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Experimental township in Villupuram district and Puducherry, South India
Photo: Ve.Balamurali, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Auroville is a small town 6 km north of Pondicherry, in the Viluppuram district of Tamil Nadu. This town was a vision of The Mother from Sri Aurobindo Ashram at Pondicherry as it's an international town. She envisioned a town where unity will be celebrated and all will have a spiritual vocation. In July 2010, 2200 people from 43 different countries were living in the city. About 40% were Indians (more than 15% are French and 15% are German).
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Meaning "Temple of the Mother" in Sanskrit, this is the geographical and spiritual heart of Auroville. The outside is plated with gold, while the inside is stark white with a gigantic crystal in the center.
Walking distance from the Auroville Bus Stop on ECR (East Coast Road), Auro Beach is considered one of the best beaches on India's Eastern Coastline although it is still very polluted. Most of the people found on the beach are either Europeans or Tamils.
Run by the inhabitants.
Radiating from Matri Mandir, are four "zones" of the City Area: the "Residential Zone", "Industrial Zone", "Cultural (& Educational) Zone" and "International Zone". Around the City or the urban area, lies a Green Belt which is an environment research and resource area and includes farms and forestries, a botanical garden, seed bank, medicinal and herbal plants, water catchment bunds, and some communities.
A beautiful building with a Dalai Lama seat.
A beautiful building in a green surroundings.
A Ramsar site near Auroville.
9AM to 4:30PM (with a break from noon to 2PM).
Very popular, serving full meals and baked goods, vegan food, snacks, tea, coffee, and fresh juices. Wifi available with a well-stocked market attached.
At the Town Hall is this French restaurant which is open for lunch and also some dinners, please check. They often serve delicious fresh fish.
It serves breakfast and a wonderful buffet lunch for a fixed price of mainly north Indian food. It is also an art gallery.
South Indian cuisine
South Indian restaurant
The main cafeteria and most popular place to eat. Everyone pays the same price - no matter how much you actually eat. The food is really yummy and it's a great place to meet people! Upstairs you can find the cafe La Terrace serving coffees, salads, sandwiches and changing international dishes. Neither accepts cash: you must apply for a guest card at the visitor's centre, fill it with credit, and pay using that account. Both, La Terrace and the Solar Kitchen try to use organic products whenever they can! At La Terrace try the delicious mushroom pasta with egg and don't miss out on the amazing ice-cream!
on the main round from the beach to Matrimandir and serves great vegetarian dishes, crepes and has a great atmosphere.
An amazing pizza restaurant where the pizzas are cooked on a clay oven and taste delicious. They also offer some daily specials of pasta.
offers a vegan meal cooked from produce on the farm. This is available at lunch times and you must book in advance and make a donation.
A sweet and funky little cafe near the Auroville Bakery (just ask). It's a locally driven project that works with the Sapney Permaculture Farm and is locally minded. They serve fresh food and have wifi. Ask for Snehal if you want to get involved.
South Indian style meals, including thaalis and vegan dishes. Snacks, fresh juices, lassis, ice cream, tea, and coffee.
Coffee, juice, ice cream, popsicles, vegan milk, cookies, and cakes.
With children's play area.
Smoothies, fresh soups with coconut milk, flax crackers, sunflower seed bread, nut cheese, pumpkin pies, banana mousse, chocolate bars, mango bars.
A cafe is situated on the beach and has amazing salads, check out sunbliss salad or the houmous platter. It is open to people staying in Auroville and is closed on Mondays and open til 5PM every other day.
Dosa, burgers, pastas, pizza, quiches, tarts, pies and cookies. IT also has organic and vegan options.
It has an excellent cafe with daily specials and a wide range of Indian and European food including great vegetarian food, drinks and desserts.
Smoothies, cold-pressed juices, sorbets and quick bites (caprese sandwiches made with fresh pesto, other sandwiches and burgers). Vegan friendly.
Large, clean resort. All rooms are with TV with English, Tamil, Hindi, and Kannada channels.
Artisanal dairy products.
City of the Dawn, 80 minutes. Auroville - A Dream of the Divine, 20 minutes.
Made in Auroville.
Made in Auroville.
Books of Aurobindo and the Mother.
From Allankuppan, Kottakarai village
Every 30 min a bus goes to Pondi over Kootroad, where you can enter a bus to Tindivanam, Tirruvanumalai, Chennai. Often the bus is already full. It's safer to go to Pondi. The bus is ₹5.
From Chennai airport
You can also take a taxi from Chennai Airport. It costs ₹170-2500 (price quoted December 2010.
From Pondicherry
You can also rent scooters in Pondicherry and drive yourself for a day trip or arrange to keep the scooter for a few days or more.
Best by e-cycle, also possible by motorbike or bicycle. Rickshaws and taxis can be ordered for trips out of the town. If you have a guest card than you can use the community's bus to Pondicherry (for free).
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Puducherry (Pondicherry) · Regional · PNY
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