About Pondicherry

Pondicherry is a peaceful coastal town with a great history about it. It was the capital of French Colonial Rule in India and has a great heritage of French Culture and History still visible around the town. French Academic Institutions like the Lycee Français, Institut Français, Ecole Française d’extrême Orient are vibrant with students and researchers. The French Consulate for South India operates in Pondicherry. Pondicherry is also well-known for the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, an organization dedicated for spiritual learning and practicing, and Auroville, an experiment in International living.

You can experience great French Food in its various French Restaurants while also experiencing the Local Creole Cuisine in some selected places. South Indian Restaurants are available in abundance giving you a true taste of a typical South Indian town. You can stroll through typical markets that one find across India with its vibrancy, colours and odours and you can also take all your time in the many boutiques that sell products made by designers who have made Pondicherry their home.

Short History

Though Pondicherry is known for its French Colonial past, its earliest importance in history dates back to the Roman times in Europe. In Arikemedu, a historical port-town within the surroundings of Pondicherry, archaeological evidence, such as amphoras and other earthen-wares have been found. These can be seen in the Museum of Pondicherry on St. Louis Street.

Before Pondicherry became a stronghold for the French Colonial Powers, it was a strategic place and every European Colonial Powers fought and tried to capture it. It was the Purtuguese who came here first in the 16th Century. Followed by the Danes, the English and the French. It was in the decisive battle of Wandiwash (during the Seven Years’ War in Europe of the Colonial Powers) that the French lost to the British and surrendered on January 16th, 1761, agreeing to restrict their colonial ambitions in South Asia to existing Pondicherry and a few other small provinces across India. Thereafter Pondicherry did not see any battles and was peacefully ruled by the French. Even the Independence and hand-over of Power to India, in 1954, was done peacefully and is said to have been bloodless.

However the credit of transforming a small fishing village into a thriving town must go to the French. They did this in 1673. The town of Pondicherry is one of the first planned towns of India.

Pondicherry today

Pondicherry today is a town and a Union Territory (meaning a separate State or Province under direct Management of the Central or Federal Government of India). Recently this was officially renamed to Puducherry. The Town of Pondicherry has about 700,000 people whereas the entire Union Territory (U.T.) has about one million people. The other towns that form part of the U.T. are Karaikal in Tamil Nadu, Mahe in Kerala and Yanam in Andhra Pradesh.

The Town of Pondicherry has grown considerably in recent years, as have most towns across India, and is quite crowded and busy. Urbanization and growth of population are the main reasons. The Traffic is chaotic and the Town is struggling to keep up with its civic infrastructures. Unbridled development is eating into its beaches and natural heritage. However, we believe, that even so Pondicherry is relatively better off compared to most towns in India who have lost their historical landmarks, culture, natural surroundings & heritage far more.