Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a striking Gothic-style Catholic church in Puducherry, stands out with its pointed arches, stained-glass windows and twin spires, reflecting the town's French colonial Catholic heritage. The church remains an active place of worship for Puducherry's significant Catholic community, its interior notable for detailed stained glass depicting scenes from the life of Christ.

As one of several significant churches surviving from the French colonial period, the basilica offers a striking architectural counterpoint to Puducherry's Hindu temples and Aurobindo ashram, reflecting the town's genuinely layered religious and colonial history.

Built in the early 20th century during the French colonial period, the basilica reflects the strong Catholic missionary presence established under French administration, which left Puducherry with several significant church buildings alongside its more famous French residential architecture.

In central Puducherry, easily reached on foot.