Pondicherry Tour: A French settlement, situated on the Coromandel coast, in an enclave in Tamil Nadu's South Arcot district, Pondicherry is 162 kms. south of Madras. It is the capital of the Union Territory of the same name and has three other enclaves including Karaikal in Tamil Nadu, Yanam in Andra Pradesh and Mahe in Kerala.

But it is the French connection that made Pondicherry famous. Francois Martin, a Frenchman, established the modern city of Pondicherry between 1673 and 1680 when most of the trade with France was through this port. The Aurobindo Ashram : The main building comprises the houses of Shri Aurobindo and The Mother (Mirra Alfassa, a French woman who accepted Aurobindo as her spiritual mentor and guide and later became his most important disciple).

In the courtyard are the samadhis of Aurobindo and The Mother where their mortal remains have been enshrined. Visitors are allowed to visit the samadhi between 8am and 6pm everyday. Auroville : This city of dawn was designed by the French architect Roger Arger and was started as an experimental commune where people of all nationalities irrespective of caste, creed or religion would live together in harmony.