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No travel document about Pondicherry can be complete without a mention of Auroville. Synonymous with Auroville is the name of Sri Aurobindo, the revolutionary turned poet and The Mother. Auroville, which translates into 'the city of dawn', is on the outskirts of Pondicherry town along the Coromandel Coast. Conceptualized as an International town which 'belongs to humanity as a whole', this is a unique project meant to give a concrete expression to the evolutionary vision of Sri Aurobindo. In the words of The Mother: 'There should be a place somewhere upon earth, a place that no nation could claim its sole property, a place where all human beings of good will, sincere in their aspiration, could live freely as citizens of the world…'.
Auroville strives to be that very 'somewhere upon earth'.

The first place I visited at Auroville was the 'Visitor's Center'. Located deep inside the Auroville community, this center serves as a Museum, Cafeteria and Souvenir Shop all rolled into one. The entire structure of the Vistor's Center has a brick construction. The Museum has a collection of illustrations and documents which narrate the lives and times of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, it also has a counter which gives out Visitor's passes for those wishing to visit the Maitri Mandir.

The Souvenir Shop is run exclusively by the members of the Auroville community to promote the cause of this International township. I found this to be an ideal place to pick up little gifts for my friends. All the items sold here are made in Auroville by members of its community to raise funds in order to turn their dream of this Utopian township into a reality.

Maitri Mandir is located just a little way off from the Visitor's Center, at the geometric center of this International township is the Maitri Mandir, a gigantic globe shaped meditation hall with its interior lighted up naturally from rays of lights entering through Belgian crystals placed all around the globe's surface. For those with spiritual bent of mind, Sri Aurobindo Ashram and Auroville offer a serene and placid setting. An ideal retreat for those seeking spiritual solace. The Aurobindo Ashram has grown into a center for the practice of Integral Yoga and deservedly. Pondicherry plays host to the International Yoga Festival held in the first week of January every year.

I hope you will like it.