The Union Territory of Puducherry consists of four former French regions: Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe, and Yanam, located in South India. Puducherry, the capital, was the headquarters of the French in India and is situated along the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, about 135 km from Chennai. It is bordered by Tamil Nadu on three sides and the Bay of Bengal to the east. Karaikal lies 130 km south, Mahe is on the Malabar Coast, surrounded by Kerala, and Yanam is near Andhra Pradesh.
Under French rule for 138 years, the French territories in India were officially transferred to India on November 1, 1954, becoming a Union Territory, and Puducherry was fully integrated into India in 1963.
Puducherry, often called “India’s Little France” or “The French Riviera of the East,” retains its French influence in its grand colonial mansions, boulevards, and street names. Many Tamil residents still hold French passports, with their ancestors having chosen to remain French after independence. The French Consulate, French Institute, Alliance Française, and other cultural organizations highlight the enduring French legacy.
The town’s unique planning reflects a blend of French and Tamil architecture, modeled after a late 18th-century French coastal town. Puducherry covers 479 sq. km, with a population of 1.24 million (2011 Census) and a literacy rate of 86.55%. It continues to be a peaceful and culturally rich destination, combining French heritage with Indian traditions.