Puducherry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Puducherry
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Aerial view of Puducherry
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Location of Puducherry (marked in red) in India
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| Country |  India |
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| Formation | 1 November 1954 | |
| Capital and Largest city | Pondicherry | |
| Districts | 4 | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 483 km2 (186 sq mi) | |
| Area rank | 33rd | |
| Population
(2011)
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| • Total | 1,244,464 | |
| • Rank | 29th | |
| • Density | 2,576.5/km2 (6,673/sq mi) | |
| Demonym(s) | Puducherrian, Pondicherrian, Pondian | |
| Languages | ||
| • Official | Tamil, English | |
| • Additional | Malayalam (in Mahé), Telugu (in Yanam), French | |
| Time zone | UTC+05:30 (IST) | |
| PIN CODE |
605014
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| ISO 3166 code | IN-PY | |
| Vehicle registration | PY 01, PY 02, PY 03, PY 04, PY 05, PY 05V | |
| Website | www.py.gov.in | |
| 30 elected, 3 nominated | ||
Puducherry, also called Pondicherry, is a special area in India known as a union territory. It was created from four parts of what used to be French India. These parts are Puducherry (which was called Pondichéry), Karaikal, Mahé, and Yanam.
The territory is named after its largest part, Puducherry. It used to be officially known as Pondicherry, but its name was changed to Puducherry on September 20, 2006.
The Union Territory of Puducherry is located in the southern part of India. The areas of Puducherry and Karaikal are surrounded by the state of Tamil Nadu. Yanam is surrounded by Andhra Pradesh, and Mahé is surrounded by Kerala. Puducherry is the 29th most populated and the third most crowded union territory or state in India.
| Song | Invocation to Tamil Goddess (written by Bharathidasan) |
|---|---|
| Animal | Squirrel |
| Bird | Koel |
| Flower | Cannonball tree flower |
| Tree | Bael fruit tree |
Contents
A Look at Puducherry's Past
The earliest records of Puducherry go back to the second century AD. An old book called Periplus of the Erythraean Sea talks about a market named Poduke. Experts think this might have been near Arikamedu, where Roman pottery was found. This shows that Puducherry was an important trading spot a very long time ago.
In 1674, Pondicherry became a French colony. Over time, other areas like Mahé, Yanam, and Karaikal also became French. These places together formed French India, ruled by a French governor in Pondicherry.
French rule was sometimes stopped by the British. But eventually, on November 1, 1954, these French areas became part of India. They officially joined India on August 16, 1962, and became the Union Territory of Puducherry.
Where is Puducherry?
The Union Territory of Puducherry is made up of four small areas that are not connected to each other. These are:
- Puducherry district (293 square kilometers)
- Karaikal district (161 square kilometers)
- Yanam district (20 square kilometers)
- Mahé district (9 square kilometers)
The total area of Puducherry is 483 square kilometers. Puducherry and Karaikal are the largest areas and have the most people. They are both surrounded by the state of Tamil Nadu. Yanam is surrounded by Andhra Pradesh, and Mahé is surrounded by Kerala.
This unusual geography, with small separate areas, is because of how the region was divided during the colonial period. Puducherry kept the same borders as when it was French India.
All four parts of Puducherry are located near the coast. Many rivers flow through these areas into the sea, but none of them start within the territory itself.
The Districts of Puducherry
- Puducherry district is surrounded by Tamil Nadu.
- Mahé district is surrounded by Kerala.
- Yanam district is surrounded by Andhra Pradesh.
- Karaikal district is surrounded by Tamil Nadu.
People and Religions
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1901 | 246,354 | — |
| 1911 | 257,179 | +0.43% |
| 1921 | 244,156 | −0.52% |
| 1931 | 258,628 | +0.58% |
| 1941 | 285,011 | +0.98% |
| 1951 | 317,253 | +1.08% |
| 1961 | 369,079 | +1.52% |
| 1971 | 471,707 | +2.48% |
| 1981 | 604,471 | +2.51% |
| 1991 | 807,785 | +2.94% |
| 2001 | 974,345 | +1.89% |
| 2011 | 1,247,953 | +2.51% |
| source: | ||
Religion in Puducherry Hinduism (87.3%) Christianity (6.2%) Islam (6%)
According to the 2011 Census, Puducherry had a population of about 1.24 million people. Most people in Puducherry follow Hinduism, making up about 87.3% of the population. Other religions include Christianity (6.2%) and Islam (6%).
