Pondicherry, or Puducherry as it’s officially known, is completely unique with a French colonial history dating back centuries. It was the capital of French India; its leafy boulevards, shuttered windows and petanque pitches clearly illustrate it’s faded European past. Today it attracts artists, sculptures, writers and spiritual seekers and this has resulted in a somewhat bohemian feel. Our tour starts off by exploring Pondicherry’s cobbled streets and its Catholic churches before heading to Auroville, an experimental township known as the planned ‘City of Dawn’. Today around 1700 people live in Auroville’s communes; two-thirds of them are non-Indian. The idealistic ideas surrounding Auroville are that of peace, harmony, sustainable living and divine consciousness. Even for sceptics, this is a highly fascinating place to visit. Please note Auroville is not open on Sunday afternoons.
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