The ‘universal township’ of Auroville located in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu exemplifies human unity in diversity. Aurovillians hail from 35 nations from various age groups, social classes, backgrounds, and cultures, and they live together in peaceful and harmonious co-existence. 

You can visit the township and stay at the hostels and accommodations available to experience what Auroville offers. While you’re at Auroville, do not miss some exciting activities. This blog lists 10 things you must not miss at Auroville.

Things to do in Auroville, Pondicherry

1. Eat Organic Foods At Solitude Farm

Deeply inspired by Masanobu Fukuoka’s teachings, Krishna McKenzie started Solitude Farm in 1996. It is a center for natural farming and permaculture. Taste the goodness of local foods and experience complete farm-to-table dining, tailoring fresh farm produce every day, including vegetables, curries, salads, flowers, fruits, and grains. Solitude Farm also offers a three-day workshop or a three-month internship to learn more about organic farming.

• Breakfast: 9 AM – 11:30 AM
• Lunch: 12:30 PM – 3:30 PM
• Closed on Sundays
• Free guided farm tour timings: 11:30 AM on Saturdays.
• You can also go around the farm and have a look around between 9 AM and 3:30 PM

2. Go Cycling/ Running/ Walking

One of the advantages of residing in Auroville is the village and forest roads offer transcendental peace and quietness. The best way to immerse yourself in this is by going on a run, walking, or cycling. Auroville has hexagonal stone pavements or red soil flattened in the pathways. No tarred roads are laid in the vicinity, making it perfect for activities like cycling, running, and walking. 

The canopy of trees overhead, the gorgeous shrubbery, and the mildly temperate weather add to the experience. It is one of our favorite activities. We take new routes every time and end up in some interesting place. But be aware of a lot of mosquitoes—they are everywhere. The name boards and direction boards are written in two languages—English and Tamil.

3. Hear Different Music at Svaram

Started in 2003, Svaram is a growing local/ global community of sound enthusiasts, artists, artisans, designers, healers, researchers, and trainees. You can learn the craft, art, and science of sound and listen to local music and sounds from around the globe. It is a truly holistic experience.

The sound garden (a part of Svaram) is full of innovative instruments, and the music shop is open to visitors. The sound healing session is a must-do. For the upcoming workshops and events, visit their official website.

• Timings: 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
• Entry fee for the sound garden: INR 150 per person, free for children below 10 years and Aurovilians.

Did you know? In Auroville and Pondicherry, many foreigners can speak the Tamil Language and many Tamil people can speak French.

4. Learn About Bamboos At The Auroville Bamboo Center

Founded in 2009, Auroville Bamboo Center promotes the use of bamboo. It is a pioneer in developing sustainable bamboo products like handicrafts, furniture, and jewelry, to name a few. Take a tour and learn about the different varieties of bamboo and their uses. The musical instrument section was creative and impressive. Check for events and workshops from their official website. There is also a souvenir shop.

• Timings: 8:30 AM – 5 PM
• Guided tour timings: 11:15 AM to 12:30 PM and 1:15 PM to 4:30 PM
• Entry Fee: INR 150 per person

5. Play Your Favorite Sport

Children and adults who live in Auroville place immense importance on health. They engage themselves in sports activities every day. There is a vast football ground and dedicated space for volleyball, basketball, and tennis, to name a few. You can also play in the outdoor sports arena if you’re interested. There is also a skatepark and outdoor and indoor gym as well.

6. Participate In Various Events

Different communities in Auroville organize several workshops, classes, exhibitions, yoga classes, and seminars on a regular basis. Some are paid, while others are free. You can learn a skill by registering. Yoga, meditation, sound healing and therapy, sustainable living, and arts and crafts are some of the more popular ones. The event schedules are posted online on their official website.

7. Read Books at Auroville Library

The Auroville library has been in operation since 2011. It houses about 50,000+ fiction and nonfiction books in 10 languages: English, German, French, Tamil, Italian, Dutch, Russian, Spanish, Korean, and Hebrew. It has a separate room for children’s literature. The library also maintains subscriptions to weekly and monthly Indian and international journals. The Auroville Library is open to Aurovillians, Auroville guests, and Auroville workers.

• Timings: 9 AM – 12:30 PM, 4 PM – 6:30 PM. Closed in the evening hours on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

8. Pizza Night at Auroville Youth Center

It is a place where youngsters from all backgrounds come together to relax, work, learn practical life skills, and play. Most of the projects are self-organized, and no single person is in charge. They are all collectively organized. It is possible to drop by the Youth Center to learn about the current activities. The YC Karaoke Pizza Night is hosted every Wednesday and Saturday, generally a good time to drop by and see the place. For the upcoming events and workshops, check their Instagram handle

• Timings: 9 AM – 12:30 PM from Monday to Saturday. Closed on Sundays.
• Pizza night timings: 7 PM – 10 PM, every Wednesday and Saturday for INR 300

9. Volunteer at Sadhana Forest

Sadhana Forest started its ecological revival and sustainable living work in December 2003. The vision is to transform 70 acres of severely eroded arid land on the outskirts of Auroville. The projects have expanded to Haiti and Kenya. You can learn about sustainable and conscious living by maintaining compost toilets and conserving water. Sadhana Forest welcomes guests at any time of the year. To volunteer in the Sadhana forest, visit their official website. Visitors are welcomed every Friday.

• 4 PM and 6 PM – Free shuttle from Solar Kitchen to Sadhana Forest. The 6 PM bus is for movie screening only.
• 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM – Guided tour
• 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM – Screening of films about the Sadhana Forest and Eco Film Club movie
• 8:30 PM – Free vegan dinner
• 9 PM – Free shuttle bus to Solar Kitchen.

10. Visit the Mantrimandir

At the center of the township of Auroville lies the Mantrimandir (The Golden Dome) and its amphitheater. It also houses the Urn of Human Unity, which contains the soil of 121 nations and 23 Indian states.

The city’s soul, Mantrimandir, means “Temple of the Mother”. It is a place where one can find consciousness. Once inside the Mantrimandir, you have to be silent and focus within to understand the extremities of spirituality and materialism.

The meditation hall’s inner chamber is open to visitors and guests only by prior booking.  You can also visit the Petals on the same day as your inner chamber visit. All the necessary information can be gathered from the information desk at the Visitor Center or their official website. Free electric shuttle services are available between the visitor center and the viewing point. 

The free passes to Mantrimandir and the viewpoint can be obtained from the Auroville Visitors Centre after watching a short introductory video on Mantrimandir. The passes should be purchased seven days in advance, as the number of vacancies is limited. They must be obtained directly by the visitors themselves. You can’t book your passes through email or phone or by agents, guides, or tour operators.

• Mantrimandir viewpoint timings: 9 AM – 5:30 PM
• Park of Unity timings: 6 AM – 7:30 PM
• Inner Chamber visit timings: 6 AM – 8 AM, 4:30 PM – 7:30 PM from Monday to Saturday, while on Sundays, 6 AM – 12 PM, 4:30 PM – 7:30 PM. 
• Petals timings: 7 AM – 8 AM from Monday to Sunday. Closed on Tuesdays. 5 PM – 6 PM on all days
• Entry fee: No entry fee
• Cameras, mobile phones, bags, and children below 10 years are not allowed inside the Mantrimandir