Chennai: Pondicherry
Pondicherry is a little live of France in India – the French East India Company established a trading post here in 1674 and it developed into the main French settlement in India. By the 19th century, Pondicherry flourished as a French enclave, with the development of the grid-patterned streets, colonial mansions, and open boulevards, cafes, and all that comes with French culture with a bit of Indian twist. Some of it remains to this day and the streets still carry French names and some mansions and churches are still intact. It is somewhat interesting to roam around, and a lot of Indians come here for tourism, but to be honest overall it’s really nothing special. Attractions include the Beach Promenade, a very colorful Sri Manakula Vinayagar Temple, Notre-Dame de Pondicherry, Our Lady of Angels Church, Legislative Assembly, and lots of monuments to various figures. Pondicherry is actually a standalone Union Territory in India.
