White Town French Quarter

White Town, also called the French Quarter, is the most distinctive neighbourhood in Pondicherry and one of the most evocative remnants of French colonial India in existence. The grid of streets named after French governors and officials, rue Dumas, rue Suffren, rue Romain Rolland, is lined with beautifully maintained colonial villas in ochre, terracotta, and yellow, their walls draped in bougainvillea and jasmine. The area is filled with boutique hotels, heritage cafes, art galleries, and small restaurants serving French-Tamil fusion food. Walking or cycling through the quiet streets of White Town in the early morning or evening is one of the most pleasurable experiences Pondicherry offers. The area is bounded by the canal that once separated the French and Tamil quarters of the colonial city.