Pondicherry

2021-08-22T10:07:45Z

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{{About|the city|the [[union territory]]|Puducherry (union territory)|other uses|Puducherry (disambiguation)}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
| native_name = 
| other_name = Pondichéry
| official_name = Puducherry
| settlement_type = [[List of cities in India by population|City]]
| image_skyline = Pondy Montage.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Clockwise from top right: Gandhi statue, [[Promenade Beach]], [[Matrimandir]], [[Sri Aurobindo Ashram]], [[Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Pondicherry|Immaculate Conception Cathedral]], [[Aayi Mandapam (monument)]], [[Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Pondicherry|Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus]], [[Manakula Vinayagar Temple]]
| nickname = "[[Paris]] of the East", "Pondy", "The City of Dawn"
| image_map =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Pondicherry#India
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|11|55|N|79|49|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and union territories of India|Union territory]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Puducherry (union territory)|Puducherry]] (PY)
| subdivision_name2 = [[Pondicherry district|Pondicherry]]
| established_title = Established
| established_date = 1674
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type = Municipal Council
| governing_body = [[Pondicherry Municipal Council]] (PDY)
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes = <ref name="dchb"/>
| area_total_km2 = 19.54
| area_rank =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 3
| population_total = 244,377
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_footnotes =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_metro =
| population_metro_footnotes =
| population_rank =
| population_demonym = Puducherrian, Pondicherrian, Pondian
| demographics_type1 =
| demographics1_title1 =
| demographics1_title2 = Additional
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN CODE]]
| postal_code = 605001-605014
| area_code = (International) +91-413-, (National) 0413-
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| registration_plate = '''PY-01''' to '''PY-05'''
| website = https://www.py.gov.in/
| footnotes =
| name = Pondicherry
| demographics1_info1 = [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[English language|English]], [[French language|French]]
}}

'''Pondicherry''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|p|ɒ|n|d|ᵻ|ˈ|tʃ|ɛr|i}}), [[List of renamed places in India|now known as]] '''Puducherry''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|p|ʊ|d|ᵿ|ˈ|tʃ|ɛr|i}}), is the [[Capital city|capital]] and the most-populous city of the [[Puducherry (union territory)|Union Territory of Puducherry]] in [[India]]. The city is in the [[Puducherry district]] on the southeast coast of India and is surrounded by the state of [[Tamil Nadu]], with which it shares most of its culture, heritage and language.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/bill-to-rename-pondicherry-as-puducherry-passed/article3093958.ece|title=Bill to rename Pondicherry as Puducherry passed|date=22 August 2006|work=The Hindu|access-date=2 May 2016}}</ref>

==History==
{{Main|History of Puducherry}}
[[File:Pondicherry waterfront 1900.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Pondicherry waterfront circa 1900]]

The history of Pondicherry is recorded only after the arrival of Dutch, Portuguese, British and French traders. By contrast, nearby places such as [[Arikamedu]], [[Ariyankuppam]], Kakayanthoppe, [[Villianur]] and Bahour, which were colonised by the [[French East India Company]] over a period of time and later became the [[union territory]] of Pondicherry, have recorded histories that predate the colonial period.

''Poduke'' or ''Poduca'' (a marketplace) was a Roman trading destination from the 3rd century BCE.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Francis|first=Peter|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zzZBdGQN_TIC&pg=PA30|title=Asia's Maritime Bead Trade: 300 B.C. to the Present|date=2002|publisher=University of Hawaii Press|isbn=978-0-8248-2332-0|language=en}}</ref> ''Poduca'' has been identified as possibly being [[Arikamedu]] (now part of Ariyankuppam), located about {{Convert|2|mi|km}} from the modern city of Pondicherry. The area was part of the [[Pallava dynasty|Pallava]] Kingdom of [[Kanchipuram]] in the 4th century. The [[Chola dynasty|Cholas]] of [[Thanjavur]] held it from the 10th to 13th centuries until it was replaced by the [[Pandyan Dynasty|Pandya]] Kingdom in the 13th century. The [[Vijayanagara Empire|Vijayanagar]] Empire took control of almost all of the south of India in the 14th century and maintained control until 1638 when they were supplanted by the [[Adil Shahi dynasty|Sultan of Bijapur]].

