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| Aurovillians are helping revitalize an indigenous tropical dry evergreen forest in the region. |
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Wim Aspeslagh
(Auroville Liaison, not a general AV contact)
Adventure
Auroville 605 101
Tamil Nadu, INDIA
Wim@Auroville.org
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| Today, you can sip a mochachino while checking email
at the Solar Café. More photos » |
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"For many years now, Auroville has hosted students from Living Routes. This cooperation has been a mutually uplifting experience for both the
Living Routes students and the Auroville community. By assisting students to develop their skills and wisdom, Living Routes has offered a great
opportunity for Aurovilians to share their experience and knowledge with young souls that resonate with a similar vision for a sustainable future."
– Wim Aspeslagh, Auroville Liaison
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All-night birthday celebrations take place
near the Matrimandir every February 28th. More photos » |
Based on the philosophy of Sri
Aurobindo and Mirra
Alfalssa (a.k.a. "The Mother") , Auroville is a grand experiment
in building human unity with the vision of becoming a universal
township for 50,000 people. On February 28th, 1968 over 5,000 people
from 124 nations assembled for the inauguration of Auroville. After
the festivities ended, a handful of people remained to begin the
task of transforming a devastated landscape into a vibrant ecosystem
and a thriving international community. It worked. Today, Auroville
extends over 2 square miles and is home to 1,900 members from 40
nations.
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Youth from 124 countries placed soil
from their home countries in the inaugural urn on February
28, 1968. More photos »
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Through overgrazing of cattle and the monsoon rains, Auroville began on land that, as one early visitor described it, "was quickly dying back into a moon."
In the first 10 years, over a million trees were planted. The forest slowly grew back, which in turn attracted birds that brought with them seeds from trees they
hadn't planted. A positive feedback loop was created and today, Auroville is green and lush. But that is only the beginning of the story. From its 15 organic
farms to its 150+ houses fully powered by photovoltaic panels; from its cost-effective building techniques using ferrocement and unfired earth to its ecological
wastewater treatment facilities (a.k.a. "Living Machines"), Auroville has become internationally recognized as a leader in sustainable technologies and is well on
its way to becoming "a city the Earth needs."
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Even over the course of a semester, students will only scratch the surface of what Auroville has to offer. Some opportunities that are available include:
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Cultural activities such as live music and theater, art galleries, and independent video |
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Classes on everything from Balkan Dancing and Aerobics to Reiki and Aikido |
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Sports including tennis, basketball, volleyball, and soccer |
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A wide variety of restaurants serving Indian and western cuisine |
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Community celebrations such as Auroville's anniversary on February 28th |
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Seeking silence in the Matrimandir, a stunning meditation sanctuary in the center of Auroville |
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Nearby Pondicherry with the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, bookstores, and great restaurants |
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Repos Beach where Aurovillians often go to swim and relax |
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Historical sites and 4-billion-year-old exposed rock formations in beautiful Hampi |
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Early morning boat ride looking for elephants in the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary |
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Tamil culture and festivals such as Holi in March and Deepvali in November |
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Darshan at Mata Amritanandamayi Devi's Ashram on an island in the backwaters of Kerala |
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Auroville was originally conceived to become a city for 50,000 people. More photos »
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While in Auroville students stay in one of the communities within Auroville (e.g. Verité, College Guest House). The rooms, typically built with
compressed stabilized Earth bricks and thatch roofs, are simple, yet comfortable.
Students generally prepare their own breakfasts, eat lunches at the Solar Kitchen and have dinner in their host community or at one of the restaurants in
Auroville. A couple days a week, they eat at the various restaurants in Auroville. Typical foods are rice and ragi with different locally grown vegetables such
as carrots, tomatoes, cabbage and beans. Students in general love the traditional plates of idli and dosa (a rice and lentil paste) with a lentil curry called dal.
The food is mostly vegetarian with many vegan options. Food grown in Auroville is 100% organic and provides for about 20% of the total food needs of the community.
Auroville is situated on a low-lying plateau in sub-tropical India. Daytime temperatures range from a low of 74-85¡F (December to March) to a high of about 105¡F
(June). While occasional rains bring temperatures down staring in July, the main monsoon rains
come from October through December when daytime temperatures average 77-83¡F.
Students are required to take health precautions standard for travel to this region. These are outlined in the Student Handbook, which is available upon acceptance.
Once in India, there are several health centers in Auroville with both allopathic and homeopathic
services as well as two well-equipped hospitals within 30 minutes.
Auroville Community - http://www.auroville.org
Auroville as Ecovillage - http://www.auroville.org/health.htm
Auroville Health Facilities - http://www.erraid.com
Fireflies Ashram - http://www.fire-flies.net
Sri Aurobindo Ashram - http://sriaurobindoashram.org
Integral Yoga - http://www.miraura.org
Pondicherry Tourism - http://www.tourisminpondicherry.com
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary - http://www.wildlifeinindia.com/periyar.html
Amritapuri Ashram - http://www.amritapuri.org/Mother-page.htm
CDC Health Information - http://www.cdc.gov/travel/indianrg.htm
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