Pondichery

Arulmigu manakula vinayagar devasthanam :

Nestled in the heart of the city, Arulmigu Manakula Vinayagar Temple is one of the famous ancient temples in Puducherry that offers holy and divine vibes to the devotees of Lord Ganesha. Widely renowned for its significance, heritage, and culture, this temple is dedicated to Hindu community and has everything you need to take some time off from the busy routine life.

Tourists who visit Puducherry for a week or two should take some time off for this spiritual shrine at least once for sure. It is believed that the presiding deity, which is another form of Lord Ganesha, removes all the obstacles in your life and fulfills all your wishes if you worship him with full devotion and desire.

Aurobindo ashramam :

The Ashram is located in the eastern part of Pondicherry. Inmates live and work in a number of buildings spread throughout the area. The focus of community life is the Ashram main building, usually called simply “the Ashram”, which consists of an interconnected block of houses, including those in which Sri Aurobindo and the Mother lived for most of their lives. At its centre, in a tree-shaded courtyard, lies the Samadhi, a white marble shrine where their bodies are laid to rest.

The Ashram provides its members with all they need for a decent and healthy life. Various departments look after the basic requirements of food, clothing and shelter, as well as medical care. There are also libraries for study and facilities for a variety of cultural pursuits including music, dance, theatre, and the arts. Members regularly participate in physical education activities such as sports, asanas, strength training, and swimming.

The Ashram is administered by the Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust, a public charitable trust formed by the Mother in 1955. This trust is managed by a board of five trustees.

Rock beach :

Rock Beach, often referred to as the Promenade Beach or Pondicherry Beach is a beachfront located along the Bay of Bengal. The coastline of this beach is 1.5 km long and starts at the War Memorial built at the beginning of the beach, while ends at the Dupleix Park built at the Goubert Avenue. Unfortunately, this beach is not open for taking dips in the sea or any water sport activities, but many visit the place during sunrise and sunset for walking, jogging or taking a stroll.

The beach is clustered with tetrapods along the coastline, while a concrete pathway has been constructed which is flanked with cafes, restaurants and pubs. These restaurants serve various cuisines including French, Indian, Arabic and Chinese. Some of the places have live band performances that attract many tourists. The restaurants and pubs do not allow any customers after midnight and shut down before 1:00 AM.

Apart from restaurants, there are shopping boutiques that sell textile materials, home décor and souvenirs for you to take home. The various hotels built around the beach provide several stay-at options for foreigners and local travellers. There are no vehicles allowed on the concrete and paved path, but there is a parking space provided at the entrance where you can give a fee of NR 5 and let the watchman take care of your vehicle.One may encounter various hawkers and vendors selling balloons, neon bands and tiaras whose presence may be vexing. The beach is not as crowded on weekdays as it is on weekends.

Sacred basilica :

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a Roman Catholic Basilica situated on the South Boulevard of Pondicherry. It is one of the most famous landmarks of Pondicherry and among the most revered 21 other Basilicas in the country. It was built by French missionaries in 1908 and was conferred the status of Basilica in 2011. The church is made in Roman-Byzantine style and is believed to be the largest church in Puducherry.

Established by Rev. Fr. Telesphore Welter and Rev. Fr. Fourcaud, the church attracts Catholics from all across India. Pilgrims visit the Church during Christmas and other festive masses. Grand celebrations are organized on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Tourists also visit the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to witness its astounding Gothic architecture. It stands out among other churches of Puducherry for its architectural excellence with an imposing façade decorated with Corinthian columns.

Mahatma Gandhi statue :

The Mahatma Gandhi Statue in Pondicherry was installed to pay respect to the Father of the Nation. Perched on the Seaside Promenade, Mahatma Gandhi Statue is Asia’s tallest statue that attracts thousands of people every year due to its essence and is undeniably a prominent spot to visit on your Pondicherry tour.

History and Architecture of Mahatma Gandhi Statue, Puducherry
Dating its history back to the year 1965, the statue of Mahatma Gandhi was built by the renowned artist, Roy Choudhary, who studied in the Government College of Art and Crafts in Chennai, Madras.

Also considered as one of the major landmarks in Pondicherry, the prime highlight of this site is – it is surrounded by eight beautiful white carved pillars. All these pillars were exclusively brought from Gingee Fort, which is approximately 70 Km away from the heart of the city.

It took almost a year to complete the construction of this statue. And finally, on 26 January 1965, the statue was officially inaugurated and made open to the public.