In 1674 the [[French East India Company]] set up a trading centre at Pondicherry and this outpost eventually became the chief [[French India|French settlement in India]]. The French governor [[François Martin (Pondicherry)|François Martin]] made remarkable improvements to the city and its commercial ties, facing at the same time strong opposition from the Dutch and the English. He entered into extended negotiations with the sultans of Golconda through the intercession of several roving French merchants and doctors who were in favour with the Sultan. Trading in jewelry and precious stones which had become highly fashionable in European courts was one among many activities. Five trading posts were established along the south Indian coast between 1668 and 1674. The city was separated by a canal into the French Quarter and the Indian Quarter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/destinations/asia/78427269/peace-love-and-a-french-flavour-in-pondicherry-south-india|title=Peace, love and a French flavour in Pondicherry, South India|last=WORRALL|first=JILL|date=11 April 2016|website=www.stuff.co.nz|access-date=2 May 2016}}</ref>

On 21 August 1693, during the [[Nine Years' War]], Pondicherry was captured by the Dutch. Governor of [[Dutch Coromandel]] Laurens Pit the Younger sailed with a fleet of 17 ships and 1600 men from [[Nagapattinam|Negapatam]] and bombarded Pondicherry for two weeks, after which Francois Martin surrendered it. At the [[Peace of Ryswick]] it was agreed by all parties to return conquered territories and in 1699 Pondicherry was handed back to the French.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Israel|first=Jonathan|title=Dutch Primacy in World Trade 1585-1740|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1989|isbn=0198227299|location=New York}}</ref>

On 16 January 1761, the British captured Pondicherry from the French, but it was returned under the [[Treaty of Paris (1763)]] at the conclusion of the [[Seven Years' War]].<ref>Chand, Hukam. ''History Of Medieval India'', 202.</ref> The British took control of the area again in 1793 at the [[Siege of Pondicherry (1793)|Siege of Pondicherry]] amid the Wars of the [[French Revolution]], and returned it to France in 1814.
[[File:Nehru à Pondichéry, janvier 1955.png|thumb|Prime Minister Nehru visiting Pondicherry a few months after the ''de facto'' transfer]]
On 18 March 1954, a number of resolutions were passed by the municipalities in Pondicherry demanding immediate merger with India. Some days later, similar resolutions were passed by the municipalities in Karaikal. The resolutions had the full support of the French Indian Councillors, who are popularly known as Ministers, and the President of the Representative Assembly. These Municipalities represent roughly 90 percent of the population of the French possessions and they called upon the Government of France to take urgent and necessary measures to give effect to the wishes of the people.<ref>https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/55921/1/lsd_01_06_06-04-1954.pdf page 22</ref> The Government of India had made it clear that the cultural and other rights of the people would be fully respected. They were not asking for the immediate transfer of the de jure sovereignty of France. Their suggestion was that a de facto transfer of the administration should take place immediately, while French sovereignty should continue until the constitutional issue had been settled. Both India and France would have to make necessary changes in their respective Constitutions. All this would take time, while the demand of the people was for immediate merger without a referendum. The Government of India was convinced that the suggestion which they made would help to promote a settlement, which they greatly desired. They would gladly enter into negotiations with the Government of France on the basis suggested.<ref>https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/55921/1/lsd_01_06_06-04-1954.pdf page 23</ref>

On 18 October 1954 in a general election involving 178 people in Pondicherry Municipal and Commune Panchayat, 170 people were in favor of merger and eight people voted against. The ''[[de facto]]'' transfer of the French Indian territories from French governance to the Indian union took place on 1 November 1954 and was established as the union territory of [[Puducherry (union territory)|Pondicherry]]. The treaty effecting the ''[[de jure]]'' transfer was signed in 1956. However, due to opposition in France, the ratification of this treaty by the French National Assembly only took place on 16 August 1962.

