India – Heart of the Himalayas

Days 1-2: Travelers typically arrive at the Delhi airport very late (10pm to midnight) the night before the official start date of the trip, or they land very early on the morning of the start date of the trip (between 1am to 6am). You’ll be met at the airport by a staff member who will be holding a Discover Corps sign. They’ll take you to our hotel to rest, freshen up and eat. We will have a brief welcome and overview of the trip itinerary for the next two weeks. That same day, we'll depart for Amritsar, the spiritual and cultural center of the Sikh religion – and don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of time to rest on the drive up. We'll travel in our new, air-conditioned vans through Northern India, arriving in Amritsar in time for dinner and a demonstration of Bhangra, the local dance. The next day, we’ll visit the famous Golden Temple – a sacred site for the Sikh religion that is entirely covered in gold. From there, we’ll head to Dharamsala and arrive in the afternoon, in time for lunch.   Dharamsala – The Spiritual Mecca of India Dharamsala is a stunning town at the base of the Himalayas in the North of India. Incredible views of mountains scraping the sky combine with the scents and sounds of bustling local markets. The Discover Corps Home Base is situated here largely to take advantage of the unique cultural dynamics and proximity to the seat of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in exile. Monks walk gracefully through the narrow village streets past the art galleries and small shops that we visit along the way. Natural beauty surrounds this town- it is a jumping off point for mountain trekking and many Himalayan expeditions. In the afternoons, we'll learn about the local culture, meet people from our village and delve into the traditional way of living. Such things as homemade herbal shampoos and soaps, and homemade bread are sustainable living trends back home, but have been part of traditional Indian culture for hundreds of years. You'll have the chance to try your hand at all of these. Evenings are reserved for discussion, relaxation and reflection. Enjoy a traditional Indian style dinner cooked by the local Home Base staff while reminiscing in the day’s activities. Most evenings will feature a guest speaker from a local non-profit or leader in the community. Topics range from social issues in the world’s most second most populous country to progressive solutions to poverty and conflict. Day 3: Our Home Base is a heritage hotel tucked away in a private estate in Dharamsala. It is owned by the King and Queen of Kangra. We’ll use this time to focus on getting oriented to the trip and to our Himalayan home of Dharamsala. This mountain town is the center of the Tibetan exile community in India. Following the 1959 Tibetan uprising against China, there was an influx of Tibetan refugees who followed the Dalai Lama here. Dharamsala literally means, “Pilgrim’s rest house” or “Spiritual dwelling.” We’ll visit several places of interest around town and also discuss the logistics for our service project. Days 4-9: Today, we begin our community project in Dharamsala. We will engage with school children in different settings, teaching them various subjects, including English and math, as well as sharing our culture with them. During part of the year, we will work at day care centers for families living below the poverty line. These families cannot afford preschool and have no place to send their children while they work low wage jobs. These day care centers are usually run by one teacher and one assistant, and they manage a large number of children with minimal resources. They welcome our assistance in teaching kids through educational games and informal learning activities. When school children are on vacation, we volunteer at a village camp running sports programming and craft projects. We’ll also have the opportunity to design and implement dance and theater activities. Juggling these rewarding projects throughout the trip will give us a glimpse into the lives of the region’s people. Our Indian Home Base   In Dharamsala, the Discover Corps Home Base is a large private villa outside of town that is owned by the King and Queen of Kangra. The Himalayan Mountains rise tall in the distance while fresh mountain air fills the Home Base each day. It is a sprawling estate set amongst beautiful natural scenery and is close to the village center. There are double and single options for rooming each with private bathrooms and showers.  In Delhi, we’ll stay at a hotel. Outside Agra, we’ll spend a night at a royal palace converted into a hotel. Meals will be hearty and healthy, locally-grown, consisting of meats, beans, lentils, rice, chapatti, vegetables, and Tibetan food. Afternoons will revolve around learning about the local culture and traditions of the community. We’ll have a workshop with Dr. Sharma, who will teach us about Ayurvedic medicine, a unique form of natural medicine that comes from Ayurveda, one of India's oldest traditions.  We'll also focus on Tibetan culture and visit the Tibetan Government in-Exile. We'll make a visit the Kangra Fort, the largest fort in the Himalayas and one of the oldest forts in India. This used to be a bastion of strength in the area, and has now been fully restored to its former glory. Days 10-12: We'll continue helping out on our community service projects. During this time, we will assess the impact of our work on the community, bid farewell to our newly found local friends, and give a brief presentation about our experiences. When not working with the community, we will visit bustling local markets, learn how to cook traditional Indian fare and make handicrafts from local materials.  We will also pay a visit to the temple of the Dalai Lama. On our last night in Dharamsala, we'll have a celebratory farewell dinner. We’ll depart Dharamsala and take our vans back to Delhi, stopping along the way for lunch and arriving in time for dinner. Enjoy the sights and sounds of India as you pass through the country’s vast countryside. Day 13: We’ll depart Delhi early in the morning in order to take in the majestic Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before the sun gets too strong. The Taj Mahal is considered to be the finest example of Mughal architecture, which combines Persian, Islamic and Indian styles. Take in the breathtaking views of this ivory colored temple which is one of the most recognizable and iconic locations in India. After lunch, we’ll head back to Delhi and arrive in time for dinner. Day 14: Travellers will depart at different times during the day. Most travellers will leave in the evening, so we’ll use the day for last minute shopping. You’ll visit one of the oldest surviving markets in the world, sitting side-by-side with modern multi-storied shopping malls before boarding your flights to return home.