I arrived at Auroville on a scooter from Puducherry with no registration, wearing shorts, carrying only cash, and expecting to walk into the Matrimandir. I left that first day having accomplished exactly nothing.
Don't be me. Here's everything I learned the hard way.
This is non-negotiable. The Visitor Centre (open 9AM-5:30PM) is your gateway to everything. Watch the introductory video, get your pass, and register for the Matrimandir inner chamber if you want it. Without registration, you can see exactly one thing: the Matrimandir viewing point.
You cannot walk in. Step 1: Visit the Visitor Centre, watch the video. Step 2: Register for inner chamber meditation (next-day slots, free). Step 3: Return the next morning wearing white clothing. White only. They will turn you away in a blue shirt.
If you only have one day, skip the inner chamber and use the viewing point (free, open 10AM-12PM and 2PM-4PM, closed Tuesdays).
One day gives you the viewing point, the Visitor Centre shops, and maybe one farm or workshop. Two days gives you the Matrimandir inner chamber, Solitude Farm lunch, a pottery visit, and time to actually understand what Auroville is. Three days is better.
Don't book through random travel sites. Auroville's official guesthouses (1,000-3,500 INR/night) are run by community members and your money supports the township. Bring your passport and visa for registration.
Auroville covers 20 sq km with no public transport. A bicycle sounds romantic but in 32°C heat on bumpy red laterite roads, it's miserable. Scooters cost 300-500 INR/day from guesthouses or the Visitor Centre area. Your legs will thank you.
Not a metaphor. The roads inside Auroville are unpaved red laterite. They're dusty in dry season and muddy in monsoon. Wear closed shoes. Don't wear white pants (ironic, given the Matrimandir dress code).
Pre-book a taxi (2,500-3,500 INR, 2.5 hours) or take a bus to Puducherry (250-400 INR, 3 hours) and then an auto-rickshaw (200-300 INR, 20 minutes). Don't try to find Auroville without Google Maps — the entrances are not well-marked.
The community operates on a contribution-based system, but visitors pay normally at cafes, guesthouses, and shops. Cards are accepted at some places, cash at others. Carry 2,000-5,000 INR in cash.
Guesthouse: 1,000-3,500 INR. Meals at community cafes: 150-400 INR. Pottery class: 1,000-2,000 INR. Surfing lesson: 1,500-2,500 INR. It's not backpacker-cheap but it's far from luxury prices.
If you're on a tight budget, stay in Puducherry (500-1,500 INR/night) and day-trip to Auroville. You lose the evening atmosphere but save significantly on accommodation.
I can't say this clearly enough. Don't wander into residential areas. Don't photograph people without asking. Don't treat the Matrimandir like a selfie backdrop. Auroville's residents live and work here. Approach with the same respect you'd show visiting someone's home.
Particularly at the Matrimandir and community spaces. Shoulders and knees covered. White clothing for the inner chamber. Casual is fine everywhere else but beachwear outside the beach isn't.
Not banned, but strongly discouraged. You won't find a bar in Auroville. If you want a drink, ride to Puducherry (10 km). The community's vibe is intentionally sober and reflective.
Krishna McKenzie's weekly farm-to-table lunch (350-500 INR) is a 10-course meal made entirely from what grows on the property. It's not a restaurant — you sit on the ground, eat with your hands, and every dish is explained. Book through the Visitor Centre or ask at your guesthouse.
Even if you don't do a class, visit the gallery. Ray Meeker's work is extraordinary and the space is peaceful. Pottery classes: 1,000-2,000 INR for 2 hours.
Documentary screening and community vegan dinner, donation-based. It's the most social weekly event visitors can attend. The forest itself — 40,000+ trees planted on former wasteland — is a tangible example of what Auroville accomplishes.
Auroville's coast is quiet, undeveloped, and beautiful at dawn. Walk east from the town center (3 km) or ride your scooter. Small cafes nearby serve fresh fish and filter coffee. Surfing lessons at Kallialay: 1,500-2,500 INR.
Auroville asks something different from its visitors than most destinations. It asks you to slow down, pay attention, and engage with ideas that might make you uncomfortable. The reward is unlike anything else in India — or anywhere. But you have to show up properly to receive it.
