- Founded
- 1968
- Founder
- Mirra Alfassa (the Mother)
- Ideal time needed
- Half a day to two days
- Distance from Chennai airport
- About 140 km
- Nearest railway station
- Puducherry
The Matrimandir
At the centre of the township stands the Matrimandir, a large golden sphere surrounded by gardens. It is meant as a place for silent concentration rather than a monument to tour. Day visitors start at the Visitors' Centre, watch a short introductory film and walk to a viewing point. Time inside the inner chamber or the smaller meditation rooms has to be booked in advance and is limited.
Life in Auroville
Residents typically get around by bicycle along red-earth paths, live in simple houses and put a strong focus on sustainability. Organic cafés serve food grown locally, and small shops sell handmade clothing, pottery, paper and incense produced in Auroville's units. There are programmes for students, volunteers and interns, and a formal process for those who wish to become residents.
Tips for your visit
Allow at least half a day; one or two nights in a guest house gives a better feel for the place. Keep to the marked paths, respect the silence at the Matrimandir and remember that this is a community where people live and work. Hiring a bicycle or scooter makes it easier to move around the spread-out township. Auroville Beach and the Botanical Gardens are nearby, and Promenade Beach in Puducherry is a short drive away.
How to reach
Chennai International Airport is about 140 km away, roughly three hours by taxi along the East Coast Road. Puducherry railway station is the closest railhead, and Villupuram Junction has more long-distance trains. Buses and taxis run frequently from Puducherry. We can arrange transfers and combine Auroville with a Puducherry city tour.
Also nearby
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