Are you considering taking a solo trip to Auroville? Maybe you’re wanting information about things to do, things to see, how to stay safe, what will it cost, and other vital questions… so you can have a great trip?
I took a solo trip to Auroville recently, and here are some popular things to do:
- Viewing the Matrimandir
- Learning about Auroville in the Visitor’s Centre (it’s like a museum).
- Shopping for spiritual books and musical instruments.
- Staying in a guesthouse for ~$10 a night.
- Eating North & South Indian food and other cuisines.
- Drinking organic locally-sourced cappuccino.
- There are miles of dirt roads in Auroville to explore and forests to enjoy.
When I’m taking a solo trip, I do more preparation because it might be super boring to be by myself, haha. Or I might feel anxious about meeting new people or not sure how to find local events.
Finally, I know that safety is a concern when traveling alone, especially in a rural Indian town, so below I’ll cover what I did to have a fun and safe trip, and how you can too…
Things To Do in Auroville for the Solo Traveler
There’s plenty to do in Auroville by yourself. It’s a place that people often come for a spiritual retreat or for personal growth, so you’ll see other solo travelers or meet locals who moved here all by themselves.
If you are worried about looking out of place, don’t worry about it 😎
Viewing the Matrimandir
Viewing the Matrimandir is a a great solo activity.
You can get a free pass at the Visitor’s Centre. Then take a 10 to 12-minute walk on a peaceful trail through the forest. Along the way, there are 12 plaques with aspirational qualities and flowers to symbolize them. Each of the qualities corresponds to the 12 “petals” surrounding the golden sphere.
You’ll also come upon a huge banyan tree with some benches. It’s the perfect time to reflect and chill.
It took the Aurovillians 37 years to build the beautiful golden dome. It’s 29 meters tall (almost 100 feet) and there are 1415 steel discs covered in a thin sheet of gold.
They bought an optimetrically perfect globe for 230,000 German marks, which would cost about $500,000 USD. The globe is the centerpiece in the center meditation chamber. The inner room is built to hold about 100 people.
As I did my walk towards Matrimandir, I reflected on what I’m working on in my life that might take some time… not 37 years, haha, but a bit of time (my 6-pack abs 😉
When you get to the viewing area, there is plenty of room to find some alone time. There is a seating area that looks like it could hold a hundred people or so, there’s an area with a wooden statue telling you to “shhh!” and of course there are a few informational plaques with more details on why they built that Epcot Center-looking beautiful gold dome.
Want to Go Inside the Dome?
They don’t allow just anyone to stroll up to the dome, you need to schedule a visit in the Visitor’s Centre.
LOCAL TIP: You can go inside the dome without waiting if you are the guest of an Aurovillian. Ugh, we might have to make friends 😉
Going inside the dome is free, and you can inquire at the Information Desk at the Visitors Centre from 9 am – 1 pm, 1:30 pm – 5 pm.
The Visitors Centre
The Visitors Centre is also a cool place to spend some time alone… if you like to geek out at museums and read all the informational plaques, you’ll have plenty of an opportunity here.
You’ll find the Auroville Charter, inspiration from the Bhagavad Gita, colorful paintings and videos that show you how Auroville and the Matrimandir were built.
Things you can find in the Visitors Centre:
- Guest Accommodation Services: The Auroville website has guesthouse listings but it looks like it was built in the 90s. There is no cost information, it’s basically just a brochure so you can call each place. At this desk, you can find helpful people who can direct you to find a guesthouse that might best suit your style.
- Boutiques and Shopping: There is a lot of clothing with words like “organic cotton” and it looks nice. I was interested in the books and their musical instruments were a lot of fun. The handmade paper they make and form into handicrafts, similar to paper mache, is super beautiful.
- Restaurants and cafes: Auroville is a great spot to eat some delicious healthy food that’s different than your typical Indian food. There are a few restaurants for you to try: The Right Path Cafe, Dreamer’s Cafe, Dosa Corner Kiosk.
- Informational Booths: You can tell some booths are sponsored by certain products, for example, there’s a water filtration system and there are some sustainable farming practices booths.
It’s worth spending an hour here. If you’re the super nerdy type like this guy 🤓 you could spend a few hours and familiarize yourself with the full backstory of Auroville.
Where Should You Stay?
If you want the true Auroville experience, stay in a guesthouse inside the township. Check the website to set one up or see the Guest Accommodation Services in the Visitors Centre.