==Topography==
The [[topography]] of Pondicherry is the same as that of coastal [[Tamil Nadu]]. Pondicherry's average elevation is at [[sea level]], and a number of sea inlets, referred to as "[[Kerala backwaters|backwaters]]" can be found. Pondicherry experiences extreme [[coastal erosion]] as a result of a [[Breakwater (structure)|breakwater]] constructed in 1989,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://memestreamblog.wordpress.com/2008/10/16/the-story-of-pondicherrys-eroding-coastline-in-a-single-image/|title=The Story of Pondicherry's Eroding Coastline in a Single Image|date=16 October 2008}}</ref> just to the south of the city. Where there was once a broad, sandy beach, now the city is protected against the sea by a 2-km-long [[seawall]] which sits at a height of 8.5 m above [[sea level]]. Whilst there was an early seawall made by the French government in 1735, this was not "hard structure coastal defense" so much as an adjunct to the old shipping pier and a transition from the beach to the city,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pondicherryonline.in/Profile/Geography/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=2009-06-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090916004530/http://pondicherryonline.in/Profile/Geography/ |archive-date=16 September 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

Today, the seawall consists of rows of granite boulders which are reinforced every year in an attempt to stop [[erosion]]. As a consequence of the seawall, there is severe seabed erosion and turbulence at the coastal margin, resulting in an extreme loss of biodiversity within the critical [[intertidal zone]]. Whenever gaps appear as the stones fall into the continually eroding seabed, the government adds more boulders. Pondicherry's seawall has also caused beach erosion to migrate further up the coast, to the fishing villages in Puducherry and Tamil Nadu to the north of the city.{{Citation needed|date=June 2019}}

==Economy==
In 2012, the [[Ministry of Power (India)|Ministry of Power]] inaugurated the ''Smart Grid'' project in Puducherry.<ref name="smartgrid">{{cite news|title=Smart grid project inaugurated|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/smart-grid-project-inaugurated/article4015596.ece|date=20 October 2012|agency=[[The Hindu]]|location=Puducherry|access-date=23 October 2012}}</ref> Farming around Pondicherry include crops such as rice, pulses, sugarcane, coconuts, and cotton.
In 2016, the Pondicherry State Government Employees Central Federation presented a status paper on the fiscal and social crisis in Puducherry to Union Home Minister [[Rajnath Singh]]. The report stated that a "combination of a staggering debt, stagnant tax revenues and rampant misappropriation of funds has throttled the economy of the Union Territory" and called for measures on a war footing to "deliver good governance and end corruption."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/puducherry/Report-paints-grim-picture-of-Puducherry%E2%80%99s-economy/article14394348.ece|title=Report paints grim picture of Puducherry's economy|last=Special Correspondent|newspaper=The Hindu|date=18 October 2016|access-date=28 October 2017}}</ref>

==Climate==
The [[climate]] of Pondicherry is classified by the [[Köppen climate classification]] as [[tropical savanna climate|tropical wet and dry]] (''As''),<ref name="Climate-Data.org">{{cite web|title=Climate: Pondicherry – Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table|url=http://en.climate-data.org/location/2790/|publisher=Climate-Data.org|access-date=6 October 2013}}</ref> similar to that of coastal [[Tamil Nadu]]. Summer lasts from April to early June, when maximum temperatures may reach {{convert|41|°C|0}}. The average maximum temperature is {{convert|36|°C|0}}. Minimum temperatures are in the order of {{convert|28|-|32|°C|°F|0}}. This is followed by a period of high humidity and occasional thundershowers from June till September.

