In a bid to promote Puducherry’s rich architectural heritage, as many as seven heritage buildings in the famed Tamil and French quarters in the Boulevard will be opened to public from February 18.
For the first time, visitors will be allowed access to Ananda Ranga Pillai House, Lycee Francais de Pondichery, Ecole Francaise d’Extreme – Orient, Ashram Library, Institut Francaise de Pondicherry, Cluny Embroidery Centre and the Bharathiar Museum.
The Open House is on the lines of the Journees du Patrimoine in France , an enormous celebration of the country’s rich architectural heritage. During the event in September, heritage buildings will open their doors to the public.
“The initiative was conceived by INTACH along with People for Pondicherry’s Heritage as part of the month long Pondicherry Heritage Festival 2017. The Open House at each of the designated heritage buildings is from 2.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. on different days starting from February 18.”
“The idea is to promote the city’s tangible and intangible heritage such as music, festivals, dance, drama and temples. Each guided tour will be conducted by an expert who will guide the heritage lovers and explain about the building’s rich architectural history and heritage,” Ashok Panda, co-convenor of INTACH told The Hindu.
INTACH along with Urban Design Collective, Story Trails and Soulful Pondy will also be organising four different types of Heritage walks from February 19 to enable tourists visiting Puducherry to get a complete synopsis of the former French enclave, traditional architecture and closely observe the nature of its architectural traditions.
The Heritage walk would cover the Bharathi Park, walking tour of the Tamil and French quarters in the boulevard. Urban Design Collective will launch the first heritage walk “Revisit Pondicherry – A Jane Jacobs Inspired Photowalk in the French quarter on February 19. Heritage lovers can take photographs during the walk. The participants will also be provided with brochures carrying information of the heritage structures covered in the walk. “ We want people of Pondicherry from different fields to participate in this month long Festival. It should be a people's event where we all celebrate our heritage in its various forms and diversity."
To experience the spirit of Puducherry it is essential to walkthrough the old town and closely observe the nature of its architectural traditions. The heritage walks have been organised with a view of offering a sensitive revelation of the city to the tourists and the citizens themselves. Not many residents of Puducherry know about the Ananda Ranga Pillai House and the Ashram Library which are amongst the oldest heritage structures in the city.
