Mahabali Puram
Visitor Centre
Matri Mandir
Shore Temple
Third year study tour is organised with the intension of study and document institutional buildings and their role in the shaping of society. This year the students visited Auroville, Pondicherry and Chennai. In Auroville they visited many buildings like Matri Mandir, Visitors Center, Savitri Bhavan which are all examples of institutional buildings. In addition they documented two institutional buildings – SAWCHU and Unity Pavilion in Auroville. The drawings of these were made as part of the college project upon returning back to the college. In Pondicherry they visited the French town. A walk around this area was organised and guided by a member of INTACH organisation. They also visited many building typical of the architecture of French town. Additionally they also visited some buildings of Architecural importance around Chennai like Mahabalipuram temple (Panch Rahta and Shore Temple), Dakshin Chitra, Aurobindo Hand Made Paper Factory.
Sequence of Events:
Day 1 (1st November, 2019) & Day 2 (2nd November, 2019) – Train Journey to Pondicherry
Our journey to southern region of India started from Chhtrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus.
Day 3 (3rd November, 2019)
On this day they reached Chennai railway station at early morning 4 a.m. From there they moved towards Pondicherry by bus. During this journey they took a break at Mahabali Puram and visit the beach. In Chennai – Pondicherry journey they visited the Aurobindo shanti place and museum. They reached at hotel Bon Sejour around 12.30 p.m. After lunch they visited the Auroville international zone, Visitor Center and pavilions in International zone.
Day 4 (4th November, 2019)
On this day the documentation of the SAWCHU Pavilion and Unity Pavilion. A brief discussion was organised with Ar. Sonali Phadnis who was the Architect who had designed the SAWCHU Pavilion. She gave a lecture on the idea behind the formation of Auroville and SAWCHU Pavilion.
Day 5 (5th November, 2019)
The documentation process continued till the afternoon. After lunch they visited the Matri Mandir which is main structure of auroville.
Day 6 (6th November, 2019)
After spending the entire two days for documentation the students visited different important buildings in pondicherry. They started their day with a heritage walk in French town in Pondicherry which was guided by Ar. Ashok from INTACH. He informed them about the planning of city, its history and architecture.
After lunch they visited the Shree Aurobindo paper making factory and learnt about the paper making process.
Day 7 (7th November, 2019)
On the way back from Pondicherry to Chennai, the students visited Mahabali Puram Temple, Pancha Ratha Temple and Dakshin chitra.
Day 8 (8th November, 2019)
On this day a guided walk was organised to visit many important colonial buildings in Chennai. After visiting this places the students began their return journey from the Chennai railway station.
