Temples of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry: Temple Group # 7 The ASI Temples of Pondicherry

When we refer to Pondicherry or Puducherry, most people, especially those outside of India, think of the city on the Coromandel Coast, about 4 hours or 152 km south of Chennai. It was one of the French holdings in colonial India. Historically referred to as Pondicherry during French rule, it was renamed Puducherry in 2006 by legislation in keeping with the current trend of indigenization of colonial names. But what most people do not realize is that Pondicherry or Puducherry is also a Union Territory that lumps together many former French holdings in South India that are not contiguous. The Union Territory of Puducherry has four districts. Two of them, Puducherry and Karaikal are in the Tamil country surrounded by the state of Tamil Nadu. Puducherry or Pondicherry district is situated in the historical Nadu Naadu (நடு நாடு) or Middle Country bordered by the contemporary Tamil Nadu districts of Cuddalore and Villupuram. It includes the city of Pondicherry or Puducherry. The district of Karaikal is further south and is a separate enclave surrounded by the districts of Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai in Tamil Nadu. It is in the Kaveri delta and in the historical Chola country. Both contain many ancient temples and those temples are featured in these blog. The other two districts, Mahe and Yanam are outside of the Tamil country. Mahe is on the western or Malabar coast where it is a district surrounded by the state of Keralam and Yanam is further north along the Coromandel coast surrounded by the state of Andhra Pradesh at the mouth of the Godavari river.

Even the territories of the districts of Puducherry and Karaikal are not contiguous themselves. If you take these two districts, they include small pockets of land within the surrounding Tamil Nadu while other pockets of Tamil Nadu territory fall within the Pondicherry districts. Very confusing state of affairs. A colonial legacy.

In this post we will highlight the following temples in the Tamil country that are situated in the Union Territory of Puducherry and are protected by the ASI. These belong to the districts of Puducherry and Karaikal. Where appropriate, we will link these to the respective blog posts from the temples we visited in person.

The following four temples in the district of Pondicherry or Puducherry and are easily reached from the city of Pondicherry.

1. Thodatri Perumal Temple or Varadharaja Perumal Temple, Thirubhuvanai:

   This relatively small Vishnu temple located about 20 km west of Pondicherry city is a treasure house of Chola art from the early to mid 10th century. It was originally built by Paranthakan I. It contains a number of fine sculptures and architectural elements. It is an active temple

2. Panchanatheeswarar or Vadugurnathar Temple, Thiruvandarkoil:

   This is another temple from the early 10th century again built by Paranthakan I. It is a Sivan temple. Frozen in time and relatively well preserved, it is a fine example of the temples of that period. It is a partially active temple and one of the Paadal Petra Sivasthalams. It is located 20 km west of the city of Pondicherry

3. Thirukundankudi Mahadeva Temple, Madagadipattu:

   From the late 10th century this small beautiful Sivan temple is an example of Chola architecture of the time. Inscriptions say that it was commissioned by Rajarajan I. It is located 25 km west of Pondicherry city. It is an inactive or minimally active temple.

4. Mulanathaswamy Temple, Bahour:

   Interesting Sivan temple originally built by the Pallavas in the 7th century and renovated by the French in the 19th and 20th centuries, it is an odd but aesthetically pleasing combination of styles from different eras, There are some European features too. It is located about 20 km south of Pondicherry city. It is a partially active temple.

The following two temples situated in the district of Karaikal. We have not visited them yet. Tharangambadi or Kumbakonam are good bases for these temples.

1. Thanthondreeswarar or Suyambunathar Temple, Nedungadu, Karaikal

   Chola era Sivan temple in Karaikal, District. Protected by the ASI. Beautiful architecture. It is located about 150 km east of Thiruchirapalli and 16 km southwest of Tharangambadi

2. Egambareswarar Temple, Sethur, Karaikal

   Chola era Sivan temple protected by ASI. Well preserved architecture of the period. It is located about 150 km east of Thiruchirapalli and 24 km southwest of Tharangambadi

Sources: Official website of the Archeological Survey of India

Courtesy Google Maps

Courtesy Google Maps