Parks and Gardens

Parks and Gardens

Children’s Park and Dupleix Statue

A Seaside park with a statue of Marquis Joseph Francois Dupleix, who was an integral part of Pondicherry’s colonial past. He was the governor of Pondicherry between 1742 and 1754. The 2.88 m tall statue of Dupleix stands at the southern end of the park.

Botanical Gardens

The Botanical Gardens are located south of the New Bus Stand. The gate leading to the garden is reminiscent of French architecture and it stands out from its immediate surroundings because it is smack in the middle of the old Tamil town. The botanical garden planned by C.S.Perrotet in 1826 is near the old bus stand off the West Boulevard. It has a good collection of exotic flower plants, both alien and indigenous. The French introduced many exotic plants from all over the world, many of which thrived. With over 1500 species of plants, this could actually qualify as one of the best botanical gardens in South India.

The Gardens also have a musical fountain which is active over the weekends, with two shows in the evening. Check for timings and the frequency of the shows as they change depending on the season.

Bharathi Park

Located in the heart of Pondicherry, this is one of the most beautiful public spots in pondicherry, with its lush green surroundings and shady trees providing succor from the harsh Pondicherry sun. Besides the beautiful Aayi Mandapam in the centre of the park, there are number of smaller surprises that greet you as you walk around in the park, like the exquisitely carved granite pillars and stone carvings of various gods and yallis. The park is surrounded by interesting heritage buildings.