The [[northeast monsoon#Post-monsoon|northeast monsoon]] sets in during the middle of October, and Pondicherry gets the bulk of its annual rainfall during the period from October to December. The annual average rainfall is {{convert|1355|mm|in|0|disp=or}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://education.vsnl.com/imdchennai/rdwr.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=2009-07-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090726170455/http://education.vsnl.com/imdchennai/rdwr.htm |archive-date=26 July 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Winters are very warm, with highs of {{convert|30|°C|0}} and lows often dipping to around {{convert|18|-|20|°C|°F|0}}.

{{Weather box|width=70%
|metric first=yes
|single line=yes
|location= [[Pondicherry Airport]]
|Jan record high C = 33.2
|Feb record high C = 35.2
|Mar record high C = 37.2
|Apr record high C = 41.8
|May record high C = 43.1
|Jun record high C = 41.7
|Jul record high C = 40.7
|Aug record high C = 40.2
|Sep record high C = 38.6
|Oct record high C = 37.9
|Nov record high C = 36.3
|Dec record high C = 32.5
|year record high C = 43.1
|Jan high C = 29.0
|Feb high C = 30.0
|Mar high C = 31.2
|Apr high C = 32.8
|May high C = 34.6
|Jun high C = 35.8
|Jul high C = 34.5
|Aug high C = 33.9
|Sep high C = 33.1
|Oct high C = 31.5
|Nov high C = 29.8
|Dec high C = 29.0
|year high C = 32.1
|Jan low C = 21.9
|Feb low C = 22.5
|Mar low C = 23.8
|Apr low C = 25.9
|May low C = 26.8
|Jun low C = 26.5
|Jul low C = 25.7
|Aug low C = 25.2
|Sep low C = 24.9
|Oct low C = 24.5
|Nov low C = 23.6
|Dec low C = 22.6
|year low C = 24.5
|Jan record low C = 17.1
|Feb record low C = 17.3
|Mar record low C = 18.8
|Apr record low C = 21.9
|May record low C = 21.9
|Jun record low C = 21.5
|Jul record low C = 21.6
|Aug record low C = 21.4
|Sep record low C = 21.5
|Oct record low C = 19.6
|Nov record low C = 16.5
|Dec record low C = 17.1
|year record low C = 16.5
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 12.3
|Feb rain mm = 22.2
|Mar rain mm = 19.3
|Apr rain mm = 7.8
|May rain mm = 48.6
|Jun rain mm = 48.0
|Jul rain mm = 89.5
|Aug rain mm = 132.3
|Sep rain mm = 132.8
|Oct rain mm = 273.9
|Nov rain mm = 350.0
|Dec rain mm = 217.3
|Jan rain days = 0.9
|Feb rain days = 0.9
|Mar rain days = 0.8
|Apr rain days = 0.4
|May rain days = 1.9
|Jun rain days = 2.8
|Jul rain days = 5.3
|Aug rain days = 6.7
|Sep rain days = 6.5
|Oct rain days = 10.3
|Nov rain days = 11.8
|Dec rain days = 6.8
|year rain days = 55.0
|source 1 = India Meteorological Department (record high and low up to 2010)<ref name=IMD>{{cite web|url=http://www.imd.gov.in/section/climate/extreme/pondicherry2.htm|title=Pondicherry Climatological Table Period: 1971–2000|publisher=[[India Meteorological Department]]|access-date=11 April 2015}}</ref><ref name=IMD2>{{cite web |url=http://www.imdpune.gov.in/Temp_Extremes/histext2010.pdf |title=Ever recorded Maximum and minimum temperatures up to 2010 |publisher=India Meteorological Department |access-date=11 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6GmnoaB0m?url=http://www.imdpune.gov.in/Temp_Extremes/histext2010.pdf |archive-date=21 May 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
[[File:Long exposure shot of Beach road near Pondicherry harbour.jpg|thumb|Long Exposure shot of Pondicherry beach road]]
[[File:Harry_1.jpg|thumb|The Rajiv Gandhi Women and Children Hospital]]

