Manakula Vinayagar Temple - Puducherry

The Manakula Vinayagar Temple is a Hindu temple in the Union Territory of Puducherry, India. Dedicated to the god Ganesha, it serves as both a major pilgrimage centre and a prominent tourist destination. The temple is of considerable antiquity and predates the French occupation of the territory. During the tenure of Dupleix, there were attempts to demolish the temple, but it was spared owing to strong protests from the Hindu population and the threat of British and Maratha invasions of the region. The temple is situated 400 metres west of the Bay of Bengal, 165 km south of Chennai (the capital of Tamil Nadu), 23 km north of Cuddalore, and 35 km east of Viluppuram, Tamil Nadu. The main deity of the temple, Manakula Vinayagar (Pranavamurthy), is oriented towards the east. Historically, the temple was bordered on the east by Orlean Street (now Manakula Vinayagar Koil Street), on the south by Jawaharlal Nehru Street, on the north by Law-de-Louristhon Street, and on the west by a canal running north–south. The temple was renovated in 2015. It is frequently visited by tourists, as it is located within a ten-minute walk of the Beach Road facing the Promenade Beach of Puducherry.