Located in the small coastal town of Pondicherry 160 km south of beautiful Chennai this beautiful Ashram is a spiritual community established in 1926. There was a well-known routine at the Ashram back in the day when the Mother of the Ashram known as Mirra Alfasa comes out at 6:15 every morning to offer her blessings to the devotees who reside at the ashram.
The Ashram has grown over the years to include every element of a fully-fledged religious institution consisting of a library, dining room, nursing home and a bakery. Mother would offer her blessing in the evening at 5:30 every day to the Sadhaks in charge of the institutions various departments. Thousands of devotees would gather four times every year for the mothers public Dharshans (blessings- sermons). The teachings of the Ashram center on being the one, without renunciation of life in the world. There are many believers of the Ashram’s teachings and visiting the Ashram during visiting times is almost impossible.
The city of Pondicherry takes around three hours to reach from Chennai. There are several government operated busses that leave for this small town every half an hour from Chennai. However, most visitors to the Ashram prefer to take a taxi ride directly from the Chennai Airport to avoid the inconvenience of heavy luggage.
There are limited number of rooms that are available within the Ashram, and visitors are advised to plan their journey ahead to avoid disappointment. However if accommodation cannot be sought here, the bureau centre arranges for accommodation in several guest houses located close by. However if you are looking out for Pondicherry accommodation away from the hustle and the bustle in ideal surroundings, choose Hotel Atithi. This Pondicherry hotel is a class apart from the rest, and offers soothing and welcoming hospitality within its elegantly decorated surroundings.
Pondicherry has an interesting combination of colonial and Hindu architecture that tails from being ruled by the Portuguese, British and the French in the 16th century. Geographically it was important as a trading point back in the day and still has beautiful elements that remind you of the foreign occupancies.
