Pondicherry Museum: Timings, Entry Fee, Inside View

Visiting Pondicherry, fondly known as Puducherry, is like a blissful dream full of sandy beaches, laid back streets dotted with colourful houses and European architecture. But what adds more fun and excitement to your trip is the range of museums in the city. They are said to have an interesting collection of displays that give you a glimpse of the history of Pondicherry and also throw some light on life from the bygone eras.

If you are planning a trip to Pondicherry then these museums should be a part of your itinerary.

Pondicherry Museum

Also known as Puducherry Museum, it is a wholesome cradle of artefacts that date back to three different eras. Visitors at the Pondicherry Museum get to see the archaeological digs from Arikamedu that once served as a trading port for Greeks and Romans from the 2nd century BCE to the 8th century BCE. Adding to the glory are the rare bronze & stone statues, arms, and burial urns from the Chola and Pallava dynasties. The third is the era of French Colonialism in Pondicherry displayed through the church leftovers and French furniture at the museum.

Major attractions of Pondicherry Museum

• 81 bronze sculptures from the Chola Dynasty
• A gigantic transportation system from yesteryears that includes a coach and a palanquin

Timings and Entry Fee

The timings of Pondicherry Museum for visitors are from 9 am to 6:30 pm. It is open every day except on Mondays and the national holidays. The entry fee for adults is Rs. 10 (Indian nationals) and Rs. 50 (foreign nationals). For children, it is just Rs. 5.

Bharathiyar Museum

Bharathiyar Museum in Pondicherry is named after the poet-patriot of the yesteryears, Subramanya Bharathi. This Tamil poet arrived in Pondicherry as a fugitive from British India in 1908 and inspired the people with his finest compositions of poems and plays.

Bharathiyar Museum was built as a tribute to his work and displays a wide array of texts, photographs, and letters created by him. The building is divided into three sections, the first displays a collection of photographs of the people who inspired him, the second section displays a collection of his journals, and the third section displays his family portrait, patriotic poems, and letters he wrote to the freedom fighters of that time.

Major attractions of Bharathiyar Museum

• Patriotic and romantic compositions that inspire the locals and tourists 

Timings and Entry Fee

The museum is open for visitors from 9 am to 6:30 pm every day except on Mondays and national holidays. The entry fee for the same can be confirmed at the time of visit. 

Jawahar Toy Museum

The Jawahar Toy Museum in Pondicherry is one of the rarest toy museums in the country that displays an assortment of ornamented dolls, soft toys and puppets. It is a small fairyland that is extremely popular among children and serves as a fascinating place for them to gain knowledge about different Indian cultures.

Major attractions of Jawahar Toy Museum

• A cute and tiny figurate of Lord Ganesha
• 120 ornamented dolls in traditional costumes and portraying different Indian cultures.

Timings and Entry Fee

The timings of Jawahar Toy Museum in Pondicherry for visitors are from 9 am to 6:30 pm. It is open every day except on Mondays and national holidays, and the entry is free.

 Bharathidasan Museum 

The Bharathidasan Museum was a former home to the famous Puducherry born poet and scholar named Bharathidasan. Owing to his devotion to the famous Subramanya Bharathi, he became more famous as Bharathidasas and is well-celebrated for his poems, plays and scripts.

His home was transformed into a museum cum research centre to pay homage to his spectacular compositions that continue to inspire many. The museum displays his work from the golden age of Tamil literature, and if you have any literary interest then this place is a must-visit on your trip.

Major attractions of Bharathidasan Museum

• Patriotic movie scripts that made him earn many accolades
• His song that was adopted by the Government of Puducherry Union Territory as the state song

Timings and Entry Fee

The Bharathidasan Museum in Pondicherry is open for visitors from 9 am to 1 pm and 2 pm to 6 pm every day except on Mondays and national holidays. The entry is free for everyone.

 Ananda Ranga Pillai Museum

Ananda Ranga Pillai Museum is one of the popular museums in Pondicherry that sheds light on 18th-century French colonialism in the city. In addition to the old paintings and diaries on display inside the museum, the building’s unique architecture is what attracts the guests in the city.

The museum was built around 1738 ACE in French and Indian style architecture and was among the few buildings that survived the Siege of Pondicherry in 1761. It once served as a home to Ananda Ranga Pillai who worked as a translator for the then Governor of French Pondicherry named Lord Dupleix.

Major attractions of Ananda Ranga Pillai Museum

• Old diaries that contain a wealth of information about the 18th century Pondicherry

Timings and Entry Fee

The Ananda Ranga Pillai Museum in Pondicherry is open for visitors from 9 am to 6 pm every day except on Mondays and national holidays. The entry is free for everyone.

Underwater Sea Museum

India is ready to get its first underwater museum in Pondicherry. It will be located off the coast and surrounded by tropical beaches, making for a perfect Pondicherry sightseeing place.

A decommissioned minesweeper INS Cuddalore will be remodelled into a sea museum with the help of the Indian Navy working in collaboration with the National Centre of Coastal Research under the Government of India. It will be deployed 7 km away from the coastline and 26 m deep inside the sea. The surface of the deployed ship will be a breeding ground for algae and fungi that will attract marine animals, further providing a beautiful sight for the visitors.

The museum will not only boost tourism in Pondicherry but also help enhance the ecosystem and sustainable development of the Indian fishing industry.

Major attractions of Underwater Sea Museum

• Exotic fishes and sea turtles
• The natural habitat of algae, fungi, and barnacles
• 60 km long site for snorkelling and scuba diving 

Timings and Entry Fee

The Underwater Sea Museum in Pondicherry will open soon. Timings and entry fee for the same be updated post the government announcement.

Get ready to explore the French way of living through the interesting Pondicherry Museums. Do not forget to check out the Pondicherry tour packages online to find the best deals.