The 1.5 km long promenade running along the beach is the pride of Pondicherry. On the sea front are several landmarks: the statues of Mahatma Gandhi, Jeanne d'Arc and Dupleix, the elegant war memorial raised by the French, the heritage building Mairie, the 27 metre tall old lighthouse, the circular shaped two storied structures on either side of Gandhi maidan.
Thirunallar is 5 kms west of Karaikal. The sanctum sanctorum of Lord Dharbaraneswara Temple holds Siva as the main deity. However, its shrine dedicated to Saneeswaran (Saturn) which figures in the story of Nala-Damayanti; makes this the most famous Saturn temple in India.
The blessings of Saturn are said to be overwhelming, while its wrath causes great misery. The temple hosts a mammoth festival (Shani peyarchi) , each time Saturn moves from one sign of the zodiac to another.
The Varadaraja Temple (12th century) is the most important Vishnu temple in town, located just west of Gandhi Road, off Tyagraja Street. Here, Narasimha sits behind Venkatachalapathy, the main deity.
This 18th century Siva Shrine in Pondicherry houses stone inscriptions and a swayambhulinga. Recently renovated, the gopuram (tower) is brilliantly colourful.
You can locate the architecturally fine sight of the Sri Gokilambal Thirukameswara Temple, 10 kms from Pondicherry. Thousands of devotees converge here for a ten-day annual festival (Brah1lWtsatlam) , held during May -June along with the appearance of the full moon. The massive 15 m tall temple chariot, basking in finery, is taken out on a procession by a devout crowd. It`s a remarkable sight. The Lt. Governor of Pondicherry ritually joins the heave. A secular practice, carried over from the French days, when the French Governeurs themselves used to draw the car out on the streets.
St. James Church situated in the Kashmere Gate area is believed to be the oldest surviving Church of Delhi. James Skinner, the son of a Scottish father and a Rajput mother, built it. The architecture is heavily influenced by the western classical design and a Greek cross plan. The porticoes built on the three sides were conceptualized to symbolize the three arms of the cross. The eastern arm contains the altar, while a dome covers the middle segment of the church. St. James Church was badly damaged in 1857 but in 1865, it was renovated again.
Digambara Jain temple dates back to the time of Aurangzeb's reign and is famous as Delhi's oldest temple. It is situated right opposite the Red Fort, at the entrance of the main road. It was built in 1658 AD, but modifications and additions are going on ever since, and it remains a haven of tranquility amidst the noisy and chaotic main street of Chandni Chowk. The temple authorities also run a Bird hospital & hundreds of pigeons and other birds are there in the temple complex.
Majnu Ka Tilla is situated on the banks of Yamuna River and is famous for a Sikh shrine called Gurdwara Majnu Ka Tilla. This gurudwara is located on the G.T. road and is dedicated to Guru Nanak. It was expanded to a white marble structure in 1980s and is situated close to the Vidhan Sabha Metro Station.
Bahai faith represents the equality of mankind and oneness of its soul. The same feeling has been successfully transcended into the beautifully and scientifically degined Bahai Temple, designed by Fariburz Sahba, an Iranian-born Canadian architect, in shape of the lotus flower, symbol of purity throughout India and predominantly celebrates the number nine, which not only represents the highest digit but also unity in the Bahai faith.
Unique in architectural style, Khirki Masjid is only one of its kinds. It is a small quadrangle-shaped mosque closed on top unlike the usual style of mosques in which there is an open courtyard for the devotees to offer their prayers to God. Khirki Masjid has beautiful convoluted latticework on its windows, which were principally carved stone screens and can be said to be the precursor of later magnificent Mughal buildings marked by the intricate patterns and delicate façades.