I recommend setting up something before you arrive though, especially if you want to guarantee you have a bed.
There is a lot of demand during the high season (December through February), so you may not be able to get a room if you wait until the last minute.
The benefit of staying in a guesthouse within Auroville’s township is that you’ll naturally find people who are wanting to invest more time in the community and learn about Auroville. Your host at the guesthouse can direct you and connect you with other travelers if that is your wish.
To find the right guesthouse for yourself in Auroville on their website, there are a few filters. The first filters is the zone you want to be in:
- Center: Do you want to be ~1 mile from the center of Auroville? I recommend this option if you want to meet other tourists or spend time walking near the dome.
- Residential: Do you want to stay closer to where the Aurovillians live? I recommend this option if you want to feel more like a local and meet other locals.
- Beach: Would you prefer to be closer to the ocean? I’d do this is if you want more alone time. I looked for a place to look out at the water and write. You will be 5-10 minutes away from Auroville’s center if you choose this option. It doesn’t “feel” as much like Auroville though.
- Forest: Would you prefer to stay further away from the center of Auroville in nature? The Green Zone is still mostly undeveloped, and you could find a nice quiet place in the forest.
The second filter when choosing a guesthouse is the Category based on how comfortable you want to be. They break up the guesthouse categories like this:
- A – Basic: You’ll basically be in a small room or hut or camping spot. You will share a bathroom. There won’t be A/C or WiFi. It’s the most rustic option, and you can imagine you might meet other backpackers, students and hippie types wanting a camping-like experience. Price: $5 – $10.
- B – Standard: This is a private room in a hostel. You will share a bathroom. You probably won’t have A/C or strong WiFi. Price: $7 – $12.
- C – Comfort: This is like a typical hotel room. You would have your own bathroom. You may have WiFi and A/C. Price: $10 – $25
- D – Apartment: Welcome to luxury! You would have a nice private room like the Annex. They have a terrace and garden and seem like a beautiful way to pass some time near Auroville. You could also rent your own private home or apartment. Price: +$25
Some things to keep in mind… Some places will NOT want you to stay if you’re only staying for 1 night. You can filter based on how long you are staying.
I had mentioned some places will NOT have WiFi. But other places might not have a mobile phone signal, or they may actively block the signal to disconnect. This leads us to the natural topic on any normal solo traveler’s mind…
How Can a Solo Traveler Stay Safe?
Like anywhere you are traveling, you’ll want to approach things safely. Auroville has a peaceful vibe, however, like any place in the world there have been robberies, rapes, and there was even a murder in the past.
Tips for staying safe in Auroville:
- Dress modestly. Cover your knees and shoulders.
- Dress like a local. If you blend in with the culture you will stand out less than if you’re wearing your favorite Justin Bieber t-shirt and hot pink sunglasses 😎
- Avoid displaying your wealth. I would be conscious when wearing a camera, carrying a laptop, and having a glittering watch or necklace. When paying do NOT pull out a huge wad of cash.
- Be careful about going out at night alone. Of course, right? I feel like my mom now 👵
- Watch out for critters too. Snakes and scorpions are in the hot soil, so wear good shoes.
- It’s possible to get lost. The dirt roads weave in and out, so take precautions that you don’t lose your way, especially at night.
If it’s a holiday, festival or celebration with many tourists, then be more careful at night. I’d keep an eye out for scooters with a few high school dudes on the back who seem a bit rowdy. Damn kids, always ruining the fun 👴🏻
Places to Meet Other Travelers?
If you’re wanting to meet other travelers, try taking a guided tour.
There are Guided Walking Tours through the International Zone. Taking a tour is a great way to feel like you’re a part of a group and easily meet people. You can also learn more about Auroville and get some exercise.
Days: Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays.
Time: 10:30 am & 2 pm
Location: Visitors Centre Information Office.
Cost: 300 rupees per person
Starts at: In front of Dreamer’s Cafe in the Visitors Centre.
Restaurants and Cafes
Some restaurants and cafes are the type of place, you could spend a few hours reading or working online. I had the best experiences at these places:
Marc’s Cafe. Auroville Rd. The coffee is amazing, the best I’ve tasted in India. The price is about the same as what I’d pay in the US, but it’s worth it. They also have great food. You can easily hang out here using their free WiFi, and it’s gets busy that you’ll find plenty of potential travel buddies. Average price: 500 rupees for a meal + coffee.
