Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Pondicherry, India

The Basilica has a length of 50 meters and a width of 48 meters. With a height of 18 meters, there is a Latin rite cross shape in the aerial view. The church also has beautiful glass windows along with two spires and a big exterior. There is terracotta craft encircled the glass windows. There are huge interiors with a mixture of moss green, milky white and scarlet with 24 columns holding the entire structure together.

Inside the church, there are 28 glass paintings of saints who were related to the sacred heart of Jesus including the Joan of Arc. A statue of Madonna too is placed on the right side of the altar draped in a blue sari. Numerous changes have been made to the church ever since it was constructed which include the introduction of a Parish Hall, a Grotto to Our Lady of Lourdes, and an Adoration chapel.

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a beautiful place of veneration with a magnificent building in the former French colony of Pondicherry far south of Chennai on the east coast of India. The two front twin towers (spires) of the Church throw a beautiful silhouette during the sunrise and sun down.

The major attractions are the walls with excellent terracotta motifs and superb stained glass windows/ panels, depicting the life of Christ and saints of the Catholic Church. On festival days, in particular Christmas, this place becomes more vibrant with festive mood, pomp and grandeur. Incidentally the city of Pondicherry has a large ex- pat population and is dubbed as mini France where the well educated people speak French. French is being taught in innumerable schools. The church owes its origin to the French missionaries. The Eglise De Sacre Coeur De Jesus Pondicherry, as it is referred to in French, attained the status of basilica in 2011.

Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus built in Gothic architecture is located  on the south boulevard of Pondicherry in Puducherry, Southern  India, Archbishop  of  Pondicherry Mgr. Gandy consecrated in the year 1895. Archdiocese of Pondicherry to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. As wished by Gandy earler, he consecrated the Archdiocese of Pondicherry to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1907.  Parish priest of Cathedral Rev. Fr. Fourcaud commenced the construction of the new church in 1902 and completed it in 1907. Under Mgr. Gandy on 17, December 1907, the blessing of the church and the first mass were  held at the western wing of the present church  and  the new parish surrounding this church was established on 27, January 1908.

The main material used in the church was bricks with well ground lime-sand mix. It is a big church and can accommodate 2000 people and has a length of 50 meter (160feet) and width of 48 meter (157 feet). It was elevated to Basilica in September, 2011. Inscribed near the main entrance of the basilica above the stoups are the Elevation to Basilica Status, Papal Decree of Elevation to Minor Basilica in Latin and in English.  Latin rite cross shape in aerial view is in Gothic style. It is the 24 main columns that hold the structure. The biblical verse from 2 Chronicles 7:16 is written above the entrance door in Latin, “sanctificavi locum istum, ut sit nomen meum ibi” which means “I have consecrated this house, that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there forever.”  The Grotto for Sacred Heart of Jesus facing the City Railway Station were added later. Inside the church there are impressive stained glass panels, devotion of Sacred Heart of Jesus and glass pictures of 28 saints related to the devotion of Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Statues of the four evangelists that were erected stand above them. It is one of the fine churches in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.