Sadhana Forest is a volunteer-run reforestation community on the south-western side of Auroville, near Pattanur. It was founded in 2003 by Aviram and Yorit Rozin on dry, eroded land, with the aim of bringing back the native tropical dry evergreen forest of the Coromandel coast and recharging the groundwater that feeds it.
For visitors, it is one of the most rewarding evenings in the Auroville area: every Friday the community opens its gates for a forest tour, a documentary screening and a shared vegan dinner, all offered free. You can also drop in during the day, or stay for a week or more as a volunteer. This guide covers what happens on each kind of visit, the house rules, and the practical side of getting there.
In this guide
What Sadhana Forest Is (and What It Isn't)
Sadhana Forest is a working community, not a park. The Auroville site covers about 70 acres of land that has been replanted and protected over two decades, with volunteers living in simple huts among the trees. Daily life revolves around seva (voluntary work): planting, mulching, watering, looking after water-harvesting earthworks and keeping the shared kitchen running.
The community is 100% vegan and substance-free, runs largely on solar power and follows a gift-economy approach: visits, meals, workshops and events are offered without an entry charge. Sadhana Forest has since started projects in other parts of India and abroad, but the Auroville forest is the original and the one open to casual visitors.
Expect sand paths and basic facilities, not a manicured nature trail.
The Friday Eco Film Club: Tour, Film and Vegan Dinner
The Friday evening programme is the easiest way to see the forest. At the time of writing, the published schedule runs roughly like this (check the official site before you go, as times can change):
- 4:00 pm – shuttle leaves from the Solar Kitchen in Auroville for people joining the tour
- 4:30–6:30 pm – guided walk through the forest
- 6:00 pm – second shuttle from the Solar Kitchen for those coming only for the film and dinner
- 6:30 pm – short films about Sadhana Forest, followed by the main documentary from about 6:50 pm
- About 7:40 pm – shared vegan dinner (children are served earlier)
- About 9:00 pm – shuttle back to the Solar Kitchen
Do you need to book?
No. Individual visitors do not need to register in advance. Groups are asked to contact the community a few days ahead so they can plan food and space. Everything is free, but donations help cover the cost of feeding the large Friday crowd, so it is fair to leave something if you can.
Friday evenings can be busy in the winter season. Arrive in good time for the tour and bring a torch or phone light for the walk to and from your vehicle after dark.
Other Ways to Visit
Outside Friday evenings, the community says visitors are welcome during the day (currently listed as 8 am to 5 pm) without advance registration. Other regular events listed on its site include Plant Based Saturdays with cooking and nutrition talks, a monthly vegan potluck at the Tea Hut and a Wednesday open stage for music and storytelling. A three-day Vegan Forest Festival has been held in February. Dates and formats change, so check the official visit page first.
Volunteering at Sadhana Forest
If a single evening is not enough, you can stay as a volunteer. This is a genuine commitment rather than a homestay: the day starts with a 5:30 am wake-up, morning seva from 6:00 to 8:30 am, breakfast, a second work shift until about 12:15 pm, then lunch. Volunteers also take on a few afternoon or weekend shifts each week, and the community asks for around 35 hours of seva per week. Remote work is not allowed during your stay.
At the time of writing, key conditions published by Sadhana Forest include:
- A minimum stay that depends on your situation – for example 6 nights for Indian citizens and residents and longer for foreign nationals, with shorter minimums for families with children and people over 45. Minimums have been extended in peak season.
- A daily food contribution per adult (with reduced or no charge for young children); check the current amount on the volunteer page.
- Very basic hut accommodation in the forest with shared bathrooms; a limited number of private huts for couples, families and older volunteers.
- A strictly vegan diet and no alcohol, smoking or drugs for the whole stay.
Apply through the official volunteer page rather than turning up with a backpack; rules and minimum stays are revised from time to time.
House Rules for Visitors
Whether you come for an hour or a month, the same basic rules apply. The community asks visitors not to bring any animal products, alcohol, tobacco, drugs or single-use plastics onto the land.
Beyond that, use common courtesy: stay on paths during the tour, keep your voice down near living areas, and ask before photographing people. Wear light, covering clothes and closed shoes, and carry a refillable water bottle and mosquito repellent – the forest is lovely at dusk but mosquitoes are active.
Getting to Sadhana Forest by Scooter
Sadhana Forest lies on the south-western edge of Auroville, a few kilometres from the Visitors Centre and roughly half an hour’s ride from central Pondicherry, depending on traffic and your route. Google Maps finds it under its own name, and there are signboards on the approach, but the last stretch is on smaller local roads that can be sandy or rutted, especially after rain. Ride slowly and keep a map open.
Many Friday visitors avoid the dark return ride by using the free shuttle from the Solar Kitchen, which is in central Auroville near the Town Hall area. A practical plan is to ride to the Solar Kitchen in daylight, park there and take the shuttle in and out.
If you are staying in Auroville without your own transport, a rented scooter from Auroville makes it easy to combine Sadhana Forest with other stops in the same day. For newcomers to Indian roads, our tips for renting a bike in Pondicherry cover licences, helmets and fuel. If you would rather not ride at night, arrange a pickup and drop instead.
When to Go
The cooler, drier months from roughly December to February are the most comfortable for walking in the forest, and also the busiest. The north-east monsoon (roughly October to December) brings heavy rain that turns the approach roads muddy, so plan for slow riding or a shuttle. March to June is hot, so the late-afternoon Friday tour is the best time of day to visit. See our guide to the best time to visit Pondicherry for a month-by-month picture.
Nearby Stops to Combine
Sadhana Forest fits well into a slow day around Auroville. You could start with the exhibition and Matrimandir viewing point at the Auroville Visitors Centre, visit the Auroville Botanical Gardens (by appointment, weekdays and Saturdays) and then head to the forest for the Friday tour. For more ideas, see our list of things to do in Auroville, or read about the Matrimandir before you go.
FAQs
Is there an entry fee for Sadhana Forest?
No. Visits, the Friday tour, film and dinner, and other events are offered free in the spirit of a gift economy. Donations are welcome and help pay for the meals.
What time does the Friday event at Sadhana Forest start?
At the time of writing, the forest tour runs from about 4:30 to 6:30 pm, the films start at 6:30 pm and dinner is served around 7:40 pm. Free shuttles leave from the Solar Kitchen in Auroville at 4 pm and 6 pm; check the official site for any changes.
Do I need to book to visit Sadhana Forest?
Individual visitors do not need to register in advance. Groups should contact the community a few days before their visit.
What is the minimum stay for volunteering at Sadhana Forest?
It depends on your nationality, age and whether you have children with you – for example, 6 nights for Indian citizens and residents at the time of writing, and longer for foreign nationals. Check the current rules on the official volunteer page before applying.
Can I bring my own food or drinks to Sadhana Forest?
Only if they are vegan and not in single-use plastic. The community asks visitors not to bring animal products, alcohol, tobacco, drugs or disposable plastics.
Need a bike, scooter or taxi?
Tell us your dates on WhatsApp – we reply fast and keep your ride ready.
