The French, who arrived in the early part of the 18th century and attempted to establish themselves in Pondicherry, formerly known as Vedapuri, Poduke and Puducherry. Initially they were thwarted by the British, and constant battles for possession marked the early years of their occupation.

It is now part of a Union Territory that includes three other small formerly French colonies : Mahe (Kerala), Karaikal (Tamil Nadu) and Yanam (Andhra Pradesh). It is easier to travel the 115 kilometres from Madras to Pondicherry by road, rather than take the train to Villupuram, 38 kilometres west of the town, from where there is a branch line and a bus service. Although the French influence is gradually fading, Pondicherry retains a few accents. Pondicherry's main sights are the Rai Nivas, the Sacred Heart Church and the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. The ashram retreat was founded in 1926 by Sri Auro bindo after whose death the spiritual authority passed to one of his disciples, a French woman known as 'The Mother'. The ashram's many activities include the making of perfumes soap, incense and hand - made paper. The Mother was also instrumental in founding the ' City of Dawn', Auroville, ten kilometer from Pondicherry.

Its original charter aimed at creating a city of the future where people from India and aboard could live and work together in a spiritual environment. The futuristic buildings of Auorville were designed by the French architect Roger Auger. The vast Matri Mandir serves both as a meditation hall and the spiritual center of Auroville.