Pondicherry
(Union Territory of India) 

The Union Territory of Pondicherry consists of Pondicherry the capital, 162 kms South of Chennai on the East coast of South India. Karaikal, 132 kms South of Pondicherry. Yanam, in the East Godavari district in Andhra Pradhesh, and Mahe, in the Cannanore District of Kerala. 
The origin of Pondicherry is buried in legends. According to one view, the town was once called Vedapuri and was a seat of Vedic culture, and the abode of Sage Agastya. Prof. Jonvean Dubrouil, the French archeologist believes that the Ashram of Agastya was on the very spot where the main building of Sri Aurobindo Ashram stands today.

Remnants of an ancient port town have been excavated at Arikamedu, 6 kms from Pondicherry town, clearly proving that it had trade connections with Rome and Greece, around the period 100 BC and 100 AD.

Pondicherry continued to flourish even during the Chola period, as the discovery of the Chola coins from the eleventh and twelfth centuries indicate. These Chola coins and the artefacts from the excavations at Arikamedu can be viewed in the Pondicherry Museum.

Modern Pondicherry 
The history of modern Pondicherry starts with the arrival of the French in 1673, who ruled for most part of the next 281 years.

heritage
Pondicherry has a rich French cultural heritage, having been the capital of the French colonies in India since the 17th century. Pondicherry, Karaikal, Yanam and Mahe were transferred to the Indian Union in 1954.

This French legacy is visible in the well-planned town, neatly laid roads, wide and vibrant beaches, beautiful promenades, architecturally imposing churches and public buildings and statues of Joan of Arc and Josep Francois Dupleix who was the Governor of the French colonies in India from 1742-54. The town also has an Alliance Francaise and the French Institute.

Among the notable French personalities who left their indelible mark on Pondicherry, four names stand out. Francois Martin who was appointed the Administrator after the Treaty of Ryswick, brought stability and was responsible for its growth. Dumas, who succeeded him, built on Martin's foundations. The third notable Frenchman was Joseph Francois Dupleix, the Governor of French India from 1742-54.

The fourth French personality who made an impact on modern day Pondicherry was 'The Mother', a Paris-born painter-musician and Sri Aurobindo's close companion from 1920 until his death in 1950. She was responsible for developing the Ashram as it is today.

Yoga and spirituality
If you are tired of the rat race that today's world has become and are in search of inner peace, harmony and spirituality, then Pondicherrry is the place to come to.

It has been a seat of learning and vedic culture since ancient times and was also the home of the great Hindu sage Agastya. Pondicherry's mystic spirit found a great resurrection in the twentieth century with the establishment of Sri Aurobindo Ashram.

Although pondicherry has many yoga learning centres, there are two yoga institutions which are world renowned - the Aurobindo Ashram and the International Centre for Yoga Education & Research (popularly known as the Ananda Ashram).
International Yoga Festival
The Government of Pondicherry conducts an annual international Yoga festival during January 4th-7th. The programme consists of practical Yoga classes and discussions on various topics on Yoga.

The festival which attracts participants from all over the world, aims to develop the conscious process at all levels-physical, mental, emotional and spiritual-and completeness in every aspect of life.