One Day Trip to Auroville: Things to Do, See, Eat and more

I recently spent some weeks in Auroville, and it’s the type of place I felt like I just scratched the surface. It doesn’t have a long list of tourist attractions, but there is a lot to see. It’s the kind of place that takes time to really understand it. But I will probably visit with my family sometime soon and we’ll only have one day to explore, so I was wondering…

Taking a one day trip to Auroville? Here are the best things to do:

7 AM: Sunrise at Auroville Beach

8 AM: Breakfast at Marc’s Coffee or Bread & Chocolate.
9 AM: Head to the Visitor’s Centre to learn about Auroville’s history.
9:30 AM: View the Matrimandir.

10:30 AM: Walking tour of the International Zone.
1 PM: Lunch at Solar Kitchen.
2 PM: Shop in the Visitor’s Centre and on Auroville Road.

4 PM: Relax in the Botanical Gardens
6:30 PM: Wood-fired pizzas at Tanto for dinner.

If you were able to pack all this into a day, you would have viewed the beautiful sites at Auroville, had a better understanding of what the community is about, bought some of their unique crafts and eaten at the most delicious places.

However, there are other options based on your preferences, so below I’ve added in more details about these places with some alternates so you can plan a day trip to Auroville that best suits your interests 😎

7 AM – Sunrise at Auroville Beach

If you’re like me, then you get energized watching the sun come up, and there’s no better place to do it than over the Bay of Bengal.

Now, Auroville Beach is NOT as beautiful or as clean as a Goa beach, but you will get a sense for the local culture, and it’s worth taking a 30-minute stroll along the water to have some quiet time and breath in the sea air.

You’ll see fishing boats and maybe some other locals taking walks, fishermen heading out on their boats or kids playing cricket.

8 AM – Breakfast

There are plenty of places you can get a local South Indian breakfast of idli and chutneys with filter coffee for ~80 to 100 rupees. However, if you want a uniquely Aurovillian experience, haha try a couple of the fanciest breakfasts in the area.

Marc’s Coffee

When I first arrived in India, I was craving delicious espresso and cappuccinos. I had lived next to a hipster-style coffee shop in Austin, Texas so I was used to having great coffee.

It’s been tough to find places that have an espresso machine and even tougher to find places that can make really great coffee. ***I have grown to love South Indian style coffee though 😋

Marc’s is one of those places though. You can get cappuccinos with the fanciest latte art. They source their coffee around India, and it’s as delicious as anything you’d get in a hipster-style coffee shop or Starbucks. Better in some ways.

They also have good breakfast foods and for 1000 rupees for two people you can start your day right.

Recommended:

Bread & Chocolate

Anytime you can start your day with chocolate, seems like a good day. The breakfasts here are delicious from:

Cinnamon cacao butter toast to cacao granola, there are a number of options that incorporate chocolate… and even sound healthy.

They have other healthy options as well, like chia seed pudding and warm quinoa porridge if you want to be boring 😘

For drinks, they have hot chocolate and cacao spiced cold brew. I recommend the Barbajada which is hot chocolate spiked with a shot of coffee for those who are truly bent on living it up.

On the other hand, they have Green Juice with coconut water, lettues greens, apple, ginger and lemon if you’d like something fruity.

Auroville Bakery

If you’re wanting something quick and carb-y, come to the iconic Auroville Bakery. They get rave reviews on Zomato with 467 reviews and 4.3 out of 5 stars.

The food is fresh. There are vegan options. You can get South Indian food like dosas, idli, vada and more. You can get cookies, pastries, tarts, and crackers. Some options are gluten-free. The cashew butter is highly recommended.

You can also get a typical Western breakfast with eggs and toast. Good espresso and cold coffee as well.

They open at 7 am, close at 5:30 pm. They are closed on Sundays too.

9 AM – Auroville Visitor’s Centre

Once you’re fully energized with a good breakfast, head to the Visitor’s Centre when it opens.

By getting here early you can avoid the crowds and also the heat. Plus, since we only have a day, you’ll want to take a Guided Walking Tour at 10:30 AM, so we’ll quickly go through the Visitor’s Centre this time.

Don’t worry, we’ll come back after the Matrimandir and the Tour, so you can more fully explore.

Important: Watch the video about the founding of Auroville and the making of the Matrimandir. You’ll get a much better sense of what it took to make the town and the structure happen. I know that for me it was easy to take the place for granted, and when I found out the backstory, I was in awe.

