Pondicherry

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This article is about the city. For the union territory, see Puducherry. For other entities called
Pondicherry, see Pondicherry (disambiguation).
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how and when to remove this template message)PondicherryCity

Clockwise from top right: bando statue, Promenade Beach, Matrimandir, Sri Aurobindo
Ashram, Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Aayi Mandapam (monument), Basilica of the Sacred
Heart of Jesus, Manakula Vinayagar TempleNickname(s): "Paris of the East",[1] "Pondy"

Pondicherry

PondicherryCoordinates:1155'N 7949'ECoordinates: 1155'N 7949'ECountryIndiaStatePuducherryDistrictPu

ducherryEstablished1673Government BodyPondicherry Municipal CouncilElevation3 m
(10 ft)Population (2011) City654,392 Density9,166/km2 (23,740/sq mi) Metro654,392Language
s OfficialTamil, English, FrenchTime zoneIST (UTC+5:30)PIN CODE605001-605014Telephone
code91 (0)413Vehicle registrationPY-01,PY-05Pondicherry (/p?nd??t??ri/ or /p?nd????
ri/) is the capital city and the largest city of the Indian union
territory of Puducherry. The city of Pondicherry is situated in Puducherry
district of the union territory. It is affectionately known as Pondy, and has
been officially known by the alternative name Puducherry in Tamil (New Town)
since 2006.[2]

Pondicherry city consists of 42 wards. Wards 1-10 are located in north of the
city. Wards 11-19 are located in Boulevard Town and remaining wards are
located in the southwest of the downtown.[3]

Contents

1History
 2Topography

3Economy

4Climate

5Demographics

6Urban agglomeration

7Transport

7.1Road

7.2Rail

8Tourism

9Gallery

10Notable people

10.1Literature

10.2Actors, directors and performance artists

10.3Science and technology

10.4Politicians and public servants

10.5Armed forces

10.6Fictional

11See also

12References

13External links

History[edit]
Main article: History of Puducherry

Pondicherry waterfront circa 1900

The history of the city of Pondicherry is recorded only after the arrival
of Dutch, Portuguese, British and French colonialists. By contrast, nearby
places such as Arikamedu, Ariyankuppam, Kakayanthoppe, Villianur and Bahur,
which were colonised by the French East India Company over a period of time
and which later became the union territory of Pondicherry, which also has
recorded history predating the colonial period.

A marketplace named Poduke or Poduca is recorded as a Roman trading

destination from the mid 1st century. The area was part of the Pallava Kingdom
of Kanchipuram in the 4th century. The Cholas of Thanjavur held it from the
10th to 13th centuries, only to be replaced by the Pandya Kingdom in the 13th
century. The 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 Sultan of Bijapur.

The French East India Company established this town as their headquarters in
1674. Five trading posts were established along the south Indian coast
between 1668 and 1674. The town was separated by a canal into the French
Quarter and the Indian Quarter.[4]
During the Anglo-French wars (17421763), Puducherry changed hands
frequently. On January 16, 1761, the British captured Puducherry from
the French, but the Treaty of Paris (1763) at the conclusion of the Seven Years'
War returned it.[5] The British took control of the area again in 1793 at
the Siege of Pondicherry amid the Wars of the French Revolution, and returned
it to France in 1814. When the British gained control of the whole of India in
the late 1850s, they allowed the French to retain their settlements in the
country. Pondicherry, Mahe, Yanam, Karaikal and Chandernagar remained a
part of French India until 1954 when it was incorporated into the Indian Union
along with the rest of French India.
On 18 October 1954 in a general election involving 178 people in Pondicherry
Municipal and Commune Panchayat, 170 people were in favour of
independence and eight people voted against. The de facto transfer of
the French India territories form French governance to the Indian union took
place on 1 November 1954, and was established as the union territory
of Pondicherry. However, the formal de jure transfer of territory agreement
between France and India was signed on 16 August 1962.