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What It's Like to Visit Auroville, India | Ummi Goes Where?

Visiting Auroville for the First Time - Is Auroville Worth Visiting?

“There should be somewhere on earth a place which no nation can claim as its own, where all human beings of good will 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.” 

That was the dream of Mother Sri Aurobindo when she founded Auroville over 5 decades ago. Auroville is an experimental city located in South India, close to Pondicherry.

During its inauguration in 1968, representatives of 124 countries and 23 Indian states placed a handful of earth from their homelands into a lotus-shaped urn at the center of the township in a symbolic gesture of human unity.

Today, what was once a barren plateau of red earth has transformed into a lush green landscape. Auroville is progressively expanding. It now has a community of over 2,800 permanent residents from India and 54 other countries, and an ever-changing number of volunteers.

I found out about this special place after watching a video by Drew Binsky:

 

What Makes Auroville Special?

  • Auroville is a cashless society.
  • It focuses on environmental regeneration, organic farming, renewable energy, village development, free healthcare and education, cross-cultural communication, women empowerment, and many others.
  • It has no race, no religion, no government, and no nationality.
  • To become an Aurovillian, you need to have stayed there and worked for free for at least two years. You also need to get three references from other residents and pass the review process.

It sounds like an ideal world. I would have thought that if such a place exists at all, it wouldn’t be in India or anywhere in Asia, but in European countries such as Finland, Denmark, or Norway. The ones with the supposedly highest happiness indexes. Or where people are generally more receptive to unconventional ideas. Blame that on my own ignorance.

But there it is, this place called Auroville, a.k.a. the City of Dawn, located just a few hours away from Chennai in South India.

How to Get to Auroville from Chennai

The nearest airport to Auroville is Puducherry Airport. But it’s a very small one that serves only a few domestic flights. So, most people usually land in Chennai instead.

To get to Auroville from Chennai, you need to go to Koyembedu Bus Station and take the bus heading to Pondicherry. There are many of them — at least one every 15 minutes. So, I just hopped on one and told the conductor that I was going to Auroville, which is 11 kilometers before Pondicherry.

I can’t remember how much it was, but it was cheap (and being the scrooge that I am, when I say something is cheap, you can bet your last dollar that it really is cheap).

What I do remember is that my journey back (Pondicherry – Chennai) was even cheaper despite the journey being longer. So, I’m not sure if there is a fixed ticket price or if it really depends on whether the conductor likes you.

Anyway, as promised, the driver dropped me off at a junction leading to Auroville. From there, it’s only another 3 – 4 kilometers to reach Auroville, which you could either cover on foot or hitchhike, like I did.

Auro orchard signage | Ummi Goes Where?
An orchard I passed by on the way to Auroville

Where to Stay in Auroville

Apparently, there are many guesthouses and hostels in the area (although I only saw a few as I didn’t have a motorbike to explore the whole village).

I stayed at Time Travellers Hostel, located right opposite the visitor’s center. The walls were made of bamboo and raised on stilts. Each room could accommodate up to four people.

The room at Time Traveler's Hostel, Auroville | Ummi Goes Where?
My room at the Time Traveler’s Hostel, Auroville

Here are some other accommodation options in Auroville, that are within 3 kilometers from the center:

Budget

Fun Monk Hostel – Features a garden, shared lounge, shared kitchen, and terrace. All rooms have a private bathroom with a shower, while some also come with a kitchen and fridge. From USD 8 for a bed in a 4-bed female dormitory room. Private rooms are also available. Vegetarian breakfast is available every morning for only USD 1.

Mid-Range

Sun Farm House – Features an outdoor swimming pool, a garden, and a shared lounge. All rooms are air-conditioned and fitted with a private bathroom, while some come with a terrace. Bicycle and car rental services are available. From USD 38 for a Superior Double Room with breakfast.

Luxury

Temple Tree Retreat – Located less than 2 kilometers from the beach. Features an outdoor swimming pool, garden and sun terrace. From USD 97 for a Large Double Room, inclusive of breakfast.

How to Get Around in Auroville

The best way to get around in Auroville is by renting a bike/motorbike. The village covers a huge area, and everything is quite far from each other. Plus, the roads are badly lit at night.

And since some of the events/activities might take place at night somewhere far from your hostel, it’s not going to be a very comfortable (or safe) walk, unless you’ve got headlamps or torch lights. If you’re renting a bike or motorbike, make sure the lights are working.

Map of Auroville | Ummi Goes Where?
Map of Auroville

Things to Do in Auroville

1. Visit the Visitor's Center

Most people who visit Auroville only do so as a day trip from Chennai or Pondicherry. They usually only spend their time in the visitor’s center, which is enough to provide them with everything they need to know about the place.

