12 Indian Towns That Feel Like Foreign Countries

India is a huge country with a lot of internal variety. Walk down one street and you’ll hear Kannada, walk a few hours and the climate and cuisine can feel completely different. That variety sometimes produces very specific pockets that feel as if you’ve stepped into another country. These towns borrow architecture, food, language, or landscape from places beyond India’s borders. Some signs are obvious: French-painted shutters and boulangeries in one town, Portuguese churches in another. Other times the similarity is in the climate and landscape, where cool, coniferous hills or a sand-swept desert make you think of distant places. This list collects a dozen Indian towns where the vibe, sightlines, or history make visitors say they feel “abroad”—and each entry explains why. For a North American reader, these spots offer ways to get varied international atmospheres without flights across an ocean. The selections are rooted in verifiable cultural and historical markers: colonial-era streets, living exile communities, tea gardens and Alpine-like slopes, Mediterranean-style ports, and desert citadels. Practical notes are included so you know when to go and what to expect at each place. Think of this as a friendly neighborhood guide that points out the little cues—architecture, food, climate, and customs—that create an international atmosphere, while keeping respect for local traditions front and center. Use these suggestions as a starting point for deeper reading and trip planning.

1. Pondicherry — France by the Sea

Pondicherry’s French Quarter feels like a coastal town in the south of France because of its low-slung colonial villas, narrow grid streets, and sidewalk cafés. The area still has street names in French and rows of mustard-and-blue shophouses painted in pastel hues that invite slow walks and long chai or coffee stops. Architecture here includes arcaded verandahs and shuttered windows that shelter courtyards, while cafés serve baguettes and local Tamil-influenced curries on the same plate. The Sri Aurobindo Ashram and nearby Auroville add a global, experimental vibe that attracts travelers from across the world. Walks along the seafront promenade at sunrise are a popular ritual and a simple way to experience the town at its calmest. For North American travelers, Pondicherry is compact and comfortably walkable; plan visits in the cooler months from November through February to enjoy clear skies and easier humidity. Local tourism pages and travel features note Pondicherry’s French-influenced urban fabric and cafe culture as defining characteristics (see Travel + Leisure and regional tourism guides).