Pondicherry

Agra Calcutta Cochin Goa Highway Code Kashmir Kathakali Dancers Kerala Khajuraho Madras Mahabalipuram Mumbai New Delhi Orissa Pondicherry Rajasthan Ranthambore Sikkim Taj Mahal Tombs and Temples Varanasi Weaving

Pondicherry

 

French street signs

Pondicherry or Pondichéry, city, southeastern India. The city is the capital of the Union Territory of Pondicherry, a seaport on the Coromandel Coast. Besides shipping, the chief industry of the city is the manufacture of cotton textiles. It was the capital of former French India.

 

"Mother" memorial, Auroville

The French colonies in India were founded shortly after 1664. During the War of the League of Augsburg (1689-1697), Pondicherry, acquired by France in 1674, was captured (1693) by a Dutch force; it was restored to France in 1697 by terms of the Peace of Ryswick. The British seized it three times during the 18th century, but, after periods of occupation ranging from 2 to 11 years, they restored it to France. Britain took the settlement again in 1803 and held it until 1814. France relinquished Pondicherry in 1954, and it then came under the central administration of the republic of India. A formal treaty of cession was signed in 1956 by India and France. Pondicherry was constituted a portion of the Indian state of Madras, now Tamil Nâdu State. In 1962 it became part of the Union Territory of Pondicherry. Population (1991) 203,065.

Text from Microsoft Encarta

horizontal rule

Pongal Festival
(five days)

 

festival markings on the ground

 

 

 

fully adorned

 

street scene

 

memorial

 

large cart used in festivalsvals

horizontal rule

Sri Rangan Temple

 

ceremony at shrine

 

detail

 

lingum

horizontal rule

 

the potter

 

peanut roasters

 

"Woman's room"                                             "Men's room"

horizontal rule

 Agra Calcutta Cochin Goa Highway Code Kashmir Kathakali Dancers Kerala Khajuraho Madras Mahabalipuram Mumbai New Delhi Orissa Pondicherry Rajasthan Ranthambore Sikkim Taj Mahal Tombs and Temples Varanasi Weaving

Return to India page

Azerbaijan Bangladesh Bhutan Brunei Burma Cambodia China India Japan Kazakhistan Korea Kyrgyzstan Laos Malaysia Mongolia Nepal Pakistan Philippines Siberia Singapore Tajikistan Thailand Turkey in Asia Turkmenistan Uzbekistan Viet Nam

Return to Asia page

World Heritage Mosaics Roman World Africa Antarctica Asia Atlantic Islands Australia Caribbean Central America Europe Indian Ocean Middle East North America Pacific Islands South America The Traveler Recent Adventures Adventure Travel

 

Return to People and Places

horizontal rule