Bahour

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Bahour is a town, commune, taluk and assembly constituency in the Union Territory of Puducherry, India. It covers four non‑contiguous areas, including three of Puducherry’s enclaves, and is about 21 km from Puducherry city. The area is known as the rice bowl of Puducherry because it is ideal for growing paddy.

Bahour is home to Bahour Eri, one of the region’s oldest irrigation lakes, dating back to the Chola period. It is an important landmark and a designated Important Bird Area. Inscriptions call the lake Peria Eri or Kadambu Eri. The lake has historically been maintained by village councils. Ancient stories talk about Devdasi communities helping with public works; two Devdasi sisters, Bangari and Singari, helped build a canal from the Pennaiyar River to the lake and to desilt and renew it.

The area has a rich history, including the Sri Moolanathaswamy Temple, built around the 10th century, which shows Pallava and early Chola architectural influence. Inscriptions mention centers for Sanskrit learning and village administration.

In 2011, Bahour Revenue Village had about 10,927 people (roughly 5,406 men and 5,521 women). A primary health care center serves the town. There are several schools, both government and private. Private colleges include two engineering institutes, Alpha Engineering College and Sri Ganesh Engineering College, and two medical colleges, Gandhi Medical College and Arupadai Veedu Medical College.

Bahour is well connected by road, with frequent buses to Puducherry and Cuddalore, and five RC Roads passing through the town. The Mulanathaswamy Temple is a notable archaeological monument maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.