanade to commemorate the death of the soldiers of the French army who sacrificed their lives in the First World War. The magnificent structures remind the tourists of the glorious colonial rule of the French in the region of Pondicherry.

An evening stroll along the shoreline of the Promanade Beach is a common phenomena among the residents of the region. The shell fragments deposited along the beach are collected and preserved by the children. The boulevard is the special feature of the region and is as popular as the marine drive in Mumbai. The tourists may reach the Promanade beach through the White Town in Pondicherry.