Footloose India

Helping communities in India is a fantastic way to give something back to the country you’re visiting and there are a host of worthwhile projects you can get involved in. Here are just a few things to think about if you want to include this kind of initiative on your travels.

Where can I help?

As you might expect, there are lots of communities in India that can benefit from a bit of assistance and you’ll be able to choose from projects in various locations all over the country.
Jaipur, Goa, Kerala and the Himalayas are just a few of your options, so you’ll have plenty of choice about where you spend your time working in India.

You’ll also be able to pick between helping in local schools, doing outreach projects within the area you are based or assisting on building schemes to ensure people have clean, hygienic and well-constructed homes.

If you have experience in a particular discipline, it’s a good idea to go for an initiative where your expertise can be put to good use! Similarly, if you think you might want to train as a teacher, for instance, it’s certainly not going to hurt to spend time working with kids and improving their education.

How long do the projects last?

You’ll usually be able to work on community initiatives in India for anywhere between two and 12 weeks, giving you plenty of flexibility about where you go and how long you stay.
As India’s such a vast country with so many contrasting landscapes, you may decide you want to assist in more than one place, travelling in between. This is not only a great way to see a bit more of this incredible nation, but it also gives you a unique opportunity to really get under the skin of the places you visit.

What will be included as part of the work?

When you book on to a scheme to work abroad, you’ll usually have your accommodation and food provided for you for the duration of your trip. Pick up from the nearest airport is also part of the service in many cases, while you’ll have a team of permanent staff on hand to help you settle in.

Don’t worry that you’ll be busy every day; you’ll have plenty of free time in which to explore your new surroundings. Many of the projects that focus on schools or children’s homes will only operate Monday to Friday, so you’ll be able to spend your weekends visiting the local sights or simply enjoying time with your new friends.

When to travel

When you should visit India will largely depend on whereabouts you are planning to go, as the weather varies massively from the north to the south of the nation.
That means it’s vital you do your research to find out the best time of year to suit you. Contact the operator of the project to see if there are certain periods when they especially need volunteers and check out what other travellers have said about the climate in the destination you’ve chosen.

Cultural differences

While India is a wonderful place to visit, it is worth noting there are some areas where it’s best to cover up. Certain parts of the country are still quite conservative, especially where women are concerned, so it’s sensible to wear tops with sleeves that cover your shoulders and upper arms, as well as long skirts or trousers rather than shorts.

You might also want to carry a headscarf with you in case you visit any locations where you’re required to cover your hair.

Meanwhile, if you’re dining with the locals, you’ll probably be using your hands rather than cutlery. Make sure you wash your hands thoroughly both before and after your meal and only use your right hand – even if you’re naturally left handed – to pick up your food.

If you enjoy seeing strange mixes of culture in architecture or routines, then Goa offers an incredibly interesting trip. Goa is especially different from other areas in India since it was once a Portuguese colony. Today it benefits from an attractive variety of cultural heritage that has resulted in it becoming a prime tourist hub in the country. However, despite the beautiful architecture in its capital Panaji, Goa is most widely known for its awesome beaches. So, we’re going to give you a little list of some of the best beaches Goa has to offer.

Palolem Beach is probably one of the most popular of the Goan beaches for backpackers. It’s shaped like a crescent and the sands are soft to the touch. You can find cheap hotels, but many prefer to stay in the coco huts that are set up every year. The scene is calm, although it’s growing in popularity. Luckily for the sleepers, the rowdy nightlife is quarantined on the southern stretch of beach. Palolem Beach is the furthest south of Goan seashore.

Anjuna Beach was the home of the hippies, many of whom would arrive via the Hippie Trail. Nowadays their mark has been left on the popular scene, and every Wednesday there’s a crowded flea market along the beach as well as blasting trance music. Nearby you can find the Chapora Fort and Albuquerque Mansion. Anjuna, along with Calangute Beach, is one of the beaches you’ll want to check out to get an idea of what it must have been like during the hippy exodus years.

