#arikamedu

It is located on the banks of the Ariyankuppam River about 4 km from Pondicherry. This place is remembered as a trade centre of the Romans a number of centuries back.One of the must visit places in Pondicherry is Arikamedu. Arikamedu is a great tourist spot as it has a lot of historical relevance. A lot of students arrive here on study tours periodically.

Attractions

Roman piece of pottery from Arezzo, Latium, found at Virampatnam

This place is assumed to be the place of Roman settlements nearly 2000 years ago. Remains of a French Jesuit Mission House assumed to be built in 18th century are also visible here. Historians and archaeological enthusiasts are frequent visitors here.

The place was excavated several times and it was concluded that this city was essentially into bead making and fishing and had trade relations with the Romans. A lot of excavated material shows sign of Roman presence here. There are coins, ceramics and other materials excavated here that show a clear Roman connection. Wine was supposed to have been imported whereas exports included textiles, glass, and so on. Chola coins have also been found here. The excavations brought into light several important findings of olden time. There have been references made of this ancient city in Tamil as well as Roman literature. The findings of Arikamedu have been preserved in the Pondicherry museum for all to see.

The Ancient Trade

Wine seems to have been a major import as traces of Amphora jars suggest.’Yavanas’ and wine have been mentioned in the same breath in Tamil literature- “having increased the joy by giving to the girls of shining bangles, who every day have taken in hands, vessels beautified by gold, to drink the cool, fragrant wine brought by the Yavanas in beautiful bowls”. Besides wine Garum sauce and Olive oil were also imported.

Arikamedu Today

Except for the perpendicular walls and mission house there is not much that can be seen on the surface as the excavated trenches have been filled up. Coconut and Mango trees are there in abundance. Its almost like they are intent upon reminding one to step out of the time machine into the realm of reality. The plantations take your breath away. The mangoes hanging from the lower branches feel like the forbidden fruit and the orchard itself truns into the garden of Eden.

River Cruise

To make the trip as interesting as the place PT & TDC conducts river cruises that take you from the New Port in Uppalam to Arikamedu in a boat. It takes 20 minutes to reach Arikamedu. The river cruise is an experience in itself. On the way one can see the lighthouse, the mouth of the Ariyankuppam river. Veerampattinam beach and lots and lots of coconut trees. The trip is as fascinating as the destination.

How To Get There

By Air The nearest airport to Pondicherry is Chennai International airport, which is around 135 km away. Chennai is well connected to all airports in India and many cities abroad. Nearest Airports Chennai International Airport (MAA) – 124 km Tiruchirappalli Domestic Airport (TRZ) – 180 km By Train Villupuram railhead is the nearest railway station to Pondicherry. Villupuram is connected to Trichy, Madurai and Chennai. By Bus Frequent bus services are available from Pondicherry to places like Thanjaur, Trichy, Chidamabaram and Coimbatore. Private tourist buses ply from Chennai, Madurai and Bangalore to Pondicherry. Tourist bus charge is about Rs 3 to Rs 4 per km.

Photo Gallery

The Famous Archaeological Place In Pondichery- Arikamedu

Roman piece of pottery from Arezzo, Latium, found at Virampatnam

The archaeological site of Arikamedu, Puducherry, India.

Examples of artifacts found at Arikamedu include this piece of Roman pottery, and this piece of grey pottery with engravings.

Sir Mortimer Wheeler's choice of sites to excavate in the Indian subcontinent was determined by his primary concern, i.e. to establish a chronological sequence for the subcontinent and to link developments in its cultural history with the Graeco-Roman world. [...] It was here that pottery of Mediterranean inspiration had been found and led Wheeler to excavate the site, which he later termed an Indo-Roman trading station.

[...A] Myth debunked by the recent excavations is the identification of the site as an Indo-Roman trading station. It has been argued that the evidence for a Roman presence at Arikamedu was only circumstantial. More significantly, the archaeological record has confirmed that Arikamedu occupied a nodal position in the inland, coastal, and trans-oceanic networks. The site continued in the 'post-Roman trade' period, i.e. from the third to the seventh centuries CE, though the nature of the site changed over time.