Puducherry (city)
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| Puducherry | |
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| Coordinates | 11°56′N 79°50′E / 11.93°N 79.83°E |
| Country |  India |
| Territory | Puducherry |
| District(s) | Puducherry |
| Municipal chairman | DR. B.Sridevi |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Area • Metro • Elevation |
• 71 km2 (27 sq mi) • 0 m (0 ft) |
Puducherry is a city, an urban agglomeration and a municipality in Puducherry District in the Indian union territory of Puducherry. Both the Union Territory and the city were previously known as Pondicherry before September 2006
Puducherry is the largest urban agglomeration in Puducherry UT and has a population of 5,05,959 according to the 2001 Census Of India.
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[edit] Geography
The geography of Puducherry is the same as that of coastal Tamil Nadu. Puducherry's average elevation is at sea level, and a number of sea inlets, referred to as "backwaters" can be found. One such inlet, Chunnambar is a popular tourist destination.
Puducherry experiences coastal erosion. The city is protected against the sea by a 1.25 mile (2-kilometre) long seawall, first completed by the French in 1735, which reaches a height of 27 feet above sea level.[1] A weather-beaten cement plaque with the year 1952 is still visible along a section of the seawall. The seawall is protected from the direct onslaught of waves by rows of granite boulders which are reinforced every year to stop erosion. Whenever gaps appear or the stones sink into the sand, the Government adds more boulders to keep it strong.
[edit] Climate
The climate of Puducherry is again, very similar to that of coastal Tamil Nadu.Summer lasts from April to early June, when maximum temperatures frequently hit the 41o C mark. The average maximum temperature is 36o C. Minimum temperatures are in the order of 28 - 32 o C. This is followed by a period of high humidity and occasional thundershowers from June till September.
The Northeast Monsoon or Retreating Monsoon sets in during the middle of October, and Puducherry gets the bulk of its annual rainfall during the period from October to December. The annual average rainfall is 1240 mm.[2] Winters are mild, with highs of 30oC and lows often dipping to around 18 - 20oC.
[edit] Demographics
At the 2001 India census,[3] Puducherry had a population of 220,749. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Puducherry has an average literacy rate of 76%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 82%, and female literacy is 71%. In Puducherry, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
The majority of Puducherrians speak Tamil, Telugu or Malayalam. At the time of their departure from the country, the French colonisers gave Puducherrians the option to secure French nationality. However, few accepted the offer. There is a community of French people in Puducherry and a number of French institutions such as a consulate, French schools, the French Institute, and L'Alliance Française. A fascination for the French language and French culture is very common. Many French tourists visit this charming seaside town out of curiosity and because it feels familiar to their home country to a certain extent.
There is also a sizeable community of Indians from other states of India, notably Bengal, Gujarat and Orissa. Many amongst them are there because of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, founded by Sri Aurobindo and his disciple, Meera Alfasa.
[edit] Urban Agglomeration
| Local Bodies | Area | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Puducherry Municipality | 19.54 km2 | 2,20,865 |
| Oulgaret Municipality | 36.70 km2 | 2,17,707 |
| Villianur Commune Panchayat[Urban] | 10.89 km2 | 44,194 |
| Ariangkuppam Commune Panchayat[Urban] | 4.77 km2 | 23,193 |
| Total | 71.9 km2 | 5,07,960 |
[edit] Tourism
Puducherry is one of the most popular tourist destinations in South India. The city has many beautiful colonial buildings, churches, temples, and statues, which, combined with the systematic town planning and the well planned French style avenues, still preserve much of the colonial ambience. Puducherry is also a popular weekend destination. It is a blend of spiritual aura, French colonial heritage, Tamil culture, Virgin beaches and the cosmopolitan flair of many nationalities in a small but varied town.
The most popular tourist destinatins are the four beaches in puducherry, which are Promenade Beach, Paradise Beach, The Auroville Beach and Serinity Beach. Sri Aurobindo Ashram located on rue de la Marine, is one of the most well known and wealthiest ashrams in India. Auroville (City of Dawn) is an "experimental" township located 8km North-West of puducherry. Auroville is meant to be a universal town where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and progressive harmony, above all creeds, all politics and all nationalities.
There are a number of old and large churces in puducherry some of which have been built in eighteenth and nineteenth century. A number of heritage buildings and monuments are present around the Promenade beach such as the Children’s Park & Dupleix Statue, Gandhi statue, Nehru Statue, Le Café, French War Memorial, 19th Century Light House, Bharathi Park, Governors Palace, French War Memorial, Romain Rolland Library, Legislative Assembly, Puducherry Museum, French Institute of Pondicherry at Saint-Louis Street etc.
Puducherry Botanical Gardens is located south of the New Bus Stand. Chunnambar Backwater resort is situated 8 km from puducherry, along the Cuddalore Main Road. This tropical resort is flanked by a quiet-flowing creek on one side. Boating and tree house are very popular.
[edit] City Pincodes
- PUDUCHERRY HPO -605001 *
- PUDUCHERRY ASHRAM -605002 *
- MUTHIALPET -605003 *
- MUDALIARPET -605004 *
- NELLITHOPE -605005 *
- DHANVANTRI NAGAR -605006 *
- ARIYANKUPPAM -605007 *
- LAWSPET -605008 *
- THATTANCHAVADY -605009 *
- REDDIYARPALAYAM -605010 *
- KAMARAJ ROAD -605011 *
- PADMINI NAGAR -605012 *
- SARAM -605013 *
- PONDICHERRY UNIVERSITY -605014 *
[edit] Institutions
- Sri Aurobindo's Ashram: a spiritual community dedicated to The Mother and Sri Aurobindo's teachings and vision.
- Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education
- Bharathidasan Govt college for Women.
- Sriram Charitable Trust
[edit] Famous people
Famous people who have lived in Puducherry include:
- Sri Aurobindo and Subramanya Bharathy who took part in the Indian independence movement.
- Famous Tamil Poet Bharathidasan was from here.
- It is also the birthplace and home of the titular character in Yann Martel's Life of Pi, before he emigrates to Canada.
[edit] See also
- Pondicherry University
- Pondicherry Engineering College
- Rajiv Gandhi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
- Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research
- Mahatma Gandhi Medical College & Research Institute
- Sriram Charitable Trust
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.pondicherryonline.in/Profile/Geography/
- ^ http://education.vsnl.com/imdchennai/rdwr.htm
- ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Puducherry |
- (English) Official website of the Government of the Union Territory of Pondicherry
- (English) Map and information about Pondicherry
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