Auroville is an internationally renowned experimental township located near Puducherry in the Union Territory of Puducherry, with parts of the township extending into Tamil Nadu. Founded as a universal community dedicated to peace, human unity, and sustainable living, Auroville welcomes people from all nationalities, cultures, and backgrounds. The township is best known for the iconic Matrimandir, a golden spherical meditation centre that serves as the spiritual heart of Auroville. Surrounded by forests, gardens, farms, and eco-friendly communities, Auroville is recognised worldwide for its focus on environmental restoration, renewable energy, organic farming, education, and sustainable development.
Auroville was founded on 28 February 1968 by Mirra Alfassa, widely known as "The Mother," a spiritual collaborator of Sri Aurobindo, the Indian philosopher and yogi. The vision of Auroville was to create a universal township where people from all countries could live together in harmony beyond barriers of nationality, religion, politics, and social divisions. The inauguration ceremony brought together representatives from 124 nations and all Indian states and union territories, who placed soil from their respective regions into a lotus-shaped urn as a symbol of global unity. The project received support from UNESCO, which has passed multiple resolutions endorsing Auroville's ideals. Over the decades, the once-barren land has been transformed through extensive afforestation and sustainable development into a thriving international community. Today, Auroville is home to residents from more than 60 countries and stands as a globally recognised model for sustainable living, cultural exchange, and human unity.
November to February.
About 10km from Puducherry, roughly 20–30 minutes by road.
No reviews yet — be the first.
Sign in to leave a review — reviews are posted under your account name.