Pondicherry's main draw is the French Quarter (White Town) — a well-preserved colonial grid of painted shutters, bougainvillea, and streets named for French generals. The Sri Aurobindo Ashram anchors the spiritual life of the town, while Auroville nearby is its own peculiar experiment in intentional community. Walk the Rock Beach Promenade at dawn before the crowds arrive. A day in Pondicherry Botanical Garden or the Pondicherry Museum fills out a rewarding afternoon.