Where to Stay

Bala Yoga School is based in Auroville, India. Our yoga teacher training courses and yoga retreats are held in this diverse, international city where you can learn about sustainable, eco-conscious living. Accommodations are not included in the course fee; you can choose your accommodations in Auroville and book directly here: https://guesthouses.auroville.org.

Auroville

See below for more info, and please don’t hesitate to get in touch at [email protected] if you have any questions not covered here.

Where to Stay

Auroville

— India —

Retreat location

The most unique aspect of our yoga teacher training courses is the opportunity to live and study in Auroville, “a universal town where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and progressive harmony above all creeds, all politics and all nationalities.” Surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty, with forests and beaches nearby, you can immerse yourself in your yoga teacher training and sustainable, environmentally conscious living.

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Getting here

Airport

When making your travel arrangements, book your flight to Chennai International Airport (MAA). Chennai is approximately 140km north of Auroville.

Taxi

From Chennai airport, the best way to get to Auroville is by taxi. We can arrange a taxi ride for you upon request. The cost is approximately €40 one way.

Bus

It’s also possible to travel from Chennai Airport to Auroville by public bus. The trip from the airport to Bala Yoga School will take about five to six hours.

You’ll first need to get from the airport to CMBT (Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus) via metro, bus, tuk tuk or by taxi. From CMBT, take a By-Pass bus towards Pondicherry. Ask the driver for Auroville. The stop is Moratandi Toll Gate.

What’s included in your course fee

  • Yoga teacher training manual, course materials
  • Opening fire and purification ceremony at a nearby temple
  • Closing graduation ceremony and certificate
  • One sound healing session with a specialist
  • Guided morning walks to explore Auroville (optional)
  • Filtered water
  • Free wi-fi

NOT included:

  • Flight tickets and visas
  • Accommodations (see below for info)
  • Food
  • Toiletries, e.g. soap, shampoo, sunscreen
  • Yoga mat (bring your own, or buy one here)

Booking your accommodations

Accommodations are not included in the course fee. Auroville offers dozens of options for accommodations for you to choose from, either self-contained guesthouses or residential stays where you can experience living and sharing with members of Auroville and their families. You can book directly here: https://guesthouses.auroville.org.
Below, you can see just some examples of Auroville’s self-contained guesthouses, the Auromode Apartments. All rooms have hot and cold water shower, free wi-fi, air-conditioning, and a kitchenette where you can store and prepare your own food.

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Food

Auroville features restaurants serving almost every cuisine in the world and all of them are easily accessible within a short walking distance. The guesthouses each have a kitchenette where you can cook your own food. Water, tea and coffee are available in each room.

Amenities

  • Free Wi-fi
  • Air conditioned rooms
  • Kichenette
  • Yoga shala
  • Bicycle rental
  • Laundry
  • Meditation garden
  • Nearby beach
  • Nearby outdoor swimming pool

Things to do

All Sundays are free days. Enjoy the swimming pool, explore our sustainable living community at Auroville, or rent a bicycle or moped to ride to the nearby beach or Pondicherry.

You can even spend your free time taking surfing lessons at the Kallialay Surf School of India or learning horseback riding at the Red Earth Riding School.

Day Trips

You can arrange your own day trips to nearby destinations such as a visit to Mahabalipuram UNESCO site, Chidambaram, Pitchavaram, the Gingee Fortress, and Vailankani.

Distances

  • The beach — 5 kilometers
  • Pondicherry — 10 kilometers
  • Mahabalipuram — 75 kilometers
  • Thiruvanamali Shiva Temple, Ramana Ashram, Vipassana Center – 75 kilometers
  • Chidambaram golden temple — 75 kilometers
  • Fossil tree park — 25 kilometers
  • Chennai International Airport (MAA) — 130 kilometers