According to the [[2011 census of India]], Pondicherry had a population of 244,377, with 124,947 females and 119,430 males. Pondicherry had an average literacy rate of 80.6% with male literacy at 84.6% and female literacy at 76.7%. In Pondicherry, 10% of the population was under six years of age.<ref name="dchb">{{cite web |title=District Census Handbook: Puducherry |url=http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/3402_PART_B_DCHB_PUDUCHERRY.pdf |website=Census of India |publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |access-date=11 February 2019 |pages=86–87}}</ref>

The majority speak [[Tamil language|Tamil]] in Pondicherry. There is a community of [[French people in India|French people]] and a number of French institutions such as the consulate of France in Pondicherry, the [[French Institute of Pondicherry]] and [[Alliance française|L'Alliance française]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Pondicherry: Forever France? by Anand Jha | url = http://www.boloji.com/index.cfm?md=Content&sd=Articles&ArticleID=823 | date = 2012-07-21 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120721144955/http://www.boloji.com/index.cfm?md=Content&sd=Articles&ArticleID=823 | archive-date = 21 July 2012 | access-date = 3 October 2013 | url-status = live }}</ref>

== Civic administration ==

The city of Puducherry comprises two municipality, [[Pondicherry Municipal Council|Puducherry]] and [[Uzhavarkarai]]. All the Municipalities and the Commune Panchayats in the Union Territory of Puducherry function under the Administrative control of the Local Administration Department.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.py.gov.in/knowpuducherry/dept_localadministration.html|title=Local Administration-Departments-Know Puducherry: Government of Puducherry|website=www.py.gov.in|access-date=2020-04-09}}</ref> The Puducherry Municipality under the Puducherry District comprises the erstwhile Communes of Puducherry and Mudaliarpet with its headquarters is in Puducherry. It has a total of 42 wards spread over an areas of 19.46 Sq. km.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pdymun.in/puducherry-municipality-details.php|title=Municipality Details - Pondicherry Municipality - The Union Territory of Puducherry|website=www.pdymun.in|access-date=2020-04-09}}</ref>Wards 1–10 are north of the city. Wards 11–19 are in ''Boulevard Town'' and remaining wards are southwest of the city centre.<ref>[http://jnnurmmis.nic.in/toolkit/CDP_Puducherry.pdf Town and Country Planning Department, Pondicherry, [[India]]: ''City Development Plan – Pondicherry, Final Report'', March 2007, S. 159] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090619092759/http://jnnurm.nic.in/nurmudweb/toolkit/CDP_Puducherry.pdf |date=19 June 2009}}</ref>

==Urban agglomeration==
[[File:VNR-Commune-Office-LV.jpg|thumb|The administrative building of Villianur, one of the communes of Puducherry]]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Local bodies
! Area
! Population
|-
| Pondicherry Municipality
| 19 km2
| 241,773
|-
| Oulgaret Municipality
| 36 km2
| 300,028
|-
| Villianur Census Town and Outgrowth
|
| 67,254
|-
| Ariyankuppam Town and Outgrowth
|
| 47,454
|-
! Total
! 293 km2
! 629,509
|}

===Data according to 2011 census===

There are two proposals by the Puducherry government, firstly to merge Pondicherry and [[Oulgaret]] municipalities, and upgrade the Pondicherry [[municipality]] into a '"[[municipal corporation]]", and secondly to upgrade [[Villianur]] and [[Ariyankuppam]] commune panchayats into municipalities, which would increase the Pondicherry region's urban area around 155 km2. of the total 292 km2.

==Transport==
[[file:Puducherry train station.JPG|thumb|Puducherry Railway Station]]
[[File:PNY airside.jpg|thumb|[[Pondicherry Airport]]]]

