The Pondicherry Museum, also known as the Pondy Museum locally, is situated in Pondicherry’s Bharathi Park. It tells the tale of the rich cultural legacy of the city while showcasing a broad variety of artifacts. Tourists visiting Pondicherry and history enthusiasts know a lot about the museum. The museum features artifacts that were excavated from the Arikamedu heritage site, including stones, jewelry, coins, and statues. These illustrate the significance of Pondicherry as a port of trade between the first and second centuries AD. During that time, it was a well-known maritime hub that catered to French, Chola, and Roman traders. The Archaeological Survey of India has excavated the artifacts from those eras at Arikamedu.
In addition, the museum has stone and bronze sculptures that portray the colorful lifestyle of the Pallava and Chola dynasties. In the city, you can also see traces of French colonial control. It is well-known for its artifacts, which include furniture and other church-related objects. You can marvel at Pondicherry’s rich history and learn about its impact on the local way of life at the Pondicherry Museum.
Architecture of Pondicherry Museum
The architecture of the Pondicherry Museum is magnificent. Situated at St. Louis Street in the White Town Area, it was founded in what was once the Law Building. Constructed in 1788, the building underwent modifications to become the current Pondicherry Museum. It features a lovely facade, colonial architecture, and French inscriptions. The two-story structure has peach and yellow paint. In the foyer and courtyard are large stone statues and displays of fossilized tree trunks.
The Pondicherry Museum’s History
In 1983, the Pondicherry Museum was founded. It displays the region’s cultural artifacts and archaeological discoveries. More than 6500 exhibits in the museum’s collection are from the prehistoric era. It was marketed as a hub for learning about and investigating the city’s past. The Pondy Museum’s collection of exhibits can be roughly categorized into three periods: the Pallava and Chola era, this spanned the first to fourth centuries, the European period, which was ruled by France during that time.
Things to do at Pondicherry Museum
The largest collection of bronze statues dating back to the Chola dynasty’s rule over the area can be seen. There are about eighty-one statues on exhibit. Three historic modes of transportation occupy the ground floor’s central area: a coach, a Pousse-Pousse (the original rickshaw), and a palanquin, or rocking chair. You can investigate the modes of transportation used by ancient people. Every exhibit has clear labels that make it easy to read about and comprehend its historical significance.
Fee for Entrance and Pondicherry Museum Hours
Adult admission to the Pondicherry Museum costs Rs. 10, while children’s admission costs Rs. 5. It costs Rs. 50 for foreign visitors to enter the museum.
The Pondicherry Museum is open every day except Mondays and federal holidays from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
