A former French colony, Pondicherry has a strong French influence in the old quarters especially, great for a small break.

Pondicherry, which is now known as Puducherry, and commonly as pondy is not what one would expect.  The city remains mostly Indian however French is widely understood and the best thing?  Here in Pondicherry you can order a Steak! Talk about multiple personalities but it’s a nice change of pace and there are plenty of new things to discover.

Tamil is the major language spoken here however French and Telugu are also spoken here and English is spoken by and large in the intermingled areas.  There is not much that one is expected to do here as there is a very relaxed pace to life.

A surprising and unique fact about Pondicherry is that it simultaneously breaches into several states. Karaikal is in Tamil Nadu while Mahe is in Kerala. Yanam on the other hand is a part of Andhra Pradesh. 

Pondicherry tourism

Pondicherry is one of the most popular of south India’s tourist destinations.  With such beaches as Promenade Beach, Paradise Beach, The Auroville Beach and Serenity Beach all prove very popular with the locals and tourists alike.  The beaches are kept clean and have clear water which makes for brilliant days in the sun.

Pondicherry Is a well built town, planned well and the architecture here is something different, with the Churches here, many of which were built during the 18^th and 19^th century.  Many of these were built by the French and as such have a very French ambiance about them which is somewhat different to many churches in India.  Churches of interest include the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Church of Capuchins, The Notre Dame des Agnes, Church of the Assumption, The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, and Church of Our Lady of Good Health.  These are well worth a visit for anyone wanting to see a little more than your average Indian churches; with the mixed architecture they leave an impression.  The French dream is very evident in the thoughtful planning that has gone into the city, as it is with everything that the French do.

One of the best reasons for coming to Pondicherry when one is travelling through India is to get back to some form of normality.  While here you can order such treats as a good steak in a chic restaurant, croissants and baguette can be found in French bakeries. And continental and French cuisine is available from cafes along with coffee.  There is also an array of Vietnamese, Thai and Tamil food that can be found here.  Think lazy mornings at a fabulous cafe ordering sumptuous food and reading a good newspaper, or enjoying your companion’s time.

Pondicherry really is a welcome change of pace from the bustling, loud and clattering Indian cities.  It is a nice refresher before heading back out, and gives travellers some time out from the Indian Adventures that people are likely to have.