Union Territory Of Puducherry

Puducherry, earlier known as Pondicherry is a Union Territory of India. It is formed out of the four territories of Southern India-Pondicherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam that were ruled by the French.

- Gayathri Krishnan

Puducherry and Karaikal districts are bordered by Tamilnadu while Yanam and Mahe districts are bordered by Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.

Pondicherry is the capital and the largest city of the Union Territory of Puducherry.

Places like Arikamedu, Ariyankuppam and Villiyanur which were colonised by the French East India Company are rich in archaeological findings that date back to the 1st century. During the reign of Julius Caesar, Arikamedu was a Greek trading Post with Rome and many Roman glassware, beads and gems were excavated from the coastal village.

The French East India Company occupied the district of Puducherry in 1674. In 1761, the British captured the town but later returned it to the French who ruled the township till 1954, after which Puducherry was declared a Union Territory of India. Even today, Pondicherry is separated into the French Quarter and the Tamil Quarter. The Official languages of Puducherry are French, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam.