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Photo: Jayarathina, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
A Catholic Marian shrine and a parish church.
Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, Villianur, Puducherry is a Catholic Marian shrine and a parish church in Villianur, Puducherry, India. The shrine is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of Lourdes.
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Villianur Temple, Thirukameeswarar Temple
A Shiva temple where Shiva is worshiped as Kameeswarar and his consort Parvati is depicted as Kokilamba Amman. The temple has a number of shrines, with those of Kameeswarar, his consort KokilambaAmman and Ranganathar being the most prominent. The original complex is believed to have been built by Cholas, with later additions from different ruling dynasties.
Another popular Roman Catholic church in the city. The original structure was built in Gothic architecture in 1745 by Kanakaraya Mudali, the longest serving dubash of the French East India Company. During the opening of the church, Mudali hosted a feast that included all castes and religions, the first of its kind that is recorded in the history of South India. It is believed that the church was destroyed by the British in 1761 and was later rebuilt in 1830. It has hourly prayers and daily services.
Oussudu Lake
The largest lake of Pondicherry and home to around 200 species of birds. About 40 species of migratory birds visit the sanctuary after November annually, including golden oriole, open-bill stork, tailor bird, painted stork, white ibis, white-breasted water-hen and spotted owlets. The lake also has boats run by PTDC.
The Science Demonstration Corner conducts live demonstrations and experiments to groups of visitors and students. The Children's Corner offers simple experiments for children. A workshop equipped with tools and tackles is provided for maintenance of the exhibits and development of new ones.
A nice park, though a little in disarray. An aquarium, maintained by the Directorate of Fisheries, is also a must-see while in the garden.
A beach known for its white sands, clear waters, and surrounding coconut groves.Activities include swimming, jet skiing, kayaking, nature trails, bird watching, etc. There are also facilities like relaxation in sit-out areas and umbrella huts.