Puducherry
French colonial charm on the Bay of Bengal
Puducherry (Pondicherry) is a former French colonial territory on India's southeastern coast, under French administration until 1954, nearly a century after most of British India's territories were consolidated. Its French Quarter (White Town) retains colonial-era villas, bougainvillea-lined streets and French street signage alongside a still-active French consulate and Franco-Tamil bilingual culture.
The Sri Aurobindo Ashram and the nearby experimental township of Auroville, founded in 1968 as an international community dedicated to human unity, draw spiritual seekers and volunteers from around the world. Puducherry's blend of French colonial heritage, Tamil coastal culture and a more relaxed alcohol and business licensing regime than neighbouring Tamil Nadu has made it a distinctive small-scale getaway on South India's tourist circuit.
Puducherry
Capital
Tamil / French / English
Language
Indian Rupee (INR)
Currency
Asia/Kolkata
Time zone
+91
Dialling code
1.4 million
Population
479 km²
Area
Points of Interest
attraction
Promenade Beach
Promenade Beach is the rocky seafront walk along Puducherry's French Quarter, running about 1.5 km on Goubert Avenue
attraction
Auroville
Auroville is an experimental international township near Puducherry, founded in 1968, with the golden Matrimandir at its centre
attraction
French Quarter (White Town)
The French Quarter (White Town) of Puducherry is the old colonial grid of mustard and white villas between the canal and the sea
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