Puducherry town, built on the model of a French bastide

Background

The uniqueness of Puducherry town lies in its skilful town planning and Franco-Tamil architecture. The town is built on the model of a bastide, a fortified French coastal town of the late 18th century. The French flavour survives in grand colonial mansions, boulevards, promenades, the spellings on signboards and buildings and the names of roads and public places. Puducherry is referred to by names such as the Quintessence of French Culture, India's Little France and the French Riviera of the East. The French Consulate is located there, along with cultural organisations of which the French Institute, the Alliance Francais and the Ecole Francais d'Extreme Orient are noteworthy.