- Timings
- About 9 am to 7 pm
- Best time
- November to March
- Distance from Chennai airport
- About 150 km
- Nearest railway station
- Puducherry (under 2 km)
The story of Aayi
The story goes back to the sixteenth century. Aayi owned a fine house that a visiting ruler, identified in local tradition as Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara, is said to have mistaken for a temple. Angered at the mistake, he had the house pulled down. Aayi then dug a tank on the site, which became an important water source for the town.
Centuries later, under the French, water from this area was used to supply Puducherry, and the monument was built in the nineteenth century, during the reign of Napoleon III, in gratitude for Aayi's gift.
What to see
The mandapam is a neat classical structure of columns and arches, set among the lawns and trees of Bharathi Park, a pleasant shady spot for a break. The park is surrounded by colonial buildings, including the Raj Nivas and old administrative offices.
Timings and best time
The park generally opens at 9 am and closes at 7 pm. November to March brings the most pleasant weather for walking around the French quarter; mornings and late afternoons are best.
How to reach
Puducherry railway station is under 2 km away. From Chennai International Airport the drive along the East Coast Road is about 150 km. Good roads link Puducherry with Chennai, Bengaluru and the rest of Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry is an easy trip from Virudhachalam as well.
Nearby
Rock Beach and the Promenade, the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, the Manakula Vinayagar temple and the Sacred Heart basilica on South Boulevard are all close. Many visitors see the monument as part of a morning heritage walk through the White Town, stopping for coffee in one of the cafés on the way. Auroville, Veerampattinam beach and the Chunnambar boat house make good half-day trips.
Also nearby
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