===Road===
Pondicherry is connected to [[Chennai]] via the [[East Coast Road]] through [[Mahabalipuram]].<ref name="ECRfastlane">{{cite news|title=After a decade on fast lane, ECR is set to expand |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article2922388.ece |first=Deepa|last=Ramakrishnan|date=23 February 2012 |work=[[The Hindu]]|location=Chennai|access-date=16 September 2012}}</ref> There are daily bus services from several main stops from Chennai. The [[Pondicherry Road Transport Corporation]] runs buses within the city and it runs Volvo buses to Chennai and to various places.<ref name="urbanroutes">{{cite news|title=20 buses launched in urban routes | url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article466675.ece |date=8 June 2010|work=[[The Hindu]]|location=Puducherry|access-date=19 September 2012}}</ref> The [[Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation]] operates [[Volvo]] air-conditioned bus services from Chennai to Pondicherry.<ref name="boonkancheetnstc">{{cite news |title=A boon to Kancheepuram unit of TNSTC |url=http://www.hindu.com/2010/02/19/stories/2010021950820200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100224011329/http://www.hindu.com/2010/02/19/stories/2010021950820200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 February 2010 |first=Venkatasubramanian |last=V|date=19 February 2010|work=[[The Hindu]] |location=Kancheepuram|access-date=15 September 2012}}</ref>

===Rail===
[[Puducherry railway station|PDY/Puducherry (Pondicherry)]] is connected by train to [[Chennai]], [[Delhi]], [[Howrah|Kolkata]], and [[Mumbai]], as well as other important cities such as [[Kanyakumari]], [[Hyderabad]], [[Nagpur]], [[Bhubaneswar]], [[Bengaluru]], [[Visakhapatnam]] and [[Mangalore]].<ref name="delhitrain">{{cite news|title=Delhi-Puducherry train link from July 3 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article2133605.ece|date=25 June 2011|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=16 September 2012}}</ref><ref name="mangaloretrain">{{cite news|title=Changes in train timings |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article3891397.ece|date=13 September 2012|work=[[The Hindu]]|location=Puducherry|access-date=16 September 2012}}</ref> Moreover, [[Viluppuram Junction railway station|VM/Villupuram Junction]] which is at a distance of around 24 miles i.e.40 km(both by rail & road) is connected to several other Indian Cities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Puducherry/Villupuram|title=Puducherry to Villupuram - 3 ways to travel via bus, and line 16116 train|last=Ltd|first=rome2rio Pty|website=Rome2rio|language=en|access-date=2020-01-28}}</ref>

===Air===
[[Pondicherry Airport]] is located at [[Lawspet]], an Assembly Constituency in the union territory of Pondicherry.<ref name="The Economic Times 2017">{{cite web | title=Puducherry back on aviation map; services to Hyderabad launched | website=The Economic Times | date=August 16, 2017 | url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/puducherry-back-on-aviation-map-services-to-hyderabad-launched/articleshow/60089905.cms | access-date=February 12, 2019}}</ref> It has direct flights to [[Rajiv Gandhi International Airport|Hyderabad]],<ref name="The Economic Times 2017"/> [[Kempegowda International Airport|Bengaluru]] operated by SpiceJet Airlines.

==Tourism==
{{Main|Tourism in Puducherry}}
[[File:PondicherryFrenchWarMemorial.jpg|thumb|upright|French War Memorial]]
[[File:The French Consulate building.JPG|thumb|The French consulate in Pondicherry.]]
[[File:"White Monument at Evening".jpg|thumb|222x222px|[[Aayi Mandapam (monument)|Aayi Mandapam (Park Monument]]) at Bharathi Park|alt=]]
Pondicherry is a tourist destination. The city has many colonial buildings, churches, temples and statues which, combined with the town planning and French style avenues in the old part of town, still preserve much of the colonial ambiance.

While the sea is a draw for tourists, Pondicherry no longer has the sandy beaches that once graced its coastline.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} The breakwater to the harbour and other hard structures constructed on the shore caused extreme [[coastal erosion]] and the sand from Pondicherry's [[Promenade Beach]] was permitted to disappear entirely. As a result of the city's seawall and [[groyne]] construction, the beaches further up the coast to the north have also been lost. An enormous deposition of sand has accrued to the south of the harbour breakwater, but this is not a commodious beach and is not easily accessible from the city.