9:30 AM – Viewing the Matrimandir

You can get a free pass to view the Matrimandir in the Visitor’s Centre (look for the big signs and the guy or girl at the desk).

Then walk 10 to 12 minutes along a forested path. There will be inspirational plaques with flowers and aspirational words like XXXXXXXXX.

I found it a nice chill walk to reflect. When arriving at the viewing point, there are some seats in a stadium-like arrangement and an informational plaque where you can learn more.

There’s not a ton to do here, so 30 minutes of chill time should leave you plenty of time to stroll back to the Visitor’s Centre to make the Guided Walking Tour.

If you are running late, then you can catch a bus and it runs often.

10:30 AM – Guided Walking Tour

On Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays, you can take a guided walking tour of the International Zone. This is a great way to speak to a local resident who can fill you in on the backstory of Auroville and the main structures.

I personally like having a tour guide because I can pepper them with questions, haha.

They run tours at 10:30 AM and 2 PM, so if you can do a later run if that works better for your schedule.

The tour is 2 and a half hours long, so by the end, you will be knowledgeable about Auroville and also ready for lunch…

1 PM – Lunch at Solar Kitchen

The Solar Kitchen is one of the most bustling lunch spots in Auroville. It’s said that it serves up to 1000 meals a day, both in the community and also delivering to the schools and villages. It could cook up to 2000 meals on a sunny day!

The Solar Kitchen uses a Solar Bowl oven. It’s a 15 meter in diameter bowl covered with 11,000 bathroom meters that concentrates the solar power into steam energy. It’s one of the biggest of its kind in the world. AND that is what cooks your meals 😋

The restaurant can seat 350 and it gets busy at lunch time. The food is simple vegetarian food like dosas, chapatis, masala and chutneys.

LOCAL TIP: Book your meal in advance and you can eat before 1 PM. If you do NOT book, then you are running the risk that all the food will be eaten up.
Booking Number: 0413 2622197

You need to pay with an Aurocard. It’s basically like a gift card that you fill up with money and use to pay at Auroville’s establishments, since technically they don’t take money. However, unofficially many do accept cash payments. The Solar Kitchen is one of the places that does not accept cash payments.

You can get an Aurocard at Financial Services in the Town Hall or Aspiration. If you’re staying at a local guesthouse, you may be able to buy one before you start your day.

La Terrace

If you want other options, above the Solar Kitchen is a shaded rooftop place called La Terrace. The dishes are also cooked in the Solar Bowl and you can get great organic salads and sandwiches.

If you’re in Auroville on evenings or weekends, you may be able to hear some live music here. It’s also a community gathering place.

Dreamer’s Cafe

Another option in the Visitor’s Centre complex is the Dreamer’s Cafe. If you want just a quick bite and a coffee, this is a good place.

They have croissants, sandwiches and other things that are already prepared.

You’ll spend about 600 rupees for two people.

2pm – Visitor’s Centre – Shopping

The residents and volunteers in Auroville create some beautiful products. The revenue from these goes directly into supporting the community as well. However, the prices are NOT cheap, you will pay more in the Visitor’s Centre than in many other local shops, some of the products are too good to pass up.

There are a number of boutiques with organic cotton clothes that look and feel high-quality.

La Boutique d’ Auroville

Kalki Boutique
Mira Boutique

You can find a bookstore with a two-room selection of books. Many are about Auroville, but there is also a selection of spiritual books and book about Pondicherry and the area.

There is a handmade soap shop, they make musical instruments. They have a cool way of making paper, so you can find nice stationary if you want to write home. They also make color lamp shades and other things with the product, similar to paper mache.

There are loads of other handicrafts, it feels like a souvenir shop you might go to in the USA… except the products seem higher quality and handmade instead of cheap trinkets.

Auroville Botanical Gardens

The most impressive thing about Auroville to me was the way they turned the land into a jungle. If you look at the old photos and videos of the place, 50 years ago it was a desert.

In one video I saw a volunteer said they could see to the ocean by climbing up the in-progress structure of the Matrimandir. Or when a bus drove by they would have to take cover because the dust was intense.

Now as you walk to the Matrimandir or walk around the International Zone, you’ll be shaded by thick tall trees. I drove my scooter further into Auroville to explore and you can be completely alone in a nice forest. It’s one of the few places I’ve been in India like this.

