9 Famous Temples in Pondicherry & Details
One of the most popular tourist attractions in India, Puducherry or Pondy, adored by many, is definitely a resort that is very unique in many ways. Imagine quaint, colorful cottages, breezy boulevards, historic churches and stunning beaches. It’s often called the French Riveria of the East, and rightly so. The most interesting aspect of this Union territory is that it was ruled by the French for almost 300 years until 1954. So the French influence is still very evident and makes this place so charming. It was exciting to see such an amazing fusion of French and Indian cultures in the beautiful setting of Pondicherry. However, did you know there is something more special about this place? Yes, that’s the spiritual aspect of it singing out loud! Home to some of the best temples in India, Pondicherry is the perfect place to awaken your religious aspirations and beliefs. Not only because of Pondicherry’s historic and famous temples, but also because of the peaceful atmosphere it exudes.
List of Pondicherry Temples – 9 Most Famous Temples in Pondicherry You Need To Visit Now!
1. Arulmigu Manakalu Vinayagar Temple:
Arulmigu Manakalu Vinayagar Temple is a popular pilgrimage site and tourist attraction in Pondicherry, dedicated to Lord Ganesha. It probably tops the list of famous temples in Pondicherry. This temple was built before 1666. Manakalu Vinayagar in Tamil means God near the sand pool. There is a golden chariot weighing 7.5 kilograms in the temple, which is purely funded by believers. The temple itself is vibrant, with stone walls showing fine carvings from the past. History shows that the temple was located in a village shared by whites and French who would constantly try to get rid of it by throwing the deity into the sea. It is said that every time this happens, the deity returns to the place where this temple is now built.
- address: Manakula Vinayagar Koil St, White Town, Pondicherry, 605001
- time: 6.30am – 11.00am and 4.30pm – 9.00pm
- Dress Code: Comfortable and decent clothing will work. There is no such dress code.
- About. Visiting time: 1 hour
- how can I get there: If travelling by train to Pondicherry, the nearest railway station, Villupuram (35 km away) is connected to all major cities in India. By plane, the nearest airport is Chennai International Airport (135 km away). By road, you can travel to Pondicherry from many cities such as Chennai, Coimbatore, Bangalore and Madurai by private or state-run bus. The temple itself is 73 km from Chidambaram and 114 km from Kanchipuram. People rent bicycles to travel around the city, as well as cars and taxis.
- Temple website: http://www.manakulavinayagartemple.com/
- Best time to visit: 24 days of main festivals in August and September each year. Sankatahara Chaturthi Day
- Other attractions: Sri Aurobindo Ashram is 0.1 km away and Seaside Promenade is 0.4 km away.
[See Also: Beautiful Beach Resorts in Pondicherry]
2. Sri Varadharaja Perumala Temple:
Sri Varadharaja Perumala Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is one of the 108 Divya Desams of Vishnu. The temple is said to have been visited by 12 poet saints (Alwars). Considered one of the holiest temples by the Vaishnavites, this temple was originally built in 1053 by Cholas. Therefore, with its historical origins, it attracts not only religious people, but also historians and curious tourists. The temple has a shrine of Varadharaja or Vishnu located on a small hill. When pilgrims flock to the temple, the main festival celebrated here is Bhramotsavam. Newborn babies are brought to the temple and given their first grain of rice in the presence of Lord Vishnu to ensure that the babies are cared for by the god himself.
- address: Nethaji Nagar, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631501
- time: 6:00am-11:00am and 4:00pm-8:00pm
- Dress Code: Comfortable traditional clothing would be ideal
- About. Visiting time: 1 to 2 hours
- how can I get there: 1 hour 3 minutes drive from Chennai Airport (nearest airport). You can take a bus to Pondicherry from Chennai and the temple is within walking distance from Pondicherry bus station. All major cities are connected to the Pondicherry hub by train. People rent bicycles to travel around the city, as well as cars and taxis.
- Temple website: not applicable
- Best time to visit: Bhramotsavam time and Lamar festival
- Other attractions: Manimuthar waterfall, Vettuvan Koil, silk sari shop outside the temple.
3. Vedpureeswarar Temple:
The Vedapureeswarar Temple is dedicated to Lord Vedpureeswara and is located on the north bank of the Cheyyar River. This is another example of a large temple near Pondicherry. The temple also has a Nandi bull which interestingly faces the opposite direction of Shiva Lingam. It is believed that Lord Shiva here is self-expression. The temple consists of two corridors and a 5-story Rajagopuram. Stone carvings in the temple allude to the reign of Chora. This place is also historically known as Santhanaranyam because it says that the area has a lot of sandalwood trees (Santhanam” means sandalwood and “Aranyam” means forest). The locals of this place celebrate the 10-day Brahmotsavam festival, which is a grand festival.
- address: Sri Vedapureeswarar Temple, Thiruverkadu Post, Thiruvallur District, Chennai, Tamil Nadu – 600 077
- time: 6am to 1pm and 4pm to 9pm
- Dress Code: Comfortable traditional clothing would be ideal
- About. Visiting time: 1 to 2 hours
- how can I get there: Koyambedu bus station (Chennai) is only 10 km away. You can take the bus to Pondicherry from Chennai and Kanchipuram. They will send you to a walking distance from the temple. The nearest airport is in Chennai. All major cities are connected to the Pondicherry hub by train. People rent bicycles to travel around the city, as well as cars and taxis.
