Auroville, Pondicherry, South India
- JUGALDAS SOLANKI
- May 1
- 8 min read
The town for Equality, Serenity, Creativity and Harmony.
in this fancy world, you will see fancy and noisy towns and cities with concrete jungles, but there is a place in the southern part of India, the world calls it "Auroville”. Auroville has been designed on unique concepts and thoughts. Ordinarily, we see the town as a business, residence, and daily activity, but Auroville is about peace, harmony, equality, tranquillity, meditation, and creativity. so, if you are in India, you must visit this place. The creation of a meditation town based on vision, belief, and spirituality, which was mainly designed on the intellectual foresight of Sri Aurobindo. The purpose of this designed town can be seen when exploring Auroville, and you will see how the four-point charters have been achieved in the existing town. The town is purely serene, eco-friendly and sustainable. most of the area of Auroville is covered by trees and green vegetation, where roads are not perfectly made from asphalt or concrete, but most of the roads are earth roads or raw roads.
Auroville is the place where people arriving from all over the world come from diverse backgrounds and religions, but their faith is the same; they come for meditation, peace, and to find out the purpose of the existence of their life.
One of the most remarkable concepts of Auroville is its master plan, laid out in the form of a galaxy - a galaxy in which several 'arms' or Lines of Force seem to unwind from a central region.
Auroville for
1. Auroville belongs to nobody in particular. Auroville belongs to humanity as a whole. But to live in Auroville, one must be the willing servitor of the Divine Consciousness 2. Auroville will be the place of an unending education, constant progress, and a youth that never ages.
3. Auroville wants to be the bridge between the past and the future. Taking advantage of all discoveries from without and from within, Auroville will boldly spring towards future realisations
4. Auroville will be a site of material and spiritual research for a living embodiment of an actual Human Unity.
Location :
Auroville is located in southern India, and the east coast of the Bay of Bengal and town is located between Chennai and Pondicherry. Chennai is 150 km away from Auroville, but the town is just 10km away from the Union Territory of Pondicherry.
From Chennai Central railway station : (By bus)
After you reach on the central railway station, take a local train from Park Town Station, which is within walking distance from Central Station for Guindi. Get down at Guindi Station and take a bus to Pondicherry from across the road. Ask a driver to drop you at Auroville junction on the ECR Road.
Chennai Koyambedu Bus Station (By Bus)
Take a bus to Pondicherry from across the road. Ask a driver to drop you at the Auroville junction on the ECR Road.
From Chennai Airport :
Take a local train from outside the airport heading into Chennai. Get down at Guindi Station and take a bus to Pondicherry from across the road. Ask a driver to drop you at Auroville junction on the ECR Road.
For Guindi Station, you can hire a taxi outside the Chennai airport.
By Taxi :
The journey from Chennai to Auroville takes about three hours by taxi. For the international traveller, this is the safest, most convenient mode of transport.
you have to book a taxi in advance, but you can book a taxi from an app on the spot from the airport or the Railway station.
Some of the app 🚖 do book a round trip for a passenger, so if you want to stay for 2-3 days in Auroville, then you can go with this plan. OLA TAXI App
Auroville Taxi Services (Special) :
Shared Transport Service Online booking website: http://sharedtransport.auroville.org/E-mail: sharedtransport@auroville.org.in
Phone +91 413 2623 200 | +91 413 2623 201 | +91 8270512508
Accommodations :
Auroville is becoming a famous destination worldwide, and every year the number of tourists are increasing, so the accommodation services are in demand, however, there are enough accommodation services for the guests. Serviced apartments, houses, hotels, tents and roof huts are the main accommodation for all guests. Also, in November, December and January, a lot of guests come to the city, so I would advise you to book, however, you can find accommodation outside of Auroville in Pondicherry.
website: http://guesthouses.auroville.org/
Email : avguestservice@auroville.org.inwebsite: http://guestservice.auroville.org/
Ph: 0413-2622675
My stay at Auromod Apartments
Auromod Apartment is a very good place to stay in Oroville, the place is peaceful and near the mother temple. Basically, an Auromod is a service apartment, consisting of a large room, a kitchen and a toilet. In the kitchen, they will provide you with a small fridge, storage and a gas stove.
Safety:
Safety is not a big issue in Auroville, but you need to be careful when you go alone in unknown places. As most of the areas in Auroville are covered with big trees and vegetation, you should not visit the places in Auroville during the evening, but you can go out if you have a companion.
Please do not go with a stranger or an unknown tour guide, or take food from an unknown person.
Safety is always in your hands, so act wisely, stay calm with others, or avoid strangers or arguments.
In case of an emergency, you can contact the police or the Auroville support team. Always save the emergency number of the Police, Ambulance and Auroville support telephone number when you reach Auroville.
Auroville Internal Transport:
Mopeds, bicycles and bikes are the best modes of transport for exploring Auroville. I would not advise you for a car as a transport, however, if you are not comfortable in a hot humid climate, or if you are not comfortable with the dusty wind on the road, then, you can go places by car.
Always ask to rent a moped, bike or bicycle at the reception desk at your accomodation, they will arrange your transport. For the rental rate, you can check on the internet or you can book the bike online.
To ride a bike in Auroville, you must have a driver's license.
A walk in Auroville will give you the most beautiful experience of your life. Auroville is a small town and full of greenery, so you will feel refreshed during your walk.
