Pondicherry facts for kids

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Pondicherry

Pondichéry (French)

City

Puducherry

Promenade Beach

Manakula Vinayagar Temple

Sri Aurobindo Ashram

The Matrimandir in Auroville

Aayi Mandapam monument at Bharati Park

Pondicherry Lighthouse

Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

French War Memorial built after World War I

Mahamata Gandhi Statue along the Beach Road

Seal of Puducherry Municipality

Nickname(s):

"Paris of the East"
"Pondy"
"The City of Dawn"
"French Riviera of the East"

Pondicherry

Location in Puducherry

Pondicherry

Location in India

Country

India

Union territory

Puducherry (PY)

District

Puducherry

Established

1674

Government

• Type

Municipal Council

• Body

Pondicherry Municipal Council (PDY)

Area

• Total

19.54 km² (7.54 sq mi)

Elevation

3 m (10 ft)

Population

(2011)

• Total

244,377

• Density

12,506/km² (32,392/sq mi)

Demonym(s)

Puducherrian, Pondicherrian, Pondian, Pondichérien, Pondichérienne

Languages

• Official

Tamil, English

• Additional

French

Time zone

UTC+5:30 (IST)

PIN CODE

605001-605014

Telephone code

(International) +91-413-, (National) 0413-

Vehicle registration

PY-01 to PY-05

Website

https://www.py.gov.in/

Pondicherry (/ˌpɒndɪˈtʃɛri/ PON-dih-CHERR-ee; Tamil: [paːɳɖit͡ːʃeːɾi]; French: Pondichéry IPA: [pɔ̃.di.ʃe.ʁi]), also known as Puducherry, is a vibrant city in India. It is the capital and largest city of the Union Territory of Puducherry. This city sits on the southeast coast of India, next to the Bay of Bengal. It shares much of its culture and language with the state of Tamil Nadu.

History of Pondicherry

Puducherry was once called Pondicherry. It became known as the "French Riviera of the East" after the French arrived. The name Puducherry means "new town" in Tamil. It comes from "Poduke," a port town for Roman trade long ago. The city was also known as Vedapuri, a place for learned scholars.

Early History and Dynasties

The history of Puducherry has two main parts: before and during colonial rule. The pre-colonial period began with the Pallavas, who ruled from 325 to 900 AD. After them came the Chola dynasty (900 to 1279) and the Pandya dynasty (1279 to 1370).

During the 14th century, the city was part of the Vijayanagara Empire. Later, the Sultan of Bijapur took control from 1614 to 1638. During this time, Portuguese and Danish merchants used Pondicherry as a trading center.

European Trade and French Rule

The colonial period started when the Portuguese began trading textiles in 1521. Later, the Dutch and Danes also came to trade in the 17th century.

The French were attracted by Pondicherry's busy trade. In 1674, Francois Martin, a French pioneer, set up a French settlement. This laid the foundation for the town's unique look.

In 1693, the Dutch captured Puducherry during a war. However, it was given back to the French in 1699 by the Treaty of Ryswick.

The French expanded their control, acquiring Mahé in 1720, Yanam in 1731, and Karaikal in 1738. The British and French fought over the city many times. The British captured it in 1761 but returned it in 1763 after the Treaty of Paris.

The Anglo-French wars continued until 1814. France kept control of Puducherry, Mahé, Yanam, Karaikal, and Chandernagor. This French rule lasted for 138 years.

Transfer to India

On October 31, 1954, the French officially left India. This was a "de facto" (in reality) transfer of power. Nearby areas like Arikamedu and Villianur also became part of the new Union Territory of Pondicherry.

Prime Minister Nehru visiting Pondicherry a few months after the de facto transfer

On March 18, 1954, local councils in Pondicherry voted to join India. Councils in Karaikal also voted similarly. Most people wanted to merge with India right away. The Indian government promised to respect their culture and rights.

On October 18, 1954, a general election was held. Out of 178 people, 170 voted for the merger. The French territories officially joined the Indian Union on November 1, 1954. The final treaty, called the "de jure" (by law) transfer, was signed in 1956. However, it took until August 16, 1962, for France to fully agree to it.

1954 French ID, issued in Pondicherry before transfer

Geography and Environment

Pondicherry's land is flat, similar to coastal Tamil Nadu. It is at sea level and has several sea inlets, locally called "backwaters."

Coastal Changes

Pondicherry faces serious coastal erosion. This started after a breakwater was built in 1989. Where there used to be a wide, sandy beach, now a 2-km-long seawall protects the city.

The seawall is made of granite boulders. More boulders are added every year to stop erosion. This seawall has caused the seabed to erode and has harmed sea life. It has also caused beaches north of the city to disappear.

Economy and Agriculture

Long-exposure shot of Pondicherry beach road

In 2012, the Ministry of Power started a "Smart Grid" project in Puducherry. This helps manage electricity better.

Farming is important around Pondicherry. Farmers grow crops like rice, pulses (beans and lentils), sugarcane, coconuts, and cotton.

Climate and Weather

Pondicherry has a tropical savanna climate, much like other coastal areas in Tamil Nadu.