How Puducherry is Governed
Puducherry is a Union Territory of India. This means it is directly managed by the central government. However, Puducherry is special because it has its own elected assembly and a group of ministers, just like a state. This gives it some of the powers of a state.
The central government is represented by the Lieutenant Governor. The Lieutenant Governor lives in the Raj Nivas, which used to be the palace of the French governor. The central government also helps a lot with Puducherry's money. Because of this, Puducherry has sometimes had lower taxes than other places.
Special Rules for Puducherry
Because of a treaty signed in 1956, the four areas that used to be French India have some special rules. They can make their own laws on certain topics. However, these laws often need to be approved by the central government or the President of India.
The treaty says that these areas will keep their special way of being governed. Any big changes to these rules must be made after asking the people what they want.
Official Languages of Puducherry
Originally, French was the official language. But in 1965, a new law was passed. This law made Tamil the main official language for the whole Union Territory.
The law also says that Malayalam can be used in the Mahé district and Telugu in the Yanam district. English can also be used for official purposes across the entire territory.
Puducherry's Economy
Puducherry's economy has grown a lot over the years. Its total economic output, called Gross Domestic Product (GDP), increased from 1,840 million Indian rupees in 1980 to 258,190 million rupees in 2014. This shows how much the territory's economy has developed.
Fishing in Puducherry
Fishing is a very important activity in Puducherry. The four regions of the territory have a coastline that is 45 kilometers long. This means there are many places for fishing. About 65,000 people live in fishing villages, and 13,000 of them actively work in fishing. People also raise fish in tanks and ponds for business.
Tourism in Puducherry
Puducherry is a very popular place for tourists from India and other countries. It has many old Shiva Temples, some built during the time of the Chola kings. These temples offer a spiritual experience for visitors.
Every year, Puducherry holds grand Car Festivals for temples in places like Villianur and Veerampattinam. The Lieutenant Governor and Chief Minister even take part in these festivals.
Puducherry was also the home of Sri Aurobindo, a famous spiritual leader. His ashram, the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, is still there. There's also a unique experimental city called Auroville nearby, where people from all over the world live together.
Besides these, Puducherry has many churches, monuments, parks, and mosques that attract tourists.
Getting Around Puducherry
Trains
Puducherry is connected by a railway line to Villupuram and Chennai. This railway line is a broad gauge line, which means it has a wider track. Many trains start and end their journeys here.
Roads
Puducherry has a very good network of roads that can be used in all kinds of weather. It has 2,552 kilometers of roads, which is a lot for its size. In fact, Puducherry has the highest road length per square kilometer in India.
| Sl. No. | Type of road | Length (km) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | National highways | 64.450 |
| 2 | State highways | 49.304 |
| 3 | District and other roads | |
| Puducherry – 173.384 | ||
| Karaikal – 55.162 | ||
| Mahé – 19.622 | ||
| Yanam – 26.460 | ||
| 274.628 | 274.628 | |
| 4 | Rural roads | |
| Puducherry – 164.964 | ||
| Karaikal – 83.470 | ||
| 248.434 | 248.434 | |
| Grand total | 636.816 |
Learning in Puducherry
In 2011, about 86.55% of people in Puducherry could read and write, which is a high literacy rate.
Puducherry is home to Pondicherry University, a major university. There are also many other important educational places, including:
- Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER)
- Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute
- Mahathma Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Dental Science
- Tagore Arts and Science College
- National Institute of Technology, Puducherry
- Pondicherry Engineering College
- Rajiv Gandhi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
Puducherry in Books and Movies
Puducherry has been featured in popular stories:
- The first part of the famous novel Life of Pi (2001) by Yann Martel is set in Puducherry. Some scenes from the movie based on the book were also filmed there.
- Lee Langley's novel A House in Pondicherry (1996) also takes place in this city.
- In Roald Dahl's children's book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964), there is a character called Prince Pondicherry. He asks Willy Wonka to build a chocolate palace in India, which unfortunately melts in the sun.
Images for kids
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Motorcycle and auto rickshaw in Puducherry
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Puducherry Airport
