The topography of Auroville consists primarily of a gentle, undulating plateau. Its highest point is located near the center of the township (around the Matrimandir) at an elevation of approximately 32 meters (105 feet) above sea level. From the center, the land gradually slopes downward in all directions, descending toward the sea to the east.
Historically, severe water runoff carved deep erosion gullies and canyons into the laterite soil. Topographical management—including the extensive construction of bunds, check dams, and catchments—has largely stabilized these features, integrating them into a comprehensive rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge system.