Auroville: A cultural Smart City

Harsh Goplani

I was really excited to explore this experimental city as I heard a lot about the wonderful Architecture of Auroville by Roger Anger.

It was 6 in the morning when I reached Pondicherry after a long journey of 6 hours, rented a scooter and reached to the cottage I booked near Auroville Beach. I was really excited to explore this experimental city as I heard a lot about the wonderful Architecture of Auroville by Roger Anger.

At first it may seem that apart from MatriMandir there is nothing much to see here but when you look around you will realize that there is lot going on in this cosy and idyllic place. The place is mostly filled with foreigners, you can approach to anyone of them for a little chitchat.

It was a three day solo trip for me and I decided to visit Matrimandir for a day and then go to Pondicherry but I found there is more to this beautiful town of Auroville and decided to explore this for three days. At first I went to Matrimandir for registration for the inner chamber but It was full for a week, I saw the Matrimandir from outside from the Viewing point and thought of roaming around for a while and ended up making really good friend. They explained deeply the concept of Auroville and suggested me where I should go and volunteer.

It might seem quite calm in there but there are many fun activities going on there

The next day I decided to volunteer in Sadhana Forest and reached there in morning around 8 AM. Sadhana Forest is a reforestation project which aims to transform 70 acres of arid land in the outskirts of Auroville. They charge 600 Rs a day and have structured volunteer program for Indians as well as foreigners. It might seem quite calm in there but there are many fun activities going on there apart from volunteering be it workshops, enjoying in the mud pool or chitchatting with people. I consider this place to be the world in itself as you will find people from major parts of the world who are helping in this project as Volunteers.

Another place to volunteer in Auroville is Buddha Garden, I have never visited it but heard a lot about the sustainable practices going there and is run by an English Lady who teaches 100% organic farming there and they also have the volunteer program. They also provide rustic accommodation there to volunteer for 200 Rs per day. Apart from these there are many such communities there and you can volunteer in any of them.

These places will give you a different experience altogether and will give you mental peace required in this world of rat race and yes you will end up making lots of friends from around the world. At night you can go to Auro Beach which is a calm place and you won’t find much crowd on this beach unlike other beaches in Pondicherry. There are also surfing classes at Auro Beach, you can also give it a try. Further if you will look around there are many workshops going on in Auroville, you can enjoy any of them, learn and make friends.

Apart from these places don’t miss out the organic tasty food which the restaurant have to offer at this place.

Most of the restaurant here will have natural ambience and will be located in isolated place near some farm or barren land. And all of them believe in a single moto that ‘ Your body is your temple, and you should keep it clean’. Farm Fresh, Dharma Swastik, Well café, frite Corner are some the places you must try. All these places close mostly after 6 PM in Auroville.

Further you must talk to the local resident of Auroville, and you will find lot of interesting things about the place. The budget system there is quite unique, everyone earns the same amount there, around 12000 Rs per month. All of the schools have free education and some schools don’t even have curriculum. They believe child should naturally learn looking around the nature and grasp what Mother Nature has to offer and should learn at his/her own pace.

People talk a lot about smart cities in this decade, I consider Auroville as the cultural smart city of India

People talk a lot about smart cities in this decade, I consider Auroville as the cultural smart city of India where you can learn and explore in your own natural way and this is the culture I believe to be promoted throughout the society.