Right Path Cafe. Visitors Centre. This place gets busy and is the hub for tourists. Their pizza is recommended and they also have a good thali for lunch. Average price: 250 rupees.
Bread & Chocolate. Auroville Rd. The food is some of the best in the Auroville area. It’s another very popular place. Average price: 300 rupees.
Auroville Bakery. Auroville Rd. Who needs friends, when you have carbs? 😘 It’s more than a bakery though, stop for coffee, have lunch and meet some other people. This is a must-stop for all tourists in Auroville and you’re bound to meet some people. Average price: 150 rupees for baked goods.
How Much Does Auroville Cost for a Solo Traveler?
Let’s breakdown how much it might cost you per day. Here are some examples of things I bought and the prices:
- Guesthouse: Private room with private bathroom and hot shower. $10 per night. I stayed at Green’s Guesthouse and booked in advance using Booking.com. I also stayed at the Tharamai Resort and booked using the Oyo app.
- Scooter: Rent a scooter to get around easier. Auroville has so many winding trails and it’s more fun to go where you want. Daily Cost: 250 rupees a day. Less if you are staying longer than a week, or have killer negotiating tactics.
- Autorickshaws: They are everywhere and pretty inexpensive. If you’re only going a couple of kilometers, shoot for 50 rupees. Most would quote me 200 rupees for that distance to start, and then I would negotiate lower. Some I had to walk away from. They’re used to tourists who aren’t aware of the rates 🙂
- Breakfast: Mine was free with my guesthouse. Local Indian breakfast of idli and chutney will be less than 100 rupees.
- Filter coffee: South Indian style, strong and usually heavy on milk and sugar. 15 – 20 rupees at local places. 50 rupees at Marc’s Coffee.
- Americano, Cappucino, Espresso: At a local place it is dirt cheap, 30 rupees for a small. 60 rupees for a large. Marc’s Coffee, it is 70 – 90 rupees for espresso/Americano. Cappucino’s at Marc’s are 120 rupees.
- Lunch: The traditional Indian lunch is a veg thali (veggies, rice, chutneys) which would be around 150 rupees. You can find non-veg thali’s as well for 170 rupees or so.
- Dinner: A traditional Indian dinner of Paneer Butter Masala with white rice, butter naan, and a chai would be less than 400 rupees.
- Shopping: I bought a nice book about the Mughal Empire for $10 USD.
- Tours: 300 rupees for a guided walking tour of Auroville. Could pay more for a personal walking tour, up to 2000 rupees.
- No alcohol, smoking or drugs are allowed.
To spend less than $30 USD a day, here’s what you could get:
- Breakfast: Indian breakfast with 2 coffees/chai = 150 rupees (~$2 USD)
- Lunch: Thali with juice = 200 rupees (~$3 USD)
- Dinner: Dish with rice, bread and chai = 350 rupees (~$5 USD)
- Guesthouse: $10
- Scooter: $3.50
- Tours and shopping: $6.50
- Total = $30 USD
Related Question:
How to Travel Solo in Pondicherry?
Start off by walking along the Promenade Beach. The road is closed in the morning and the city wakes up with a brisk walk along the beach. Then at 7 am take a Pondy Cycle Tour. You will go through the French Quarter and the other quarters. Then head to Crepe in Touch for a late breakfast, early lunch of delicious savory crepes.
Pondicherry has universities and schools and a highly educated crowd, it’s also a relatively safe place, so as a solo traveler you should be okay with basic common-sense practices.
This will get you started. Other attractions that would be fun to see by yourself are the:
- Pondicherry Museum. Here you can see some ancient stone and bronze sculptures from the Chola Empire, which will give you a sense of the history of the place.
- Grand Bazaar Fish Market. If you have a kitchen, you could make some fresh seafood. I liked the bustle of the place, watch the local ladies, moms and cooks buy the fresh catch. Good photos, although you would want to ask first as some people were not interested in having their photo taken. Watch out for the smells, not exactly lilacs in there.
- Goubert Market. Right next to the Fish Market you can find fruit and vegetables and flowers, so it’s a good place to buy some bananas or pomegranates or whatever your fruit of choice is. There are plenty of options. It’s tight quarters in there and great for photography.
- Fishing Village. Continue north from the Promenade and Rock Beach, and as the paved road veers toward the city, stay right on a dirt path. This will take you to a historic fishing village. You’ll cross a bridge with fishing boats beached after the morning catch. It’s quieter here.
