Pondicherry's French Quarters

Stunning beaches, breezy seaside promenades, chic shopping outlets, havens of spirituality and a fascinating old town reminiscent of its colonial heritage – that’s the city of Pondicherry for you. Pondy, as it is lovingly known, is situated in the Pondicherry District in the Union territory of Puducherry. It is located close to the state of Tamil Nadu and the nearest major city is Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu.

The stunning view of the sea at the Promenade | Photo: where's claire?/Flickr

Once the largest French colony in India, Pondicherry, in the present day, is a little piece of France in India, the best example of which is Pondicherry’s French Quarter. Although the entire city’s design is based on the French grid pattern with perpendicular streets and neatly demarcated sectors, the city is divided into two sections; the Indian quarter, also called Ville Noire or Black Town and the French quarter, also called Ville Blanche or White town.

Even with this segregation, Pondicherry is a beautiful blend of the East and West. Many streets in the French quarter have retained their French names and many buildings have been constructed in typical colonial style with majestic walls and extended compounds. There are also many French-style villas in the area featuring the famed French windows and balconies. The facades in typical French houses are often coloured pink, yellow and cream.

A French house in Pondicherry | Photo: Devika Khosla

In addition to the fascinating French houses, buildings and churches, there are also other monuments in Pondicherry that depict the French period. These include the building of the French consulate in Pondicherry, the Le Foyer du Soldat legion hall built in the honour of French soldiers who served in wars and other cultural organizations.

The French and Indian houses in Pondicherry and their legacy in the form of their architecture has been preserved from destruction by the Another interesting fact about some houses in Pondicherry is that you will find them painted grey. This is to denote association with the revered Sri Aurobindo Ashram in the city.

A building in Pondicherry’s French quarter | Photo: subcontinentaldrift/Flickr

Real estate in Pondicherry is a charming mix of French and Indian architecture. It’s an impressive sight indeed to see the heavy French influence still intact in Pondicherry after all these years. After all, Pondicherry is known as the French Riviera of the East not without a reason.

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