Life of Pi (2012)

Botanical Garden (Puducherry)

Puducherry, India

Created by the French in 1826, the botanical garden of Pondicherry covers about twenty acres, approximately one mile from the French quarter, behind the typical yellow walls of the city's former colonial buildings.

The scene : The botanical garden becomes the zoo of Pondicherry run by Pi's family, where the boy grows up among the animals.

Puducherry, India

The pier was built to the south of the remains of the old French wharf, which was once connected to a railway and destroyed by a cyclone in 1953.

The scene : On the pier, Pi bids a melancholy farewell to Anandi, just before his family boards for Canada.

Puducherry, India

Former base of the East India Company from 1675, the French quarter of Pondicherry changed hands several times between France and Great Britain before remaining French until 1954; its wide, quiet streets are lined with villas and bougainvilleas.

The scene : The quiet streets lined with villas in the French Quarter serve as the backdrop for a good portion of Pi's childhood sequences.

Puducherry, India

In front of this administrative building, facing the Aayi Mandapam, a bilingual English-French sign proclaims "Beauty is our city. Preserving it is our duty."

The scene : The facade of the Public Works building serves as the setting for one of Pi's childhood memories.

Puducherry, India

This enclosed market, as large as a football field, is overflowing with bananas, sacks of beans, okra, ginger, and flowers; a fish market run by women adjoins it.

The scene : It is between the stalls of the big covered market that Pi courts Anandi, his girlfriend.

Puducherry, India

A central place in the life of Pondicherry, the ashram is visited barefoot, walking silently around its courtyard; its guests stay in accommodations reserved in the city.

The scene : The ashram briefly appears in the background of a scene shot on the streets of Pondicherry.

Puducherry, India

The scene : Not being Hindu, young Pi enters this church and meets the parish priest.

Villianur, India

The scene : A night scene, lit by thousands of traditional lamps, was filmed within the temple grounds.

Munnar, India

The church stands on one of the three nearby hills known as "Fusion Hills," alongside a temple dedicated to Subramanian and a mosque: seen from above, the three sanctuaries appear to merge into one another.

The scene : Curious about all religions, Pi pushes the door of a church during a stay in the hills of Munnar.

Taichung, Taiwan

The former Taichung airport is now closed.

The scene : The scenes in open sea, from calm flat waters to storms, were filmed in the giant wave pool built on the former airport.

Taipei, Taiwan

The scene : Animal shots, including flamingos, were filmed at the Taipei Zoo during the Taiwanese part of the production.

Baishawan Beach (Kenting)

Hengchun, Taiwan

White sand beach of Kenting National Park, at the southern tip of Taiwan.

The scene : The white sandy beach of Baishawan serves as the Mexican shoreline in the film.

Montréal, Canada

The scene : On the docks of the Old Port, adult Pi and the writer who came to collect his story continue their conversation.

Montréal, Canada

The former Montreal railway station dating back to 1896, Viger Station was designed by architects Bruce Price and Daniel-John Crighton in the Château style.

The scene : The exterior of the old train station is among the Montreal locations featured in the film.

Montréal, Canada

The scene : The intersection is recognizable in the image as adult Pi tells his story.

Montréal, Canada

The scene : The Science Centre, located on King Edward Quay, is identifiable in the scenes filmed in Montreal.

Montréal, Canada

The scene : The affluent neighborhood of Outremont appears in the part of the story set in Montreal.

Auckland, New Zealand

The scene : A train station scene was filmed in this neighborhood of Auckland.