Introduction to Matrimandir

Your Pondicherry trip can not be concluded if you do not pay a visit to the Matrimandir, which is the meditation center of Auroville. This place is 12 km away from the center of Pondicherry. This divine and relaxing place is situated in the heart of Auroville, where you will find the best architecture, the best landscape, and of course, peace of mind. This substantial golden dome structure is definitely a must-have for all peace lovers and travelers. Lots of people from every corner of the globe come here to pay a visit. Some enjoy a blissful life here with their vibes. 

Matrimandir welcomes people from all religions to practice yoga. Yoga is considered an integral part of human life. Through this yoga, people can concentrate on their inner selves, and they can discover mental peace. Matrimandir is known as the most crucial construction inside the Auroville community. It can be an experience for a lifetime for all visitors of Matrimandir and Auroville.

Inside the gold dome of Matrimandir, you will find a vast meditation chamber that is accessible through a spiral ramp. Inside the meditation room, people meditate, and they can feel their inner strength. A precious and lustrous crystal globe is kept in the heart of the meditation chamber. People use this crystal as their focal attention while meditating. This crystal is held in such a way that lights directly call on it during the daytime. Isn’t it too beautiful to think about? Some meditation rooms are spread inside the stone-clad petals surrounding the Matrimandir. A total of 12 stone-clad petals are there. 

Apart from the meditation rooms, there are a few yoga rooms too. All of these have been developed and handled under the holy place of The Mother And Rishi Aurobindo Ashram. It is a wholly self-governing and self-dependent society that invites people from all people without thinking about religious views, nationalities, etc. People come here and walk through life. They can find inner peace while staying here. You can say that the Matrimandir is basically the best place or the best hub for self-reflection. The site helps you to reach the ultimate spirituality in life. 

Concept of the Matrimandir

The wholesome idea behind the Matrimandir is to honor the spiritual mother. The whole Auroville community belongs to not a single person or authority. It belongs to humanity. Whoever wants to stay and spend life in the Auroville and Matrimandir, it is mandatory to adore divine consciousness. With the scope of an unending education, there is constant progress in practical knowledge rather than any book-based knowledge. It is the place where the young never age.

The Auroville community around the Matrimandir wants to fill the past and future gap. Also, this whole community is a site of material. It has worked as one of the best spiritual research places since its inception.

Inside the Matrimandir, silence is maintained strictly. This silent atmosphere ensures that the place is tranquil and that peace is always saved. 

History of the Matrimandir

The whole concept and idea of Auroville and Matrimandir was the brainchild of Mirra Alfassa. She wanted to create an entirely new community like Auroville where people could live with their own hobbies and spirituality. Mirra Alfassa worked closely with the Indian freedom fighter and saint Sri Aurobindo. Both of them formed this spiritual center in the form of a new world. 

The thought was first discussed in the year 1971. Later, a total of 36 years were taken to complete this elegant structure. French architect Roger Anger designed this whole structure. He approached the mother to take charge of this project. A total of five superior designs were planned. But the mother selected the golden dome design, which is now the present Matrimandir.

The architectural excellence of Matrimandir 

The beauty and glamor of the Matrimandir are very awe-inspiring. It is the perfect glass globe on the planet, which is a hundred feet high. The whole towering dome is embellished with golden panels. Also, it holds a melee of rooms and a vast hall. This hallway leads to the main sanctum or meditation center. A total of 12 supportive pillars are there, which are known as petals. Twelve supporting pillars are also twelve different meditation halls on their own.

The central dome is actually a large meditation chamber from the inside. Four main pillars are set in four main directions North, south, east, and west. The whole dome and the Matrimandir area are surrounded by a landscaped garden with a central location. It is also open for the public to visit the center. Those who want to enter the central dome and meditation center need to collect a prior appointment.

A beautifully designed amphitheater is present with 12 gardens, a visitor’s center, an art Gallery, a video theater, a cafeteria, several boutique shops, etc. 

Timings and details of visiting passes for Matrimandir

The Matrimandir is known as the “Soul of the city.” Matrimandir means the temple of the mother or mother’s shrines. Matrimandir is getting popular among all, and constantly it is gaining attraction from people from all over the world because of its spiritual significance.

Matrimandir is open throughout the week except for Tuesdays. Those who want to experience the magnificence of the Auroville Matrimandir need to book free tickets in person. With a valid ticket, one can explore the garden area and outside premises of Auroville. Walking on foot is the only option to explore the community. Electric car service can be accessed by senior citizens and people with disabilities. 

One kilometer should be walked to reach Matrimandir from the booking section. Those who want to enter the meditation halls and interiors of the Matrimandir need to book an appointment beforehand. Tickets or permission for entering the Matrimandir can be booked in person and from the Auroville website only. However, all entry is free of cost. There are no such facilities for booking with the help of third-party apps; no one can book tickets on anyone’s behalf.

