BootsnAll Travel Community

Hi

Has anyone visited the Ashram in Ponicherry? I am planning a trip in various states of S. India this September and would welcome details of this Ashram.

dustyshoes2002@yahoo.co.in

Hi there
I have been to the ashram in Auroville (near Pondicherry) in February this year. There are guided tours and once you have accomplisehd such a tour you get a pass and can enter the matrimandir for individual meditation whenever you wish. The ashram in Pondicherry town is nice and very colorful and silence is mandatory, but in my view it is rather a tourist site than an ashram.
Good luck and happy traveling.
Hugo

I'm planning on going there too. I met a guy who had been there and said his friends live there. As long as you're willing to work and obey their rules you can stay for free. What do you think Hugo? Does that sound true to you? I'm also interested in Amritsar, has anyone been or heard anything about it. I know it's on the total opposite side of the country, but I'll been in India for about a year.

Peace.

One whole year in India, Bear? Then we must definately meet up. Wot do you plan to do out here? Sure there is tons to do, I haven't seen my entire country yet..

Hey Dusty,

I don't have any plans but I keep meeting people that love India. I'm definitely going to Nepal also, but I'd like to hit up some beaches, Dharamsala,Amritsar,Pondicherry and whatever feels right at the time. I may end up teaching English in Nepal, but the Idea of living my dream (traveling) and doing nothing that I don't feel like is a new and very exciting concept to me. Of course meeting fellow bootsies sounds like a lot of fun no matter where I'm at. We'll definitely meet up!

Peace.

Hi Bear
Re working and living in Auroville (Pondicherry). I've only been there a couple of days but didn't feel comfortable. In my view Auroville is a neo-colonialist inplant where Westerners play the tune and Western rules and mores apply. You may as well stay in the U.S. then.
Amritsar is much more attractive and is part of mainstream India (which Auroville is not) although it is the focal point of a minority religion (Sikhism). They have facilites for visitors and pilgrims where you can stay for free as long as you wish. Accommodation and food is provided by wealthy and pious donors. It is very basic, of course, but you will be sleeping and eating with Indians, not with Frenchmen or Germans or Yanks as in Auroville.
It all depends on what you are looking for.
Good luck
Hugo

Thanks alot Hugo. Very helpful! Thats the response I was afaid of, but kind of thought was the case.

Peace.

I HAVE ALSO VISITED THAT PLACE AND I AGREE WITH
HUGOBAUR. I felt more than uncomfortable I hated it and left after about an hour. I also went around the local village and the people there did not like the way those people were behaving. It seemed to me the people in Auroville felt they were very superior. I thought they were a bunch of arrogant wankers.

itu matengu