But recently, the government has been taking steps by constructing a reef and re-dosing sand. The sea is accessible by a small patch of land at the Promenade Beach (Goubert Avenue).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/300818/artificial-reef-helps-restore-lost-pondy-beach.html|title=Artificial reef helps restore lost Pondy beach|last=M|first=Kavya|date=2018-08-30|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en|access-date=2020-01-28}}</ref> Moreover, the beach is one of the cleanest in India and has been selected for [[Blue Flag beach|Blue Flag]] certification.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/puducherry/beach-in-puducherry-selected-for-blue-flag-certification/articleshow/69668759.cms|title=Beach in Puducherry selected for blue flag certification {{!}} Puducherry News - Times of India|last1=Jun 6|first1=Bosco Dominique {{!}} TNN {{!}}|last2=2019|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2020-01-28|last3=Ist|first3=12:31}}</ref>

[[File:Aurobindo Ashram Pondichery - Outside view.jpg|thumb|right|Visitors at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram]]
The Sri Aurobindo Ashram, located on rue de la Marine, is one of the most important [[ashram]]s in India, founded by the renowned [[Indian independence movement|Freedom Fighter]] and spiritual philosopher [[Sri Aurobindo]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sriaurobindoashram.org/sriaurobindo/|title=Sri Aurobindo|access-date=19 July 2019}}</ref> [[Auroville]] (City of Dawn) is an "experimental" township located 8 km north-west of Pondicherry.

There are a number of old and large churches in Pondicherry, most of which were built in the 18th and 19th centuries. A number of heritage buildings and monuments are present around the [[Promenade Beach]], such as the Children's Park and Dupleix Statue, Gandhi statue, Nehru Statue, Le Café, French War Memorial, 19th Century Light House, Bharathi Park, Governors Palace, [[Romain Rolland Library]], Legislative Assembly, [[Pondicherry Museum]] and the [[French Institute of Pondicherry]] at Saint Louis Street.

Puducherry Botanical Gardens is located south of the New Bus Stand. Chunnambar Backwater resort is situated 8 km from Pondicherry, along the Cuddalore Main Road. This tropical resort is flanked by a creek on one side.

Arulmigu Manakula Vinayagar Devasthanam on Manakula Vinayagar Street is a Hindu temple, which houses Lord Ganesha. Sri Manakula Vinayagar Temple was in existence before the French came and settled in Pondicherry i.e. before 1666.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.manakulavinayagartemple.com/|title=Arulmigu Manakula Vinayagar Temple|access-date=19 July 2019}}</ref>

[[Sri Sengazhuneer Amman Temple|Sengazhuneer Amman Temple]] at [[Veerampattinam]] village is one of the oldest temples in Pondicherry, which is about 7 km away from the city centre. The car festival conducted in mid-August is famous in Puducherry and other neighboring states. The festival takes place on the fifth Friday since the commencement of the Tamil month of 'Aadi' every year from the date immemorial. The temple car festival is the only one where the head of the state pulls the temple car right from the days of the French rule.

Thirukaameeswarar Temple is one of the ancient temples located in a rural town called [[Villianur]] (the ancient name is Vilvanallur, from "vilva marangal niraindha nalla vur"),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://indiatourismonline.in/2018/06/26/about-pondicherry/|title=About Pondicherry|website=India tourism|access-date=19 July 2019}}</ref> which roughly translates as nice with archery trees is located about 10 km away (towards Villupuram) from Pondicherry. This temple is renowned as ''Periya Koil'' "Big Temple". The prime god is Lord Shiva and the prime goddess is Goddess Kokilambigai. There are other Hindu gods such as Murugan, Vinayagar, Thakshanamoorthy, Perumal, Bhramah, Chandikeshwarar, Natarajar, Navagrahah, and 63 Naayanmaars.{{Citation needed|date=June 2019}} The pioneers{{clarify|date=December 2011}} in this temple say that the age of this temple is about 1000 plus years. It is thought to have been built by one of the [[Chola dynasty|Chola kings]]. There is also a huge temple pond. The [[Chithirai Thiruvizha#Ther Thiruvizha|Ther Thiruvizha (chariot procession)]] is celebrated at this temple.

