Auroville Pondicherry

Auroville Pondicherry Essential Visitor's Guide

About Auroville and How to Visit It

Auroville, near Pondicherry, attracts two types of visitors -- the curious who head there on a day trip, and the more serious spiritual seekers who want to experience the way of life there and stay in one of the guesthouses.

What Exactly is Auroville?

Auroville, meaning the "City of Dawn", is an experiential spiritual community set up with the objective of human unity. It was founded in 1968 by a French woman called "The Mother".

She was the successor of Sri Aurobindo, a renowned Indian spiritual leader whose teachings were based on the concept of integral yoga and surrendering to a higher consciousness.

According to The Mother, "There should be a somewhere on earth, a place which no nation could claim as its own, where all human beings of goodwill who have a sincere aspiration could live freely as citizens of the world and obey one single authority, that of the supreme truth; a place of peace, concord and harmony...".

Hence, one of the goals of Auroville is to be free of religion, politics, and nationality. It's governed by a statutory foundation (the Auroville Foundation) that's controlled fully by the Indian government. Members of the Foundation's board are appointed by Ministry of Human Resource Development.

Although the government owns and controls Auroville, it doesn't finance the community. Most of the money comes from Auroville's flourishing commercial industry (which contributes part of its profits), compulsory payments from residents and guests, and donations.

The underlying principle at Auroville is that "consciousness develops better in work done as an offering". All residents are required to take up an activity that's useful to the community. Residents are also expected to fund the building of their homes, which remain the property of the Auroville Foundation along with the land. Instead of cash, residents use an Auro Card, which functions as a debit card linked to their accounts. Guests are also encouraged to get a temporary Auro Card, although many business these days will accept cash.

Auroville's grounds are surprisingly vast, tranquil, and undeveloped. When Auroville was established, apparently the land was completely barren. It's now covered in thick jungle, planted by residents. The total area owned by Auroville is 2,000 acres (8 square kilometers). Currently, there are 120 settlements and a population of approximately 2,100 people from 43 different countries, including more than 900 Indian residents. However, this is substantially less than the 50,000 people that were expected to eventually be living in Auroville. The community has around 5,000 employees, many of whom are Indians from surrounding villages.

How to Get to Auroville

Auroville is located 12 kilometers north of Pondicherry. The most convenient way of getting there is to organize a car and driver from Pondicherry. Expect to pay around 600 rupees return, for a three hour trip.

Auroville Visitor's Center

The only area of Auroville that's accessible to casual visitors is the dedicated Visitor's Center. It's open daily from 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., except during the Diwali and Pongal festivals. There, you'll be able to watch a video about Auroville, view the informational exhibits, eat at the cafeteria, and buy high quality products made by the community.

Entry to Auroville's landmark Matrimandir is highly restricted and the general public is not encouraged to visit it. The reasoning is that it was created for serious spiritual seekers only. However, you can go inside if you make a booking at least a day in advance. Read more about Matrimandir and how to visit it.

Staying at Auroville

It's possible to stay at Auroville as a guest. Many people enjoy the tranquil atmosphere, and it's a great way to experience the community without the complications and difficulties of residing there. Numerous cultural and wellness activities and classes are held. You can volunteer at certain projects as well, such as organic farming.

There are various options for accommodations in the settlements. Rates range from 150 rupees to over 4,000 rupees per person, per night, depending on the location and facilities. The cheapest guesthouses, which can be described as "rustic", have thatched roofs and shared bathrooms. It's a good idea to pre-book, especially from December-March and August-September. You'll find details of guesthouses on this website and you can contact them directly. The guesthouses generally have a minimum stay period ranging from a few days to a week.

Do note that Auroville is really spread out. So, if you're staying there, you'll need to hire a scooter or ride a bicycle to get around.

Auroville Quiet Healing Center

Located at a serene seaside village between Auroville and Pondicherry, the Quiet Healing Center offers an array of alternative healing therapies, courses, workshops, and events. Rates range from around 3,000-4,000 rupees per day for accommodations and food.

More Information: Auroville website.