Heritage Buildings

Heritage Buildings

Aayi Mandapam

This gleaming white monument was built during the time of Napoleon III, Emperor of the France. The monument commemorates the provision of water to the French city during his reign and the good deed of a lady some 300 years ago.

Raj Niwas

The Government House (Raj Niwas) is a harmonious blend of French and Indian style of architecture. Once the location of the Hotel de la Compagnie (the French trading company that ruled in Pondicherry from its first settlement in 1674 until the French government took over in 1769) it later played host to Dupleix. It is now the Lieutenant Governor’s residence. Raj Niwas is not open to the general public except on certain national holidays like Republic Day on 26th January, when it is adorned with lights and looks rather impressive. One can however get a glimpse of the grandeur within, through the tall imposing gates.

Romain Rolland Library

The Romain Rolland library was established in 1872 and has a rich collection of more than 3,00,000 volumes in both French and English. It also boasts of a mobile library service which has a collection of more than 8000 books. These books are taken to nearby villages by bus, in order to make the books accessible to all. The library also houses some rare editions of books. The reference section on the second floor is open to the general public.

UCO Bank

The UCO Bank, which dates from 1916 when it was La Banque de l’ Indochine, still follows the complex British ledger system – dead in London but alive and well in Pondy!

Cercle de Pondicherry

A Private club, established for senior French notables in 1899.

Ashram Dining Room

The Ashram Dining Room has served the Ashramites and their guests since 1934. It sits on land once occupied by Governor Dumas in 1735. Even after many reconstructions, it still reflects its architectural heritage.

The Marie

Located on Goubert Avenue, this charming white building facing the sea resembles a French sea side resort. It houses the offices of the Pondicherry Municipality.

Le Café

It was once the port office when the railway ran along Beach Road from the South Boulevard to the old 240 meters iron pier. A cyclone in 1952 destroyed the pier whose remains can still be seen poking out of the water.

The French Institute of the Far East at Dumas Street (L’Ecole Francaise d’Extreme Orient)

This is an internationally renowned research institute. This institute has two impressive and handsome buildings almost diagonal to each other at the corner of Dumas Street and is known for its research in the field of Indology, history and archaeology. Prior permission is needed to visit.

Hotel de l’Orient at Romain Rolland Street

Built in 1809, this was once the Directorate of Education and is now a hotel-restaurant-gift shop.

Hotel Lagrenee de Meziere at Romain Rolland Street (Saint Joseph de Cluny)

Built in 1774 as a private house, this classic colonial building was donated to the religious order of Saint Joseph de Cluny some 150 years ago. Today it houses a workshop which produces the most beautiful embroidery.

Curio Centre at Romain Rolland Street

A leading shop for antique furniture and curios, the remarkable dimensions of the interior rooms, which interconnect directly with each other, are notable.

Alliance Francaise at Suffren Street

This very public and busy place houses a cultural and information centre, a school for teaching the French language and a library.

Saint Antony’s Shrine at Suffren Street

This is the most interesting of several small Roman Catholic shrines in Pondy.

Public Works Department at Bussy Street

This classic colonial Government building is notable for its entrance gate, compound wall, balcony with ironwork and brackets and high arched windows.

Lycee Francais at Victor Simonel Street

Established in 1826, this institute still imparts education to hundreds of Pondicherrians in French. Special permission is required to visit this colonial place, with its well preserved shady courtyard, columns and balconies. It also has an interesting collection of old photographs of colonial Pondicherry and very rare coins of the French East Indian Company.

Le Foyer du Soldat at Law De Lauriston Street

This is the legion hall for retired soldiers from Pondicherry, who waged wars on behalf of French in Europe and the colonies. The building is interesting, with a dash of color added to it in the form of the French ‘tricouleur’ (red, white, and blue flag) fluttering in the wind.

French Institute at Saint – Louis Street

The classical colonial building is research institute in Indian Civilization, ecology and environmental development in South and Southeast Asia. The Centre of Indology has a good collection of palm leaf manuscripts. The building is notable for its entrance gate with pediment, arched staircases, arcades and windows.