Chest opened
+${chestReward.xp} XP
Explorer
NOUVEAU ×${chestReward.collectible.quantity}
tapez pour fermer

See the monuments around you in AR Open chests in the app

Around Us is built for your phone — point your camera at the streets and discover the monuments and places around you in augmented reality. Around Us is built for your phone — chests unlock when you walk, explore and capture nearby places.

•

Enable Location

We need your location to show you interesting places around you

Discover nearby places

Find interesting locations and hidden gems around you

Precise directions

Get accurate directions and distances to places

Your location is never shared with other users. It's only used when you tap the location button.

Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine

Log in to your account

Start exploring — it's free

Trusted by 93,119 travelers worldwide

Continue with Google
Continue with Apple
or

We will send you a code to connect

By continuing, you accept our Terms and Conditions and our Privacy Policy

Check your inbox

We've sent a pincode in your inbox. Please enter the code below.

Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine

Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine, Gothic Revival Catholic shrine in Villianur, India.

Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine is a church building with Gothic architectural elements located in Villianur, Puducherry. The complex features a central chapel structure, and a pond sits near the entrance to the grounds.

MEP missionaries bought land at Villianur in 1867 and began a chapel at Kanuvapet after negotiations with the authorities of the Thirukameswarer Gogilambigai Temple; construction took about ten years. Father Tarbes, a cousin of Bernadette Soubirous, became parish priest, and the chapel was the first outside Lourdes named for Our Lady of Lourdes. A statue arrived from Lourdes on 4 April 1877. Pope Leo XIII's decree of 21 February 1886 declared the site a shrine, and Archbishop Laouënan crowned the statue on 8 May 1886 before some 40,000 people.

The shrine is the setting for a major feast with nine days of novena prayers, ending with a ceremonial procession where a decorated cart moves through Villianur's streets. Worshippers gather here to pray together and participate in this long-standing tradition.

The shrine lies in Villianur, about 11 km from Puducherry and 30 km from Villupuram on the Villupuram road. The annual feast begins with novena prayers and flag hoisting on the sixth day after Easter, with the feast day on the fifteenth day after Easter. A foot pilgrimage from Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Pondicherry, roughly 12 km, sets off on the second Saturday of October.

The shrine holds a statue of Our Lady that was brought directly from France in 1877 and has remained central to worship here. This statue connects the place to the European pilgrimage site and holds deep religious meaning for visitors.

The community of curious travelers

AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,119 contributors worldwide.

Start exploring
Location
Architectural style
Gothic Revival
GPS coordinates
11.91126,79.76066
Latest update
October 25, 2026 07:41
Reviews
Share your experience

No review yet

Discussions
Start a discussion...

No discussion yet

« Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine - Gothic Revival Catholic shrine in Villianur, India » is provided by Around Us (aroundus.com). Images and texts are derived from Wikimedia project under a Creative Commons license. You are allowed to copy, distribute, and modify copies of this page, under the conditions set by the license, as long as this note is clearly visible.

Discover hidden gems everywhere you go!

From secret cafés to breathtaking viewpoints, skip the crowded tourist spots and find places that match your style. Our app makes it easy with voice search, smart filtering, route optimization, and insider tips from travelers worldwide. Download now for the complete mobile experience.

Around Us App Screenshot
❝

A unique approach to discovering new places❞

— Le Figaro

❝

All the places worth exploring❞

— France Info

❝

A tailor-made excursion in just a few clicks❞

— 20 Minutes

Around Us
Travel Guide & Maps
Download

Send to your phone

QR Code
1

Open the camera app on your mobile.

2

Point at the QR code with your camera. A notification will appear.

3

Tap the notification to open the link.