Pondicherry Heritage Festival showcases French architecture in a heritage walk led by INTACH

Explore Puducherry's rich history and French influence through heritage walks and preservation efforts at Pondicherry Heritage Festival.

As the blistering afternoon sun of Puducherry slowly set, a group of history enthusiasts gathered by Palais de Mahe, one of the town’s biggest boutique hotels, to walk through the old town and learn about its unique and interesting history.

Puducherry was once occupied by the French and hence, educating tourists about the history and heritage of the town has  been of paramount importance for its residents and the Government.

The Pondicherry Heritage Festival (PHF)  is one such initiative. For the last 10 years, citizens have come together to educate the locals and tourists about the importance of preserving the unique architecture and culture of the town.

At present, visitors who flock to Puducherry for the aesthetic cafés, beaches, and the colonial French architecture have started to take an interest in the town’s history, culture, traditions, and local cuisine.

“You will see tour guides giving heritage walks at every corner over the weekends. We have trained a lot of people who now run their own private businesses,” said Ashok Panda, co-convener of INTACH’s Puducherry chapter.

Ashok, who has been involved in the restoration of colonial buildings in Puducherry for the last 20 years, conducted a heritage walk as a part of the Pondicherry Heritage Festival on March 1.

He started the walk with a brief history lesson about the French rule in India. “In the 18th Century there were wars between the French and the British, and the town was almost razed to the ground. What we see here today are mostly buildings built after the 1800s,” he said while walking down one of the streets.