Auroville is Best Experienced Over Days Rather Than a Quick Day Trip. Here are 10 Places to Seek Accommodation at Auroville When You Want to Soak it All In (2019)

We live in a world that is divided by thousands of artificial, man-made boundaries. Some examples are nationalities, languages, cultures, systems and creed. There are also natural differences like ethnicities, but it is frown upon more than we would like it to be. In such a world, Auroville stands out as a novel concept.

It was founded in the year 1968 by Mira Alfassa who got inspired by the teachings and philosophy of Sri Aurobindo and took the initiative to build this experimental village and gave architect Roger Anger the task to design it. According to a public statement made by Alfassa in 1965, "Auroville is …a universal town where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and above progressive harmony, above all creeds, all politics and all nationalities. The purpose of Auroville is to realise human UNITY.” Keeping this as the backbone, Auroville developed as a centre for overall human consciousness and spirituality, a bastion of unity in a heavily divided world.

Auroville is not all meditation and spirituality. There is more to its characteristics. Even though Auroville was tailor-made for it, there are so many things to see and experience in Auroville apart from spiritual sessions. This village amidst greenery has many other attractions to occupy you with. To begin with, you get an insight into organic and simple living, there is a beach within walking distance from the place and other places of recreation like the cinema, shops and cafes. Do these 4 things to get a wholesome experience of Auroville.

A visit to Solitude Farm when in Auroville is a must. Whether you are concerned about consuming organic food or not, you must visit it just to appreciate this amazing initiative. Solitude Farm is a 6-acre expanse of land on which food crops are grown naturally. Meaning there is absolutely no use of artificial fertilizers and farm machinery. The land is made fertile by composting leaves, weeds, tree branches and so on, and seeds are scattered over an untilled soil and let nature do its work.

The farm produces a variety of greens, vegetables, fruits, pulses, grains, cereals, oilseeds and grams. There is a farm to table restaurant at the spot serving breakfast and lunch. Do give it a visit to literally taste this farm’s success. Besides, Solitude Farm also organizes a farm tour where you can witness their method first hand. A local food basket service is also undertaken so that the product can be distributed throughout Auroville. The farm was built and is run on the principle of give and take relationship with nature, you live what nature provides you and give back what you take from it.

Beaches are the best place to spend a day in. The sun shining upon us, the gleaming sand, the sparkling ocean, the waves crashing on the shores and the sound of it mixed with happy cries of the people playing there and the chirping of seagulls. Even the very image of it in our minds relaxes us. Auroville beach is no different and is the perfect getaway spot for you while you are staying in Auroville. Go for a morning walk at dawn along the shoreline with the sunrise in the backdrop or spend the day frolicking about in the water or have a solitary walk at sunset. The choice is yours.

Coming to Auroville and not visiting the Matrimandir is like touring Paris and skipping a visit to the Eiffel Tower. Matrimandir is an air-conditioned meditation chamber that can accommodate up to 100 people at once. It is central to the entire Auroville experience and whether you are in Auroville for spiritual reasons or just to tour the place, you must go there. Besides conducting meditation sessions, Matrimandir also gives various courses on spirituality.

Auroville is not like other tourist destinations, meaning you won’t find quintessential tourist spots here, like shopping complexes with products from famous brands adorning their shelves. But that doesn’t mean it is completely devoid of outlets where you can indulge in some shopping spree. There are many shops in Auroville selling local arts and crafts objects. You can buy some of them to take back as souvenirs or if it strikes you fancy. Besides, there is also a cinema in Auroville for an evening of entertainment and various cafes for you to enjoy the company of your friends.

Auroville is way different from other places that people usually visit. It is not like popular tourist destinations where the top priority is the tourists themselves. Everything in those places caters to the comfort, convenience and entertainment of the visitors. Auroville does not submit to this idea for it was built for a very different purpose.

Keeping this in mind, you have to be careful as to planning your stay in Auroville. You need to get the right accommodation according to your taste and needs otherwise your stay will an experience you rather not have. Follow this BP Guide to choose the right accommodation in Auroville.

If you want to experience Auroville at a budget then this accommodation will be perfect for you. It boasts of a shared kitchen and terrace. Every room is equipped with a television, a kettle, a refrigerator, a wardrobe, a bathroom and a seating area. The hotel provides its guests with a vegetarian breakfast. It is a neat and tidy establishment that is appropriate for Auroville guests who have come here to immerse into some spirituality. The ambience of this hostel is that of simplicity and warmth which are ideal for a sense of spirituality.

It is a far cry from the edgy, efficient and heartless accommodations of the cutthroat real world that constantly remind you that you need to keep hustling without a break and reach targets before deadlines. Rusty Rabbit Travellers Home has an atmosphere that makes you feel that there are no strings tying you down and that you are completely free.

