Auroville

reneeautumn · Apr 28th, 2008, 18:30

I'm a city planner, so Auroville seemed like a really fascinating place to visit since city planners periodically dip into trying to create utopias every once in a while. However, when I went on their official website they advised any visitors to spend at least a month if they wanted to volunteer/really learn about it, so I don't think I'll go.

atala · Apr 30th, 2008, 20:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by reneeautumn

I'm a city planner, so Auroville seemed like a really fascinating place to visit since city planners periodically dip into trying to create utopias every once in a while. However, when I went on their official website they advised any visitors to spend at least a month if they wanted to volunteer/really learn about it, so I don't think I'll go.

The idea behind this AV advice is to discourage one day tourists, as well as drop-outs who feel they could hang out in AV, sort of like in Goa. AV does not want to be a tourist place, even though it created a number of facilities just for them (a visitor's center, organized access to the Matrimandir). If you have a few days, do go there. I would contact the Auroville Center for Urban Research (ACUR) directly, and communicate with them before going there. Your expertise would be appreciated, and you would get assistance from them, and ideas, I am sure.

Quote:

The Auroville Centre for Urban research (ACUR) is a unique attempt to combine studies and investigations in Urban Development with an actual field of practical implementation.
It is located in Auroville, Tamil Nadu (India), an universal township under construction and serves the dual purpose to constitute the first administrative nucleus of the emerging city, a centre for elaboration of innovative approaches to the development of the city and a place for exchange of experiences and communication at the national and international levels with urban researchers, civic administrators, city stakeholders and NGOs.

http://www.auroville.info/ACUR/templates/about_acur.htm

andyanderson · May 9th, 2008, 06:34

What is the weather like in early / mid June? Can you rent short term accommodation with air conditioning in or near Auroville?

Nick-H · May 9th, 2008, 14:51

Very Hot.

Last year Chennai area had cooling rains in mid June, but that is unusual; we wait to see what will happen this year!

andyanderson · May 9th, 2008, 23:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

Very Hot.

Last year Chennai area had cooling rains in mid June, but that is unusual; we wait to see what will happen this year!

Is is very humid as well thus making it "unbearable"? I have experienced "desert hot" that wasn't too bad because it was bone dry. Does Chennai cool off at night? Thanks, Andy

Nick-H · May 10th, 2008, 00:14

Not so much as a visitor would notice, no.

As commented on another thread to do with AC rooms, it is so humid at night it feels worse than in the day, even though it is actually 10C cooler.

Winters evenings feel cool to locals, it may drop as low as 18 or 19! But summer nights are going to remain around 30C

Unbearable? April/May is unbearable, June should be getting a little better.

andyanderson · May 10th, 2008, 04:24

Thanks Nick-H,
Our original plan is to go to Sri Lanka. We have been told that the June weather is more tolerable there than Southern India. I am beginning to doubt this advice. Do you have any experience in this regard?

Nick-H · May 10th, 2008, 11:27

None at all, I'm afraid.

Others will have

atala · May 11th, 2008, 19:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by andyanderson

Thanks Nick-H,
Our original plan is to go to Sri Lanka. We have been told that the June weather is more tolerable there than Southern India. I am beginning to doubt this advice. Do you have any experience in this regard?

June is fine in Kandy area, incomparably much cooler than India.

atala · May 11th, 2008, 20:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by andyanderson

Can you rent short term accommodation with air conditioning in or near Auroville?

There are AC places available in Auroville. For Instance Afsanah's Guest House (http://www.aurovilleguesthouses.org/...d=12&page= 0). At Quiet (an AV Therapy Center) , with an ocean view :http://www.aurovilleguesthouses.org/...d=60&page= 15
Another at Gaia's Garden:http://www.aurovilleguesthouses.org/...d=45&page= 10 ( I recommend Gaia's Garden for good accessability).

federica · May 12th, 2008, 02:43

In Auroville AC is not so important as in Chennai, as all the houses are surrounded by lots of trees. The microclimate is much better than in a normal city.

atala · May 12th, 2008, 19:27

It is correct in a general way what you are saying, federica. I think it is especially correct that during the day-time the trees protect some of the houses quite a bit, and there is often a breeze there, until perhaps midnight. Unfortunately, however that breeze tends to be absent late night. My experience of the place I stayed was that at night the heat was often subjectively more difficult to tolerate than during the day due to that stagnant heat. But it needs to be said that due to the great variety of situations and architectural types of houses in Auroville it is hard to cover all with just one report.