Their work has made a significant measureable impact on the environment already, it is a few degrees cooler in Auroville than in surrounding villages.

On to the Auroville Botanical Gardens… Here you can find 310 species of trees. There over 5,000 trees and every year they collect the seedlings to help promote forest growth in other areas of Auroville.

There are a number of educational resources here and you may see some visiting school kids learning about nature.

Take a Smoothie Break – Dharma Swasti Restaurant

This vegan vegetarian place on Auroville Road has 53 reviews on TripAdvisor at 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Come for a drink before heading out shopping. They have a wide range of delicious smoothies… one of them is even “orgasmic” 😊

Emune Booster (haha, that’s the actual spelling on the menu) -Hemp Seed Milk or Almond Milk, Raw Cacao, Banana, Dates, Maca: 110/160 RS
Orgasmic* – Figs, Banana, Lemon, Dates, Chia Seeds: 110/160 RS

Alchemy – Almond Milk, Coconut Milk, Dates, Apricot or Figs, Shilajeet: 120/170 RS
Harmony – Coconut Milk, Chikoo, Cashew Nut, Dates: 110/160 RS
Avocado Savory – Avocado, Dates, Coconut Cream: 110/170 RS

Healthy Savory – Papaya, Banana, Almond Milk, Turmeric, Dates & Lemon: 110/170 RS

They also have some great salads, which can be difficult to find in much of India.

Fresh Garden – Mixed green veggie, Sprout: 210 RS

Avocado Cheese – Avocado, Vegan Cheese, Green veggie: 270 RS
Delightful Bowl – Mushroom Tofu, Cabbage, Dressing with Turmeric Oregano, Olive Oil, Black Peppers: 260 RS
Ironic Planet – Mushroom, Cucumber, Lettuce, Green Veggie, Spring Onion: 280 RS

Raw Quiche – Spinach, Pesto, Vegan Cheese, Sun dried tomatoes: 250 RS
***Guacamole – Avocado with spiriluna, herbs, pita and salad: 280 RS

I used to live in Texas, so seeing guacamole on the menu has me 🤪

They also have main courses, but don’t spoil your appetite, since we’re going out hard for dinner!

Spinach, Pumpkin, Massman Curry: 250 RS
Cannelloni – Homemade pasta filled with spinach, sweet corn, topped with Pesto Vegan Cheese Tomato Sauce

Emadachi – Vegan Cheese, Bell Pepper, Soy Sauce, Potato, Cayenne, Garlic Onion, Rice and Salad: 250 RS
Sushi Maki – Red rice, Avocado or Tahini, Green Veggie, Served with Kimchee Salad: 280 RS
Hummus with Pita – Served with Salad: 250 RS

Thai Green Curry – Mixed Vegetables Tofu or Mushroom, served with organic brown rice: 260 RS
Mushroom or Spinach Momos: 250/210 RS
Indian Curry – Steamed-mixed veggies, Paste of Tomato Cashew Nut and Indian Masala: 250 RS

Vegan Biriyani – Basmati Rice with mixed veggies and Indian Masala: 230 RS
Thai Fried Rice – Basmati Rice, Mixed veggies, Thai Herbs: 210 RS
Pad Thai Noodles – Rice noodle, Mixed veggies, Thai herbs: 250 RS

Auroville Road Shopping

Auroville Road is the main road heading along the south side of Auroville. Here you will find Marc’s Coffee and Bread & Chocolate, which I mentioned above, and you will also find a bunch of shops and stalls selling more goods.

You can find similar products as in the Visitor’s Centre. Some will NOT be up to the high-quality you would find at the VC, but you can also hunt around for some deals. Here are some of the shops:

Le Baron Dress Shop

Khwaja Handicrafts
Indian Art Gallery
Golden Buddha Clothing Store

The Paradise Art Palace
Baba Arts House of Handicrafts
Amazing Arts

Wani Creation Clothing Store
Mother Art Gallery Clothing Store
Farid Musical Shoppe

Amazing Collection Clothing Store
Chola Creations Clothing Store
Shree Ganesha Crafts

Muthu Kumar’s Wood Works

I checked out the musical instrument shop and the quality in the Visitor’s Centre was FAR BETTER for similar prices. I was looking at bamboo flutes and the flutes here were mostly the cheap ones you’d pay 1500 rupees for and they’re only worth less than 500. You can find good Native American Flutes in the Visitor’s Centre.

