Pondichery, INDIA
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With its canary-yellow facades, bougainvillea-draped walls, bohemian courtyard cafes and colonial-era villas, Pondicherry’s French Quarter is a dreamer’s fantasy and a photographer’s paradise. From the addiction with the game of pétanque to breakfast fare of baguettes and ‘Bonjour’greetings of auto-rickshaw drivers, the city's quaint French hangover remains endearing. Discover Pondy’s dewy-fresh colonial heritage on a walking tour in the French Town.
Cross an invisible threshold to set foot in a cheerful neighbourhood splashed with vivid colours. Shady boulevards are lined by rows of French-style villas in candy pinks, canary yellows, sprightly oranges and tasteful teals, sporting high garden walls, wooden louvred-windows, iron-grill balconies and porticoed entryways. Shadows and sun-rays play hide-and-seek to change the mood of the moment, as you eavesdrop on the city’s colonial past. Stay hooked to the eye-candy of the adorable facades, while you tune in to quirky tales of bygone days and learn about the intermingling of French and Tamilian cultures of this pretty oceanfront town.
Stroll through streets like Rue Suffren and Rue Alexandre Dumas named after French generals and literary figures to explore the heritage structures bearing testimony to the days when Pondicherry was a French stronghold. During the heritage city walk, you will stumble upon the Eglise de Notre Dame des Anges (Our Lady of Angels Church), where mass is still held in French on Sundays. Another interesting find is an 18th-century mansion that houses the Cluny Embroidery Centre, where women have been creating fine embroidered home linen since centuries. Some of the other ogle-worthy pitstops in the area include the French Consulate, Governor Palace and the Government Square buildings.
Along the ocean-front promenade, one can find more traces of history, as while visiting the old post office, the former port office, the French War Memorial and the Old Lighthouse. What can be a more appropriate closure than an authentic French dinner of classic Creole specialities in a heritage hotel or restaurant? Be tempted by the prospect of a moonlit walk and let it all sink deep within for eternity.
Transport: Walking 
Activity level: Moderate
Accessible to wheel chair: Yes 
Kid friendly: Yes 
Languages: English and Local Language 
Inclusions: Story teller (French or English) / 1 mini water bottle / Hot Beverage ( Tea or Coffee ) / Juice + a dessert, entrance ticket (if any) to be included 
Exclusions: Museum entrance / cap / Hotel transfer, meals unless specified 
Gratuities: Not included in tour cost;payable at guest's discretion 
Meet up location: In front of French Consulate Building ( rue de la marine) 
End of tour location: Travaux Public Building (PWD Office ) Duration: 2 Hours Price: upto 2 adults ₹1800 | Price upto 2 adults | : ₹1,800 |
| Children | : Complimentary for children below 10 years |
25% of the total cost will be charged, if cancelled 15 to 10 days prior to the tour date.
50% of the total cost will be charged, if cancelled 9 to 5 days prior to the tour date.
No refund if cancelled less than 5 days prior to the tour date.
For group size more than 4 adults, write to us at info@footprintholidays.com
We can arrange other language speaking guides based on your request and availability
The tour can be customised to suit your needs like change of time, change of pick-up point, etc. You can write to us to info@footprintholidays.com customise your tour as per your preferences.
I will begin by saying that I had a FANTASTIC time in India. It was one of the best trips I've ever taken and I'm truly looking forward to hopefully having you book other trips for me in India.
I must say everything was planned to perfection. Each guide in every city was knowledgeable; especially the guide you arranged for us in Udaipur. We really enjoyed getting to know our guides Musheer and Kishore. We experienced the real India and appreciated the detailed itinerary your team created for us. The hotels were fantastic! In every hotel, the chef paid us a visit to make sure that we had meals suitable for us. We also enjoyed all the extra shopping excursions that were suggested.
The trip was a mega success and your team did a great job. Thanks to Footprint for everything. The entire family had a great time! The exclusive kalaripayattu demonstration was absolutely engaging and we loved every bit of the special private stand-up by Alex Babu (of Alex in Wonderland fame).
Thank you for a great trip! We especially enjoyed driving through the desertland into Jaisalmer; we also thoroughly enjoyed Bikaner, its Havelis and the Fort. Catching the daily life in Mumbai was a unique and eye-opening experience! All the hotels chosen are excellent with wonderful staff. Thank you!
Thank you for a wonderful trip to Kerala. We loved the village life walk and Fort Cochin walk. The backwater cruise in a traditional country boat was an incredible experience. A meal with the local family, living on an island in the backwaters, offered us an excellent opportunity to interact, learn and share. We loved every minute of our holiday! Thanks!
As a solo traveller, I felt safe and was exceptionally well taken care of. The cooking class in Jaipur was extremely enjoyable. The food, chef, and his wife were all exceptional and made for a lovely evening. Also, our expectations were definitely exceeded at a private residence, spending time with the elephants and lunching. Thanks!!
I loved India and thank you very much for arranging everything. It was a fabulous trip. Big kudos to you and your team. The tour guides and drivers were excellent. I loved the artisan walk, discovering the artistic treasures of Udaipur, meeting local potters and painters.
Thanks for arranging everything to precision – it was super smooth and we had a very good darshan!
Thanks for organising a great trip to Lucknow and Varanasi. The hotels at both the places were excellent; we had a great guide in Varanasi who went beyond the designated tour route and showed us around. The food tour in Lucknow was amazing and re-discovering the Awadhi Cuisine was a great experience – the kebabs were out of the world!
It was a terrific experience to spot the King of the jungle in all their glory at Gir. We had a very good experience overall.
It was a perfect leisure getaway – thanks for organising this! We loved the French Connection Trail; the guide took us through the French quarter sharing some incredible stories from the colonisation. We enjoyed the hotel and the service!