Pondicherry overview

Pondicherry was a previous French protectorate in India. But until now, the city retains its strong French influence, particularly in the old quarter. The city’s Boulevards and Rues are still lined with Mediterranean-styled bakeries and houses, although the city is now very much like other Indian cities. Moreover, French is still extensively understood within Pondicherry, a city widely known as the ‘French Riviera of the east’. Tourists travelling to Pondicherry by land will likely experience a mild culture shock upon seeing that the city has many stylish French buildings, and restaurants serving good wine and steak. A large number of foreigners like to stay longer in Pondicherry to study meditation or yoga at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram.