As an adventurous young Dutchman Gerard, alias Kireet, travelled the world over with his friend Rob in 1970s. After deciding to make Auroville his home he became instrumental in water conservation efforts leading to an improved water table for both Auroville and the surrounding villages. Previously a teacher in the Netherlands and understanding the value education, he founded and financed a school for the local Tamil children. In Auroville’s Gaia’s Garden (the first one in the Netherlands) he designed each room to be larger than usual with adjacent flower filled terraces and a pond on the ground floor. The Dutch love gardening, pets and traveling! When you arrive at Gaia’s Garden you will be welcomed by Mr. Murgan and Younge, alias Gaya from Korea. They will guide you in selecting restaurants and activities of interest. You may see Gaya in her office while Kireet is working in the garden. If you want to know names of flowers or how we harvest rain water please go to talk to him! We created Gaia’s Garden as a bridge for people coming from outside to experience and gain understanding of our community. We are always excited to hear your story as well as to share our adventure.

Gaia’s Garden is an ecological community in Auroville. Its tropical exotic plants spread over 2.67 acres. The little temple, the heart of garden, is surrounded by 9 ponds and plumeria. The banyan tree watches silently over the meditation garden. Statutes of gods secret themselves among the various lives. Opening your eyes to bird songs, following fireflies in the garden pavilion, melting thousands of stars to your heart on the rooftop terrace, you'll realize that you're in the arms of Mother Earth Gaia. Our spacious rooms have 3.5m high ceilings, king size beds, a desk and large windows with garden views. The island kitchen with 4 burners, refrigerators, a mixer, an Italian espresso, pressure cookers and reverse osmosis drinking water. The dining area seats 8. On the adjacent terrace complete with its own garden and pond offers a more intimate dining. We have 2 units with its own kitchen, 3 units with private terraces, 6 units air conditioned. As we strive to offer our guests an oasis of serenity and beauty, no drugs, alcohol or smoking are permitted and silence is expected after 10 pm. We are one of Auroville's closest guesthouses to the beach and to the city of Pondicherry.

Auroville, founded in 1968 as an international township, is composed of 47 different nationalities. Inspired by Sri Aurobindo’s teachings, it is not an ashram but an experimental community, replete with the many challenges common to all, that endeavors to bring an enlightened future to our doorstep. Its diversity is evident in the multi-ethnic restaurants, film festivals, world music, theater, fine arts and handicrafts. Concern for ecology is paramount and found in organic farming, reforestation, rainwater harvest, sustainable working units, e-vehicles, and garbology. It is small but has all! No pollution! The Matrimandir, the Soul of Auroville, is where one can meditate in one of thirteen chambers, sit under an ancient banyan tree or simply stroll through its exquisite gardens. At the Information Center you can see entire timeline of Auroville. The city of Pondicherry is 7km away. Its attractions include White Town with its elegant French restaurants, the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, the seaside Promenade, varied bazaars and local cuisine, and a Sunday Market located at the intersection of Mission and Gandhi streets. The bay of Bengal is 1km away, embrace rising sun!