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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.
Ariyankuppam ( Arikamedu)
A historical site, 4kms south of Pondicherry, which revealed local trade with
Romans as early as 2nd century BC. Some even believe that Roman settlements
existed here.
Moreover, you will find the amazing ruins of an 18th century French Jesuit
Mission House here. It was abandoned in 1783.
The French Cemetery At Karaikal
In the French cemetery on Rue de Marche (Market
Street), administrators,
landlords, port officials, women and children are buried under curious
headstones with interest-evoking inscriptions. There is also an
aged, tiny chapel within the walls.
Park Monument (Aayi Mandapam)
The most beautiful public space in town is the green and shaded Government
Park, in the heart of Pondicherry. Standing smack in its centre is Aayi Mandapam.
Built in Greco-Roman architecture, un-sinfully white, during the reign of
Napoleon III-Emperor of France.
It bears the name of Aayi- a 16th century
courtesan, who razed down her home
and replaced it with a reservoir. To appease a passing king, angry at having
mistaken her candle-lit residence for a holy place. It was from this lake that
Napoleon's men quenched their thirst, some 300 years later. Napoleon, charmed by
the story, ordered a monument to Aayi.
Ananda Ranga Pillai Mansion
Ananda Ranga Pillai was the celebrated dubash of Dupleix, the governor of
Pondicherry while it flourished under French glory. Pillai's compilation of
diaries serve as a storehouse of information on 18th century French India.
It is one of the oldest surviving
buildings on the west side - then known as "natives quarters."
Its architecture represents a curious mix of French and Indian styles.
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