19th Century Light House
The early sea-farers to Pondicherry were guided by a beacon kept burning on the Red Hills (Gorimedu), about 5 kms west of the town. The now-abandoned light house standing on the edge of the sea near the Place Du Gouvernement was lighted for the first time on 1 July, 1836. The light was placed upon a masonry tower, 29 m above sea level and was visible upto a distance of 29 kms into the sea. In 1931, the fixed light was replaced by a revolving lantern. It fell into disuse with the commissioning of the new light
house in 1979.

Ananda Ranga Pillai Mansion
Ananda Ranga Pillai was the celebrated dubash of Dupleix, the governor of Pondicherry while it flourished under French glory. Pillai's compilation of diaries serve as a storehouse of information on 18th century French India. His mansion, completed sometime in 1738, is one of the oldest surviving buildings on the west side - then known as "natives' quarters." Its architecture represents a curious mix of French and Indian styles.

Arikamedu
A historical site, 4 kms south of Pondicherry, which revealed local trade with Romans as early as 2nd century B.C. Some even believe Roman settlements existed. Wine seems to have been a major import as excavated amphora jars suggest. In return, textiles, precious stones and shell-jewellery left these shores. Moreover, you'll still find the amazing ruins of an 18th century French Jesuit Mission House here. It was abandoned in 1783.

French War Memorial
No visit to Pondicherry is complete without a free-wheeling stroll down the peaceful promenade - Goubert Avenue ('Beach Road', locally speaking). Where you'll find this elegant tribute to the uniform. It gets prettily illuminated during a solemn ceremony every 14 July, Bastille Day.

Park Monument (Aayi Mandapam)
The most beautiful public space in town is the green and shaded Government Park, in the heart of Pondicherry. Standing smack in its centre is Aayi Mandapam. Built in Greco-Roman architecture, unsinfully white, during the reign of Napoleon III - Emperor of France.

Place Du Gouvernment
The Place Du Gouvernement is a brilliant example of town planning in Pondicherry. Comprising the 18th century Palais Du Gouvernemei/t - now the Raj Nivas (not open to the public) - and the old tribunals - now housing the Legislative Assembly - alongwith a neat three-sided line-up of other handsome buildings.

The Statue of Dupleix
Monuments of PondicherryThis is Pondicherry's tribute to Francois Dupeix whose able governorship came to an end in 1754. However, French recognition came about a century later, when, in 1870, they paid homage by commissioning two statues - one in France and the other in Pondicherry.

The 2.88 m tall structure was erected over six carved ornamental granite pillars at the Place du Republique. It now stands restationed overlooking a children's park at the southern end of the promenade, now named Goubert Avenue.

The Statue of Joan of Arc
A lasting, triumphant image of the heroic French damsel Jeanne d' Arc, is frozen in marble, within the garden laid out in front of L' Eglise de Notre Dame des Anges.