Yanam, historically known as Yanaon, is a small town with a rich, albeit often overlooked, history as part of the French colonial empire in India. Located in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, the town is a part of Puducherry’s union territory. The history of Yanam, its cultural legacy, and its eventual integration into the Indian Union is a fascinating tale of cultural fusion.
Yanam Under French
Yesterday at Yanam #WorldPhotographyDay pic.twitter.com/BAWX4XEwbU
— SAI (@KingVirat183) August 19, 2020
Under French rule, Yanam developed into a significant trading post. Before the French took possession in the 1720s, the charming tiny town on the Coromandel coast, which is home to immaculate beaches, was a Dutch colony. During three major wars, the British and the French fought each other for possession of the beach town, although Yanam remained under French rule until 1954. It is clear to see how important each of these cultures is to the town.
One of the most enduring legacies of French rule in Yanam is its architecture. The town still boasts several colonial-era buildings, churches, and statues that reflect its French heritage. The French architectural style is evident in the 1769 stained-glass windows of the nearby church and the Court House (Palais De Justice), built in 1846 by French missionaries and purportedly furnished with furniture brought from France. The French also introduced European-style education, and several schools established during the colonial period continue to function today.
Experiencing Yanam
Was back at #Yanam, a sleepy little town, an erstwhile French enclave of #Pondicherry in Andhra Pradesh, as part of medical team. The morning jogs along the banks of the mighty #Godavari River were refreshingly different!
Au Revoir, Yanam! pic.twitter.com/X6iveIFJoT— Sreejith Parameswaran (@SreejithDr) November 15, 2018
The cultural fusion in Yanam is also evident in the local cuisine, which blends traditional Telugu dishes with French culinary influences. This unique gastronomic heritage is an integral part of Yanam’s identity and adds to its charm as a destination with a distinct colonial history. The cheeramenu, which is cooked from a unique variety of fish, is a local speciality that should not be missed. The dish, which is still exported to France, gets its name from being caught using a sari known as Cheera in Telugu.
The town is home to numerous exquisitely carved temples in the Dravidian style, the most well-known of which is the Meesala Venkanna Temple, which was constructed in the fifteenth century by the Rajamahendravaram monarchs and is known for its Swamy idol.
The Tuesday market also called the “mangalvaram santa,” became well-known. Hundreds of people from the nearby Madras Presidency travelled to this seaside town to purchase illicit and smuggled foreign products.
Yanam, once a small and strategic French enclave has a complex and layered history of European influences. Though often overshadowed, its story is one of cultural fusion and a unique blend of Indian and French influences.
Cover image credits: X/Kiran Bedi