Auroville Information Reception Centre | Ummi Goes Where?
The receptionist seems a bit sleepy today

The center is equipped with a video hall, a mini museum, bookstores, restaurants and shops. The items sold are what you might expect in a community that is highly concerned about creating a sustainable living. So you’ll find lots of organic, handmade, recycled, and upcycled stuff on offer.

Visiting Auroville India | Ummi Goes Where?

At the information center, you get to flip through a thick folder that advertises classes, events, and activities that are happening in that particular month.

2. Join a Class or Workshop

Skill-sharing is a major concept in Auroville, so there are all sorts of classes and workshops you can join (or teach), from yoga to skateboarding. And they are either free or very cheap. One of the girls at my hostel was taking French lessons for only 2,000 rupees (30 USD) per month! With daily sessions!

So, go ahead and offer to teach something you know — in exchange for cash or for some other lesson. Who knows, maybe that juggling skill you picked up in high school will finally come in handy! 

3. Watch a Performance

Even if you’re not staying long enough to take any of those classes, you could still check out the events and happenings. The night of my stay, there was a Beatles concert, and I was lucky because it was held right inside the visitor’s center, so I didn’t have to walk very far from my hostel.

4. Volunteer

Volunteering is another big thing in the Auroville community, which is largely run by volunteers from all over the world. There are many different avenues in which you can contribute your skills and expertise, including — among others — organic farming, environmental regeneration, village development, healthcare, education, and women empowerment.

5. Go to the Beach

If you’re into beaches (I’m not), there’s the Auroville Beach. Popularly known as Auro Beach among the locals, it is one of the clean unexplored beaches in the city, offering a tranquil environment to those seeking to escape crowd. The Auroville Beach is also great for swimming, thanks to its shallow waters.

6. See the 100-Year-Old Banyan Tree

Banyan tree Auroville, India | Ummi Goes Where?
The banyan tree.

Banyan trees are considered to be sacred in India and are worshipped all over the country. Belonging to the fig family, they have peculiar aerial roots that grow down from the branches toward the ground and take root to become new trunks.

Located in the geographical center of Auroville, not far from the famed Matrimandir, is a banyan tree that is rumored to be over 100 years old. During the construction of the city, it was the only tree standing on the barren plateau. Now, it is an integral part of the Matrimandir complex. Its diameter is kept at approximately 50 meters to maintain its proportion to its surroundings.

7. Meditate at the Matrimandir

Because Auroville has no religion, instead of having a place of worship, they have this huge golden metallic sphere called the Matrimandir, where people can go to meditate.

Inside it, a spiraling ramp leads upward to an air-conditioned chamber of polished white marble (this info, I got from Google because I didn’t get to see it for myself). The Matrimandir has its own solar power plant and is surrounded by manicured gardens.

Radiating from it are four zones of the town area: the Residential Zone, Industrial Zone, Cultural  & Educational Zone, and International Zone.

And around the town area is an environmental research area that includes farms and forestry, a botanical garden, seed bank, medicinal and herbal plants, and water catchment bunds.

Matrimandir Aurovilla India | Ummi Goes Where?

Silence is to be strictly observed inside the Matrimandir. Therefore, not everybody is allowed in except permanent residents of Auroville and serious meditators.

Visitors who wish to meditate there can register at the visitor’s center at least one day before and only up to one week in advance. Booking cannot be made online.

I went to try my luck but unfortunately, it was full. Not that I was really into meditation or anything, but I think I would have enjoyed the silence.

Registration for visiting Matrimandir | Ummi Goes Where?

But all was not lost. Although I couldn’t go inside the giant golf ball, I would still be able to view it from a distance. Every day except Sunday, visitors are allowed to see the Matrimandir from a viewing point.

Matrimandir Auroville India | Ummi Goes Where?

The viewing point was quite a distance away, but it was a pleasant walk through shaded pathways surrounded by trees and a rock garden.

Matrimandir Auroville India | Ummi Goes Where?
The path to Matrimandir.

 

After a while, the golden sphere came into view. I was separated from it by a fence and a few hundred square meters of garden. It was a very serene place. I could hardly believe I was in India — there was no sound of car horns.

Matrimandir Auroville India | Ummi Goes Where?
With the Matrimandir in the background.

Final Thoughts on Visiting Auroville

After visiting the Matrimandir viewing point on the second day of my stay, I walked back to my hostel, packed my stuff and hitchhiked to Pondicherry. Overall, I was quite impressed with this experimental city. It was otherworldly. The people were otherworldly. It felt like being in an international art/music festival where you’re surrounded by the ‘cool crowd’. Think artists, dreamers, yogis, hippies…

However, if the concept sounds too ambitious and idealistic to be a success, it probably is. I have read that despite its stringent rules and all the spirituality mumbo jumbo, Auroville is not free from crimes such as robbery, sexual harassment, rape, and even murder.

