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South India Holiday Tours
PONDICHERRY TOURS PONDICHERRY ATTRACTIONS Pondicherry Heritage Places, Pondicherry HeritagePondicherry Heritage Places|Pondicherry Heritage
Pondicherry Heritage Places
No visit to Pondicherry is complete without a walk along beach road. Friday, Saturday and Sunday and holiday evening are busiest. The Police close both end of the road for vehicular traffic. Pondicherry Heritage Places, Pondicherry Heritage, Pondicherry Monuments, Monument of Pondicherry,Pondicherry Historical Places, Historical in Pondicherry Beach road has little of architectural interest, but oceans of simple charm and officially called Goubert Avenue.
Children’s Park & Dupleix Statue
It is a seaside park with a statue of a Dupleix. Marquis Joseph Francois Dupleix was an integral part of Pondicherry’s colonial past. He was the governor of Pondicherry between 1742 and 1754. Pondicherry Heritage Places, Pondicherry Heritage, Pondicherry Monuments, Monument of Pondicherry,Pondicherry Historical Places, Historical in Pondicherry The 2.88 m tall statue of Dupleix stands at the southern end of the park. Even though Dupleix left Pondicherry in 1754, French recognition of his contribution came only in 1870, with the commissioning of two statues-one in Pondicherry and the other in France.
The Mairie
Located on Goubert Avenue, this charming white building, facing the sea almost transports you to France. Use your imagination a little and you could very well be on a French sea side resort.Pondicherry Heritage Places, Pondicherry Heritage, Pondicherry Monuments, Monument of Pondicherry,Pondicherry Historical Places, Historical in Pondicherry Today it houses the offices of the Pondicherry Municipality.
Le Café
It was once the port office when the railway ran along Beach Road from the South Boulevard to the old 240 meters iron pier. A cyclone in 1952 largely destroyed the pier whose remains can still be seen poking out of the water.
Gandhi Statue
This is a highlight of Pondicherry. A four-meter statue of Mahatma Gandhi is surrounded by eight magnificent granite pillars, which were supposedly brought from Gingee, a fort some 70 Kms. from Pondicherry.
French War Memorial
The French War Memorial on Goubert Avenue is solemn reminder of those brave soldiers who laid down their lives, for their country during the First World War. Every year on the 14th July (Bastille Day) the memorial is beautifully illuminated and homage is paid to those brave martyrs.
Nehru Statue
Located across the street from the imposing Gandhi statue, the statue is also flanked by four pillars from Gingee. The space in front plays host to various cultural, musical and commercial activities through the year.
19th Century Light House
This light house was used for the first time on July 1st 1836 and continued to be used upto the year 1979. This now- abandoned lighthouse stands on the edge of the sea.
French Consulate
French Consulate General is the only diplomatic mission in town. This colonial building has changed over the years, and yet manages to retain some of its original 18th Century charm. The consulate is open to French citizens.
Around Bharathi Park
The park located in the heart of Pondicherry, is one of the most beautiful public spots in Pondicherry, with its lush green surroundings and shady trees providing succour from the harsh Pondicherry sun to many a weary soul. At any time of the day you will always find a smattering of people including locals. Besides the beautiful Aayi Mandapam in the centre of the park, there are a number of smaller surprises that greet you as you walk around in the park, like the exquisitely carved granite pillars and stone carvings of various gods and yallis. The park is also surrounded by interesting heritage buildings like.
Aayi Mandapam
This gleaming white monument built during the time of Napoleon III, Emperor of the France. The monument commemorates both the provision of water to the French city during his reign and the good deed of a lady some 300 years before.
Raj Niwas
The Government House (Raj Niwas) is a harmonious blend of French and Indian style of architecture. Once the location of the Hotel de la Compagnie (the French trading company that ruled in Pondicherry from its first settlement in 1674 until the French government took over in 1769) and later played host to Dupleix. It is now the Lieutenant Governor’s residence. It is not open to the general public except on certain national holidays like Republic Day on 26th January, when it is adorned with lights and looks rater impressive. One can however get a glimpse of the grandeur within, through the tall imposing gates, which are guarded by red ‘kepi’ adorning police guards.
Romain Rolland Library
The Romain Rolland library was established in 1872 and has a rich collection of more than 3,00,000 volumes in both French and English. It also boasts of a mobile library service which has a collection of more than 8000 books. These books are taken to nearby villages by bus, in order to make the books more accessible to the common man. The library also houses some rare editions of books. The reference section on the second floor is open to the general public.
UCO Bank
The UCO Bank, which dates from 1916 when it was La Banque de l’ Indochine, preserves for those who wish to change money there a gentle reminder of the complexity of the British ledger system, dead in London but alive and well in Pondy.
Legislative Assembly
It was established in 1962 in what was formerly a private house.
Cercle de Pondicherry
It is a private club, established for senior French notables in 1899. The activities of its 400 members can be glimpsed through its gate and high, open windows.
Ashram Dining Room
Ashram Dining Room has prepared the food for Ashramites and their guests since 1934. It sits on land once occupied by Governor Dumas in 1735. Even after many reconstructions, it reflects its architectural heritage. Have a look when the gate is open at meal times.