They did have a really cool looking sitar! But the strings were broken and it didn’t look like someone was taking care of it.

That was only my experience, I bet you could find some great stuff in here at better prices if you go into a few shops.

6 PM – Dinner

After shopping, stay out on Auroville Road for dinner. Here’s where I would go…

Tanto Pizza

On Zomato, Tanto has 938 votes and is given 4 out of 5 stars (for comparison, the Dreamer’s Cafe in the Visitor’s Centre has 67 votes).

It’s known for wood-fired pizzas. They are cooked out in the open with cheeses and veggies roasting into a delicious blend of tastiness.

This place gets 👍👍

If you want some seafood they also have some delicious options (we are just a few miles from the ocean):

Glazed Mahi Mahi marinated and sauteed in a sauce of soy, ginger and honey: 450 RS
Grilled Fish grilled in olive oil and garlic with a sprinkling of parsley and lemon: 450 RS
Calamari with Lemon Sauce: 350 RS

Fritto Misto flour coated deep fried calamari, prawns and fish served with homemade special sauce: 470 RS
Seafood Platter for two-an assortment of grilled or oven fish, sauteed seafood catch of the day with a small entree of the day: 900/1200 RS

You’ll pay about 1000 RS for two people.

I do NOT recommend skipping the pizza, haha, but if you want other options here are some…

Motorcycle Diaries

Unfortunately there are no communist revolutionaries serving, but their burgers or chicken and pretty good. They also have espresso and decent coffee.

Honey Glazed Chicken – Chicken breast glazed in honey and mole sauce, Pepper Rice: 300 RS

Roasted Chicken Breast with Mustroom Gravy – Comes with Mashed Potatoes and a wheat Chtappathi: 300 RS
Pesto Pasta – Signature housemade pesto sauce with basil, walnuts, olive oil and garlic: 280 RS
Classic White Sauce Pasta – Creamy alfredo sauce and vegetables: 270 RS

***Recommended*** Makhini Pasta – The Chef’s Signature Dish with Indian-Continental Fusion: 280 RS
Veg Burger – Veggie pattie with tomato, cheese and mayonnaise: 150 RS
Classic Chicken Burger – Homemade chicken patty with veggies, cheese and mayonnaise: 200 RS

You’ll pay about 500 rupees for two people.

Mother’s Grace Restaurant

Come for the delicious Indian food. I’ve mentioned some other options so far, since you can’t always get Western-style food in India… but South and North Indian food is delicious as well.

Organic Green Vegetable Salad: 200 RS

Egg Dosas: 90 RS
Onion Dosas: 80 RS
Plain Dosa: 50 RS

Podi Dosa: 90 RS
Aloo Paranthas: 70 RS
Ajwain Paranthas: 60 RS

Methi Paranthas: 60 RS
MG Special Organic Spinach Paranthas: 120 RS
Aloo Jeera: 100 RS

Palak Paneer: 210 RS
Palak Tofu: 210 RS
MG Special Shahi Paneer: 250 RS

Tofu Masala: 200 RS
Dal Tadka: 120 RS
Dal Makhani: 170 RS

MG Special Moringa Dal: 180 RS
Healthy Food Plate (Organic green vegetable salad, veggies of the day, whole wheat roti, rice, chutney and pickles): 200 RS

They have also some delicious sounding deserts, some French-inspired like crepes:

Banana Chocolate Crepes: 130 RS
Blueberry Crepes: 130 RS
Blackcurrant Crepes: 130 RS
Chocolate Crepes: 130 RS
Fig and Honey Crepes: 130 RS
Blueberry Kulfis (Homemade Indian Ice Cream with Organic Cashews and Almonds): 130 RS
Chocolate Kulfis: 130 RS
Litchi Kulfis: 130 RS
Kesar Malai Badam Kishmish Kulfis: 200 RS
Malai Pista Badam Kishmish Kulfis: 160 RS
Mango Kulfis: 130 RS
Strawberry Kulfis: 130 RS

Sakura Sushi

I had a massive sushi craving and this place satisfied it. I give it a two thumbs up recommendation. They have veg and non-veg options. Good miso soup too!

They have Maki Sushi (6-piece roll with seaweed on the outside), Nigiri Sushi (1 piece with fish or vegetable on top of rice), Sushi in a bowl, as well as soups and salads.

