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 Situated on the Coromandel coast,
about 160 kms south of Chennai, lies the Union
Territory of Pondicherry. The French ruled this
territory for 300 years, and today, it stands as a
living monument of the French culture in India. It
is bound on the east by the Bay of Bengal and on the
other three sides by the South Arcot District of
Tamil Nadu. About 150 kilometres south of
Pondicherry, on the east coast, lies Karaikal, while
Mahe is situated on the Malabar coast. Yanam is
situated in the adjoining East Godavari district of
Andhra Pradesh.
Tourism Attractions
Worship places
Besides Pondicherry's scenic splendor, Pondicherry
region also boosts its pilgrimage significance-that
is the reason why thousands of devotees flock to
Pondicherry. Pondicherry region treasures about 350
temples-big and small built by the Chola kings
between the 10th and 12th centuries.
Villianur
In Villianur (10 km from the town) is the wonderful
Sri Gokilambal Thirukameshwara Temple. In May-June
the annual Temple Car Festival is celebrated whereby
a 15 m. tall chariot is taken out on a procession by
a huge crowd. The Lt. Governor joins the procession,
based on a tradition, when the French Governors used
to participate in drawing the temple car out onto
the streets.
Mosques
The main mosque in Pondicherry is the beautiful
Jamia Mosque with its lovely architecture and
swaying palmtrees.The Masthan Saheb Darga in
Karaikal is 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 large pole - reminiscent of a ship
and a sea-faring tradition. It culminates 10 days
later with a spectacle of illumined floats.
Churches
The Church of the Capuchins was
the first built in Pondicherry and the only building
that survived the destruction of the town in 1761.
Today it is a shell, however it has an interesting
gabel.The Church of the Immaculate Conception, the
Cathedral, was built in 1791 on the place of a
former church. It was built based on a design of an
existing church in France and has varied ornamental
decorations.
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