{"id":1104,"date":"2020-10-08T06:54:00","date_gmt":"2020-10-08T02:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vserver3.auroville.com\/?p=1104"},"modified":"2022-05-06T13:08:41","modified_gmt":"2022-05-06T08:38:41","slug":"visiting-auroville-ideas-for-more-than-a-day-trip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventure.auroville.com\/index.php\/2020\/10\/08\/visiting-auroville-ideas-for-more-than-a-day-trip\/","title":{"rendered":"Visiting Auroville – Ideas for More Than a Day Trip"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The original version of this post was written by our guest contributor, Uttara Jadeja<\/em>. The post is updated regularly.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Auroville has many small-town charms, ones that can\u2019t be enjoyed in just a short day. Tourists often breeze through the city, only taking a quick look at the main sights. However, with many things to do and see, Auroville deserves more than just a passing glance. Here is a non-exhaustive list of things one can do in Auroville, including the most well-known landmarks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Want to stay the night in Auroville? We highly recommend that you stay in Auroville Guesthouses<\/a>, as it will give you access to community places and eateries that are off-limits to visitors who are registered outside. We do this to reduce footfall and make sure that these places can also still be enjoyed by Aurovilians \u2013 even in the peak season of November-March.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Want to have a full overview of everything there is to do in Auroville? Get a copy of the Auroville Handbook.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please note: Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, some activities are currently not available. These are marked as \u2018currently closed.\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start at the Visitor\u2019s Centre<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Visitor\u2019s Centre, true to its name, is your entry point into Auroville: there is a small exhibition and you can watch a short introductory video. The Centre has some small cafes with incredible coffee, baked goods, and artisan ice cream, plus two restaurants that strive to serve Indian and foreign palates. The two main boutiques only sell items made in Auroville, but there is more: Aval brings you beautiful handicrafts from women in the bioregion, while the Upcycling Studio gives you a taste of how we can turn waste into beauty. One can easily spend half a day just here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visit the Matrimandir<\/strong> \u2013 currently closed<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Visiting passes to the Matrimandir are available for free, and must be booked at least a day in advance. The structure is spiritually significant, and is a must-see when visiting Auroville. Try to book the (free) tour at the Visitor\u2019s Centre, where Aurovilians will guide you around and tell you all you need to know. Check out the official page of the Matrimandir<\/a>, as it gives the most up-to-date information on how and when to visit.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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See the Exhibits at Savitri Bhavan<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Savitri Bhavan is located in the International Zone of Auroville, between Bharat Nivas and Matrimandir. It has been created to be a focal point for Sri Aurobindo studies in Auroville, taking Savitri, his revelatory epic poem, as a starting point for exploring his other writings. The complex also contains a statue of Sri Aurobindo and has a large gallery with many interesting pieces and often changing exhibitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Savitri Bhavan<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Solitude Farm<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Interested to see one of Auroville\u2019s farms and get your hands dirty? Solitude Farm was started in 1996, and inbibes the philosophy of having a connection with where our food comes from. Being a permaculture farm, they put a special emphasis on growing local and indigenous food. You can eat at the Solitude Farm restaurant, which uses the produce of the farm to make localicious food that\u2019s healthy and delicious. They have a volunteer program where you can spend the mornings working at the farm and they hold a number of workshops about permaculture and farming. Check out their website to see how you can contribute to their vision of creating a healthy relationship between people, their food and the environment. A great place to just visit too and enjoy some great local food!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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