- Temple website: not applicable
- Best time to visit: Attrural festival held on the full moon day (April-May) in Chitirai.Great Shiva
- Other attractions: The temple is revered for removing obstacles from the prospect of marriage, as Lord Shiva is here in the form of a wedding. Sri Devi Karumariamman Temple is 1 km away.
4. Sitananda Swami Temple:
Sitananda Swami Temple is a famous holy place where a saint Sitananda was buried alive. In his cemetery, there is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, which is a famous place for peace lovers. Obtained on 28 May 1837 by Jeevan Samadhi of Guru Sithananda. Pilgrims visit the temple and perform special pujas on his statue every Thursday. It is also a popular place of worship for students who come here to pray to God Dakshinamurthy for good grades and good grades in exams. The temple is 200 years old and still the epitome of tranquility. There is also a meditation room on the grounds for those who wish to spend some soulful time on their own.
- address: Lawspet Main Road, Pondicherry, India, 605003
- timing: 6am – 8pm
- Dress Code: Comfortable traditional clothing would be ideal
- About. Visiting time: 1 to 2 hours
- how can I get there: Pondicherry Main Bus Station is only 5 km away and Pondicherry Railway Station is only 4 km away. Chennai Airport is 146 km away. Take the bus and get off at Gorimedu bus station or Shivaji Statue bus station (if coming from Chennai). Temples are located at these sites or opposite, respectively. All major cities are connected to the Pondicherry hub by train. People rent bicycles to travel around the city, as well as cars and taxis.
- Temple website: not applicable
- Best time to visit: Guru Puja, Maha Shivratri and every Thursday in general.
- Other attractions: Kuil Thoppu is right next to the temple. This is where Mahakavi Bharathiyar would visit and write poetry. An indoor tank with fish is a delightful addition.
[See Also: Top Places Where Kids will Enjoy in Pondicherry]
5. Kamakshi Amman Temple:
Kamakshi Amman Temple is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kamakshi, the incarnation of Maa Durga or Parvati, who is also the main deity here. One of the main temples around Pondicherry, it is said to have been built in the 6th century by King Pallava. The temple conducts prayers four times a day. In addition to this, it also celebrates annual spring festivals with the chariot festival called Ther and the float festival called Theppam. Navaratri, Aadi and Aippasi Pooram, Sankara Jayanthi and Vasanta Utsavam are also celebrated.
- address: New No. 6, Old No. 144/A, Kamakshi Amman Sannathi Street, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631502, India
- time: 5:30am – 12:15pm, 4:00pm – 8:15pm
- Dress Code: Comfortable traditional clothing would be ideal
- About. Visiting time: 1 hour
- how can I get there: On the road, drive past Kamakshi Amman Sannidhi Street. All major cities are connected to the Kanchipuram hub by train. Kanchipuram is 64 km from Chennai International Airport. You can also take a taxi from the airport to the city.
- Temple website: http://www.kanchikamakshi.com/
- Best time to visit: Ther and Theppam festival in spring
- Other attractions: Kailasanatha Temple is a must visit and is just 1.5 km away.
6. Sri Gokilambal Thirukameswarer Temple:
Sri Gokilambal Thirukameswara Temple in Vilanur is one of the main religious sites in Pondicherry. Its 15-meter-high temple chariot appears in the procession with a full moon between May and June. It is a beautiful festival and many people visit this place to witness its grandeur. The main deity of the temple is Thirukameswarer Gokilambal, who is brought in a beautifully decorated chariot and offered to prasadam during the festival. It is believed that as long as the chariot is pulled, the desire of the believer will be fulfilled. Legend has it that the then King Jura suffered from leprosy due to a failure in his previous life. However, when he prayed to Lord Shiva in this temple, he was healed and healed.
- address: E-Car St, Villanur, Pondicherry 605110
- time: 5am to 1200pm and 4pm to 9pm
- Dress Code: Comfortable temple attire is ideal.
- About.visit time: 1-2 hours
- how can I get there: Temple is very close to Villanur train station and bus station. If you rent a bike or car, the round-trip journey is only 18 km. Only 10-11 km from the main town of Pondicherry. Villanur Railway Station is the nearest station and Pondicherry Airport (Pondicherry Airport, Lawspet, Puducherry) is the nearest airport.
- Temple website: http://villianurtemple.in/
- Best Time to Visit: Bramachavam, Auto Festival, Purattasi – Navarathri Festival and Laksha Deepa Festival (100,000 deep waters lit up, a sight not to be missed)
- Other attractions: Only about 22 minutes away from Pondicherry, it is a tourist’s paradise and must explore the town.
[See Also: Popular Fairs and Festivals of Puducherry]
7. Irunbai Shiva Temple:
Irumbai Shiva Temple is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of 275 Thevara Pedal Petra Sthalangals. There are beautiful paths on the way to the temple with coconut and banyan trees on both sides. The temple has a holy urn. The main deity of the temple is Maakaaleswarar, an incarnation of Lord Shiva, incarnated as Shiva Lingam, broken and tied together with copper wire. It is also admired by those who want to excel in art and music. The goddess of this temple, Kuyil Mozhi Nayaki, is said to bless them too if they pray to her and pray here. During festivals and celebrations, locals decorate temples with beautiful handmade rangolis.
- address: Auroville, Illumbai, Tamil Nadu 605111
- time: 6am to 12pm and 5pm to 9pm
- Dress Code: Decent attire works best
- About. Visiting time: 1-2 hours
- how can I get there: It is about 10 kilometers from Pondicherry. By road, you can take the Pondicherry to Tindiwa South route, on the…