Map of Pondicherry 

Map of Pondicherry - click to view a larger version

Sources: INTACH

Explore PONDICHERRY

Explore PONDICHERRY

PUDUCHERRY – THE FRENCH RIVIERA OF THE EAST

The Union Territory of Pudhucherry (earlier Pondicherry) comprises of the four unconnected, erstwhile French settlements of Pudhucherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam. While Karaikal lies 150 km south of Pudhucherry on the east coast, Mahe is on the Malabar Coast and Yanam in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. As you travel down the scenic East Coast road you hit Pudhucherry about 160 kms south of Chennai on the Coromandel Coast. It is bound on the east by the Bay of Bengal and by South Arcot District of Tamil Nadu on the other three sides. Pudhucherry traces its origin to Sage Agasthya. Its shores have also been home to different cultures, from the Romans to the French, who ruled for 300 years. Today, it exudes a charming picture

Geography

Puducherry consists of four unconnected districts: Puducherry, Karaikal, and Yanam on the Bay of Bengal and Mahé on the Arabian Sea. Puducherry and Karaikal are by far the larger ones, and are both enclaves of Tamil Nadu. Yanam and Mahé are enclaves of Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, respectively. The territory has a total area of 492 km²: Puducherry (city) 293 km2 (113 sq mi), Karaikal 160 km2 (62 sq mi), Mahé 9 km2 (3.5 sq mi) and Yanam 30 km2 (12 sq mi).

FRENCH INFLUENCE

Puducherry still retains much evidence of its history as a French colony. The design of the city was based on the French. The entire town is divided into two sections, the French Quarter ('Ville Blanche' or 'White town') and the Indian quarter ('Ville Noire' or 'Black Town'). The history of French India is led by Joseph Francois Dupleix, governor general of the French establishment in India, and rival of Robert Clive. Dupleix was primarily responsible for the Carnatic Wars. At first Dupleix was successful in resisting the attacks of the English East India Company, but he lost in the later battles.

There is also French influence in the layout of the city. The numbering of the houses is unique compared to other cities in Tamil Nadu, in that all with the even numbers are on one side and the odd number are on the opposite side of the road.

History

According to mythologies and legends, Pondicherry was once the dwelling place for the great Hindu sage Agastya. It was a major Vedic centre and was called as Vedapuri. Excavations at Arikamedu have revealed that there was a possibility that this could have been a port town and there might be a Roman rule and settlement here before 2000 years. It had trade links with Rome and Greece that continued till the period of the Cholas during the 10th and the 11th century. The Pallavas, the Pandiyas, the Muslim rulers also invaded and ruled over this place for quite some time.

Historical uniqueness

In the early 16th century the Portuguese established their supremacy in Pondicherry. They ruled for a while. Then the Dutch and the French people entered this place for trade reasons and then started ruling this territory. In 1673 the French started ruling the territory. During the rule of the French in Pondicherry there were several minor conflicts and battles fought between the French and the Britishers to capture Pondicherry. After several conflicts finally both the countries came to a conclusion and an agreement was signed where Pondicherry was given back to the French by the Britishers. In the year 1954, Pondicherry was retained back to India by the French.

Pondy - Access & Communication :

Airport: 
Nearest Domestic and International Airport is in Chennai (Madras).  Distance from Chennai to Pondicherry is around 162 Kms and the travel time by road takes from 3 to 4 hours.
Railways:

There is a meter gauge railway line between Villupuram and Pondicherry and its origin may be traced back to 1869. The first passenger train started in Pondicherry on 14.10.1879. There is only one railway station between Pondicherry and Villupuram at Villianur. However, journey by train to and from Chennai (Madras) is not very popular, as people prefer bus journey as the train journey takes long hours. Railway Station Phone number: 2336684

[ Click here for details about Passenger Trains
Passing through Pondicherry ]

Road:
Pondicherry is well connected to all districts and major towns of various states like Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Andrapradesh.
Route to Pondicherry from Chennai  by road:
Chennai  -> Chengalpattu -> Tindivanam -> Pondicherry
Public Transport: One of the best Inter-State bus systems caters to the needs of travelers to and from Chennai (Madras) and Bangalore. The State Transport Express buses (Pondicherry, Tamilnadu, Andrapradesh, Karnataka and Kerala) and also many private buses operate in Pondicherry connecting with Chennai, Bangalore, Thirupathi, Mahe and Karaikal. 
Bus Stand Tel: 2333004.