Inside the visiting petal rooms, the concentration-time will be between 9:30 am to 10.45 am. People who want to visit the inner chamber can join the meditation session from 9:35 am to 10.05 am. 

• Matrimandir timings details in Auroville (day-wise)

Day	Timing
Monday	9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Tuesday	9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Wednesday	9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Thursday	9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Friday	9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Saturday	9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday	9:00 am to 5:00 pm

• Detailed address of Matrimandir, Auroville

Auroville Rd, Auroville, Bommayapalayam, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, 605101, India

• Detail timings of Auroville Matrimandir 

Visiting	Timings
Information Desk at the Visitors Centre (Tuesdays are closed for booking)	9:00 am – 1:00 pm and 1:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Matrimandir timings for bookings	10:00 am to 11:00 am and 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm on all days except Tuesdays.
Passes at the Visitors Centre	Monday to Saturday: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm & Sunday: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm only
Concentration time in the Inner Chamber	9:35 am to 10:05 am
Last entry allowed into the Inner Chamber	9:45 am
Concentration time in one of the Petal Meditation Rooms	9:30 am to 10:45 am

Things to do near and inside Matrimandir, Auroville

Matrimandir is the only place where you can practice meditation and yoga. But apart from doing these, you can see a lot of things around the home. Here you can see what exciting stuff around the Matrimandir that are worth exploring.

• A detailed tour of Matrimandir

Matrimandir is enriched with lots of knowledge which is good to learn for anyone. If you travel to Matrimandir, you will find a lot of people roaming around who are happy to assist you in learning more about the place. You can dig more to learn more about the majestic architectural significance of the system of beliefs. When you understand all the aspects and aims of Matrimandir, you will know what precisely the mother tried and did for humanity. 

• Amphitheater and landscaped garden

It is one of the most beautiful things to do around Matrimandir. The whole premises is surrounded by 12 gardens. All of these gardens are named according to the mother’s characteristics. Those names of the beautiful gardens are existence, perfection, bliss, youth, consciousness, harmony, light, progress, wealth, power, life, and utility. 

The theater is another exciting area where you can see lots of people. It can be the best place if you want to spend some quality time with yourself. Here you can disconnect yourself from tension and a strict schedule. The whole theater is made up of red Agra stone. 

• Lush greenery for a soothing mind

Those who love to roam around some lush greenery can enjoy the viewing point of Matrimandir. The premises are decorated with various species of flora and fauna. The whole viewing point will provide a soothing panoramic view. The visitor’s energy can be enjoyed free of cost by all visitors. 

• Spirituality learning center- Savitri Bhavan

Here is the most important place called Savitri Bhavan, which follows the thoughts of Sri Aurobindo and his divinity. This is the center of spiritual education, which includes lots of materials to understand human unity. It also has lots of activities like workshops, talks, films, lectures, etc. You can enjoy an insight into the vision of the holy mother.

A comprehensive art gallery is present with lots of paintings. Some kinds of digital audio and videos are available which show the details of the Auroville community. Savitri Bhavan has a separate reading room, multipurpose room, hostel accommodation, etc. Hostel accommodation is only for volunteers of the Savitri Bhavan. 

• Cultural activities at Bharat Nivas

Auroville and Matrimandir include a lot of cultural activities in the dedicated house called Bharat Nivas. Bharat Nivas is also known as the pavilion of India. It has various segments: Sri Aurobindo Auditorium, Auroville Library, Kala Kendra Gallery, Sri Aurobindo World Centre, Tamil Heritage Centre, etc. You can enjoy multiple popular dishes at Annam kitchen. Most of the foods are homemade south Indian food and made by local people and community people. 

Here are some tips for traveling to Matrimandir, Auroville

• Photography is not allowed.
• Children below ten years can not enter the inner chamber of Matrimandir.
• Pindrop silence should always be maintained inside the halls.
• All decorum has to be followed strictly.
• Personal valuable things like cameras, smart devices, laptops, bags, etc., are not allowed inside the meditation center. 
• Free shuttle service for senior citizens or people with special abilities is available to cover the 1 km distance.
• In the case of any media, the personality wants to film the inside of the meditation chamber, and they need to obtain a permission letter beforehand.

Best time to visit Matrimandir, Auroville

The best time to visit Matrimandir in Pondicherry is from October to March. It is the best time for sightseeing and other tourist spots. The weather during this time is relatively calm and soothing. This time makes tourists energetic, and it is easier to travel along the place. 

How to reach Matrimandir, Auroville

Matrimandir is easily accessible by local buses from Pondicherry. You can also book auto rickshaw or direct can services. Chennai airport is the nearest airport to the Auroville community. The Pondicherry railway station is also nearby.