Featured here is the Manakula Vinayagar Temple one of the famous ancient temples in Pondicherry (Puducherry) a Union Territory situated in the southern part of Indian sub-continent. Lord Ganapathi also called by the name Vinayaga in south India is the main deity. The name Manakula was derived from a pond (kulam in Tamil) that was there in the western side of the temple and due to the nearness to the sea it was surrounded by sand (manal in Tamil). It is said that the temple existed even before the establishment of French colonies.