{{Panorama
|image = File:Pondicherry Panorama 1.jpg|
|height = 300
|caption = <center>Panoramic view of Pondicherry</center>
}}

==Notable people==

=== Leaders ===
* [[V. Subbiah]], Trade Union leader & freedom fighter.

===Literature and Arts===
* [[Tamil people|Tamil]] poet [[Bharathidasan]].
* [[Anandaraj]], Tamil film actor
* [[Kalki Koechlin]], Hindi movie actress
* [[Ayesha Kapur]], Hindi movie actress
* [[M. Night Shyamalan]], Hollywood director
* [[Tao Porchon-Lynch]], Yoga instructor, American actress

===Science and technology===
* [[S. Somasegar]], former senior vice-president, [[Microsoft]]
* [[Ganapathi Thanikaimoni]], Indian scientist and director of the Palynology laboratory of the French Institute of Pondicherry
* [[Yvonne Artaud]], French educationalist and psychologist.
* [[Navi Radjou]], an innovation and leadership strategist based in Silicon Valley.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://thinkbusiness.nus.edu/articles/item/126 |title=Archived copy |access-date=19 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119065707/http://thinkbusiness.nus.edu/articles/item/126 |archive-date=19 January 2015 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

===Armed forces===
* ''[[Marshal of France|Maréchal]]'' [[Jacques Lauriston|Le Marquis de Lauriston]] (1768–1828), a very senior-ranking military commander in the [[French Army]], was born in Pondicherry.

===Fictional===
* [[Prince Pondicherry]], a character from [[Roald Dahl]]'s ''[[Charlie and the Chocolate Factory]]'', is named after the city. The character asked that Willy Wonka build him a palace made of chocolate. Given the heat of the Indian climate, this decision worked out poorly for the fictitious prince.
*Pondicherry is the setting for the first third of [[Yann Martel]]'s [[Booker Prize]]-winning novel ''[[Life of Pi]]'' (2001). A portion of the subsequent [[Life of Pi (film)|film adaptation]] was filmed there.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/gallery/2012/dec/20/life-of-pi-on-location-pondicherry|title=Life of Pi|website=The Guardian|access-date=19 July 2019}}</ref>
*[[Lee Langley]]'s novel ''A House in Pondicherry'' (1996).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/books/story/19951031-book-review-lee-langley-house-in-pondicherry-807882-1995-10-31|title=Of Love Lost|website=India Today|access-date=19 July 2019}}</ref>

==Educational institutions==
* [[Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research ]]
* [[Pondicherry University]]
* [[Puducherry Technological University]]

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Nerhu Statue, Pondicherry.jpg|thumb|Nehru Statue, Pondicherry
File:Pondicherry Manakula Vinayagar Temple.JPG|Gate leading into Manakula Vinayagar Temple in White Town Pondicherry.
File:DSC 1218-EFFECTS.jpg|Tanjore Painting of Manakula Vinayagar in Pondicherry
File:Elephant Lakshmi.jpg|Devotees with Elephant Lakshmi in Manakula Vinayagar Temple in Pondicherry
File:Beach by the Bay.jpg|Beach by the Bay of Bengal, Pondicherry
File:Sunrise at the Pondicherry shore of happiness,.jpg|Early morning walk by the bay of Bengal in Pondicherry
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Karaikal]], India
* [[Mahé, India]]
* [[Manakula Vinayagar Temple]]
* [[Pondicherry urban area]]
* [[Yanam]], India

==References==
{{Reflist}}


{{Clear}}
{{Puducherry}}
{{State and Union Territory capitals of India}}


{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Pondicherry (city)| ]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Puducherry district| ]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Puducherry]]
[[Category:Indian union territory capitals]]
[[Category:Populated places in India]]
[[Category:1674 establishments in the French colonial empire]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1674]]

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Pondicherry