 Arikamedu is a coastal fishing village , under the Ariankuppam Panchayat , on the southeastern coast of India , 4 kilometres ( 2 @.@ 5 mi ) from Pondicherry , on the Pondicherry @-@ Cuddalore road ; it was originally a French colonial town . It is located on the bank of the Ariyankuppam River ( for most part of the year the river is considered a lagoon ) , also known as Virampattinam River , which forms the northern outlet of the Gingee River as it joins the Bay of Bengal . As the site is located at the bend of the river it provides protection to sea @-@ going vessels that dock there . The site has been subject to extensive archaeological excavations . The archaeological site is spread over an area of 34 @.@ 57 acres ( 13 @.@ 99 ha ) and has been under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India since 1982 . 
 Arikamedu is a coastal fishing village , under the Ariankuppam Panchayat , on the southeastern coast of India , 4 kilometres ( 2 @.@ 5 mi ) from Pondicherry , on the Pondicherry @-@ Cuddalore road ; it was originally a French colonial town . It is located on the bank of the Ariyankuppam River ( for most part of the year the river is considered a lagoon ) , also known as Virampattinam River , which <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>forms</mark></a> the northern outlet of the Gingee River as it <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>joins</mark></a> the Bay of Bengal . As the site is located at the bend of the river it <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>provides</mark></a> protection to sea @-@ going vessels <a href='null_relcl' title='4'><mark>that</mark></a>dock there . The site <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>has</mark></a> been subject to extensive archaeological excavations . The archaeological site is spread over an area of 34 @.@ 57 acres ( 13 @.@ 99 ha ) and <a href='uninflect' title='6'><mark>has</mark></a> been under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India since 1982 . 
Arikamedu is a coastal fishin village , under the Ariankuppam Panchayat , on the southeastern coast of India , 4 kilometres ( 2 @.@ 5 mi ) from Pondicherry , on the Pondicherry @-@ Cuddalore road ; it was originally a French colonial town . It is located on the bank of the Ariyankuppam River ( fir most part of the year the river is considered a lagoon ) , also known as Virampattinam River , which form the northern outlet of da Gingee River as it join the Bay of Bengal . As the site is located at the bend of tdariver it provide protection to sea @-@ going vessels dock dere . Thdaite have been subject to extensive archaeological excavations . Thedachaeological site is spread over an area of 34 @.@ 57 acres ( 13 @.@ 99 ha ) and have been under the control of the dahaeological Survey of India since 1982 .