Dedicated to the god Ganesa, it is a popular pilgrimage site and tourist destination in Puducherry.

During the tenure of Dupleix, there were attempts to destroy the temple, but it was spared owing to strong protests from the Hindu population and the threat of British and Maratha invasion of the territory.

Puducherry might be a place full of churches but Manakula Vinayagar Temple is highly coveted among Hindu devotees and tourists, traveling from all parts of the country.

A six-inch radius pit runs on the left side of the peetam, the depth of which could not be measured and it is always full.

At present most of the devotees are very much interested to fulfill their prayer by pulling the Golden chariot inside the temple on payment of fixed fees.

Nearly 300 years before a saint (referred as Siddar in Tamil language) standing 6ft tall said to have got enlightenment from this deity and attained Samadhi in this temple.