“I am going to Pondicherry to surf “, said my friend. Being an adventure lover, I got excited. Cut to – after a week we land in Pondicherry. So from chennai airport , Pondicherry is a five hour drive and on the way we stopped by at Mahabalipuram .Worth the stop .
We reached pondicherry and checked in our hotel with a beach view. Enrolled at @kallialay_surf_school which was on serenity beach. On our first day at the surfing school we practiced the basics of surfing on land like lying down on the surfboard , the leg and hand movements that would help us get up on the board and finally the stance we needed to take to balance ourselves on the surfboard. Next, we had to implement that on the water. All I could manage on the first day was lying on my body on the centre of the surf board. Every attempt I made to get up, ended with me falling into the rough, salty water. After every round, we had to carry our surfboards and walk away from the shore into the water. And start again. And fall again. I wondered if it was meant for me. However I decided to go for another session and today was my second day at surfing. We got some tips from my instructor as to how to get up in a swift manner. I tried to implement that on water, but failed . Every time I was ready, I would hear my instructor @samai_de_kallialay motivate me by saying “up” “up” “up” until finally, in one of the attempts I managed to get up on the surfboard. Though I am no where closer to the ideal way of doing it, there was a small progress, which is important. The mantra is to never give up, no matter what the odds are. If you get tired, learn to rest. Not to quit- Banksy
So after two days of staying at Serenity beach where the surfing school was, we decided to shift to the white town . Shops and restaurants were open till late night and the streets were bustling with people , well lit restaurants, cool breeze . In short it was more happening!
My love for cycling made me take up a cycle tour in the white town. I must say it’s one of the best ways to explore a town. So I enrolled for one at the SITA cultural center. I met my guide Manisha at 7 am . Manisha, an extremely active and knowledgeable lady, began giving me an overview about the city, and it turns out that she knows bengali. So throughout the cycling trip we spoke in Bangla. Manisha would stop by the significant structures and monuments and explain the history behind them. And on my request she was sweet enough to click pictures and videos as well. Interestingly Pondicherry is broadly divided into black town (Tamilian colony ) and white town ( French colony). The city has a blend of traditional Tamilian architecture houses and the French architecture houses. Some houses have a mix of both.
The cycle tour around white town was the best part of my Pondicherry trip , discovering and knowing more about this architectural marvel was a pleasant surprise.
Yes! I am talking about Golconde Ashram- The First Modernist Building in India, which was built during 1937-45 to house the disciples of the spiritual guru Sri Aurobindo. It was designed by Tokyo-based Czech architect Antonin Raymond. It’s the first reinforced concrete construction in India, beautifully aligned to the tropical climate. The most remarkable feature of the building is that the entire length, on the front façade and back wall, is fitted with louvers made of concrete that can be opened and shut as per the weather . Operable louvers and sliding teak doors allowed for the flow of breeze and privacy for the residents. Every room size is identical and has wooden doors with a tiny lotus symbol engraved on it. Golconde’s straight lines and concrete form work was considered radical and experimental during those times. The woodwork, spare interiors are furnished with pieces designed by George Nakashima. Workshops were set up to custom-make fittings specifically for Golconde. The rooms had a minimalist approach consisting mostly of a bed, desk and closet. The interiors emphasize open spaces and the humanistic character of natural materials. It was a building before its time. The space was built not just to house the disciples of spiritual guru Sri Aurobindo but also to enhance their meditative experience. Golconde emerges as an example of an architecture that makes you more aware of your body, your movements, and thoughts. In the body of a building, it is possible to experience a spiritual moment.
Most of my time in Pondicherry was spent walking down the streets and eating all types of cuisine, especially at my favorite restaurant – the Coromandel cafe. Well a few unusual/ interesting things I did was Driving an ATV Quad bike , riding a cycle rickshaw and attempting to ride a solar bike, and visiting auroville. Overall an enlightening , fun and adventurous trip. Thanks to my friend who said “I am going to Pondicherry to surf “!
