(Fr. Pondichéry), a town of India, and the capital of the French possessions there, on the E. coast of the Carnatic, 85 miles S. by W. of Madras; N. Lat. 11° 56', E. Long. 79° 54'. It is built at the S.E. extremity of a long flat hill, quite close to the beach, and to the mouth of a small river. From the sea it presents a grand and conspicuous appearance; nor is the visitor disappointed on a nearer approach, as it has straight and regular streets, a handsome square planted with trees, and fine boulevards. It is divided into the White and the Black Town by a canal, which is crossed by elegant bridges. The former part, which lies to the east, consists of lofty flat-roofed houses, with gardens in front. The Black Town is regularly laid out, but it consists for the most part of mere huts. The most notable buildings are the splendid government palace, the church of foreign missions, and the bazaars, which were erected in 1836. In the Black Town the most conspicuous edifice is an enormous and grotesque pagoda. Pondicherry has no harbour; and as there is a shallow bar, where the surge is very violent, peculiarly constructed boats with flat bottoms are necessary for landing. The river can only admit the very smallest craft. Abreast the town is a pretty good roadstead; and there is a lighthouse (finished in 1836) 89 feet high, and visible in clear weather 16 or 17 miles. Pondicherry has some cotton factories; and rice, indigo, and sugar are raised in the adjacent country. Fishing is also actively pursued, and there is an extensive trade.

The territory of Pondicherry, which has an area of 106 square miles, and is inclosed within the British district of South Arcot, consists of the three districts of Pondicherry, containing, besides the capital, eleven villages; Vallanor, containing forty-five villages; and Balnor, containing thirty-six villages. The executive and legislative establishment consists of a governor, a council of administration, and a council-general; the judicial establishment includes a royal court, a tribunal of the first instance, and a tribunal of peace and police. The governors of the other French possessions in India are subject to that of Pondicherry. The first French settlement here took place in 1674; they having purchased the town two years before from the Rajah of Bejapoor. In 1693 the place was taken by the Dutch; but restored, with its fortifications much improved, by the peace of Ryswick in 1697. Pondicherry was attacked by a British fleet and army in 1748, but without success, and the siege had to be raised. In 1758 Count Lally arrived here, and commenced vigorous measures against the British. Fort St David, Arcot, and the town of Madras fell successively before the French arms; but Fort St George, the citadel of Madras, held out till it was relieved, and Lally was obliged to retreat to Pondicherry. Subsequently the fortune of the war turned decisively against the French; Pondicherry was besieged, forced to surrender, and razed to the ground; while the other French posts in the Carnatic met with a similar fate. Along with their other possessions in the Carnatic, Pondicherry was restored to the French in 1763; and though subsequently more than once captured by the British, it was finally secured to France in 1814. Pop. of the town from 25,000 to 30,000; of the district (1856), 119,755.