On the Coromandel coast, Pondicherry — “Pondy” — has a unique atmosphere and charm, very different from the rest of India. A former French trading post, the town blends colonial architecture and Tamil culture; its white-sand beaches and fishing villages will make your yoga stay unforgettable.
Strolling the White Town
160 km from Chennai and 100 km from Mahābalipuram, Pondicherry is best explored by cycle-rickshaw or on foot, along streets with evocative names lined with fine examples of colonial architecture.
Market, tables and addresses
Get lost in the old market (corner of Nehru Street and Mahatma Gandhi Road): fish, fruit, vegetable and flower stalls; buy coffee or tea at Lakshmi Coffee. For food: surprising cooking at Energy Home (35a Chetty Street), a French breakfast at Baker Street (123 Bussy Street) or an Indian one at Maison Perumal (44 Perumal Koil Street: dosai, idly, appam, uthappam, 7:30–10 am). And of course, visit the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and Auroville.