If you look thru the guest-house links that I provided, you would also see that some of the houses are not directly shaded by trees. Actually during the hot season Auroville is rather deserted as those Aurovillians who have sufficient funds leave it for the West or for some hill-station.

federica · May 13th, 2008, 01:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by atala

and there is often a breeze there, until perhaps midnight. Unfortunately, however that breeze tends to be absent late night.

That's the moment when you really need a fan

as it becomes more humid in the night, it can feel unbearable hot without a breeze, that's true.

abid_javed · May 14th, 2008, 16:08

hey, I was there last year around july and it was not too bad. as a matter of fact most places in India are worse when it comes to the high mercury level. But I will have to agree about the nights, they can get very still and humid.

atala · May 24th, 2008, 20:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by federica

That's the moment when you really need a fan

.

I never use a fan at night, as one tends to catch a cold with that on. that is one of the surprising things about Indian friends, how often i see them with summer-colds, sniffing away, but always keeping fans running that keep them sick. A summer-cold is often hard to get rid off. I prefer hot nights (?

) to that any time.

May 9th, 2008, 14:51	#19
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,467	Very Hot. Last year Chennai area had cooling rains in mid June, but that is unusual; we wait to see what will happen this year! __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

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Apr 28th, 2008, 18:30	#16
reneeautumn Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 69	I'm a city planner, so Auroville seemed like a really fascinating place to visit since city planners periodically dip into trying to create utopias every once in a while. However, when I went on their official website they advised any visitors to spend at least a month if they wanted to volunteer/really learn about it, so I don't think I'll go.

May 9th, 2008, 06:34	#18
andyanderson Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Vancouver Canada Posts: 24	What is the weather like in early / mid June? Can you rent short term accommodation with air conditioning in or near Auroville?

May 10th, 2008, 00:14	#21
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,467	Not so much as a visitor would notice, no. As commented on another thread to do with AC rooms, it is so humid at night it feels worse than in the day, even though it is actually 10C cooler. Winters evenings feel cool to locals, it may drop as low as 18 or 19! But summer nights are going to remain around 30C Unbearable? April/May is unbearable, June should be getting a little better.

May 10th, 2008, 04:24	#22
andyanderson Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Vancouver Canada Posts: 24	Thanks Nick-H, Our original plan is to go to Sri Lanka. We have been told that the June weather is more tolerable there than Southern India. I am beginning to doubt this advice. Do you have any experience in this regard?

May 10th, 2008, 11:27	#23
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,467	None at all, I'm afraid. Others will have

May 12th, 2008, 02:43	#26
federica Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Bavaria Posts: 748	In Auroville AC is not so important as in Chennai, as all the houses are surrounded by lots of trees. The microclimate is much better than in a normal city.

May 12th, 2008, 19:27	#27
atala Senior Member, 8 yrs in India Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Switzerland, just back from India 2008 Posts: 691	It is correct in a general way what you are saying, federica. I think it is especially correct that during the day-time the trees protect some of the houses quite a bit, and there is often a breeze there, until perhaps midnight. Unfortunately, however that breeze tends to be absent late night. My experience of the place I stayed was that at night the heat was often subjectively more difficult to tolerate than during the day due to that stagnant heat. But it needs to be said that due to the great variety of situations and architectural types of houses in Auroville it is hard to cover all with just one report. If you look thru the guest-house links that I provided, you would also see that some of the houses are not directly shaded by trees. Actually during the hot season Auroville is rather deserted as those Aurovillians who have sufficient funds leave it for the West or for some hill-station.

May 14th, 2008, 16:08	#29
abid_javed Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 8	hey, I was there last year around july and it was not too bad. as a matter of fact most places in India are worse when it comes to the high mercury level. But I will have to agree about the nights, they can get very still and humid.

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