On top of that, Auroville is purportedly steeped in bureaucracy. The process to become a permanent resident is apparently a long, tedious one. And it’s also expensive.

First of all, you have to work for two years without pay. Secondly, once you have passed the review process, you will have to make a ‘mandatory donation’ (an oxymoron?) of up to USD 50,000 to the township, in return for housing.

This supposedly cashless city also receives a steady stream of donations from the Indian government, visitors, and private donors. To whom this money goes to, nobody seems to know or want to talk about.

But I guess it’s not fair for me to judge after staying for only one night. Would I visit again? Yes, because you’ve got to admit — it’s a fascinating concept. It may be too cultish and new-agey for my liking, but that bit about “no religion” and “no race” is a major selling point for me, coming from a society that makes such a big fuss over those two things.

Have you heard of Auroville before? What do you think of the concept? Would you like to visit it? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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30 Comments

    • ummi

      Yes, Fas, it does seem so. Since the residents are mostly young people (and not retirees living on their retirement funds), I think they must be digital nomads or people who work remotely. So, they’re still technically earning money. Or maybe they’re the type who are used to live a self-sustaining life, where they grow everything they need and barter the rest, so they never have to spend much money on anything.

        • ummi

          Ya, Marina. Tak ramai yang tahu tentang Auroville ni sebenarnya. Bahkan rakyat di Chennai sendiri pun ada yang tak pernah dengar tentang tempat ni. Tapi seperti yang Marina cakap, tempat ni memang cantik dan tenang.

    • ummi

      Thank you, Syaza. I agree — Auroville is relatively unknown. Unlike other destinations in India such as Agra, Jaipur, Kashmir, Kerala, etc. I first heard about Auroville from Drew Binsky’s video, and I was intrigued by its concept. So, I decided I had to go and see it for myself. 🙂

    • ummi

      You’re welcome, Suria! I’m happy to share my experience, and I hope you got a few useful pointers for your future trips. Do check out my other articles for more travel ideas. 🙂

    • ummi

      Terima kasih, Fadima. India is indeed an awesome place to visit. I dare say it’s one of the most interesting countries I’ve ever been to. Some may say it’s filthy, chaotic, and dangerous. There’s no denying that, but there’s so much to discover here. I think India is a country to be visited with an open mind and a good sense of humor 😉

    • ummi

      Betul tu, Airah. Bagi saya, India ni ibarat satu dunia sendiri. Pertama, sebab populasi di sana dah mencecah 1.4 bilion orang. Kedua, sebab dalam satu negara ni je, ada bermacam-macam etnik dan bahasa. Kadang2 sesama diorang pun tak boleh nak berkomunikasi antara satu sama lain, melainkan guna Bahasa Inggeris. Memang sangat menarik, banyak perkara baru kita boleh belajar 🙂

    • ummi

      Hey, Kayathre, that’s not surprising actually. I have met people living in Chennai who have never heard of Auroville, and some who have heard of it but don’t really know what it’s about. It seems like it’s more well-known outside of India than within the country itself.

    • ummi

      Happy to share the knowledge. Yes, I would recommend visiting Auroville for experience purpose. Given the chance, I would love to go again and stay longer. It would be cool to learn new skills from people of different nationalities. I think you could also learn a lot about sustainable lifestyle, zero waste, etc, in Auroville.

  1. Sis Lin

    Banyak juga tem[at di India ni yang jauh terpencil gini yaa.. and masa you pergi memang takde orang warganegara sana ke Ummi? nampak macam kosong aje.. kalau Ummi tak share, memang ramai laa tak tau tempat macam ni, termasuk Sis..

    • ummi

      Nak kata terpencil tu tak juga, sis. Sebab tak jauh dari sini ialah bandar Pondicherry yang agak besar dan sesak juga. Tapi kawasan yang berdekatan dengan Matrimandir ni memang tak ramai orang. Sesuai la untuk mereka yang ingin mencari ketenangan dan bermeditasi.

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  4. Joydeep| The Gypsy Chiring

    Hi Ummi, I am so glad you wrote about Auroville. I was in Pondicherry for two years. We used to often visit it. I loved riding bikes through the roads, visiting cafes, and meeting the community there. I learned how to dance Salsa there too. That meditation session inside Matrimandir needs to be booked a day before and in person, I reckon. Sorry that you missed it. It is indeed very peaceful.

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