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Puducherry

Also known as Pondy, Puduvai, Pondichéry, Pondicherry

Union Territory of India

AI overview

Puducherry is a union territory of India, meaning it's a region directly governed by the central Indian government rather than being part of a state. It matters as an important administrative division of India and holds historical significance as a former French colonial territory that became part of India.

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Wikidata facts

Official name: പുതുച്ചേരി
Demonym: Pondian
Population: 1394467
Area: 492
Elevation: 16
Official website: www.py.gov.in
Image: Pondicherry-Rock beach aerial view.jpg

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Commons category: Puducherry (union territory)
inception: 1954-11-01
urban population: 852753
rural population: 395200
literate population: 957309
illiterate population: 290644
native label: പുതുച്ചേരി
P12749: Memoirs of a Geisha

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Article

Puducherry, also known as Poudouchéry or Pondicherry, is a union territory of India, consisting of four small geographically unconnected districts. It was formed out of four territories of former French India, namely Pondichéry (now Puducherry), Karikal (Karaikal), Mahé and Yanaon (now Yanam), excluding Chandannagar (Chandernagore), and it is named after the largest district, Puducherry, which was also the capital of French India. Historically known as Pondicherry, the territory changed its official name to Puducherry on 1 October 2006.

The Union Territory of Puducherry lies in the southern part of the Indian Peninsula. The areas of Puducherry district and Karaikal district are bound by the state of Tamil Nadu, while Yanam district and Mahé district are enclosed by the states of Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, respectively. Puducherry is the 29th most populous of the 36 states and union territories of India, and the third most densely populated union territory. It has a gross domestic product (GDP) of ₹390 billion (US$4.1 billion) and ranks 25th in India.