Pondy - Map & Direction

 Pondicherry is in South India
Auroville is 18 Kms from Pondicherry 
 

Nearest Airport is Madras (Chennai)
Distance: 162 Kms Travel Time: 3 to 4 hrs

Pondicherry - Region Profile

French dreams of an Indian Empire began and ended in Pondicherry. But in the scattered territories of the Union Territory of Pondicherry there remains what little there is left of the French influence in India and that makes the territory, especially its headquarters, Pondicherry, unique, something quite different from the rest of India.

The Union Territory of Pondicherry comprises of 4 coastal regions viz- Pondicherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam . Pondicherry and Karaikal are situated on the East Coasts in Tamil Nadu, Yanam in Andra Pradesh and Mahe on the West Coast in Kerala.

Pondicherry is the Capital of this Union Territory. It is on the east coast about 162 kms south of Chennai ( Madras ) located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal.

Union Territory (UT) name	Pondicherry
UT Capital name	Pondicherry
Total Number of Regions	Four
Name of the Regions	Pondicherry, Karaikal, Mahe & Yanam
Location Details
Pondicherry & Karaikal	East Coast in Tamil Nadu
Yanam	East Coast in Andra Pradesh
Mahe	West Coast in Kerala
Languages Spoken
Regional Languages	Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi.
Other Languages	English and French
Phone Details:
Country Code for India	91
Area Code for Pondicherry	0413
Area Code for Karaikal	04368
Area Code for Mahe	0490
Area Code for Yanam	0884
Currency Rate to Indian Rupees	Click here
Climate	Tropical

Like most ancient cities, the origin of Pondicherry lies buried in legends. It could have been the mythical 'Podhigai' said to have been the sacred abode of the legendary Sage Agusthia or it could be-the now forgotten 'Vedhapuri', a settlement of scholars well-versed in the vedas.

Excavations in the Arikamedu area near Pondicherry have brought to light the remains of a trading port which had connections with the Greeko-Roman world more than a century before the down of the Christian Era. You will be bound to see the glorious remains of Arikamedu excavations in the Archaeology section of the Pondicherry Museum.

 We can find references to Poduke, a port town on the coromandal coast, in History. The identification of a Roman trading centre in the immediate vicinity of Pondicherry adds weight to the equation of 'Poduke' with Pondicherry. Although this has been suggested by more than one writer, the equation of 'Poduke' with 'Puduvai' the name by which the town was known in the early days, seems to be more acceptable. According to tradition, the town was once upon a time an abode of scholars well versed in the Vedas and hence came to be known as Vedapuri. Interestingly, during the days of Ottakoothar and Kambar in the 11th and 12th centuries, Puducherry was known in its shortened form as 'Puthuvai'. The Hindus called the town Puthuvai or Puducherry while the Muslims called it Pulcheri. The Portugese ‘Puducheria’ became the Danish ‘Polesere’ and the Dutch 'Pollochire'. But it was the French merchants who mixed up the 'U' for 'N' and transformed "Puducheri" into "Pondicheri". This region assumed the name Pondicherry in due course. Pondicherry otherwise known as 'Poudoucheri' was under Vijayanagar Empire during 14th and 15th centuries. Then it passed to the hands of the Naiks of Thanjavur in the beginning of 16th century, and then came under the rule of Bijapur sultan.
By about 16th century, the Portugese and Danish also used the place as a trading centre. The first Frenchman set his foot in ‘Puduchery’ on 4.2.1673 and till 1690 the French were interested mainly in trade and commerce activities. The name of the place was changed to ‘Pondicherry’ from 'Poudoucheri' by the French. In a war between the French and the Dutch, the former was defeated and Pondicherry came under Dutch rule between 1693 and 1699. In September 1699, the French became the legal owners of the Pondicherry town on payment of 16000 pagodas to the Dutch. The Nawab Dawood Khan, representative of Aurangazeb, donated Kalapet village in 1703 to Francois Martin for getting supply of timber from the forests surrounding it for construction of houses. In 1706, he had further transferred 5 more villages viz. Ozhukarai, Murungapakkam, Olandai, Pakkamudaiyanpet and Karuvadi-kuppam to the French. In 1711, the French government at Paris recognized the importance of Pondicherry town and established a sovereign counsel to aid and advise them in the administration of the colony. Francois Martin was the virtual builder of Pondicherry towns during span of 33 years of his administration here. In 1740, Pondicherry provided asylum to the royal refugees of the ruler of the Karnatic when marattas invaded him. Consequently, the Marattas attacked the French for this gesture but was defeated. In gratification of the gesture, the survivors of the Karnatic dynasty gifted Ariankuppam, Theduvanatham, and Villianur to the French. 
 Pondy - Geographical Features:

The map of this region presents more or less a flat land. There are no hills or forests in this region. The main soil types in this region are red ferrallitic, black clay and coastal alluvial.
Pondicherry is the Capital of this Union Territory. It is on the east coast about 162 kms south of Chennai ( Madras ) located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal.
The Union Territory of Pondicherry comprises of 4 coastal regions viz- Pondicherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam .
Pondicherry and Karaikal are situated on the East Coasts in Tamil Nadu, Yanam on the East Coast in Andra Pradesh and Mahe on the West Coast in Kerala.
Pondicherry region is located on the coromandal coast between 11 degree 46' and 12 degree 30' of north latitude and between 79 degree 36' and 79 degree 52' of east longitude. Its boundary on the east is the Bay of Bengal and on the other 3 sides is Cuddalore & Villupuram districts of Tamil Nadu State.
This is not a contiguous area but interspersed with some parts of Cuddalore and Villupuram districts of Tamil Nadu state. It presents a picture of scattered parts enclosed within Cuddalore and Villupuram districts.
The lay out of Pondicherry region described above which is located within Tamil Nadu presents a peculiar picture of territorial jurisdiction, perhaps the only one of its kind in the world. The historical reasons, which prompted the French and the British to limit their territories in the intermingling manner, are not known.
Languages and Religion:
Main languages spoken in the region are Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. English and French are other languages, which are spoken by a considerable number of people.
Majorities of the people are Hindus. There are quite a number of Christians and Muslims, whereas very few Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists.

puducherry ( art gallery,hand craft and music) shop details

Art Gallery

Amarane Art Gallery   51, S.V.Patel salai	650 4607
Aurodhan Art Gallery 33, Francois Martin street	222 2795
Mementos  47, Ambalathadayar Madam street	420 9610

Dance

Jayalakshmi Dance & Music School      221, Mission street	234 2036
Jayashree Narayanan's Salangai School    89, Thiruvalluvar salai, Ayyanar Nagar	224 6005
Kalaivani Nadanalaya  Solomon street	224 4111
Yoganjali Natyalayam    25, 2nd cross, Ayyanar Nagar	224 1561

Music

MUSIC SCHOOLS
Jayalakshmi Dance & Music School      221, Mission street	234 2036
Kalaivani Nadanalaya  Solomon street	224 4111
Sree Kuberan Euphony  221, Mission street	234 2036
Sruti  15/1, South car street	266 0190
Touchwood  44, Needarajapayar street	421 0242
Trinity School of Music  6, Laporte street	222 1582
Yoganjali Natyalayam    25, 2nd cross, Ayyanar Nagar	224 1561
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Musee Musicals  114, Saint Therese street	222 3533
Sri Hari Musicals  87, Chetty street	233 4650
Utkal Bharati  24, Rangapillai street	234 5043
CASSETTES, CD & DVD
Focus  204, Mission street	234 5513
La Musique  19, Lal Bahadur street	222 0381
Music Park  59, Mission street	420 0320
Music World, 'Casablanca', 165, Mission street	222 6495
Sivaa  E-46, Eswaran koil street	420 0672
Sri Annai DVD  290, M.G.Road	222 7009
Stereo Shock Cassettes Centre 402, Bharathi street	420 0420
Tic Tac  400, M.G.Road & 100.Vellalar street	94432 47171
RECORDING CENTRES
AVM Audio centre  301, 1st floor, Bharathi street	233 6873
R.K Digital Recording   43, Vellalar street	420 0397
Shivani Audio  50-B, Perumal koil street	222 0025
Stereo Shock  402, Bharathi street	420 0420

