Pondicherry was established by the French East India Company in 1674 as a trading post, much like the British did with Madras (now Chennai) to the north in 1639. The town is split into two distinct quarters; White Town (Ville Blanche) which features French architecture, and Black Town (Ville Noire) featuring more Tamil architecture but with French influences. However, we suggest starting in Auroville, the ‘City of Dawn’, a community founded in 1968 and dedicated to peace, sustainable living and harmony and home to 43 nationalities. Before you start looking around, we suggest stopping at the Auroville Bakery for a croissant and coffee.
You’ll begin by walking through the French quarter, seeing the amazing architecture, many painted in vivid colours. Stop at the Cafe des Arts for crepes. Walk past the Raj Niwas and Legislative Assembly towards Bharathi Park. Continue to Eglise de Notre Dame des Agnes before walking along the Promenade. End you day at one of Pondicherry’s amazing restaurants.
Combining the cultural highlights of Tamil Nadu and the beautiful beaches of the Andaman Islands is one of India’s best-kept secrets. Start in Chennai, formerly known as Madras, before exploring Pondicherry and the superb shore temples of Mahabalipuram.
For hardened Indiaphiles, Tamil Nadu is somewhat of a holy grail. Lying off-the-beaten-track, you can explore stunning Hindu temples with a distinct Dravidian Culture awaiting you.
This classic route takes you from Chennai (Madras) in Tamil Nadu, through the hills and into the Kerala to see the tea estates, backwaters and ending on the beach.
We arrange totally bespoke trips and design an itinerary that is designed around you. You may have seen a suggested itinerary that we can base your plans around, or we can start with a blank sheet and paper and design something from scratch. You can leave a phone number and suggest a time to call you back, and we can also arrange to do this during the evenings or at weekends if you are busy during the daytime. We can also meet up with you in you fancy a coffee and are based in and around London.