Aayi Mandapam

Aayi Mandapam is a historic white monument located at the centre of Bharathi Park in White Town, Puducherry. Built in 1854 during the reign of French Emperor Napoleon III, it features Greco-Roman architecture with ornate columns and floral decorations. Named after Ayi, a courtesan associated with providing water to the town, it is illuminated at night and serves as an iconic landmark and symbol of Puducherry's French colonial heritage.

Visitors can expect a white, Greco-Roman style pavilion set in the middle of Bharathi Park, surrounded by well-maintained lawns, trees, pathways and flower beds. The monument features fluted columns, decorative capitals and a stepped base, illuminated with lights in the evening. The surrounding park offers open space for leisurely walks, seating areas and views of nearby colonial buildings such as Raj Nivas. It is primarily a sightseeing and photography spot within a calm urban park setting.

Aayi Mandapam was erected in 1854 during the reign of Napoleon III, Emperor of France. It commemorates the provision of water to the French settlement of Puducherry. According to local history, it is named after Ayi, a courtesan who demolished her own house to build a water reservoir to supply water to the town during a water scarcity. The monument was built in her honour by the French administration.

The monument is an emblem of Puducherry and a prominent example of French colonial architecture blended with Greco-Roman style. Located in the heart of the former French Quarter, it represents the town's colonial heritage and urban planning, and is a central cultural landmark for festivals, public gatherings and tourism in Bharathi Park.