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A little sliver of croissant amid a sea of spicy Chettinad curries, colonial Pondicherry is a charming town that was once the largest French colony in India. A walking tour is undoubtedly the best way to see the delights: start in bohemian ‘Black Town’, the bustling, Tamil side of the city, before making your way across the canal and into ‘White Town’, or the French Quarter, where rows of pastel houses, dusty petanque courts, bakeries and even a French-speaking rickshaw driver or two will start to seem normal. If you’re in the mood for some chill-out time, head to Auroville just north of town, an offshoot of the internationally famous Sri Aurobindo ashram that draws spiritually-minded from far and wide. Then, end your day at the promenade, probably one of the loveliest in the country, and enjoy a sunset stroll followed by a French steak and a side of frites in a pavement cafe. C’est chic!