Campus

With 3000+ residents from 56 nationalities, plus thousands of students, visitors, researchers, volunteers, and interns coming every year from different parts of India and the world, Auroville is a unique fusion of world cultures set in the backdrop of an ancient Tamil culture from our local context. Living together beyond caste, creed, color, with a common aspiration for unending progress by going beyond differences is what keeps the long term seeker in Auroville. This embodied diversity provides an ideal learning environment for aspiring global citizens to gain a global perspective grounded in the embodiment of higher ideals.

Auroville has 200+ units that have been started by inspired and motivated individuals, some as a response to fulfill the community's needs, while some as a creative expression of their deepest calling. Ranging from over 2 dozen farms, 1200+ acres of regenerated forest land, new forms of governance, design, tech, energy, art, theatre, integral yoga, consulting, counseling, communication, languages, education, film making, coffee, architecture & planning, mobility, bodywork, yoga, healing, ATB, and many more, the labs are a reflection of the diverse interests and cultures of the individuals behind running them. These labs enable the ground for learning with practitioners from their wealth of experience, which they joyfully like to share with aspiring learners. A creative combination of learning activities can help the learner get closer to their true potential. We've in place an integral framework (goes to pedagogy page) to help the learner understand and curate their unique mix.

Developed by the 1st-gen pioneers from a barren desert to a lush green forest city over the span of 50 years through a trial and error approach speaks something very symbolic of the Auroville spirit. That it never shies away from taking up the impossible. While we do so, nature is always there protecting us, gently guiding us, taking care of our land, ecology, health, and play. It is a blessing to live and learn in the midst of nature.

With youth from all over the world, and special emphasis on life long education from the founders of Auroville, many are young and many others haven't aged. Everybody learns from everybody. There is youthfulness in culture, a youth in the spirit of Auroville. "Auroville will be the place of an unending education, of constant progress, and a youth that never ages." - from the Auroville charter.

Auroville provides several boarding options in the form of guesthouses, hostels, and house-sitting opportunities on some occasions. Beauty, hygiene, and simple living are shared values across most of these properties. Auroville is known for its beautiful, functional, and sustainable architecture. When it comes to food, you can find a true reflection of the world culture in the variety of cuisines, eateries, and a large community kitchen that runs on solar. There is also a great amount of focus on local food in Auroville. Whereas all food options are available, there is in general a shared sense of compassion towards all fellow beings.

The arts thrive in the creative culture of exploration, freedom, and diversity of Auroville. It acts as a means of cultural education, collaboration, and preservation of the rich cultures from around the world, some of which are fading away. Auroville has many creative and artistic spaces to inspire that attract artists from around the world. The philosophy of art here is that of a living harmony and beauty that must be expressed in all the movements of existence. It expresses the beautiful, but in close intimacy with the universal movement.

Biking is a popular way to get around the campus, motorized/electric options are also available, in recent years there has been a big shift towards greener mobility options. Auroville is designed as a walking-friendly city, it's a joy to walk through the forest paths listening to the bird songs. Regular shuttles, bus service, and shared cars are also a part of the transit system.

In Auroville, sustainability is a key value. We aspire to create a reasonable standard of living without harming the environment. Sustainable practices were already being followed in Auroville even before the term sustainability got popular, this reflects in our architecture, regeneration of our land and forest, a drive towards self-sufficiency with locally grown organic food, waste segregation & handling, green mobility, energy options, sustainability education, plastic-free shopping options, reuse culture, and shared love and compassion for all life forms.

Each space in Auroville has a personality of its own. The dream of building a new city for the future on a clean slate, with the purpose of promoting research and experimentation alongside integral development, has been attracting architects and students of architecture from all over the world ever since Auroville´s inception in 1968. Not having pre-defined by-laws or being bound by the conventions of human society has allowed a multitude of expressions to manifest in the course of Auroville´s development, as natural extensions of the quest for the new.

Health is a part of the integral living philosophy of Auroville. The health of the body, mind, and heart. It's integral because it encompasses several aspects from the food we eat, the air we breathe, and the social structures we live in, Auroville has always valued these things deeply, and it reflects in many of the older generation Aurovilians whose health and energy sets a high benchmark for the younger generations. Preventive, alternative, and mainstream healthcare, as well as various wellness therapies, are abundantly available in Auroville.

The founders of Auroville put a lot of emphasis on physical education and so sports are a very important component for the kids who grow up in Auroville and hence a significant part of the culture here. Physical education has three principal aspects: (1) control and discipline of the functioning of the body, (2) an integral, methodical & harmonious development of all the parts and movements of the body, and (3) correction of any defects and deformities. Well equipped sports facilities are available, some of the popular sports include frisbee, swimming, running, dance, several martial art formats, yoga, taichi, etc.

In relative terms, Auroville is a safe place. Auroville Safety and Security Team (AVSST) aims to ensure the safety and security of Aurovilians, guests, and visitors. It can be contacted 24/7 in case of an emergency.

Auroville as a space carries in itself a charm to direct the gaze of the seeker inwards. "Auroville wants to be a universal town where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and progressive harmony, above all creeds, all politics and all nationalities. The purpose of Auroville is to realize human unity." with a founding philosophy like that, a supportive community, freedom of self-expression, set in the backdrop of a lush green forest, Auroville provides a conducive environment to seek and discover oneself. To seek and bridge the inmost truth with outer expression is our constant pursuit both at the individual and collective levels.