At 10 kilometers North of Pondicherry, and 160 km South of Chennai, Auroville is situated in a predominantly rural area of the Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu, South India. Overlooking the Bay of Bengal, and spread over an area of 20 square kilometers, the township consists of nearly 100 settlements of varying sizes with a population of 2200 people drawn from 45 countries in the world. Of this figure, Indians constitute nearly 50%. ARKA is situated on the Crown road, just bordering the Mahalakshmi Park of the Matrimandir.

The name

Project description

ARKA is a research project of S.A.I.I.E.R (Sri Aurobindo International Institute of Educational Research).

It is an innovative social project of Auroville which wants to redefine the concept of aging as described by the Mother.

ARKA is an holistic centre creating an environment in which the seniors can dedicate themselves to the inner work pertaining to their particular stage in life, while sustaining a healthy, balanced and harmonious lifestyle.

Arka aims to keep people healthy and active as long as possible. The project has chosen to address a particular facet of the total problem concerning the ageing process by providing means for postponing and preventing the need for the kind of care that can only be provided by a hospital, medical centre or location.

Place and time

ARKA is situated on the Crown Road in Auroville, 605101, Tamil Nadu, India, bordering the Mahalaksmi Park (peace gardens) of the Matrimandir.

The project started in 2002 and has been completed in his first phase in April 2010.

At the present time the infrastructure are the following

•  The guest accommodation & convalescence center completed & functioning

•  The public service building: completed & functioning

•  Dining Hall: completed & functioning

•  Resource Centre-Library to be completed end 2010

•  Wellness Centre: completed & functioning

•  Staff Quarters houses: completed & functioning

Arka has a waste water treatment plan and a large flower pond situated in the garden area for the purification and recycling of the waters.

One of the apartments of Arka is fully supported by solar system

Internet browsing center is also supported by a solar system with rechargeable facilities for electrical vehicles.

The water heater system of Arka is also full managed by a Solar system.