Bastille Day

• History
• Places to visit
• How to reach

Puducherry is an amazing inter-cultural travel getaway to explore in India. It is an amazing blend of the west and the east. And due to Puducherry’s historical French connections, various events and festivals like Bastille Day have become an integral part of its local traditions.

Historically speaking, Pondicherry or Puducherry was under the French dominance for around 300 years. This led to a concrete formation of French heritage in society. And this same heritage reflects in the local fairs and festivals celebrated in Puducherry.

Bastille Day, also known as the National Day of France or la Fête Nationale is considered as one of the primary festival-cum-events of Puducherry. On the eve of this event, retired soldiers engage themselves in a cheerful parade. The event is honoured with both Indian and French National Anthems. Bastille day 2020 will be observed on July 14.

History of Bastille Day

This day carries a great significance historically speaking, as it marked the beginning of a revolution that resulted in the complete destabilization of the French monarchy of King Louis XVI and his beloved wife Queen Marie Antoinette. 

The storming of the Bastille is considered as one of the major turning points in all of French history. On this day, in history, the people had stormed the prison of Bastille amid a political and economic crisis, fearful from the attack of the royal army. According to historical records, about 200 locals were killed on July 14, 1789. Today, the same place has a monument in remembrance of the people.

Major attractions of Bastille Day

Bastille Day is observed as a public holiday in Puducherry. One can expect to see an amazing combination of cheerful parades and fireworks. The soldiers wear their uniform and walk through the streets, honouring the martyrdom of the French soldiers who were killed during the storming of the prison. The French flag is also carried alongside the Indian flag depicting the cultural unity of the two nations.

How to Reach

Puducherry is a great combination of refreshing traditions and curious vibes. If you want to experience something extraordinary, then, perhaps it is time to plan a trip to Puducherry and explore its various attractions, out of which one such interesting event is Bastille day. Puducherry is situated at an approximate distance of 2,370, 1,834, 1,302, 312 km from Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Bengaluru respectively. Here is how you can travel to this city following the below-mentioned means of public transportation.

By Air. If planning a trip by flight, then you will need to deboard at the Puducherry airport. This airport has fairly good connectivity with other Indian cities. Many airlines like Spicejet, Air India and others operate to and fro Puducherry. Once you deboard at the airport, you will need to cover the remaining distance by some means of public transportation.

By Train. Puducherry has its own railway station which also happens to be one of the oldest stations in India. It is fairly well connected with nearby cities. Once you deboard at the station, take a cab or some other means of local transportation available, to continue your journey further. 

By Road. You can also consider travelling to Puducherry via motorable roads and national highways. For this, you can book interstate or private buses online as suitable according to your budget. Otherwise, you can also go with hiring a cab or driving your own vehicle to Puducherry as per your convenience.

You can plan your trip and create your own route to the city with Adotrip’s technically driven circuit planner. Click here