Seasons in Pondicherry

Summer: From April to early June, temperatures can reach 41 °C (106 °F). The average high is 36 °C (97 °F).
Humidity: From June to September, it's very humid with occasional thunderstorms.
Monsoon: The northeast monsoon brings most of the rain from October to December. The city gets about 1,355 millimetres or 53 inches of rain each year.
Winter: Winters are warm, with highs around 30 °C (86 °F) and lows around 18–20 °C (64–68 °F).

Climate data for Pondicherry Airport
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	33.2 (91.8)	35.2 (95.4)	37.2 (99.0)	41.8 (107.2)	43.1 (109.6)	41.7 (107.1)	40.7 (105.3)	40.2 (104.4)	38.6 (101.5)	37.9 (100.2)	36.3 (97.3)	32.5 (90.5)	43.1 (109.6)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	29.0 (84.2)	30.0 (86.0)	31.2 (88.2)	32.8 (91.0)	34.6 (94.3)	35.8 (96.4)	34.5 (94.1)	33.9 (93.0)	33.1 (91.6)	31.5 (88.7)	29.8 (85.6)	29.0 (84.2)	32.1 (89.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	21.9 (71.4)	22.5 (72.5)	23.8 (74.8)	25.9 (78.6)	26.8 (80.2)	26.5 (79.7)	25.7 (78.3)	25.2 (77.4)	24.9 (76.8)	24.5 (76.1)	23.6 (74.5)	22.6 (72.7)	24.5 (76.1)
Record low °C (°F)	17.1 (62.8)	17.3 (63.1)	18.8 (65.8)	21.9 (71.4)	21.9 (71.4)	21.5 (70.7)	21.6 (70.9)	21.4 (70.5)	21.5 (70.7)	19.6 (67.3)	16.5 (61.7)	17.1 (62.8)	16.5 (61.7)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	12.3 (0.48)	22.2 (0.87)	19.3 (0.76)	7.8 (0.31)	48.6 (1.91)	48.0 (1.89)	89.5 (3.52)	132.3 (5.21)	132.8 (5.23)	273.9 (10.78)	350.0 (13.78)	217.3 (8.56)	1,354 (53.3)
Average rainy days	0.9	0.9	0.8	0.4	1.9	2.8	5.3	6.7	6.5	10.3	11.8	6.8	55.0
Source: India Meteorological Department (record high and low up to 2010)

People and Culture

The Rajiv Gandhi Women and Children Hospital

In 2011, Pondicherry had a population of 244,377 people. About 80.6% of the people could read and write. Most people in Pondicherry speak Tamil.

There is also a community of French people here. You can find French institutions like the French consulate and L'Alliance française.

City Management

Puducherry city has two main local governments: Puducherry and Uzhavarkarai. These councils manage the city and its smaller areas. The Puducherry municipality covers the old areas of Puducherry and Mudaliarpet. It has 42 different sections called wards.

Urban Growth

The administrative building of Villianur, one of the communes of Puducherry

The government has plans to make Pondicherry and Oulgaret into one big "municipal corporation." They also want to make Villianur and Ariyankuppam into municipalities. This would make the urban area of Pondicherry much larger.

Getting Around Pondicherry

Road Travel

Pondicherry is connected to Chennai by the East Coast Road. Buses run daily from Chennai and other places. The Pondicherry Road Transport Corporation runs buses within the city.

Train Travel

Puducherry Railway Station

Pondicherry has train connections to major Indian cities. These include Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata (Howrah), and Mumbai. Villupuram Junction, about 24 mi (39 km) away, also connects to many cities.

Air Travel

Pondicherry Airport

Pondicherry Airport is located in Lawspet. You can take direct flights from here to Hyderabad and Bengaluru.

Things to See and Do

The French consulate in Pondicherry

Aayi Mandapam (Park Monument) at Bharathi Park

Pondicherry is a popular place for tourists. The city has many old colonial buildings, churches, temples, and statues. Its French-style streets give it a special old-world feel.

While the sea is a big attraction, Pondicherry's sandy beaches have mostly disappeared. This is due to the breakwater built for the harbor. The city is now protected by a seawall. The government is working to restore the sand. The Promenade Beach is one of the cleanest beaches in India.

Visitors at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram

The Sri Aurobindo Ashram is a very important spiritual center. It was founded by Sri Aurobindo, a freedom fighter and philosopher. Auroville, also known as the "City of Dawn," is an experimental town about 8 km (5.0 mi) from Pondicherry.

There are many old churches in Pondicherry, built in the 18th and 19th centuries. Near Promenade Beach, you can find many historical places. These include the Children's Park, the Dupleix Statue, the Gandhi statue, and the French War Memorial. Other notable spots are the Pondicherry Museum and the French Institute of Pondicherry.

The Puducherry Botanical Gardens are located south of the New Bus Stand. Chunnambar Backwater resort is 8 km (5.0 mi) from Pondicherry. It's a tropical resort by a creek.

Temples and Festivals

The Arulmigu Manakula Vinayagar Devasthanam is a Hindu temple dedicated to Ganesha. It existed even before the French settled in Pondicherry in 1666.

Sengazhuneer Amman Temple is one of the oldest temples in Pondicherry. It is in Veerampattinam village, about 7 km (4.3 mi) from the city center. A famous car festival is held here in mid-August every year.

Thirukaameeswarar Temple is in Villianur, a rural town about 10 km (6.2 mi) away.