Immaculate Conception Cathedral
The cathedral of the Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore, built 1770-1791 on the site of a 1689 Jesuit church.
Overview
The Immaculate Conception Cathedral is the seat of the Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore. The present building dates from 1770-1791.
The Immaculate Conception Cathedral is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore. Wikipedia traces it to a church founded by the Jesuits in 1689, which the Dutch demolished the following year. The present cathedral was built between 1770 and 1791 and consecrated by Bishop Champenois on 20 June 1791. It is described as Herrerian in style, with a choir loft added in 1905 and the sanctuary remodelled in 1970.
It was formerly known as St. Paul's Church, and locally as Samba Kovil. Inside there are altars dedicated to St. Joseph, the Sacred Heart, St. Theresa of Lisieux and Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, along with a baptismal font and a grotto; a Christ the King statue installed by Bishop Colas in 1933 stands in the grounds. Masses are held in Tamil and English, and the feast of the Immaculate Conception on 8 December is the main annual celebration.
The cathedral sits in the heritage part of town and is easy to combine with a walk through White Town. Opening hours and any fee were not found in the sources used.
Entry fees
Fee information currently needs verification.
No entry fee or ticket information found.
We only show an amount when a source backs it. Prices change, so confirm locally before you go.
Opening hours
Opening hours have not been confirmed by a reliable source yet.
No visiting hours found.
Visitor information
- Best time to visit
- November to February
- Best time of day
- Morning outside Mass times
- How long to spend
- 30 minutes
- Families
- Suitable for families
Good to know
- Dress modestly and keep quiet during services (general practice)
Location
Photos
The cathedral facade. Photo: BishkekRocks / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 Cathedral from the street. Photo: Nithi Anand from Paris, France / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 Interior. Photo: Flickr user Melanie-m / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 Interior detail. Photo: Dey.sandip / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0 Front gate. Photo: Pinakpani / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Frequently asked questions
When was the Immaculate Conception Cathedral built?
The present church was built between 1770 and 1791 and consecrated on 20 June 1791, per Wikipedia; the Jesuits first built a church here in 1689.
Information sources
Where the facts on this page come from, and what still needs confirming.
Information last checked 7 October 2026
Not available yet
- Visiting hours
- Entry fee confirmation
- Street address
- Wikipedia – Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Pondicherry · Encyclopedia
Destinations near Puducherry
Tamil Nadu
Madurai
Madurai is an ancient temple city on the Vaigai river in southern Tamil Nadu, centred on the Meenakshi Amman Temple.
10 attractions
Karnataka
Mysuru
Mysuru (Mysore) is a heritage city in southern Karnataka, the seat of the Wadiyar dynasty and home to Mysore Palace.
10 attractions
Kerala
Munnar
Munnar is a tea-plantation hill town in Kerala's Idukki district, set at about 1,600 m in the Western Ghats where three rivers meet.
10 attractions