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!!
