Color me Pondy!  Pondicherry was on my ‘must-go’ list for three reasons:

1. It seemed very unique because of the French influence remaining (particularly in the architecture), from when the French colonized in the 1600’s until the 1950’s
2. It’s on the ocean
3. One of my favorite restaurants in Houston is called Pondicheri (Indian food😆)

*footnote:  M. Night Shyamalan was born here 

**footnote #2:  this post dedicated to François and his Frenchy, purple light

This is absolutely a town where you feel like there is no other place on earth like it. Multiple cultures stacked together – Indian in all ways, but Frenchiness still remains. Tamil and French both are the official languages. Street signs in Tamil and French. Indian restaurants, French restaurants, Italian restaurants… Indian people, French people… temples/ashrams, churches/basilicas/cathedrals, mosques… smorgasbord.

The most popular temple in Pondicherry is the Manakula Vinayagar Temple, and when I was looking at it, I kept thinking of the candy necklaces I would wear / eat in the 80’s😂 Those were the days.

In fact, the colorfulness of the whole town makes me think of the Candy Land board game😍

Rainbow of buildings…

cafe

my hotel

Goubert Avenue

On many of the sidewalks, there is artwork in the form of kolam, which is a type of drawing using powder or rice flower, that is a Hindu tradition. Every morning, (mostly) women decorate in front of their houses, as it is traditionally supposed to bring prosperity. They’re on the sidewalks and streets, so they get stepped on – I was keeping my head down trying not to destroy any with my big feet😳. At the end of the day, they’re washed off, and in the morning made again.

flower color kolam

flowers

kolam

Street signs in both languages…

french + tamil

tamil + french

Some interesting monuments / landmarks…

Immaculate Conception Cathedral

inside cathedral

Manakula Vinayagar Temple

Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

inside basilica

stained glass

stained glass

outside basilica

buying rosaries

rosary

Old Lighthouse

Gandhi Statue

French War Memorial

Some really cool door and window covering designs…

Ocean scenes…

sunrise

sunrise

sunrise

sunrise

pier

so many people at 6am!!?

Promenade at night

Food problems…

Gelato right next door…??

sambar, chutney, dosa, vadai

view from breakfast

Random rats…

what are they keeping these rats for…?

Cute town❤️❤️

Next up:  Abu Dhabi (this is the only thing I know about Abu Dhabi) & Dubai 😃