Poondi Madha Basilica

Poondi Matha Basilica
Basic information
Location	Poondi, Tamil Nadu, India
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
Year consecrated	Eighteenth century beginning
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Minor Basilica
Architectural description
Architectural style	Gothic and French architecture
Specifications

Our Lady of Lourdes Basilica, Poondi, is a Catholic pilgrimage centre located in Tamil Nadu, South India. Poondi is a small village located in Thiruvaiyaru Taluk (also spelled as Taluka), about 35 km away from Thanjavur.

History

Rev. Fr. Constantine Joseph Beschi S.J., an Italian Jesuit missionary, built the Church of Mary Queen of Immaculate Conception between 1714 and 1718. Poondi Madha Shrine was officially classified a Minor Basilica by Pope John Paul II on 3 August, 1999.

Shrine

File:Poondi Church Side View.jpg

Poondi Church Side View

The present structure of the shrine has a mixture of Gothic and French architectural styles. The facade above the portico has a row of statues of the Twelve Apostles, St. Francis Xavier and Fr. Constantine Joseph Beschi. The church has a relic of the True Cross, believed to be the one on which Christ was crucified.

Gallery

• Poondi Basilica 2.jpg

  Poondi Basilica View

• Poondi Basilica 1.jpg

  Poondi Basilica pleasant View

• Poondi Church Beauty.jpg

  Holy Land Gallery in Poondi

See also

• Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health
• Our Lady of Snows Basilica
• Elakurichi
• Kamanayakkanpatti
• Our Lady of Snow Kallikulam
• The Perianayagi Madha Shrine
• Shrine of Our Lady of Health Harihar, Karnataka

References

Indian Oil Petrol Bunk - Poondi Madha Kovil, Thanjavur

External links

• Official website