Voluntary work, best time to come, first to find information, student accommodation, health, cost of living, resources...

Can I work for food and shelter?

Auroville is a township in full development with limited resources. So most places do not have the means to cover the living expenses of student interns; instead they usually prefer to provide employment opportunities to permanent workers.

Apart from a few exceptions, do not expect to be able to contribute voluntary work in exchange for food and shelter.

At best, some services or projects may be able to cover some of your expenses. This needs to be discussed on a one-to-one basis.

What is the best time to come to Auroville?

The climate is best from January to March. The April-June period is hot and dry. After the May-June peak, the temperature slowly falls from July to the end of the year. July to September there may be sporadic summer storms. The monsoon rains and noticeably cooler temperatures come from October onwards, usually through to the end of December.

For those on a tight budget, the critical factor might be the seasonal accommodation rates. In that case, best is to come any time from March end to November, avoiding the peak visitor/tourist season.

Where shall I go first to find information once I reach Auroville?

Upon arrival the first place to check is the Visitors Centre. This will give you a general feel about the place, and you will find there in the Auroville Information Service two important resources:

• the Auroville map (a must!)

• the Auroville Handbook, a compendium of everything that is useful to know about Auroville, and lots of contact addresses.

The Auroville Guest Service is located on the Solar Kitchen rooftop. It disseminates more specific information for long-term stays, and helps with finding suitable accommodation and gives advice on work opportunities.

The AVIS/SAWCHU office is located in the Bharat Nivas campus, at walking distance from the Visitors Centre.

Is there any student accommodation?

The hostel and catering facilities are well developed in Auroville and cater every year for thousands of visitors and tourists from all over the world.

From March to November, many places offer discount rates for individual students on long-term stays. It is also sometimes possible to look after someone's house during the summer months for a nominal participation in its maintenance.

A few places offer student rates all year round - ON ADVANCED BOOKING - for stays of at least one month. Students on a tight budget from developing countries have priority.

Youth Camp

Phone: +91(0)413 2622357
E-mail: rajeevb@auroville.org.in

Ami

Phone: +91 (0)413 2622570
E-mail: giri@auroville.org.in

College Guest House

Phone: +91 (0)413 2622165
E-mail: janet@auroville.org.in

Atithi Griha in Bharat Nivas.

Rs. 3000 for stays of one-month or more (includes lodging in a 6-bed dormitory, breakfast and dinner).
Phone: +91 (0)413 2622445

How is it for health?

The Auroville Health Services are usually accessible to intern students on the same conditions as for Long Term Guests. A wide range of practices are available, from allopathic, Ayurvedic, Siddha, Tibetan and homeopathic medicine to various alternative healing methods. The main centres are the Auroville Health Centre (allopathic and homeopathic services), Quiet Healing Centre (body work and alternative therapies), and the Bharat Nivas Multipurpose Health Centre (mainly homeopathy).

Two hospitals are within 30 minutes reach, and a number of private clinics are available in Pondicherry.

Please note that stray animals can carry rabies, and typhus is endemic in our region. You are also advised to bring anti-mosquito and sun-block creams.

Students from the West should be prepared, in general, to experience a few intestinal disorders.

What is the cost of living in Auroville?

[NB: all rates are indicative and subject to changes -1st semester 2001, as of April 2001: US dollar exchange rate is approx Rs 46.5]

Accommodation

Rs. 1,500 to 10,000 per month, depending on the kind of housing, which ranges from thatched 'capsule' or shared room to a guest room in a private house, high-end hostel, etc.

Mobility

Monthly rental rate for a bicycle - Rs. 300
moped - Rs. 1,500
scooter - Rs. 2,400
motorbike - Rs. 3,000
NB: some guesthouses include a bicycle in their rate.

Food

The Solar Kitchen provides lunch for Rs. 600/month every day except Sunday in the dining hall. Simple dinners are also available to take away in 'tiffin' carriers at a slightly lower rate.
Meals and snacks are also available from various places at varying rates: New Creation Corner, The Coffee Shop, Visitors' Centre Cafeteria, Pour Tous Snack Bar, Roma's Kitchen, Auriginal, Centre Guest House and Sun Bliss.
Allow anything from Rs.1,000 to 4,000 per month for food. Of course, the more local and self-catered your diet (south Indian) the lower the budget.

Auroville Contribution

All residents - permanent and temporary - in Auroville are requested to contribute monthly to the general maintenance, infrastructure and public services of the township.
The reduced rate for students is Rs. 900 per month. This rate might be flexible on a case-to-case basis.

What resources are available in Auroville to carry out advanced project or research work?

It is strongly advised to do as much preparatory research as possible BEFORE coming to Auroville.

The construction of a resource centre to support research and higher education is being planned. Until this is built and functional, an unknown quantity and quality of materials is available, scattered all around the place, in centres and at individual's workplaces.

The best person to help you identify the local resource materials will be your local supervisor or faculty.

The following centres feature a fair range of documentation however:

• the Laboratory of Evolution (humanities, spirituality, consciousness research)

• the Auroville Library (general library)

• the Auroville Archives

• Pitchandikulam Bio-Resource Centre (afforestation, medicinal plants, biodiversity, etc.)

• Harvest Centre for Water Resources Management (ecological agriculture, water management)

• Centre for Scientific Research (appropriate technologies: mud-brick and ferrocement construction, energy, waste management)