Pondicherry and Auroville — India's French Quarter and Utopian Township

Complete guide to Pondicherry — French Quarter, ashrams, Auroville, beaches and the distinctive Tamilian-French culture.

French Quarter of Pondicherry

The White Town (French Quarter) of Pondicherry is a charming anomaly — yellow-painted colonial buildings, French street names, boulangeries, and boulevards. The architecture is intact and photogenic.

Sri Aurobindo Ashram

Founded by Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, the Pondicherry ashram remains an active spiritual community. The main ashram in town is open to visitors. Silence and respect are required.

Auroville — A City of Human Unity

12 km from Pondicherry, Auroville is an international township founded 1968 with the goal of human unity. The Matrimandir meditation centre is the spiritual heart. Auroville has excellent organic farms, handicrafts, and a fascinating community of 3,000+ residents from 50 nations.