Here are the Maki Sushi Rolls:

Cucumber, Spring Onion: 100 RS
Cucumber, Avocado, Spring Onion: 130 RS
Fried Pumpkin, Spring Onion: 150 RS
Fermented Beetroot, Avocado or Ricotta: 150 RS
Marinated Tofu, Avocado and Spring Onion Maki Sushi Roll: 150 RS
Grilled, marinated Capisicum/Zucchini/Brinjal: 150 RS
Omelette (Tamago), Spring Onion: 150 RS
Kimchi, Avocado or Ricotta: 150 RS
Tempeh – Fried in Teriyaki Sauce, Avocado: 190 RS
Dried Tomatoes, Pesto, Spring Onion: 190 RS
Tuna (cooked) Mayonnaise: 210 RS
Fish Filet – Fried in Teriyaki Sauce, Spring Onion: 230 RS
Fish Smoked, Cucumber: 230 RS
Fried Shrimp, Mayonnaise: 250 RS
Fried Chicken, Marinated veggies: 250 RS

Nigiri Sushi:

Zucchini/Capiscum/Brinjal grilled and marinated: 60 RS
Omelette (Tamago): 60 RS
Tempeh – Fried in Teriyaki Sauce: 80 RS
Dried Tomatoes, Pesto: 80 RS
Smoked Fish: 90 RS

Sushi in a Bowl:

Rice, Vegetables, Tofu, Avocado, Olive Oil: 350 RS
Rice, Vegetables, Omelette, Avocado, Olive Oil: 350 RS
Rice, Vegetables, Tuna, Avocado, Olive Oil: 400 RS
Rice, Vegetables, Shrimp, Avocado, Olive Oil: 430 RS

Places To Stay

Well, if you ate too much and are wanting to sleep somewhere in or near Auroville here are some places that are highly recommended:

Green’s Guesthouse. Near the Visitor’s Parking Lot.

You can easily book them on Booking.com. It’s going to cost you between $10 and $15 USD (700 – 1000 RS).

It’s a simple quiet place, with a decent restaurant next door. The WiFi is good, the hosts are friendly and helpful, and the garden is beautiful and lush.

It’s popular so if you sit downstairs you’ll meet some other travelers (probably some mosquitos too though, so splurge on some bug spray).

Olive De Villa. On Auroville Road.

It’s a step above Green’s Guesthouse with a pool and larger garden. It’s going to cost you $30 – $40 USD (2200 – 3000 RS).

They have good Wifi, free breakfast, and a decent Indian restaurant.

Want to Stay in Auroville’s Guesthouses?

If you’re trying at the last-minute you probably won’t find space, however you can try… here’s how to stay in Auroville’s Guesthouses.

Guest Accommodation Services at the Visitor’s Centre:

When you’re here earlier in the day, ask for help and they’ll direct you. There are a wide range of guesthouses and places to stay… from a campsite to a homestay to a hostel to a simple cabana to a full guesthouse all to yourself.

You can also check out Auroville’s website for a list of the guesthouses. Unfortunately, the website is NOT as helpful as Booking.com or Oyo, but you can filter by

Zone or the Location of the Home:

Center: Within 1 mile to the Matrimandir
Residential: You can stay near the local Auroville residents.
Beach: You’ll be within 5 miles along the coast. You’re not technically in Auroville but you may have ocean views.
Forest: You’ll be with a few miles of Auroville in the outskirts of the town.

Type of Accommodation:

Basic: As simple as you’re going to get. Probably a cabana with a bed and a mosquito net. Shared bathroom or maybe shared room. No A/C. No WiFi. Maybe no mobile signal.
Standard: A bit more privacy. Could have a private room or bathroom. No A/C. No WiFi. Maybe no mobile signal.
Comfort: Private bathroom and room. Maybe A/C and WiFi. Probably a mobile signal. For example, Green’s Guesthouse would be in this category. A simple good private room.
Apartment: You could have a whole apartment with kitchen to a full guesthouse.

Is There an Auroville Ashram in Pondicherry?

The Sri Aurobindo Ashram is worth visiting in Pondicherry is less than 10 miles from Auroville (12 kms).

It’s where Auroville began many years ago.

As the community of Sri Aurobindo’s grew around The Mother, she decided to expand from just the Ashram to creating the town of Auroville.

It’s on a beautiful shaded street in the White Town, Pondicherry and is worth a visit. You can learn more about Sri Aurobindo and see The Mother and his samadi (tomb).