Climate
Pondicherry is located in coastal area the climate here is warm and humid all through the year. The summer temperature ranges between 26� to 38� centigrade with dry and clear blue sky. Generally the summer stays from March to July and it is the most predominant season. For tourism purpose, ideal season is March to October. Pondicherry sees a very little monsoon which occurs between November to January and July to September. It sooths the heated days and makes the climate pleasant during this time. Winter in Pondicherry is heavily influenced by the north-east monsoons. November to January can be said to experience winter but temperature never goes below 20°.
Education
The city of Pondicherry has emerged as one of the main educational hubs of south India and there are valid reasons behind this development. The academic institutions of Pondicherry have given importance on building basic infrastructure. Apart from schools and colleges the prominent part of Pondicherry Education is the presence of specialized technical training and research institutes.
Cuisine
The union territory of Pondicherry in the country of India was a French settlement for a long time. The French and the Indo style have given birth to an innovative taste that is simply marvelous. The influence of the neighboring areas like Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala is also visible. The concoction of the various kinds of cuisines is something to be savored and relished.
Some of the hot favorite cookery items in Pondicherry are:
Coconut Curry, Tandoori Potato ,Soya Dosa ,Podanlangkai ,Assad ,Curried Vegetables, Stuffed Cabbage , Italian Baked Beans
Culture
The culture of Pondicherry has imbibed various fairs and festivals. Some of these fairs and festivals are religious in nature, while others are cultural and spiritual. Few of the popular fairs and festivals that have religious significance are festival Kinni Radhothsavam in Kamatchiamman Temple, Masi Magam, Brahamothsavam in Manakula Vinayagar Temple, Bastille Day on 14 July, Fire Walking Festival, annual festival at Muthumariamman Temple, 22-day festival in Drowpathiamman Temple and many more. The International Yoga Festival in January and the Veerampattinam Car Festival are the two famous festivals that are attended and enjoyed by the maximum number of people in Pondicherry.
History
History of Pondicherry began with the advent of the French in India. In 1643 Pondicherry came under French sovereignty and remained so for 20 years after which for some time it was under Dutch control. In 1699, it again became the property of the French and Fran�ois Martin, the administrator, restored peace in Pondicherry and made developments in the town. For about 250 years Pondicherry remained more or less peaceful other than the Carnatic Wars. In the years to come History in Pondicherry witnessed the rivalry between the French and the British which disturbed the serenity of Pondicherry and it ended only when the British recognized the French supremacy over Pondicherry in 1814. From that time till 1954, History of Pondicherry was a history of French domination. On 1st November 1954, France agreed to give up Pondicherry and the other three territories to the Indian government, and the Indian flag was hoisted for the first time in Pondicherry with a grand ceremony and 21 gun shots. Pondicherry’s history took a new turn in 1963, when the ‘Territory of Pondicherry’ was created with Pondicherry, Karikal, Yanam and Mahe. It started the beginning of a new era in Pondicherry’s glorious history.
Language
The languages in Pondicherry portray the multilingual and multi-ethnic pattern of the social and cultural traditions of the Union Territory.
The Major languages at Pondicherry are
- Tamil
- Telugu
- Malayalam
- French
- English
Religion
The town of Pondicherry has people following the religions of Christianity, Hinduism and Islam. The worship places of all these religions are found in abundance. The town is marked with festivities which includes religious festivals of each Faith. They are carried out with a lot of devotion and harmony. Fairs and festivals pertaining to other aspects like cultural and gourmet have become a tradition of the inhabitants here. These Fairs and festivals are an integral part of the culture of Pondicherry.