A little reflection by us would reveal that the roadblock to spirituality and inner peace is our modern lifestyle. It is a system where you are put in a competition and each one you are vying to outdo each other for a prize. This inevitably leads to physical and mental exhaustion and for this, the system has provided some entertainment. But this entertainment does not provide rejuvenation, rather an escape from the grim rat race for a short period of time. This lifestyle, though luxurious and efficient, is meaningless. It is like you exist but does not live

Aurowilliam counteracts this by removing all unnecessary tenets of modern lifestyle so that your stay in Auroville is rustic and spiritually enriching. They provide accommodations which are rustic but comfortable; the “rooms” are made with bamboo sticks and thatched panels and shaped like a teepee. There are “pakka” house accommodations as well which are sparsely furnished. The guests can use a shared kitchen for a vegetarian meal and each room comes with a bathroom and shower.

Majority of the visitors of Auroville are people who want to feel close to nature and find their true selves through spiritual practices. They do not come here to have an “Instagram vacation”, they come here to explore the inner sanctum of their souls in terms of true peace.

If you belong to this category of travellers then you should consider staying at Keeth House in Auroville. It is a duplex house made with completely natural materials. It consists of 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, and can accommodate up to 4 guests. There is also a kitchen. Basic amenities for a comfortable stay are provided. The real catch, though, is the house itself. Entering it, you will feel that you are entering some hut in a Guru’s ashram in ancient India.

It looks futuristic but blends surprisingly with its rustic surroundings. As the name suggests, the Black Box is an accommodation that looks like boxes heaped upon each other like those castles and forts children make with cardboard boxes while playing.

Keeping true to one of the tenets of spirituality which is to take care of the planet, the hotel is made with recycled shipping containers. There are 2 bathrooms, 2 bedrooms and enough room for 6 guests in it. There is a kitchen, free parking space and other amenities of convenience. The patio is the perfect place to relax and soothe your senses amidst the green forest. The guesthouse also provides a cartload of activities like yoga, surfing, swimming, horse riding and cooking classes, and various massage therapies.

Auro Farms provide comfortable accommodations for a short getaway tour to Auroville. It is a 2- star hotel that is equipped with a large lawn and garden which the guests share, an outdoor swimming pool and free of cost private parking. The guests can enjoy free WiFi, cook vegetarian dishes in a shared kitchen or bond with each other as their children play in the children’s playground. Each room is fitted with a television with cable channels, a separate area and a private bathroom that has a shower and provided with free toiletries. The guest rooms have some extra facilities in the shape of a kettle and a wardrobe.

Vitara Spaces is a comfortable hut in Auroville, an arrangement that is perfect for the reason most people visit this place for- quiet and peaceful ambience for a soulful reflection. This accommodation is neat, cosy and simple. It has one room with a bed and other required furniture. The room is decorated in a simple fashion that elevates its charm. It has air-conditioning, an attached bathroom and other necessary amenities like washing machine, umbrella, torch, power backup etc. The front courtyard is perfect to sit and relax. The accommodation also provides outdoor barbecue and bonfire facilities. Though the room has enough space for 3 people, it is the best place to lodge if you are a solo traveller to Auroville.

Rang Shala is the perfect accommodation in Auroville for a large family or group of friends. It has a shared terrace from where the guests can view the forest about it, a shared garden where the guests can spend evenings together having a bonfire and a shared lounge where the guests can bond over some indoor games. The other facilities in the accommodation are a 24- hour service, airport pick up and drop, free WiFi and a shared kitchen. Each room in the hostel boasts of a private bathroom with a shower in it. Besides, the hotel treats its guests with a delicious Asian breakfast.

This house is literally a synonym for reclusive comfort! If you are looking for a place to escape and be far away from your hectic city life then look no further. Voguenvilla Unit 2 is a 2 storey house that is surrounded by soothing foliage. You get a suite to yourself that has 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom and can accommodate up to 2 guests. The bathroom is provided with all the necessary toiletries, the room has 2 beds and a cosy ambience. There is also a washing machine. Guests can park for free on the premises.

This luxury cottage has a pool and is large and spacious. It is fully air- conditioned and has 2 bedrooms, a couple of bathrooms and a seating area. Indoor entertainment is looked after by television and outside, the guests can have fun in the pool. A sumptuous, vegetarian breakfast makes its way to the plates of the guests every morning and there is free parking on the premises. If your idea is to relax for a week or so with your family in a peaceful environment, this is the place for you.

A 5- star experience in a spiritual setup is an opportunity few would bypass. Mango Hill is such an accommodation in Auroville, where you get to experience the best of both worlds; the hospitality and luxury of modern lifestyle and the spiritual enrichment of ancient world which is still relevant today. The accommodation consists of a garden, an outdoor pool and an in-house restaurant that offers continental and American cuisine. There is also a children’s playground to occupy the children. Each guest room in this accommodation has a desk and a seating area along with other necessary amenities for a comfortable stay. Free WiFi and parking are provided to the guests.