Pondicherry - Tourist Information

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Pondicherry - Tourist Information

The Pondicherry Museum

On the ground floor, the major attraction is the central space with 3 curious transport mechanisms-a coach, a palanquin (sedan chair) and a pousse-pousse which required two attendants, one to steer and one to push. The bronze gallery displays the images of gods and goddesses together with a wide collection of temple lamps; used across different dynasties down centuries. Pre-Christian relics which we see here, such as remnants of Greek and Roman amphora jars, pieces from the Tsung periods in China and beads made from glass and precious stones were dug out from the Arikamedu site, just south of Pondicherry.

Vedapureswarar Temple

This 18th century Siva Shrine in Pondicherry houses stone inscriptions and a swayambhulinga. Recently renovated, the gopuram (tower) is brilliantly colourful.

Karaikal Ammaiyur Temple

Legend says that Lord Siva disguised himself as an ascetic, seeking alms from a lady called Punithavarthi living in Karaikal. Who later, as Karaika Ammaiyar, was destined to find an esteemed place among his 63 saints. An image of this lady saint is housed in a small and beautiful temple erected right where she lived.

Masthan Saheb Darga

Dedicated to Masthan Saheb Syed Dawood Buhari, a Sufi saint who came to Karaikal from Buhara two centuries ago. He died aged 120, in 1829. Various miracles are attributed to him. The over-170-year-old Kandhuri Festival (November) is celebrated in his commemoration. It starts with the hoisting of a huge flag on a pole-reminiscent of a ship and a sea-faring tradition. And winds up, 10 days later with a spectacle of floats lit with electric colours.

Manakkula Vinayakar Temple

Located right behind the Raj Nivas in Pondicherry town, this Ganesha temple has an interesting aside. A neighbouring Frenchman finding the place of worship of nuisance, made several futile attempts to do away with the deity. Still, it kept reappearing. Convinced, he turned an active believer.

The Statue of Dupleix

The statue is Pondicherry's tribute to Francois Dupleix whose able governorship came to an end in 1754. However, French recognition came about a century later, when, in 1870, they paid homage by commissioning two statues-one in France and the other in Pondicherry. The 2.88 m tall structure was erected over six carved ornamental granite pillars at the Place du Republique. It now stands restationed overlooking a children's park at the southern end of a promenade, now named Goubert Avenue.

Place Du Gourvernement

The Place Du Gouvernement is a brilliant example of town planning in Pondicherry. Comprising the 18th century Palais Du Gouvernement-now the Raj Nivas (not open to the public)-and the old tribunals-now housing the Legislative Assembly-along with a neat three-sided line-up of other handsome buildings. At the centre, surrounded by a well-tended garden, stands the Water Monument, sculpted to commemorate the introduction of good drinking water for the population. Some exquisitely carved monolithic pillars, brought to Pondicherry from the Gingee Fort after its capture in 1751, adorn the place.

19th Century Light House

The early sea-farers to Pondicherry were guided by a beacon kept burning on the Red Hills (Gorimedu), about 5kms west of the town. The now-abandoned light house standing on the edge of the sea near the Place Du Gouvernement was lighted for the first time on I July, 1836. The light was placed upon a masonry tower, 29m above the seal level and was visible upto a distance of 29kms into the sea. In 1931, the fixed light was replaced by a revolving lantern. It fell into disuse with the commissioning of the new light house in 1979.

French War Memorial

No visit to Pondicherry is complete without a free-wheeling stroll down the peaceful promenade-Goubert Avenue ('Beach Road', locally speaking). Where you will find this elegant tribute to the uniform. It gets prettily illuminated during a solemn ceremony every 14 July, Bastille Day.

The Statue of John of Arc

A lasting triumphant image of the heroic French damsel Jeanne d' Arc, is frozen in marble, within the garden laid out in front of L'Eglise de Notre Dame des Anges.

Aurbindo Ashram

Sri Aurobindo began the practice of Yoga in 1905 and 5 years later moved to Pondy from Bengal. And during his 40 years here, he worked out a new system of mind development which he called Integral Yoga. Madame Mirra Richard, a French painter-sculptor who had followed the same path on her own, joined him later. She is now known as the Mother. Together, in1926, they founded an ashram where his belief -"All life is Yoga"- could be put into practice. At night time, today, Pondicherrians who believe in Sri Aurobindo's way of life, wind their way ashramward. Inside, the lights throw a welcome radiance. Over it all, the flower-decked samadhi presides. Men and women meditate with their eyes fixed on the marble samadhi. Here silence is peace, and flowers and incense are ways to lead the mind away from work a day shackles. By day, the ashram bustles with silent queues to see Aurobindo's room for meditation or blessings.

Pondicherry - Tourist Information

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