Serenity Beach, Pondicherry

"Serenity Beach or Pondicherry Beach is a 1.5 km long, rocky shoreline. This beach is ten-minute drive to the north of the town. Just opposite the turn towards Auroville, is a dirt road that leads to the beach.

Some of the bloodiest Anglo-French battles were fought on these sands.

Today, however, this beach is ideal for a calm (or romantic) stroll. The ambience is great and does justice to its name. Serenity Beach is ideal for a quick dip and for sun bathing. Or one can just sit on the parapet by the sea (or on one of the rocks) and gaze out at the rolling waves for hours and hours, or watch fishermen at work, or just enjoy the sea-spray.

Goubert Avenue, which runs along the beach, is sprinkled with a number of monuments and memorials. The most imposing among them would be the huge, impressive statue of Mahatma Gandhi, which stands on the seafront, surrounded by eight beautifully carved pillars.

Right opposite the statue is the French War Memorial, built in honour of the soldiers who were killed in the First World War.

Next to the French War Memorial, in the Place du Gouvernement, is the 29m-tall Old Lighthouse.It was first lighted on 1st July, 1836. In 1931, a revolving lantern replaced the old fixed lamp that had been used till then. It is said that the beacon could be seen from a distance of up to 29km away. This lighthouse was later abandoned, after the commissioning of the new one in 1979.

Further south, at the end of Goubert Avenue, lies the Children's Park. At the northern end of Goubert Avenue lies the Indian War Memorial, a helmet perched on a rifle, flanked by tall pillars on four sides, This memorial was erected by the Government of Pondicherry in memory of the Indian soldiers who laid down their lives for the country.

The Pondicherry beach surely is a lovely place to visit in the evenings too. Goubert Avenue is quite well-lit, and the whole place is a lot more serene than it usually is in the day.

Serenity Beach is a must visit place in Pondicherry. One may not be able to enjoy a good swim in the sea, but it still is a wonderful place.