The coastal town of Pondicherry, India amongst other things, is also famous for the Colonial French and Franco-Tamil

architecture of some its buildings.

An example of engaged columns as above.  Grey and white

coloured buildings in Pondicherry are owned by the Aurobindo
Ashram.
This post discusses the colonial French architecture which
is predominantly seen in a  precinct now known
as White Town and was also known as the French
Quarter in much earlier times.
Tourist map of the Tamil and French Quarters of
Pondicherry
White Town is located east of the canals
between Ambour Salai/Gingee Salai (green line in
the map) and the bay. It is located in the
bottom portion of the map.
The rear portion of the Governor’s house. It once housed the French
Governor too.
The portion on the other side of the canal is the Tamil Quarter which
encompasses the popular and busy Mission Street (pink line) and the
houses in this quarter are symbolic of the Franco-Tamil and traditional
Tamil architecture respectively. Creole architecture might be a loosely
appropriate term for it.
St Louis Street, White Town, Pondicherry
White Town is known for it’s colonial styled villas with big compound walls and stately doors.
Opposite The Indian Kaffe Express, Dumas St.
The colours used for the structures here are primarily sun burnt yellow, peach or white.
Pondicherry during Christmas is delightful.
This quarter has a grid layout with absolutely perpendicular roads which have now
become somewhat of a problem because of the increased traffic due to the tourist
influx. Access to the Promenade besides the sea is also through this part of town
thereby increasing traffic density.
St Gille’s Street
The Promenade is Pondicherry’s only sea facing boulevard with an artificially created sand strip and lined up by a rock
armour to protect the shoreline. Various types of works are going on to beautify this strip.
Romain Rolland St. The yellow building is Gratitude, a restored colonial home.
So on many evenings and weekends, the influx of people increases by leaps and bounds.
An Indian motif to ward off the evil eye. Try reading the name plate on the door.
The hospital, park, schools and government buildings in the same area  add to the confusion.
Pondicherry architecture and its unique doors, White Town. Note the rain shade for the door bell.
The French styled architecture is suited for this town because of the salubrious weather with its long and huge windows with
vertical cast iron bars as grills, ornate balconies, large courtyards, circular arched gates, columns, engaged columns and
stucco designs.
Near the intersection of Romain Rolland and Bussy St.
The colonial French architecture may have been greatly influenced by the British who were administering the town of
Madras (Chennai) and surrounding areas and the initial workers commissioned to work in this part of Pondicherry may have
been drawn from the workforce who had experience in building the colonial structures of the East India Company located in
Madras.

A tourist walks along the houses near the Southern Boulevard Road
A very significant difference between the houses in the French Quarter and the Tamil Quarter is that the houses built in the
Tamil style are much more friendly towards visitors. With their inviting verandahs they make a traveller comfortable in
seeking refuge or rest.
The rear side of the Aurobindo Ashram.
The French styled houses are much more imposing and the high compound walls make sure that personal and social lives
of the inhabitants inside remain private. While INTACH, Pondicherry has restored quite a few buildings, there are also a few
VMF (Vieilles Maisons Francaises) awarded houses in White Town. The VMF plaque can be seen prominently on such
houses. VMF is a French organisation which works towards restoration and conservation of French architecture across the
world.
Graffiti on a Pondicherry house.
The influence of the French culture can also be seen in street art around the town and in the decor of most houses. Much of
the decor has a unique Franco-Tamil influence.
The French Consulate, Pondicherry.
The French may have left in the early 1950’s but the heritage though partly crumbling and becoming greatly commercial,
remains.