The French were early rivals of the Briish for empire in India. For many reasons, probably centering around British control of the seas, the French lost out and were permitted, by various treaties, to retain only tiny settlements.
The Indian postal service maintained offices in these possessions independently of the French post offices.
Pondicherry was the capital of the French possessions and occupied an area of 113 square miles. It had been lost by the French during the Napoleonic wars but was handed back to them in 1816 and stayed French until it was returned to India after independence.
Chandernagore was a really tiny (3 sq.miles) enclave some 20 miles north of Calcutta. It was owned by the French between 1816 and 1950 when a referendum returned it to India.
Karikal was a small French settlement on the S.E. coast in the Tanjore district.
Other Settlements included Mahe and Yenam
Information and images for this page were provided by Robert Wilson, who died on 7th September 2004, and are used with permission of his widow, Betty. We are grateful.
