Pondicherry is a coastal town in southern India that still carries traces of its French colonial past. The French Quarter, or White Town, is filled with mustard-yellow buildings, iron-laced balconies, and streets with French names. Visitors can explore this area on foot or by bicycle, stopping at spots like the 18th-century Eglise de Notre Dame des Anges, built in Greco-Roman style, or the French Consulate, which continues to operate from a colonial-era building. Many homes in this district are heritage properties that now house cafes, art galleries, or boutique hotels.

The town’s beaches offer more than just sand and sun. Promenade Beach is popular for early morning walks, where locals gather near the Gandhi statue or sip coffee at Le Café, a former port office turned seaside cafe. Auroville Beach, a short drive from the city center, attracts surfers and swimmers alike. For those seeking quieter spots, Paradise Beach is known for its soft white sand and lack of commercial development.

Just outside Pondicherry lies Auroville, an experimental township founded in 1968 as a place where people from all over the world could live in unity. The Matrimandir, a golden, spherical meditation hall, sits at the heart of Auroville and is open to silent visitors with prior booking. While the township is often associated with spiritual living, it also offers organic farms, sustainable architecture, and community-based art projects, making it a different kind of destination altogether.