Pondicherry, India
Pondicherry is a union territory of India. Pondicherry /Puducherry which means “New village” is also known as ‘The French Riviera of the East’. As pondi was earlier a French colony, the town is drenched with the French culture. This makes it more attractive. It has neat sectors and the streets are parallel and perpendicular to each other. Most of the buildings have been constructed in a typical French style with long compounds and walls painted in white color. And
the town is very very clean including the beaches.
Promenade Street is the most favorite street for the localites as well as tourists. It’s a 1.5km stretch alongside the main Pondicherry Beach (rock beach) and it has several landmarks along the way like the Statue of Mahatma Gandhi, Light house and a Statue of Joan of Arc. Taking a walk on this street early in the morning is an amazing feeling. There are very few well known beaches in India that are on the east coast and pondi beach is one among them, so it is famous for sunrise. Many people come here for jogging, walking, cycling, practice yoga and some just wanna sit on the rocks and enjoy the sunrise.
The best way to go around the city is by taking a cycle rickshaw or cycle by yourself. TVS Luna is the most favorite motorcycle for all the foreigners who live there. Normally people don’t come out during the daylight because of the hot humid weather. Evening when the temperature gets lower is the best time to go out and sit by the beach and enjoy the cool breeze. Promenade Street is the most happening place in Pondicherry. Road side gaadi walas shops with mouth watering chaats, members of Indian army band performing good music to the waves in the background makes the evening just like the way you want when you are on a vacation. 
There is plenty of shopping that you can do on the streets of Pondicherry. All streets have either French names or the names of the Indian Freedom Fighters. Nehru Street is a famous stop for shoppers.
The Auroville beach is one of the most spectacular beaches in Pondicherry. No other beach in India can be compared with this one for its cleanliness. The water in auroville beach is shallow and the slope is gentle thus attracts plenty of swimmers. The beach is little isolated from the town, no vehicles can get there; one has to follow the narrow path way between bushes that leads to the beach. Its isolation from the town helps it remain undisturbed from lot of crowd and not littered thus making the beauty of the beach more exquisite and spectacular.
Auroville, 14km from Pondicherry is a spiritual place, Auroville is made up of over 50 communities with about 1100 people from around the world, a majority of which are foreigners. It houses a meditation centre called Matri Mandir. Matri Mandir is closed on Sunday afternoons so you would have to plan accordingly. Boutique d’Auroville is a shopping centre which is famous for their handicrafts, products that attract most number of tourists are their uniquely designed scented candles, incense sticks, astonishing lampshades made from recycled paper, colorful ornaments etc.
All in all, my apprehensive feeling of visiting Pondicherry in summer was overcome by the serenity and relaxation of the place thats “Pondi”. The best time to visit is all through the year!! 
