Puducherry / Pondicherry (Photo Feature)

Poducherry (Pondicherry)

A French colony until 1954, coastal Puducherry (previously known as Pondicheryy) has a distinct Gallic feel with lovely colonial buildings, villas, and churches. The entire town is divided into two sections, the French Quarter and the Indian Quarter. The French liked to keep things simple and obvious.

The French Quarter has beautiful mustard colored villas along its cobbled streets.

Les Hibiscus

This Quarter is also home to a couple of excellent antique stores which are almost like mini museums. They have an excellent collection of Indian and Colonial items for sale.

Inside Gitanjali

Puducherry has several churches built by French missionaries which add to the city’s flair.

The Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception

This blue and white Jesuit church, in the Indian Quarter, was completed in the 17th Century.

The Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception

Inside the church

The Sacred Heart of Jesus Church

Erected in the 18th Century, Sacred Heart is a beautiful brown and white Gothic style church.

Sacred Heart Church

This is one of the nicer looking churches in Puducherry with plenty of stained glass work.

Inside the Church

The Notre Dame Des Agnes Church

This church has been built according to the Greek-Roman school of architecture.

The Notre Dame Des Agnes

The plaster used for the interiors contains a fair amount of egg shells!

Inside the Church

Although there a lot more churches than the other places of worship due to its French heritage, the town has a fair number of temples.

Sri Manakula Vinayagar Temple, within walking distance of the Aurobindo Ashram, is one of the more popular temples in the region.

Lakshmi, the star attraction at Srin Manakula Vinayagar