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Introduction
A peaceful and clean city of southeast India on the Bay of Bengal situated south-southwest of Chennai (Madras), is Pondicherry(old name) which has been renamed as Puducherry. It consists of four former French coastal settlements whose administration was transferred to India in 1954.A former French colony with well-laid, wide streets still carrying French names,it is an unpolluted haven for tourists especially foreigners.
Referred to as Poduca in ancient times,carrying a rich French past and subsequently Puducheri (new town), owed allegiance to various rulers. Ashokas reign, at its zenith, extended till Pondy, the Pallavas of Kanchipuram, the Cholas and the kings from Vijayanagar all held sway over this little coastal hamlet.
Puducherrys beauty lies in its quiet existence and vibrant surroundings.To somebody looking for inner peace, it is the tranquil land that embodies spirituality. For a student of history, it is a trip down the past, while a romantic twosome can find the un-intruding air of the place scintillatingly fresh.Its cosmopolitan outlook with an inter caste,inter religious and international population living in harmony,is a unique feature of this town.
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