Karaikal (also Karikal or Karaikkal) is a city and a municipality in Karaikal district in the Indian state of Pondicherry.

Contents 1 Culture 2 Economy 3 Demographics 4 websites 5 See also

[edit] Culture

Located 132 km south of the city of Pondicherry, Karaikal is known for its rich religious heritage, and is a destination for those seeking leisure and serenity. The town boasts a harmonious society comprising of Hindus, Muslims, Christians and people of other religious persuations. Tamil is the predominant native language of the people. As the area was formerly a French possession, the French language is also found, especially among the elder generation.

[edit] Economy

The town houses the offices of the Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC), which explores, produces and supplies oil & natural gas. The town's economy depends to a large extent on this organization.

On the 26th of December 2004 , Karaikal faced its worst tragedy. Tsunami waves hit this coastal town in India. More than 500 people, mostly fishermen families, were washed away by the killer waves.

[edit] Demographics

As of 2001 India census^GRIndia, Karaikal had a population of 74,333. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Karaikal has an average literacy rate of 73%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 79%, and female literacy is 68%. In Karaikal, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

[edit] websites

• http://www.mayiladuthuraionline.com

[edit] See also

• French India
• French colonial empire
• French East India Company
• Municipal Administration in French India
• Causes for Liberation of French colonies in India

 This article related to a location in the Indian state of Pondicherry is a stub. See the WikiProject India for article coordination. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Image:Blason France moderne.svg	French Colonial Empire [  v • d • e</span>  ]	Image:Flag of France.svg
I- Former French protectorates and colonial possessions:
Africa & Indian Ocean: Maghreb (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia) | Arguin Island (off Morocco) | French West Africa (Côte d'Ivoire, Dahomey, French Sudan (Mali), Guinea, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Upper Volta) & French Togoland & James Island (The Gambia) | French Equatorial Africa (Chad, Gabon, Middle Congo, Oubangui-Chari) | French Somaliland (Djibouti) | Comoros (Anjouan- Grande Comore- Mohéli) | Madagascar | Mascarene Islands : Ile de France (Mauritus) & Seychelles
The Americas (French colonization of the Americas): New France (Acadia, Louisiana, Quebec, Terre Neuve) | Inini | Berbice | Saint-Domingue (Haiti) | Tobago | Virgin Islands (part) | France Antarctique (part of Brazil) | France Équinoxiale (part of Brazil)
Asia: Alaouites | Alexandretta-Hatay (now a province of Turkey) | Ceylon | French India (Chandannagar, Coromandel Coast | Madras | Malabar, Mahé, Puducherry, Karaikal, Yanaon) | Kwangchowan (lease in China) | French Indochina (Cambodia-Kampuchea | Laos | Vietnam: Annam, Cochinchina, Tonkin)
Oceania: New Caledonia | New Hebrides (now Vanuatu)
II- Present overseas territories and possessions:
Americas: French Guiana | Guadeloupe | Martinique | Saint-Pierre and Miquelon | Oceania: French Polynesia | New Caledonia | Wallis and Futuna | Indian Ocean: Mayotte | La Réunion (Mascarene- formerly Île Bourbon)
See also: French colonisation of the Americas | Chartered company | French East India Company

fr:Kârikâl

nl:Karaikal ta:காரைக்கால் zh:卡來卡