5 Perfect French Colony Experiences Of Pondicherry

Although travelling is restricted at the moment, the mind still travels the world! While all of us are confined to our homes right now, many of us are already chalking out the plans and itineraries for our next travel destination once the clouds of Covid-19 have passed.
Well how about a quick weekend visit to French colony?! Did you know that there is a perfectly preserves piece of France in India? Pondicherry!

While a lot of us might get excited at the prospects of subsidized rates of everything including booze, Pondicherry has a lot more to offer. Here are 5 things and places which you can add to your checklist for a perfect French Colony experience!

Late night walk at the Promenade!

If you are a beach person, Pondicherry is an absolute bliss. Although there are several beaches that one can visit while at Pondicherry, nothing beats the charm of a late night walk at the Promenade. Promenade Beach is the stretch of beachfront at the end of White Town, the French colony. This 1 – 2 km stretch starts from the war memorial and ends at the Dupleix Park on the Goubert Avenue. The sea breeze coupled with the panoramic view of the moonlit sea on one side and beautiful French architecture on the other practically soothes the soul.

Eating crepes at Satsanga

Having crepes for breakfast or dinner is as French as your holiday can get! Satsanga at No. 54, Rue Labourdonnais Street is one of the restaurants which serve the best crepes in Pondicherry. But that is not the only reason why you should put this place on your list. The bohemian décor and scrumptious menu make this restaurant one of the best experiences at White Town. The feather on the hat, of course, is the multilingual and courteous staff who really make you feel welcome!

Food and wine at Villa Shanti

If you are up for experiencing the goodness of the French cuisine, you cannot miss out on the elaborate French menu at Villa Shanti. With great options for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike, this restaurant offers delectable food. They also have a huge collection of wine which they can advise you to pair with your food. However, what makes this entire experience memorable is the ambiance of the restaurant. Situated at No. 14 Suffren Street,set-up for the restaurant is divided in two parts, one on the open patio and the other in the old part of this beautiful 19th century building.

Evening walk around white town

White Town is a pretty model town all in all and is best explored on foot. The winding streets are well planned and well sorted. While you might not lose your way, you will definitely get lost in the pretty scenes of the streets that are picture perfect (like a postcard)! Art has been greatly encouraged and you can see graffiti in almost every street. Most of the buildings here have the old French architecture which is very captivating. Walking these streets is like walking on a canvas where your sense of sight is pleased with bursts of bold coloured buildings cradled with livid balloons of bougainvillea.

Bastille Day on the streets

As the cute little White Town prepares for the onset of monsoon, July is one of the best times to visit Pondicherry. And this is not because of the weather alone! The main attraction around this time is the celebration of the Bastille Day also known as the National Day of France on the streets of the French Colony. On the 14th of July, the uniformed war soldiers march through the street to honourthe French soldiers who were killed in the battles between the British and the French.

These are few of places that you can visit and things that you can do on your visit to Pondicherry. Creating memories of French experience in the White Town is made more special with the tranquillity and friendliness that the place offers. The place is too good for just one visit and you would definitely want to go back!