The Puducherry Museum is located on Saint Louis Street and is open on all days except Mondays and national holidays between 1000-1700 hrs. 

It has a collection of rare bronzes and stone sculptures from the Pallava and Chola periods and artifacts excavated from Arikamedu (an ancient port just 7 kms from city that had trade links with the Roman empires).

The Foyer and Courtyard have various stone statues and a fossilized tree trunk.   On the ground floor, one can see 3 different and interesting transport systems - a coach, a palanquin (sedan chair) and a pousse-pousse (an earlier version of the rickshaw, which required two attendants, one to steer and one to push).

The bronze gallery displays the images of gods and goddesses together with a wide collection of antique temple lamps.

Pre-Christian relics which you will find here, such as remnants of Greek and Roman jars, pieces from the Tsung Periods in China and beads made from glass and precious stones were dug out from the Arikamedu site, just on the outskirts of Puducherry.

The museum also has a Geology room, a shell and fossil room and a collection of handicrafts, coins, church relics and French furniture.

Return to Pondicherry Tourist attractions or Go back to Pondicherry guide