Pondicherry, India


Surrounded by Tamil Nadu, the city of Pondicherry is the capital of Pondicherry union territory formed in 1962 from the four former colonies of French India-Pondicherry, Karaikal, and Yanam, on the Coromandel Coast, and Mahe, on the Malabar Coast (de facto transfer of French possessions to India took place on 1 Nov, 1954, de jure transfer on 28 May, 1956, and instruments of ratification were signed on 16 Aug, 1962). The city of Pondicherry originated as a trade centre in 1674, when it was purchased by the French from a local ruler. Today it is a seaside tourist resort known for the Hindu ashram (religious retreat) of Sri Aurobindo Ghose (1872-1950), now an international study centre. The union territory is governed by a lieutenant governor advised by a chief minister and a Council of Ministers; the jurisdiction of the Chennai High Court extends over it. (Also see Auroville.) [Adapted from Encyclopedia Britannica]

White Town street

Elvis in Pondicherry

Sri Aurobindo ashram

White Town street

Seafront (more)

Portraits for sale

Notre Dame des Agnes

White Town street

Ambedkar memorial

Ambedkar in Pondicherry (more)

Dumas street

Alliance Francaise

Doggie siesta

No more Hotel de Ville

WWI memorial

Public Library

Marilyn in Pondicherry

Rue Romain Rolland

Bharathi Park (more)

Celebrating a milestone

The pictures above were taken in Jan 2015, the ones below in Jan 2006 or earlier.

 

Sri Aurobindo ashram

Place de la Republique (more)

Seafront

Governor's residence

Colonial quarter street

Colonial quarter street

Colonial quarter street (more)

Colonial quarter street

St. John's church (inside)

Petting an elephant

Manakula Vinayagar temple

Evening glitter

On Ambour Salai

Cluny doorway

Immaculate conception
cathedral (inside)

Children's park

Pondicherry war memorial

Marquis Dupleix

Notre Dame des Agnes

Pondicherry museum

Chola bronze (Amman)

Romain Rolland public library

Beach women (1996)

Beach Women, 1996

Beach women (1996)

Mothers and daughters, 1996

Exam time (1996)

At an Aurobindo ashram guesthouse, 1996

 



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