Auroville, 14km from Pondicherry, just over the border in Tamil Nadu, was opened as an experimental international community, coming from the vision of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother. Auroville is around 50 square km. It was founded in 1968 as a place where all people could live together in peace, regardless of caste, creed or country. It was hoped that it would reach a population of 50,000.

Soil from 126 countries was placed in a container when the community opened in 1968. The opening ceremony was attended by the President of India and people from 121 countries.

It is made up of over 50 communities with about 1100 people from around the world, a majority of which are foreigners. Many of the houses have unique designs. Auroville’s motto is “Auroville belongs to nobody in particular but to humanity as a whole.” Since The Mother’s death in 1973, there has been disagreements over control of the community.

Information
There is a Visitor’s Information Centre (62239; fax 62274), near Bharat Nivas, open daily 9.30 am to 5.30 pm. Next door is a good vegetarian restaurant and the Boutique d’Auroville (9 am to 5.30 pm), which has books, gems, postcards and incenses.

If you would like to stay in Auroville contact Auroville Guest Progamme, Visitors Centre, Auroville 605101, e-mail guest@auroville.org.in. In Pondicherry you can get information about this place at La Boutique d’Auroville (27264 maybe 25128??), 12 Nehru St, west of the Canal.
The tourist office in Pondicherry conducts a tour that goes here (Rs 25). Auroville is spread out, so if you plan to stay for a while it is best to rent a bike to get around.

To get around you need either a bicycle or motorcycle. Some of the communities rent them or you can rent one in Pondicherry.

A 10-minute video about Auroville is shown daily except Sun at 10.30 am and 3.30 pm at the Visitor’s Centre.

Matri Mandir
The Matri Mandir is the spiritual center of Auroville. It is a domed structure, which has a crystal sphere in the meditation room. You must be completely silent inside. The Banyan tree to the side of the Matri Mandir was to be cut down during its construction. It is said that the soul of the tree protested to The Mother in a dream and the location of the temple was shifted.

The gardens are open between 9 am and 5 pm. Visitors can only enter the Matri Mandir between 4 to 5 pm. You have to get a pass (free) at the Visitor Center before 3.30 pm to enter. To go to the meditation period between 5 and 6 pm, you have to get your pass stamped and then come back the next day.

Where to Stay and Eat
You can stay with one of the many community groups here. They prefer serious people interested in the project who want to stay a week or more. Rooms range from Rs 100 to Rs 500, depending on the facilities offered. Sharnga, Samasti and Centre all have places to stay. You can contact the Boutique d’Auroville in Pondicherry or the Visitor Centre in Auroville about arranging a room .Centre Guest House (62155), near the Matri Mandir, has rooms to stay at.
Palms Beach Cottage Centre, in Chinna Mudaliarchavadi village, which is on the way to Auroville from Pondicherry (9km away), has rooms with common bath for Rs 100/175. It has a good garden. You can get meals here.
Cottage Guest House is just off the main road coming from Pondicherry, near the road that turns off to Auroville in the village of Chinna Mudaliarchavadi. Basic rooms with common bath are Rs 90/150 and rooms with bath in the new building are Rs 225. They have a meal restaurant.
There is a good restaurant next to the Visitor’s Center where you can get a good meal for Rs 35. They also have snacks and baked goods. The Upahar Restaurant is a good place

Travel
Most people come here on the coastal road from Pondicherry and turn off at the village of Chinna Mudaliarchavadi. You may have to ask where the turn-off is located, as it is poorly marked. You can also get here by going on the Pondicherrxe "Tirunallar" y to Chennai road, turning off at Promesse, about 1km after the police station.
To get around Auroville you will need your own transportation, as everything is spread out. If you come by bike from Pondicherry you can expect to ride about 30km, there and back. The road can be rough at places.

Buses only go to the villages of Chinna Mudaliarchavadi and Periya Mudaliarcha-vadi, from where you have to get an auto-rickshaw to the Matri Mandir. An auto rickshaw roundtrip from Pondicherry should be around Rs 200 and a taxi Rs 500.

The daily PTDC city tour of Pondicherry goes to the Matri Mandir.

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