A plaque of former French Mayors in the derelict Hotel du Ville that has been saved by INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage). Pondicherry, India. Pondicherry (now Puducherry) is a Union Territory of India and was a French territory until 1954 (legally on 16 August 1962). The French Quarter of the town retains a strong French influence in terms of architecture and culture.