Manakula Vinayagar Temple

Manakula Vinayagar Temple is a Hindu temple, dedicated to the god Ganesha situated in the Union Territory of Puducherry, India. It is a popular pilgrimage site and tourist destination in Puducherry. In India, this is the only Ganesh temple with a tower covered fully with gold. In Tamil 'Manal' means sand and 'Kulam' means pond near the sea, earlier which was full of sand around a pond.

The golden chariot was made purely on the basis of the collection of donations from the devotees. At present most of the devotees are very much interested to fulfil their prayer by pulling the Golden chariot inside the temple on payment of fixed fees. Devotees also perform Wedding Festival to Vinayaka with silver chariot which they pull. Devotees also undertake to feed the visitors

A number of festivals and celebrations are conducted at the temple all throughout the year, yet Brahmothsavam, a 24-day long festival, is the most important one. Those leaving Pondicherry seek the blessings of Manakula Vinayakar for an incident-free journey and successful completion of their job at the other end.The temple is not only visited by Hindu followers but Christians too. Manakula Vinayagar Temple is highly coveted among Hindu devotees and tourists, travelling from all parts of the country.