Flute

Jayalakshmi Dance & Music School    221, Mission street

234 2036

Tabla

Sri Somanath Nandi    48, Francois Martin street, Kuruchikuppam

222 2245

Vocal Music

Mrs.Lakshmi Santra    2,Avocate Chinnathambi street, Kuruchikuppam

222 2245

Sitar

Mr.Tapabrata    2,Avocate Chinnathambi street, Kuruchikuppam

233 9502

Handicrafts & Boutiques

Akreti   20, J.N.street	233 4354
Arhandicrafts   5, Rangapillai street	233 7109
Bengal Handicraft  48, Francois Martin street	222 2245
Calico   2, Labourdonnais street	222 5879
Cohinoor   54-C, Ambour salai	450 0005
Cotton Wood  50, Needarajapayer street	222 0634
Fabindia  59, Suffren street	420 0797 / 222 6010
Gokulam  58, Ambalathadayar Madam street	222 2842
Holy Angels Centre  40, Needarajapayer street	222 2568
Home Trotter stores   44, Aurobindo street	222 1600
Indian Boutique  1, Chetty street	233 0470
Indian Handicrafts  42, Rangapillai street	420 1124
Jute Emporium  82, Canteen street	234 3332
Kalki  134, Mission street	233 9166
Kasha ki Aasha  23, Surcouf street	222 2963 / 2953
Kashmir Emporium  36, Ambour salai	222 6352
Khazaana   338, M.G.Road	233 8948
L'art Naturel  52, Canteen street	222 2470
La Boutique d'Auroville  38, Nehru street	233 7264
La tienda  4, Victor Simonel street	222 4776
Poompuhar Sales Showroom    'Anna Arcade' 152, Maraimalaiadigal salai	420 7001
Pommai  40, Eswaran koil street	-
Pondy Cre'a Art  53, Suffren street	420 0258
Pudumai Handicrafts     Goubert salai (opp.Gandhi statue)	233 1636
Raj Boutique  Hotel Anandha Inn, S.V.Patel salai	233 0711
Rang, (Rajasthani Boutique)  44, Canteen street	420 0600
Splendour   16, Goubert salai	222 4827
Utkal Bharati   24, Rangapillai street	234 5043
Via Pondichery  22, Romain Rolland street	222 3319

Leather crafts

Auroform    21, Francois Martin street	233 4727
Auromiran   95, Canteen street	233 9351
Boutique Vijayan  79, Nehru street	224 4190
Hi-design, Casablanca  165, Mission street	222 6495
Leather Life International                                            122, Bussy street                                         127, Canteen street	222 7607 226 0067

Antiques

Aesthetica  ECR Road, Chinnamudaliarchavady	223 5790
Amarane Art Gallery 51, S.V.Patel salai	550 4607
Art Antiqua  25, Mission street	420 0312
Art Colony  32, Romain Rolland street	233 2395
Clairon Interior  24, Francois Martin street	233 3031
Geetanjali    20, Bussy street	420 0392
Kasha ki Aasha   23, Surcouf street	222 2963
Pierre Blanc et Lie    36, Dumas street (near Beach Road)	420 1518
Ramanas Art Gallery 'White House', Kottakuppam	223 8695
Suprajaa Furnitures  26, S.V.Patel salai	222 7142
V.M.P Kandiya Classics    400, M.G.Road (near Bharathidasan College)	-
Versailles  2, Francois Martin street	222 8833 / 550 2021