AROVILLE-'The city of Dawn'

Pondicherry town (now known as 'Puducherry') is the headquarters of the Union Territory of Pondicherry which comprises Pondicherry, Karaikal, Yaman and Mahe - four widely separated towns, the first two enclaves in Tamil Nadu, the other two enclaves in Andhra Pradesh and Kerala respectively, made one by their French connection.Pondicherry became a French colony in 1675 and stayed with them till 1954, when Pondicherry merged with the Indian UnionFrancois Martin, Dumes and Joseph Francois Dupleix were the most famous Governors who administered Pondicherry, which still retains its French character

.Neat, pleasant, and charming, Pondicherry has a beautiful beach and a sea that is always warm and refreshing. It has been made world-famous by the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and its offshoot, Auroville. And in what still remains of its French connection there is a uniqueness that makes it different from the rest of India.

AROVILLE:

Auroville is a universal community in India,The main motto of all the people living in the Auroville city, to convert life into 'Supramental Consciousness'. It is also known by the name of Sri Aurobindo Ashram and is devoted towards 'unity of mankind'. Auroville intends to become such a city that will serve as a model to the cities of the future, cities where people will strive towards a harmonious future.

Auroville is located at a stone's throw from the Coromandel Coast; lying about 160 kms from Chennai in its southern side while 10 kms from Pondicherry along its northern side.In order to make Auroville a self supporting township, efforts have been made to expand a 109-hectare area into an Industrial Zone, comprising of "green" industries. Several small and medium-scale industries, training centers, arts and craft centers, apart from the city administration office are set up in this region.

MATRIMANDIR:

Peace Area is situated at the central point of the township and is known for its Matrimandir, gardens, amphitheatre that is constituted with the soil of 121 nations and 23 Indian states. The essence of calm and tranquility surrounds you while you indulge in a trip to this wonderful place.

The central Matrimandir, which is not a temple but a place for individual silent concentration, is set in an area of 62 acres at the centre of the emerging township, and is seen as “a symbol of the Divine’s answer to man’s aspiration for perfection. Union with the Divine manifesting in a progressive human unity.”

The Matrimandir’s 12-sided white marble Inner Chamber has a 70 cms diameter optical-quality glass globe at its centre, onto which a shaft of sunlight is focused by way of a roof-mounted heliostat. The light falling on the globe acts as a focal aid to concentration

The city provinces are even surrounded by organic farms, dairies, orchards, forests, and wildlife farms which are usually known as the Green Belt Area.

FOUNDER OF AUROVILLE:

Mirra Alfassa, fondly called 'The Mother', was born to an Egyptian mother and a Turkish father. She was born in France and was the second child of her parents.She met Sri Aurobindo in Pondicherry, in the year 1914, and immediately recognized him as a mentor she had already met in dreams.
She left India after the start of World War II, but came back to join Sri Aurobindo, in the year 1920. She was responsible behind the organization of Sri Aurobindo's followers into the Aurobindo Ashram of Pondicherry. In 1968, she commenced the project of Auroville Township as a means to implement Sri Aurobindo's vision.

ASHRAM:

The Ashram was set up in 1926 by Sri Aurobindo Ghose, one of India’s greatest philosopher-poets, who originally came to Pondy to escape persecution by the British. It was after arriving in puducherry, that he was drawn into the spiritual realm and discovered the power of yoga. His philosophy deeply rooted in yoga and his writings inspired a number of followers.
The ashram’s influence can be felt in most of puducherry. The main ashram building is where the mortal remains of Aurobindo and the Mother are kept. Their ‘Samadhi’ or mausoleum, which is generally surrounded by supplicating devotees, is in the central courtyard under a frangipani tree and is covered daily with flowers.