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Pondicherry, India,
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Situated on the Coromandel coast, about 160 kms south of
Chennai, lies the
Union Territory of Pondicherry. The French ruled this territory for 300
years, and today, it stands as a living monument of the French culture in
India. It is bound on the east by the Bay of Bengal and on the other three
sides by the South Arcot District of Tamil Nadu. About 150 kilometres
south of Pondicherry, on the east coast, lies Karaikal, while Mahe is
situated on the Malabar coast. Yanam is situated in the adjoining East
Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.
Pondicherry traces its origin to Saint Agasthya, the revered sage of the
south. The excavations near Pondicherry reveal, that a Roman settlement
existed here, 2000 years ago. It was also the site of many a battle
between the British and the French, and was the capital of French India,
before it attained its independence.
This restored, attractive, former French colony, exudes a Mediterranean
aura with its chic streets, elegant houses, ornamental gardens and the
Hotel de Ville. Being a small and quiet enclave of Tamil Nadu, it has
imbibed the Tamilian culture. Apart from the charming atmosphere,
excellent restaurants and cheap beer, what attracts most travellers to
Pondicherry is the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and its offshoot, Auroville, 10 km
outside town. The ashram, founded by Sri Aurobindo in the year 1926, has
brought international reputation to this coastal town. The ashram, the
spiritual tenets of which combine yoga and modern science is quite popular
within India and abroad.
Festivals of Pondicherry differ from the rest of India, for the French
influence still persists prominently here. Masquerade, held in March -
April, is a popular mask festival, during which brilliantly costumed and
masked people of Pondicherry, dance down the streets to the music of
trumpets and accordions. During the Eve of the Bastille Day, retired
soldiers parade the streets in war finery, singing the French and Indian
National Anthem. French is still widely spoken, and the seaside villas and
the cobbled streets are more reminiscent of the south of France than the
south of India!!
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