Tiruvannamalai – Tiruvannamalai

Weather in Oroville

25°C

Nearby airport

Cochin International Airport.

Nearby train station

Pondicherry

So what is this place anyway?

Auroville is an urban locality established in 1968 in the state of Tamil Nadu in southern India, near the town of PondicherryIt was established with the aim of being a spiritual center that unites a cooperative and ecological community from all over the world, living there in harmony and according to the values of peace and unity, without differences, without division and without politics. A community in which the relations between the members will not be based on competition but on cooperation and reciprocity.

Auroville was founded by "Mother" Mira Alpensa, the Frenchwoman who was the spiritual partner and successor of the guru Sri Aurobindo, and after whom it was named. "Auroville = City of Dawn". The two's main ashram is in Pondicherry

Over 2,500 residents from all over the world live in Auroville, Indians, Europeans, Americans, and more, as well as over 30 Israelis.

Auroville was built in the shape of a galaxy, at the center of which is the central spiritual temple that constitutes the sun – the Matrimandir. It was built in the shape of a large, golden circle, from which "rays" emerge, dividing the area into various settlements – an agricultural settlement, a meditation settlement, an artists' settlement, an educational settlement, and more.

Why come to Auroville?

Auroville attracts countless tourists from all over the world who come to see the utopian and unique "City of Dawn" and practice various spiritual practices. In Auroville, you will find a wide variety of workshops, events, performances, parties and classes, pastoral trails and forests, cafes and fascinating encounters with people from all over the world.

Matrimandir

The giant golden sphere in the middle of Auroville, a building that cannot be ignored, it radiates in all directions. It is the most important spiritual center in the city, and inside there are several rooms designated for contemplation and meditation. The building is surrounded by green gardens and its entire area is called the "peace area".

Getting to Auroville

Auroville is near the town of Pondicherry so you will usually need to get there and then take a tuk-tuk to Auroville (a twenty-minute drive).

Domestic flight – The nearest airport to Auroville is in Pondicherry, a small airport with flights only from Hyderabad and vice versa. Chennai (a three-and-a-half-hour drive) has a larger international airport with a variety of flights to a large number of destinations. From there you can take a train or taxi to Pondicherry.

Train – There is a train station inPondicherry (Puducherry).

Buses – Buses and sleepers reach Pondicherry.

Recommended season in Auroville

Auroville is located in the particularly hot South of India and the ideal season to visit there is during the winter months – November to March. During these months it is sunny and pleasant, while the rest of the year it is very hot and difficult to spend time outside and work in agricultural work (which there is a lot in Auroville). Those who really want to, can come to Auroville throughout the year because there is an international community that lives there all the time, it is just that there may be fewer events and sundaes in the off-season.

Good to know

When arriving in Auroville, there are a few places you should go to first to get things organized –

– Auroville guest service – an office that is open in the mornings and provides information to visitors about the various guesthouses, prices and levels (you can take a tuk-tuk from Pondicherry directly there).

– The visitor center – you can get a map of Auroville and information about the various areas, classes and upcoming workshops.

– The accounts office – where you can deposit money and open a guest account for yourself, and you will receive a number with which you can pay at all places in Auroville. There are places where you can only pay using your number. On the day of your departure, if there is money left in your account, you will receive a refund.

– Entrance to Matrimandir – you can only enter the impressive building with a one-day entry permit, which you receive at the visitor center

– Auroville is spread over a fairly large area, and the most recommended way to get around is by renting a motorbike or bicycle. Both can be found within the city.

– Beyond classes, workshops, etc., you can visit all the usual places – schools and kindergartens, various factories, etc., just be careful not to disrupt ongoing work, and it is recommended to coordinate a visit in advance.

Sadhana Forest

If you are interested in coming to Auroville, it makes sense that you have heard of Sadhana Forest. It is an ecological forest with an innovative and amazing idea that was established by an Israeli couple in 2004. The couple arrived in Auroville that year, found a large, desolate area with nothing in it, a few kilometers from the center of Auroville, and decided to establish a forest from scratch and live their lives there. They planted dozens of trees and built a house there, and lead an ecological life and protect the environment, using only natural materials that come from nature and can be easily returned to, in all areas – food, construction, shower and toilet, electricity (solar only), etc.

The forest has grown and developed and since then it has hosted thousands of volunteers, workshops, courses and students who come to learn permaculture, agriculture and other topics related to environmental quality and protecting the Earth.

You can come to the forest to stay only and enjoy the atmosphere, or volunteer and help with the daily work, or attend one of the courses or workshops. It is worth considering that the accommodation in the forest is in bottle houses with very basic conditions, it is recommended to stock up on mosquito repellent!

In addition, as mentioned, the forest is a little far from the center of Auroville, so it is worth getting there by bike or moped.

Every Friday a bus leaves from the center of Auroville and does an organized tour of Sadhana Forest, it is recommended to check the time in advance at the visitor center.

NEW COLORS

Another place run by a half-Israeli who offers volunteering. This is an afternoon children's center set up by an Israeli who lives in Everville with her Indian husband. They invite anyone who wants to come and spend time with the children, give them attention and love, play with them, help with homework and more.