Auroville Botanical Gardens

The Auroville Botanical Gardens is a 50-acre conservation and education garden located in Kottakarai on the northwestern edge of Auroville, Tamil Nadu. Established in 2000, it focuses on preservation and restoration of the Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest, a rare forest type native to coastal Tamil Nadu. The garden maintains extensive plant collections, a seed bank, nursery and arboretum, serving as a centre for environmental education, research and reforestation within the Auroville township.

Visitors can expect a large, naturalistic garden set on former wasteland now restored with forest, arboretum, nursery and themed plant collections. The site features labelled native trees and medicinal plants, seed bank and propagation areas, shaded trails and open demonstration plots. Guided walks explain conservation work, Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest ecology and sustainable horticulture. The environment is quiet and educational, with opportunities for birdwatching and learning about reforestation rather than formal ornamental displays.

Established in 2000 on degraded wasteland in Auroville's Green Belt to conserve and restore the endangered Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest native to the Coromandel Coast. Developed through systematic seed collection, propagation and reforestation, it has grown into a 50-acre living repository and educational resource supporting Auroville's broader ecological restoration mission initiated since the township's founding in 1968.

Integral to Auroville, an experimental international township, the garden reflects Auroville's principles of environmental sustainability, ecological stewardship and education. It serves as a community resource for conservation awareness, sustainable living practices and environmental education for residents, students and visitors.