Auroville Tourism

Auroville is a universal township in the making for a population of up to 50,000 people from around the world. The concept of Auroville – an ideal township devoted to an experiment in human unity – came to the Mother as early as the 1930s.In the mid 1960s the concept was developed and put before the Govt. of India, who gave their backing and took it to the General Assembly of UNESCO. In 1966 UNESCO passed a unanimous resolution commending it as a project of importance to the future of humanity, thereby giving their full encouragement.

The purpose of Auroville is to realise human unity – in diversity. Today Auroville is recognised as the first and only internationally endorsed ongoing experiment in human unity and transformation of consciousness, also concerned with – and practically researching into – sustainable living and the future cultural, environmental, social and spiritual needs of mankind.

On 28th February 1968 some 5,000 people assembled near the banyan tree at the centre of the future township for an inauguration ceremony attended by representatives of 124 nations, including all the States of India. The representatives brought with them some soil from their homeland, to be mixed in a white marble- clad, lotus-shaped urn, now sited at the focal point of the Amphitheatre. At the same time the Mother gave Auroville its 4-point Charter.

They come from some 49 nations, from all age groups (from infancy to over eighty, averaging around 30), from all social classes, backgrounds and cultures, representing humanity as a whole. The population of the township is constantly growing, but currently stands at around 2,500 people, of whom approx one-third are Indian.

Auroville - History
Auroville was founded in 1968 by Mirra Alfassa, known as The Mother. She was a collaborator of Sri Aurobindo, who believed that "man is a transitional being". The Mother expected that this experimental universal township would contribute significantly in the progress of humanity towards its splendid future by bringing together people of goodwill and aspiration for a better world.

There was nothing on the ground at the beginning but in the minds and hearts of the pioneers was the dream, a broad, comprehensive and luminous vision of future elaborated by Sri Aurobindo and The Mother. "Auroville: at last a place where one will be able to think only of the future. At last a place where one will be able to think only of progressing and transcending oneself..." runs a message of the Mother.

"Auroville is the ideal place for those who want to know the joy and liberation of no longer having any personal possessions" runs another message. The Mother also believed that such a universal township will contribute decisively to the Indian renaissance. The Government of India endorsed the township, and in 1966, UNESCO also endorsed it inviting the member-states to participate in the development of Auroville.