Aayi Mandapam — Attraction in Puducherry

A very tall, white monument - Mantap Built in Nepolen III's time Right in the centre of the Bharathi Park Majestic Looking structure Commemorates Water supply to the French Pondicherry (Ref to our Photos for the real view)

An interesting story behind Aayi Mandap: The King Krishnadevaraya (of Vijayanagara Empire), while traveling through Pondicherry, saw a beautiful building. The king was amazed at the building's architecture and its carvings. The religious king thought it was a temple. But from the locals, the he came to know that it is Brothel run by a Lady, Aayi (Aayi meaning ‘Mother’ or mother’s sister) !!!

The king was shocked and asked his soldiers to bring the prostitute to him and break the building! The prostitute, Aayi, was came and pleaded for mercy. Aayi, in a desperate plea, asked the king, permission to break down her house by herself and the king agreed – she did it.

In its place a water tank was dug for the drinking purpose of the people around. The place was, from then, known as Aayi Kulam (Pond of Aayi – still existing – Ref: Google Map).

Years later, when the French made Pondicherry as their capital in India, they faced acute water shortage. An architect came from France (Monsieur Lamairesse) who built a 5 km long tunnel from Aayi Kulam to the French town. Hearing the whole story, the French king (Napoleon III) ordered the architect to build a monument for Aayi. The monument is in Greco-Roman style at the centre of today’s Barathi Park. On top of the monument is a French fleur de lis.

There is a stone plaque written in old Tamil & Latin paying tribute to Aayi and thanking her for providing water for the people of the town.

An artificial, large ‘Conch’, near this Mantap also is very beautiful, along with many other beautiful areas within the Bharathi Park – (Reviewed...

AAYI MANDAPAM Aayi mandapa is also known as a white monument of Pondicherry, India, built during the time of Napoleon-III, (1792 to 1815 CE) Emperor of France. It is situated in the centre of Bharati Park. On 4 side of the base of the mandapam has inscriptions are in Tamil (old and the present fond) and in French languages. A lady called Aayi’s bust image is installed at the centre of the mandapam. The Aayi was a courtesan, who had a big house at Mutharaiyar Palayam. When Vijayanagara King Krishnarayar (Krishnadevarayar 1509 to 1529 CE) and his Minister Appaji, passing her brightly lighted house, the fragrant smell and akil smoke, which comes out, they mistook it was a temple and worshipped. The people told that it is not a temple and it is a house, belongs to a courtesan. Krishnarayar and his minister, felt that they had committed a sin by worshipping a courtesan’s house. So Krishnarayar ordered to demolish the house, create a well and a tank/kulam/ reservoir on the same place. Aayi, fell on the feet of Krishnaraya and got permission to create well and the kulam through her own money. After two centuries, in 1765 CE, the French took over the Pondicherry from British. French settled in Pondicherry white town and established Quarters, Governor’s residence, Churches, etc. During 19th century, they faced severe shortage of water. Considering the potential, the French decided to dig a cannel to bring water from Aayi kulam to white town, and the same was executed by their engineer Pierre Eugune Lamairesse. This was brought to the notice of Nepoleon –III. Considering the noble cause done by her, an image of the Aayi was installed in this mandapam during Nepoleon –III’s reign. The black stone image of Aayi is adorned with forehead chutti (Nethi Chutti), necklace, chains, ear rings in the elongated earlobes, and nose ring with chain. She looks like a traditional South Indian Village women. The Aayi mandapam was built in Greco Roman architecture. 4 corinthian pillars in each sides, supports the triangular pediment. One side of the triangular pediment is with a stucco bas-relief of a woman with Roman headgear in reclining posture. Two pots are also shown on the right side of the woman. Flower motifs are shown below the triangular pediment. A stucco large size ornamental vessel is on the top of the Mandapam. This may signifies the noble cause of creating a water source to Pondicherry, by the woman Aayi. The Aayi Mandapam, has become an official emblem of the union territory Pondicherry, after the independence. There are four inscriptions tablets, inscribed in present & old Tamil, Latin languages are fixed on all the 4 side of the base of the mandapam. These inscriptions records the History of the woman Aayi and her noble cause.

LEGENDA.(In Latin Language) REMOTISSIMO TEMPORE, KICHNARAYER CUM APPAZİAYER MİNİSTRO VESPERTIN İTER FACIENS, AYES BAYADERÆ DOMUM SPLENDİDİSSİME İLLUMINATAM PROXI ASPEXIT ET TEMPLUM ESSE CREDENS, ADORAVIT. ERRORIS, PAULO POST, CONSCIUS, DOMUM EVERTİ JUSSİT. ET STAGNUM IN IPSC LOCO CAVARI QUOD MOUTREPALEONIS STAGNUM ET PUTEUM DE SUO INSTITUEN ET NOMEN FONTIBUS IMPONENDİ, BAYADERÆ AYES SUPPLICITER DEPRECAN VENIA DATA EST. FATUR QUOQUE BANGARVAIKAL CANALEM BANGARI BAYADERAM ET BAHUR மரபு வழிச் செய்தி வெகு காலத்துக்கு முன், கிருஷ்ணதேவராயர், அமைச்சர் அப்பாஜி ஐயரோடு மாலையி பயணித்தபோது, தீபங்களால் அலங்கரிக்கப்பட்ட ஆயி என்ற தாசியின் மாளிகை ஆலயமென்று எண்ணி வணங்கினார். சற்று நேரம் கழித்துத் தன் தவறை உணர்ந்த கிருஷ்ணதேவராயர், அம்மாளிகை இடித்துவிட்டு, அவ்விடத்தில் ஒரு குளத்தை வெட்டி, ஒரு கிணற்றையும் தோண்ட ஆணையிட்டார். தன்னை மன்னித்து, அப்பணியைத் தானே செய்வதற்கு அனுமதி கோரிய ஆயியின் வேண்டுகோள் ஏற்கப்பட்டது. முத்தரையர்பாளையத்து நீருற்றுகள் ஆயி பெயரால் வழங்கப்படுகின்றன. தாசி பங்காரி, பங்காரி வாய்க்காலையும், அவளது சகோதரி தாசி சிங்காரி பாகூர் ஏரியையும் வெட்டினார்கள் என்றும் கூறப்படுகிறது. ஆயி மண்டபத்தின் மேற்குச் சுவரின் தெற்குப் புறத்தில் உள்ள LEGENDA இலத்தின் மொழிக் கல்வெட்டின்...

Aayi Mandapam is the calm heart of White Town. The ivory-white pavilion glows against the green of Bharathi Park—clean lines, Corinthian columns, and a proud urn on top. It’s not a “big-ticket” sight; it’s a pause. I loved sitting on the benches, listening to birds and watching families stroll past. Come for 15 quiet minutes, leave with a lighter mind (and a pretty photo). Evenings are lovely when the lights come on and the breeze picks up.

Quick tips: • Best time: early morning or golden hour. • It’s inside Bharathi Park—no tickets, but the park gates close in the evening. • Respect the space; don’t climb the structure, and keep the lawns clean.

ஆயி மண்டபம்—பாண்டிச்சேரியின் அமைதியான இதயம். கொஞ்ச நேரம் அமைதியா உட்கார்ந்து காற்றை ரசிங்க.🌿

Note: The monument sits at the center of Bharathi Park in White Town; park hours are typically...