Things to Do in Pondicherry
Pondicherry is a Union Territory of India and a former French colony, consisting of four non-contiguous enclaves, or districts, and named after the largest, Pondicherry. This is a little confusing, but in 99% of cases, Pondicherry refers to the city of the same name, an enclave on the coast of Tamil Nadu some 160km south of Chennai. In September 2006, the territory and the city changed its official name from Pondicherry to the vernacular original, Puducherry, which means "New village". It is also known as The French Riviera of the East.
Pondicherry was the former capital of the French territories in India. Established in 1674 by Francoise Martin, the first director of the French East India Company, the oldest part of the town is laid out in a grid pattern, with parallel streets cutting across each other at right angles. Pondicherry's main oceanfront promenade is the 3km long Goubert Salai which is one of the iconic sights of the city, along with the adjacent French Quarter. This Gallic portion of Pondicherry, with its elegant colonial mansions, tree-lined boulevards, parks, bars and cafes, is the main focus of most people's visits to the city.
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