Pondicherry’s Architectural Heritage is an integral part of the spirit of Pondicherry; and its unique characteristic is its harmonious blend of the French architecture as well as the Tamil vernacular architecture. Along with the built heritage, our natural environment is as much part of our heritage as music, dance, theatre, literature, poetry, art, food, customs and spirituality.
Pondicherry, with its beautiful beaches along the Bay of Bengal, its lovely lakes attracting migratory birds from across faraway lands, its ancient temples and churches and mosques, its old Tamil, Muslim, and French colonial architecture, its grid patterned boulevard town, planned by the Dutch and given shape by the French and its thoroughly cosmopolitan population from all parts of India and many parts of the world, give us a rich heritage that dates back far in our history. The Sri Aurobindo Ashram with the Samadhi of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother and the international town of Auroville nearby add to the spiritual depth to Pondicherry’s special beauty.
In November 2014, we lost the Mairie building, an iconic landmark on the beach promenade, due to long years of neglect.
Watch this video PEOPLE OF PONDICHERRY and their relationship with a building-THE MAIRIE to understand where it all began.
In October 2014 we had just lost one of our biggest champions of Restoration,
AJIT KOUJALGI, an architect and Co-Convener of the Pondicherry chapter of Intach.
That is when spontaneously a group emerged from the civil society, People for Pondicherry’s Heritage, and we felt that there are many other private and public buildings in Pondicherry which may suffer the same fate if we do not act NOW.
Not only does Pondicherry depend primarily on tourism because of its unique heritage but it also provides beautiful settings for movies like the LIFE OF PI. We also felt the need to preserve the beauty of our city for OURSELVES, its residents who could take pride in it.
Our collective aim is to make Pondicherry one of the Heritage Cities of the World, which will make it a desired destination. That can only happen if we can protect and project our architectural heritage with absolute commitment.
INTACH, along with the people of Pondicherry, are now doing its best to protect the heritage of our city. In this connection, we had organised a Heritage Festival in Pondicherry on 27 & 28 Feb and 1 March 2105 with the following objectives:
a) to create and strengthen this distinct identity of belonging and being Pondicherian for all its residents,
b) to show its unique character in all its variety to visitors who come from all over the countryand the world, attracted by the idea of “Pondicherry”.
c) to create a platform for experts, historians and old residents to meet and discuss what is special about Pondicherry and how we can preserve our town.
The charm and beauty of Pondicherry represents a different challenge to the government and civil society organisations interested in protecting and restoring its built heritage. Unlike ASI monuments or even National Parks, the architectural style of Pondicherry’s cityscape with its mélange of private and government buildings – homes, schools, colleges, hospitals, municipal buildings, courts, government and private offices and the buildings of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram -makes up the unique character and charm of this town on the Coromandel Coast.
Pondicherry has two distinct parts: the French and the Tamil.
The French quarter has structures in the European classical style, whereas the buildings in the Tamil quarter are in the vernacular style of Tamil Nadu. The two styles have influenced each other with the result that many buildings in both parts of the town are a harmonious blend of European and Tamil architectural patterns. Pondicherry’s unique architectural blend is an inheritance, of which we are but the custodians today. It is our responsibility that the future generations of Pondicherry’s citizens are not deprived of an opportunity to live, work, enjoy and celebrate the town’s “Pondicherry-ness”, which is, at its essence, the ability of the city to be inclusive and absorb several influences and make it its own.
This is the environment from which The Pondicherry Heritage Festival sought to explore the various facets of the city’s culture- its spiritual heritage, the town’s contribution to the world of letters, art and music, its role in the country’s maritime trade, traditional and contemporary crafts, its coastline and natural environment and much more. Pondicherry has always shown the ability to embrace and be hospitable to those with fresh ideas and energy.
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