Ecole Francaise d'Extreme-Orient

The École française d'Extrême-Orient (EFEO) Pondicherry Centre is a French research institute located in the White Town (French Quarter) of Pondicherry, Puducherry. Housed in restored 18th-19th century colonial buildings on Rue Dumas, it is dedicated to Indology, Sanskrit and Tamil studies. Notable for its extensive library and collection of palm-leaf manuscripts, photographs and historical archives, it serves as a major centre for South Asian studies and heritage preservation.

Visitors can expect to see heritage colonial buildings on Rue Dumas in the French Quarter, with characteristic French colonial architecture, verandas and courtyards. The centre is primarily a research institution and not a conventional tourist attraction open for casual sightseeing. Interior access, including the library and manuscript collections, is generally by prior appointment for researchers. Most visitors view the exterior as part of a White Town heritage walk and may appreciate its quiet, academic setting near the seafront.