Falling sick is all about timing. Falling sick in the hottest, most humid place I visited just before embarking on a 15 hour long perilous bus ride, was bad timing. But I made it. Pondicherry was the first former French colony that I have ever visited, and it was… bizarre! The town is split from North to South with the more ‘French’ part on the east side, towards the sea. Although the two parts of town are only separated by a canal, they are literally a world apart! The French Quarter has a lot of quiet, clean, shady, cobbled streets, lined with mustard-yellow colonial townhouses. A sea of tranquility. The newer part is much more typically South Indian. The contrast was incredible. I spent most of my time in the French Quarter but crossed the canal at least once a day (sometime three!) to sample the delicacies on display at what could be easily mistaken for an authentic French bakery. My ‘Hampi belly’ was old story! Pondy, my salvation. A little piece of a quaint France in the middle of India with that old-fashioned charm and tranquility that you find in no other Indian cities.

TIP #5: Head to Baker Street for your first meal, whether it’s breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea. Be aware that your daily schedule might need some tweaking. Open every day 7am to 10pm. 123 Bussy Street, Pondicherry.

An air of Southern France

An air of Southern France

Café des amis

Café des amis

Street signs in both Indu & French!

Street sign in both Indu & French!

The Pink House - Boutique and restaurant

The Pink House – Boutique and restaurant

Pétanque

Pétanque

Theatre

Theatre

The contrasty newer part of town

The contrasty newer part of town

The contrasty newer part of town

The contrasty newer part of town