Calangute Beach is probably the most popular beach in Goa. It used to be more tranquil, but these days it’s incredibly crowded with national and international tourists alike. This is the beach to check out if you want a crazy time and lots of crowds. Being the most commercial of all Goan beaches, you’ll find tons of sun tanning beds lined up one after the other. Where Calangute Beach finishes, Baga Beach begins. In Baga you can find all water sport activities and a heck of a lot of nightlife options. These beaches also have the best fine dining.

Chapora Beach is where you’ll find the trance parties that you might have associated with a trip to Goa. All night rave parties are common, especially in Disco Valley. You’ll notice that the beach is divided into three sections, one dominated by Indians, one by Italians and one by Israelis. The drastic cliff that terminates where the sand begins makes this one of the more aesthetically pleasing beaches in Goa.

Mandrem Beach is in the far north of Goa, along the coast of the village of the same name. This beach is different from the rest in that it is where you go to get away not only from the noise, but from tourist facilities as well. You won’t find many hotels here. For big resorts make sure to check out Morbor, Varca and Cavelossim beaches. Mandrem Beach is for feeling tranquil with the sea and the surrounds. There’s also a nearby Portuguese Fort.

Ladakh is India’s slice of Tibet. It lies in the extreme north west of India, bordering Tibet to the north and Pakistan to the west. Geographically it is north of the principal chain of the High Himalayas, thus for the most part in the rain shadow, hence relatively little rain penetrates from the monsoonal cycle to the south though violent storms, cloud bursts and flash floods do take place especially at the beginning of the rainy season south of the Himalayas.

Video features barley water mill, milling tsampa. Ingeniously set to grind only few grains at a time, the water mill is located in an isolated and desolate landscape of high altitude desert, far away from a nearest house.

Following are some of the hotels we recommend to use on our popular RUSTIC RAJASTHAN itinerary

Delhi: Imperial Hotel
www.theimperialindia.com/
Imperial room

Agra: ITC Mughal Sheraton
www.itcwelcomgroup.in
Mughal Chamber

Samode: Samode Palace
www.samode.com/
Deluxe room

Jaipur: Hotel Devi Ratn
www.deviresorts.in
Executive suite

Jodhpur: Hotel Raas
www.raasjodhpur.com
Luxury Room

Nimaj Chhtrasagar Camp
chhatrasagar.com/
Deluxe Tent

Deogarh: Deogarh Mahal
www.deogarhmahal.com/
Deluxe room

Udaipur: Taj Lake Palace
www.tajhotels.com/
Luxury room

Over the course of the last nearly 10 days there have been road blocks on the Agra / Sawaimadhopur and Agra / Jaipur routes due to an agitation by the local community of Gujjars who are protesting for an increase in India’s Government job quota for their community. The agitation started Sunday December 19 when their community people blocked the rail tracks which then extended to the National Highway 11 which connects Agra / Jaipur, Agra / Sawaimadhoupur / Ranthambore etc.

The trains on that line are still not operating. Therefore any clients traveling to or from Sawaimadhopur (en route to Ranthambore National Park) would not be able to take the trains. For this reason we are operating on alternate routes for travel between Agra and Jaipur and v.v. as well as Agra/Sawaimadhopur.

We are sending Cars as follows:
Agra – Jaipur route: Agra – Fatehpur Sikri – Bharatpur – Mahua – Balahedi – Abhaneri – Sikandra – Dausa – Jaipur. Total distance 285 Km, approx. 07 Hrs (Jaipur to Agra & Agra to Jaipur). This route allows us to bypass the troubled area where the road is blocked. The extra distance is only 35 Kms, leading through villages following single lane road.

We are sending our ACC Coaches as per the following Route:
i) Agra – Jaipur (Agra – Fatehpur Sikri – Bharatpur – Deeg – Alwar – Jaipur); Total 320Km/07Hrs (Jaipur to Agra & Agra to Jaipur)
“alternatively”
ii) Agra – Jaipur (Agra – Fatehpur Sikri – Bharatpur – Nadbai – Khelndi – Rajgarh – Bandiqui – Sikandra – Jaipur); Total 325 Km/07 Hrs (Jaipur to Agra & Agra to Jaipur).

We assess current situation & the day of closure in various towns by Gujjar community is taken in to account, and than only one of the two routes above is suggested. In both of these routes almost 90 minutes of extra driving time is required with almost 70 Kms extra is involved.