The origin of Pondicherry
is buried in legend. According to one view, the town was
once called Vedapuri and was a seat of Vedic culture,
and the abode of Sage Agastya.
Remnants of an ancient port town
have been excavated at Arikamedu, 6 kms from Pondicherry
town, clearly proving that it had trade
connections with Rome and Greece, around the period
100 BC and 100 AD.
Pondicherry continued to flourish during the rule of the
Chola dynasty, as the discovery
of the Chola coins from the eleventh and twelfth centuries
indicate. These Chola coins and the artefacts
from the excavations at Arikamedu can
be viewed in the Pondicherry Museum.
The history of modern Pondicherry
starts with the arrival of the French in 1673, who ruled
for most part of the next 281 years. Pondicherry has a
rich French cultural heritage. It was the capital
of the French colonies in India since the 17th century,
and was transferred to the Indian Union in 1954.
This French legacy is visible in the well-planned
town, neatly laid roads, wide and vibrant beaches, beautiful
promenades, architecturally imposing churches and public
buildings and statues of Joan of Arc and Josep
Francois Dupleix who was the Governor of the French colonies
in India from 1742-54. The town also has an Alliance Française
and the French Institute.
With a coastline of 32 kms,
well-planned French Boulevard town,
palm-fringed beaches, resorts, backwaters, fishing villages,
harbour, the pier, the famous Aurobindo Ashram, the international
city of Auroville, world-renowned Yoga centres
and other attractions, Pondicherry is a lovely place to
visit. |
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Shri
Aurobindo Ashram |
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Pondicherry
Museum |
| Shri
Aurobindo, the great seer, poet and prophet of the
twentieth century, made Pondicherry his home from
1910 till his death in 1950. His vision and ideals
continue to draw people from all over the world. |
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On display
is the findings of Arikamedu, the Chola bronzes
and sculptures, glimpses of French heritage, specimens
of modern and traditional handicraft, paintings,
armouries, carvings and many other things of historical
interest. |
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Mansion
of Ananda Rangapillai |
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Villiayanur |
| Built
in 1773, this mansion is a fine specimen of Indo-French
architecture. Ananda Rangapillai was the courtier
of Joseph Francois Dupleix, the Governor. The diary
that Rangapillai maintained between 1736-60 is a
book of great value as a source of information on
the history of Pondicherry and the French in India.
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Sri
Gokilambal Thirukameswarar Temple, architecturally
the finest in Pondicherry, is located 9.5 kms away.
During May-June, a ten-day annual festival (Brahmothsavam)
is held here which attracts hundreds of devotees.
The temple car rising to a height of 15.25 metres
is profusely decorated, pulled out from its usual
position and taken on a procession around the town.
It is an awe-inspiring sight. |
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Anglo-French
Textile Mills |
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Auroville |
| Established over a century ago, a visit to the Anglo-French Textile Mills is an education in
itself. The acclaimed fabrics and products of this mill make ideal mementoes and gifts. |
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Located
10 kms north of Pondicherry town, Auroville is envisioned
as a Universal Town, where people from different
nationalities, faiths and beliefs, can live in peace
and harmony. The construction of this 'universal
town' was started in 1968 under the guidance of
The Mother, a Paris-born painter musician who became
Sri Aurobindo's disciple and close companion from
1924 till his death in 1950. The development of
this utopia is still in progress. Several countries
have offered to set up permanent pavilions, reflecting
the culture and ethos of their countries. |
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| Eglise
De Sacre Coeur De Jesus |
| Dedicated to the Sacred
Heart of Jesus, this church is noted for its
gothic architecture and stained glass panels
that depict the entire life of Jesus Christ. |
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