Pondicherry is a day's ride from Madurai, and, a former French colony on the East coast, it is unlike any other place in India. For example, here is a photo of my first breakfast in town: View image.
Pondicherry has quiet streets -- yes, quiet streets... in India! -- there are even signs prohibiting honking (View image), and many of the streets still have French names (View image) and pretty French-style buildings (View image).

There are even rubbish bins, disguised as masochistic rabbits, asking passers-by to "use" them: View image.

It was a lovely place to visit, and rest from the hustle and bustle of India.
This cow and cart seemed wonderfully unusual in such a clean environment: View image, View image.

The Sri Aurobindo ashram is the biggest property owner in Pondicherry, and influence much of the economic life of the city. I loved this bicycle parking outside the ashram: View image.

There were some strange sights, though, too. Like this group wheeling a creepy-looking lady around covered in a white sheet....(View image).

Another attraction near to Pondicherry, is Auroville, the utopian city founded in 1968, where people strive to live in a better, more spiritually developed, society.
I spent two days exploring Auroville, which I know is not very long, but I really enjoyed the place, the futuristic architecture (some of the earlier buildings look like dated sci-fi now) and the thoughts it provokes about the way we live. The city was designed for 50,000, but as yet only has 2000 residents, so it seems rather sparse and green -- needing more buildings and street life. Having spent some of my childhood living in a spiritual community (Subud) in Indonesia, it was fascinating to see similarities, and feel a similar sense of separation from the rest of the world. View image, View image, View image.

The Aurovilians planted thousands of trees 35 years ago, which have now matured, and the place is rather magical, as this photo of my bike shows: View image.