Pondicherry Museum
Pondicherry Museum is open from 1000-1700 hrs on all days but Monday and public holidays. It is located in the former residence of the French Administrator building. The Museum is well worth seeing as a fine example of a grand two-storey residence as well as for most of its exhibits. The museum has a collection of rare bronzes and stone sculptures from the Pallava and Chola dynasties and artifacts excavated from Arikamedu, including remnants of Greek and Roman jars, 200 year old beads made from glass and precious stones and even objects from the Tsung period in China. The museum also has a Geology room, a shell and fossil room and a collection of handicrafts, coins, church relics and French furniture. Also on display is Dupleix’s bed.
The Church of Our Lady of the Angels at Dumas Street (Notre Dame des Anges)
Built in 1855, this is the Greek Roman architectural style. Its façade, flanked by two unadorned square towers faces east towards the ocean. The interior is roofed by a barrel vault, with a great dome rising over the crossing. The pastel peach and lime colours give it a very serene appearance. This church is also famous for its rare oil painting of Our Lady of the Assumption, which was a gift from the French emperor, Napoleon III. The church has old pews (seating) made of cane, Indian stained glass that filters sunlit patterns of colour into the interior.
The Statue of Joan of Arc at Dumas Street
Another example of the French influence in Pondicherry is a marble statue of the heroic French damsel Joan d’Arc, which is located in front of the Church of Our Lady of the Angles. The statue is placed in the middle of a garden.
The French Institute of the Far East at Dumas Street (L’Ecole Francaise d’Extreme Orient)
This is an internationally renowned research institute. This institute has two impressive and handsome buildings almost diagonal to each other at the corner of Dumas Street and is known for its research in the field of Indology, history and archaeology. Get prior permission to visit.
Hotel de l’Orient at Romain Rolland Street
Built in 1809, was once the Directorate of Education and is now a hotel-restaurant-gift shop into which you might expressing your interest in its retrofitted charm even if you aren’t a guest.
Hotel Lagrenee de Meziere at Romain Rolland Street (Saint Joseph de Cluny)
Built in 1774 and once a private house, this classic colonial building was donated to the religious order of Saint Joseph de Cluny some 150 years ago. Today it houses a workshop which produces the most beautiful embroidery.
Curio Centre at Romain Rolland Street
A leading shop for antique furniture and curios. The remarkable dimension of the interior rooms, which interconnect directly with each other are notable.
Alliance Francaise at Suffren Street
This very public and busy place houses a cultural and information centre, a school for the teaching of the French language and a library.
Saint Anthony’s Shrine at Suffren Street
This is the most interesting of several small shrines in Pondy. This is one Christian place of worship where footwear is removed before entering.
Public Works Department at Bussy Street
This classic colonial Government building is notable for entrance gate, compound wall, balcony with ironwork and brackets and high arched windows.
Lycee Francais at Victor Simonel Street
It established in 1826, this institute still imparts education to hundreds of Pondicherrians in French. Special permission is required to visit this colonial place, with its well preserved shady courtyard, columns and balconies. It also has an interesting collection of old photographs of colonial Pondicherry and collection of very rare coins of the French East Indian Company.
Sri Aurobindo Ashram at Marine Street
The Samadhi is located in the Ashram where Sri Aurobindo and the Mother worked for many years. Visitors are allowed between 08.00 – 12.00 and 14.00 – 16.00 every day.
Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Educaiton at Marine Street It is notable for its entrance gate with courtyard, arched windows and parapet.
Le Foyer du Soldat at Law De Lauriston Street
This is the legion hall for retired soldiers from Pondicherry, who waged wars on behalf of France in Europe and the colonies. The building is interesting, with a dash of colour added to it in the form of the ‘tricouleur’ (red, white, and blue flag) fluttering in the wind.
French Institute at Saint-Louis Street
The classical colonial building is a research institute in Indian Civilization, history and society in ecology, in environment and development in South and Southeast Asia. The Centre of Indology focuses on Indian languages as a central part of India’s cultural heritage. They are preserving lot of palm leaf manuscripts. The building is notable for its entrance gate with pediment, arched staircases, arcades, windows.
Ananda Ranga Pillai House
The single most famous house of the Tamil-French style was built in 1735 across the street Ananda Rangapillai by the chief Dubash of Dupleix the Governor of Pondicherry. Its architecture represents an unusual fusion of French and Indian styles. This once lavishly furnished house offered fascinating glimpses into a bygone era and vanished lifestyle. However, today it has fallen upon hard times and retains very little of its former. Special permission is required to visit the mansion.
STREETSCAPE
The Vysial Street between Mission Street and M.G.Road has the remaining core of Hindu Tamil houses maintaining the earliest fusion with European style. Some of the houses in this traditional neighbourhood of rich merchants are 250 years old. It has the feature of ‘thinnai’ (a flat-ceiling platform built into the façade and supported by large wooden columns), ‘mutram’ (a central open courtyard surrounded by a colonnaded roofed space) and ‘thalvaram’ (a tiled roof extending from the sloping roof to posts or pillars at the curb, sheltered people from intense rain or shine.
19th Century pale-green and blue-trimmed houses with thick walls in Franco-Tamil-Muslim style can be seen in L’Ancien Hopital (Milad) Street and Cazy Street.
| PONDICHERRY ATTRACTIONS | |
| Auroville | Chunnambar Backwater |
| Sri Aurobindo Ashram | Arikamedu |
| Botanical Gardens | Villaiayanur |
| The French Heritage | Pondicherry Culture |
| Heritage Places | Gardens and Parks |
| Museums | Mosques in pondicherry |
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