Monuments of Puducherry
There are a number of historical monuments in Puducherry including war memorials, statutes and significant buildings. Puducherry also has lighthouses which bear classic example of fine architecture. Some of the significant monuments of Puducherry include:
Raj Niwas
Raj Niwas is well-known as the ‘Palais du Gouvernement’, which was built during the 18th century. One of the major attractions for the tourists is the monolithic pillars, brought from Gingee Fort after it was seized in 1751.
The complex has an attractive water monument placed inside the middle of a well-maintained garden, which is a reminder of the start of good drinking water scheme. It is a magnificent accommodation and was completed in 1738. In the typical Indian fashion a courtyard is built on the ground floor of the house. Skillfully carved wooden pillars surround the courtyard and decorated stonework of European design support a first floor terrace.
Once the official residence of the French Governor Dupleix, Raj Niwas has a well laid out garden with a sculpture of Lord Vishnu (as Varaha avatar) along with Goddess Lakshmi at the centre. The building is a harmonious fusion of both French and Indian style of architecture. It is now used as the official residence of the Lt. Governor of Puducherry.
Statue of Mahatma Gandhi
A statue of Mahatma Gandhi, 13 ft height stands on the beach front, surrounded by carved monolithic pillars built by the famous sculptor Roy Choudhary from Madras School of Art and Crafts. There is also the “French War Memorial” commemorating the sacrifice of the soldiers in the First World War.
Statue of Dupleix
Joseph Francois Dupleix, a great statesman was the Governor of Pondicherry between 1742 and 1754. His life was greatly associated with the people of the Pondicherry. He had tried his best to prevent British Supremacy from Indian Territory by making alliances with local princess.
In
the struggle for power between British and French, finally French was
defeated in the Second Carnatic War. Hence Dupleix relinquished his
Governorship and returned to Paris in disgrace. His memorial statue is
located at Goubert Avenue.
French Institute of Indology
The French Institute of
Indology, is a research institute that explores Indian civilization,
history, society in ecology and environmental development in South and
Southeast Asia.
Established in the mid 1950s by an eminent
French Indologist, Dr. Jean Fillozet, the institute was originally set
up for the study of local language and culture. Now it has links with
various French universities and research organizations in France.
The centre is also dedicated in preserving palm leaf manuscripts and promoting the Indian languages. The building has a very well decked entrance gate with pediment, arched staircases, arcades and windows.
House of Ananda Rangapillai
Located
at Rangapillai Street, this house built in Tamil-French style was the
home of an 18th century Indian nobleman – Ananda Rangapillai, the
favourite courtier and chief Dubash (trade agent) of Francois Dupleix.
The building represents an unusual fusion of French and Indian
styles. This lavishly furnished house offered fascinating glimpses into
a bygone era. Now it houses a museum that retains very little of its
past glory. Prior permission is required to visit the mansion.
French War Memorial
The French war memorial is a prominent historical landmark to visit in Puducherry where the visitors offer their tributes to those martyrs who served the society and country. It is situated in the promenade called Goubert Avenue, Beach Road. It is a historical structure depicting the story of the brave soldiers. It is a great honor to those soldiers who fought for the security of their place and people and sacrificed their lives in the First World War.
The memorial is magnificently illuminated every year during a solemn ceremony held on the fourteenth of July, Bastille Day. It is constructed in grand manner wrapped with green environment around the place. It is good to visit in the evening since atmosphere around will be calm and serene.
Lighthouses
The lighthouse is a classic example of the excellent French architecture and one of the most photographed monuments in Puducherry. An iconic landmark of 19th century it is a magnificent attraction. It stands on the edge of the sea and was lighted for the first time on 1 July 1836.The light was kept burning on the Red Hills in Gorimedu, about five kilometers west of the town.
According to a famous tale, sailors found it difficult to navigate the ships to Pondicherry at night. Although, there was an arrangement of beacon that kept burning on the Red Hills, there was no signal to guide the ship towards the shore of Pondicherry. Besides, the flame wasn’t adequate as it was barely visible from a distance. To sort this, the mariners formed a committee and requested the government to intervene. Subsequently, the then Governor of Pondicherry, Saint Simon, decided to erect a lighthouse in 1835.
The lighthouse with a round tower and square base took only a few months to be completed at the expense of 10,000 Francs. The strength of light was enhanced with six oil lamps and two reflectors. The burning beacon light looked ethereal from a distance. The lighthouse keeper those days was a Frenchman who was paid 600 Francs a year for lighting it after the sunset.
Over the years many additions were made to the building, one such was the round base built to encircle the older square base of the lighthouse. Also, the first floor of the lighthouse was added only in the beginning of the 20th century. Modernization brought about changes in the method of lighting as well, such as the electric lights in 1913 gave way to a more powerful lamp in 1931. The lighthouse fell into abandonment with the commissioning of a new one in 1979.