One of the must visit places in Pondicherry is Arikamedu. Arikamedu is a great tourist spot as it has a lot of historical relevance. A lot of students arrive here on study tours periodically. It is located on the banks of the Ariyankuppam River about 4 km from Pondicherry. This place is remembered as a trade centre of the Romans a number of centuries back.

The place was excavated several times and it was concluded that this city was essentially into bead making and fishing and had trade relations with the Romans. A lot of excavated material shows sign of Roman presence here. There are coins, ceramics and other materials excavated here that show a clear Roman connection. Wine was supposed to have been imported whereas exports included textiles, glass, and so on. Chola coins have also been found here. The excavations brought into light several important findings of olden time. There have been references made of this ancient city in Tamil as well as Roman literature. The findings of Arikamedu have been preserved in the Pondicherry museum for all to see.

A present day visitor is not likely to find any specimens of the excavated material. There are the perpendicular walls and the mission house which are the only remnants of the past. The trenches created by the excavations have been filled up. Now the place has a thick mango and coconut plantation. Tourists can take the river cruise which is about 20 minutes and enjoy the view of the Veerampattinam Beach, the Aryankuppam River and the lighthouse. The journey as well as the destination is equally beautiful. This trip down the river is bound to bring you closer to nature.