Email in advance for some places to visit:
In Auroville, many places that you can't visit suddenly, if you want to visit schools, homes or institutions you have to email them in advance and wait for a confirmation email from them.
BEST PLACES IN AUROVILLE
1. Matrimandir (book your concentration time)
3. Townhall
4. Earth Institute
5. Savitri Bhavan
6. Solar kitchen
7. Bharat Nivas - Pavilion of India
9. Architect Anupama Kundu's house (permission required)
10. Architect Roger Anger's house (permission required)
11. Roadside Cafes
12. Oli School (permission required)
13. Banyan tree
MY 3 DAYS IN AUROVILLE
1. Mother temple
The Matrumandir is situated in the heart of Auroville, symbolising peace and meditation. As in the Milky Way, the Sun is at the centre, similarly, Matrumandir is the focal point of Auroville. Matrumandir is dedicated to the Universal Mother from all religions and civilisations.
Matrumandir is the soul of the town, and it shines like a star. The shape of the Matrumandir is like a huge sphere; the top of the sphere is a shiny circular shape with golden plates. The golden cladding adds more energy and traditional value to the sphere of the matrumandir, also, these golden discs spread positive energy in the atmosphere of the matrumandir.
2. Auroville Visitor Center
The Visitor Centre is located near the Art Centre and Savitri Bhavan, and the Visitor Centre is a few minutes' walk from the Matrumandir.
The main purpose of the building is to solve the queries of tourists, and in the same building, you can book time for meditation in Matrumandir, but you must book your appointment before your visit. During busy times, matrumandir meditation appointments may get delayed or you may not get the time as per your wish, so if possible, book your appointment online.
The visitor centre is built in exposed mud brick and the structure is very famous in Auroville. Many tourists visit this building to experience the architecture and planning. The building is designed on sustainable and energy-efficient concepts, so this is the main reason for many visitors.
The visitor centre includes shops, cafes, toilets and an exhibition area. In the same area, on the first floor, you will find the office for Matrumandir meditation appointments.
On the opposite side of the main visitor centre, you will find a small auditorium where audio-visual presentations of the Matrumandir are held in various languages. After the presentation, the staff will take you to the Matrumandir which can be a 5-10 minute walk on a muddy pathway.
3. Town Hall
Townhall is located in the heart of the city, and just a few meters away from the Mantri Mandir. The Town Hall is an administrative block where all meetings for Auroville's working group take place. The building has office, conference and multimedia facilities.
4. Earth Institute
The institute is situated on the north side of the town. Auroville's Earth Institute is a 30-year-old institute, working and researching on earth-related building technologies. The same institute has a workshop area where they carry out various construction techniques and make models. They have erected many arches, vaults and domes on the site, and this method of construction is very low-cost, energy-saving, low-carbon and sustainable.
If you are interested in architecture, then you must visit this place, or sometimes they conduct workshops for low-cost housing, which you can join by paying a fee,
5. Savitri Bhavan
Savitri Bhavan in Auroville is located between Mantrimandir and the Visitor’s Centre. The centre is teaching a spiritual education based on Sri Aurobindo and the Mother's philosophy. Savitri Bhavan consists of an Auditorium, an Exhibition area, a reading room, and an information and reception area. Many lectures and presentations take place in Savitri Bhavan.
6. Solar kitchen
Solar kitchen is located on the south side of the city, and this kitchen serves food to Auroville residents. The Solar Kitchen gets its name from the solar bowl that is located on the roof of the building. In a solar kitchen, food is prepared from solar energy when the sun is available. The kitchen prepares meals for 1000 people every day, which caters to the school, residents and visitors. If you are in Auroville, you must try solar-cooked food.
7. Bharat Nivas - Pavilion of India, (Kala Kendra + Auditorium)
Bharat Nivas is a complex of Kala Kendra and Sri Aurobindo Auditorium, the complex is located near the visitors’ centre.
Sri Aurobindo Auditorium’s huge cantilever canopy and pergola make the structure more attractive and unique. The space around this auditorium is quite open, and at the back of the auditorium, there is an art gallery called Kala Kendra. From the back of the Kala Kendra, you can access the Tibet Pavilion.
8. Pavilion of Tibetan Culture
Tibet Pavilion is located behind Bharat Nivas in Auroville. The Pavilion of Tibetan Culture demonstrates the culture of Tibet. The edifice is mainly designed on the concept of a Tibetan house, so the Pavilion is quite different from other structures in the town.
The Pavilion of Tibetan Culture is a place for exhibitions, lectures, activities and celebration of the festival. The same building is also a place for many Tibetan residents.
9. Architect Anupama Kundu's house (Wall House)
One of the awarded houses is located outside the Plan Town of Auroville. The house is quite open and well-connected to nature. Wall House has won multiple architectural awards for its excellent design, concept and construction techniques.
This is a private house, and if you want to visit the wall house, you need to take permission from the owner.
10. Architect Roger Anger house (permission required)
11. Roadside Cafes
You will find many roadside cafes in Auroville. Most of the cafes serve foreign food as well as local food. South Indian food is a famous food in India as well as other countries. South Indian food includes idlis, dosa, uttapa, coffee, etc., served in most cafes.
Most of the cafes are very open or surrounded by dense greenery, many cafes have seating under trees and the best part of these cafes, you can park your vehicle next to the cafe and order food. They serve your food at your table as soon as possible.
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