Pondicherry (union territory)

Pondicherry, now officially named Puducherry, is a union territory in Southern India. It consists of a number of enclaves in three different states:

Pondicherry — a cluster of 11 enclaves in Tamil Nadu, containing the main town and capital of the territory
Auroville — a popular spiritual and religious site near Pondicherry
Thirubhuvanai — a village at the outskirts of Pondicherry, home to Chola-era temples
Karaikal — an enclave further south in Tamil Nadu
Mahe — two enclaves in Kerala
Yanam — an enclave in Andhra Pradesh

All of these enclaves were under French occupation before they were peacefully handed over to India. Each enclave shares a mixed cultural heritage, combining its South Indian roots with a French colonial past.

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