Interesting Facts about Mahatma Gandhi Statue, Puducherry
The statue stands 13 feet high i.e., 4 meters in height.
It is placed directly opposite the Old Port Pier, which is a historic landmark in Pondicherry.
There is a tunnel underneath the statue that takes you directly to Gingee Fort. In the beginning, it was accessible to the public. But, after reporting a number of deaths in which many people lost their lives due to suffocation, the tunnel was closed for everyone.

Varadaraja perumal temple :

One of the oldest temples in Pondicherry is Varadharaja Perumal Temple. Dedicated to the Hindu community, the Varadharaja Perumal Temple offers holy and mystical vibes to the devotees of Lord Vishnu and boasts a kind of atmosphere that lets you forget everything about your day-to-day life for some time.

Venkatachalapathy is the principal deity here and behind his idol, one can also find the idol of Lord Narsimha, who is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu itself. The temple also provides a home to several other gods and goddesses including Lord Rama, Goddess Sita, Lord Lakshman, Sri Venugopala, Sri Santhanagopala, Lord Hanuman, and Lord Navaneetha Krishna.

Widely famous for adorning a great Dravidian style architecture, the Varadharaja Perumal Temple is a place where you can see several parents bringing their infant to feed him/her the first rice meal, also called Annaprasanam. It is generally believed that feeding the child in front of the lord would help the child grow better in life. Such is the trust of people over there. In addition to this, the temple is also considered famous for solving all the other problems related to marriage and children.

Tourists who are in Pondicherry for a day or two should take some time off from the busy schedule to pave their way towards this shrine at least once for sure. It is believed that Lord Vishnu fulfills everyone’s wishes whosoever worships him with full faith and devotion.

The temple also organizes the grand celebration of the Ram Navami festival in the month of April, which gives another reason to tourists to flock to this place. Other festivals such as Pavithra, Vaikunta Ekadasi, Kodandaramar, Panguni, and Purattasi can also be enjoyed with great zest at the Varadharaja Perumal Temple.

Bharathi park :

Puducherry is a former French colonial colony with astounding vistas. The scenic Bharathi park, also known as the government park adds to the old-world charm of the city. Located in the heart of the city, the park is carpeted with lush grass and surrounded by thick green trees.

Bharathi Park is a fantastic picnic site loved by locals and tourists alike. It is an ideal place to relax and unwind as you enjoy the green lawns and vibrant flower beds. The fine blend of historical and natural features makes Bharathi Park one of the best places to visit in Puducherry.

The iconic Park Monument or the Aayi Mandapam is located at the center of the park, adding to its beauty. It is dedicated to Aayi, a famous lady courtesan. Other prominent tourist attractions that surround the park are Raj Nivas, the Legislative Assembly, the Ashram Dining Room, the Government Hospital, Hotel Qualité, the Cercle de Pondichéry private club, and the Romain Rolland library.

Architecture of Bharathi Park, Puducherry
Bharathi Park is located on the Rue Saint Gilles Street in White Town, Pondicherry. The landscape is dotted with modern monuments, old sculptures, statues, stone carvings, and stately buildings. The main attraction of the park is the magnificent structure in white known as the Aayi Mandapam. It is a Greco-Roman structure built by Louis Gurre in 1854. The park is divided into four equal parts by walkways. The park comprises flowerbeds, well-kept lawns, and exquisite fountains.

Puducherry museum :

The Pondicherry Museum, locally referred to as the Pondy Museum, is located in the Bharathi Park of Pondicherry. It exhibits a wide range of artifacts and narrates the story of the city’s rich cultural heritage. The museum is well known among history buffs and travelers looking to explore Pondicherry.

Artifacts like stones, jewelry, coins, and statues excavated from the Arikamedu heritage site are displayed at the museum. These depict Pondicherry’s importance as a trade port from 1st Century BC to 2nd Century AD. It was a famous maritime center during that period, serving the traders from Rome, the Cholas, and the French. The relics from those times have been excavated by the Archaeological Survey of India at Arikamedu.

The museum also displays bronze statues and stone sculptures depicting the vibrant life of the Pallava and Chola dynasties. You can also witness remnants of the French colonial rule in the city. It is known for the relics in the form of furniture and other items of the Church. Pondicherry Museum gives you a chance to marvel at the diversity of the history of Pondicherry and understand its influence on the city’s culture.

Architecture of Pondicherry Museum
The Pondicherry Museum has magnificent architecture. Located in the White Town Area at St. Louis Street, it has been established in a former Law Building. The building was constructed in 1788 and was later converted into what we see as the Pondicherry Museum today. It has a colonial architecture with an attractive facade and inscriptions in French. The two-storeyed building is painted in yellow and peach. It has large stone statues and fossilized tree trunks displayed in the foyer and courtyard.