Auroville, Pondicherry – Insider Tips

Things to Do in Pondicherry: Auroville

The township of Auroville in Tamil Nadu and, Puducherry states of Southern India was founded by Mirra Alfassa in 1968. The city is set in beautiful, luxurious semi-jungle and has a community area comprised of a temple and its gardens and the amphitheater with the Urn of Human Unity.

Go to the visitor’s center – Centro de visitantes

You will get to pick from many cabs and rickshaws in Pondicherry, available at the Visitors’ Centre. The center also offers detailed exhibitions and videos about the city. You will get many brochures and handouts about the city’s diverse activities as well as shopping and enjoy multicultural cuisines. There is a wide range of handicrafts made in the city for sale.

Meditate at the Matrimandir

While this is not merely a tourist attraction site, visitors can experience a moment of individual silent concentration at the temple. The spherical Mother Temple is coated with many gold discs and surrounded by 12 chambers of meditation. To visit this centerpiece, you will have to obtain a permit a day or two in advance.

Volunteer with farms, forests and animal welfares

You will be fascinated by the many opportunities of working with communities in Auroville. There are organic farms, herb gardens, a reforestation project and animal care (I came back for this one this year and am working there). Here’s a list of places. You can visit volunteer at forests such as Sadhana and farms such as Windarra and Solitude. You will find this amazing Budha and Pebble Gardens and enjoy the animals at Integrated Animal Care Center.

Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about things to do in Pondicherry Auroville.