Rajasthan Culture Week in India, Udaipur

We highly recommend you start your trip with a comprehensive cultural immersion week followed by one of our community projects. It will help you settle in by meeting new people and understanding great aspects about the country you are visiting. Search other activities for week two onward in the ‘Related trips‘ section.

Welcome to the city of Lakes!
This program is individually designed to immerse you into the culture of Rajasthan and lets you the opportunity to experience the lifestyle and culture of this beautiful city of Udaipur. This will be a very important step that will prepare you for your stay in India. Loads of new things will be introduced to you and it will be the time to ask all your questions about the programs, the organisation, the country, the culture and anything else that might come to your mind.

To make your week memorable and informative we have lined up a list of activities. There will be language lessons, cooking classes, yoga sessions, sightseeing tours, visits to authentic Indian restaurants, workshops that will introduce you to the culture, visits to our project locations and much more!

Aims & Objectives
The purpose of this program is to help you get an understanding of the manners, norms, and etiquette that is inherent in Indian society as well as show you around and introduce you to your new surroundings.

Schedule
Monday
8.30 – 9:00 – Breakfast
9:30 – 12:15 – Overview of program and culture shock. Introduction to India including culture, caste system and religions in general. Discussion on Dos and Don’ts and House Rules.
13.00 – 14:00 – Lunch at the Centre
15.00 – 20:00 – Visit the City Centre. Visit the famous city place of Udaipur, Jagadish temple and witness a local cultural dance performance
20:30 – 21:00 – Dinner at the centre

Tuesday
7:00 – 8:00 – Yoga
8:30 – 9:00 – Breakfast at the centre
10:00 – 12:30 – Hindi Language Lesson (Alphabets, sentences, phrases, names of fruits and vegetables, numbers). A short break to learn to make Indian Chai (tea)
13:00 – 14:00 – Lunch at the centre
15:00 – 18:00 – Visit a Rajasthani Art School to learn traditional painting
18:30 – 19:15 – Dinner at the centre
19:30 – 20:30 – A workshop introducing previous participants to new participants

Wednesday
8:30 – 9:00 – Breakfast at the centre
9:15 -10:15 – Visit a local vegetable market & vegetable Shopping
10:30 – 12:45 – Join a practical session of Indian Cooking
13:00 – 14:00 – Lunch at the centre
14:30 – 18:00 – Visit beautiful Badi lake and Fateh Sagar Lake
18:30 – 19:15 – Dinner at the centre

Thursday
7:00 – 08:00 – Yoga
8:30 – 09:15 – Breakfast at the centre
10:00 – 12:30 – Learn pottery with local craftsmen of Udaipur
13:00 – 14:00 – Lunch at the centre
15:00 – 17:00 – Go on a scenic boat ride in Lake Pichola and witness the panoramic city view of Udaipur from atop a hill
18:30 – 19:15 – Dinner at the centre

Friday
8:00 – 8:45 – Breakfast
9:00 – 12:00 – Project Visit (Learn about all the Project and meet to school children and Teachers)
13:00 – 14:00 – Enjoy a Special Rajasthani Thali Lunch at one of the famous authentic restaurants in Udaipur
14:30 – 17:00 – Visit Monsoon Palace which is also known as Sajjangarh Palace (Hilltop palatial Residence In Udaipur)
18:30 – 19:30 – Dinner At the centre
20:00 – 22:30 – Enjoy a Bollywood Movie at the centre

This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.

Criminal Records Check
We require you to complete a criminal records check in order to take part in this experience. We can accept those that have been done in the last two years if you have the certificate. In the UK it can be done through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), in the USA further details can be found on Travel.State.Gov, otherwise please search for your local service provider. We may also request a reference from a reliable source. You must supply these to us before departure and also take a copy with you to present to the in-country team.

Why do we require a criminal background check?
1) Ensuring a safe environment is conducive to learning, productivity and overall positive experiences for everyone involved.

2) We implement thorough screening processes and we are committed to safety and integrity, fostering trust among participants and the local community.

3) Conducting background checks serves as a preventive measure, deterring individuals with questionable backgrounds from attempting to participate in our programme.

4) Safeguards vulnerable people from potential harm within the programme.

Start dates are every week of the year with your activities starting on a Monday. We therefore request you arrive anytime on the Sunday before to receive a free airport pick-up and transfer. Early or late arrivals will incur an additional charge for the transfer and extra night including food, so arriving on the Sunday will be your better option.

Your trip will finish on the Saturday morning when you will need to vacate the accommodation, unless you are continuing onto another project with us.

Please also note that India is known for it’s festivals, so during some periods of your trip this may disrupt normal schedules. However, our in-country team are there to make sure you are kept busy and enjoying all aspects of your India experience.

Udaipur
The Royal city of Udaipur located in the state of Rajasthan is commonly called the Venice of the East and nicknamed ‘the city of lakes’ is located in the princely state of Rajasthan. Primarily known for its art and architecture, it has temples dating as far back as 950 AD and palaces dating back to the Rajput era. Fans of The Jungle Book and James Bond films may recognize Udaipur as the birthplace of Bagheera and the location for the Roger Moore starrer Octopussy. Drawing several million tourists a year, it has loads to offer in terms of art, architecture, culture and cuisine. With all of this and more, Udaipur is one of the cities everyone should visit at least once in their lives.

Accommodation & Food
About the Accommodation
There is a mini library where you can read, a beautiful garden with a lawn to relax in and dining and living room areas where you can hang out with fellow participants.

Available Room Types

* Three meals per day during weekdays and two per day on weekends
** Water, tea, coffee and milk
*** At an additional fee
**** Only mosquito repellent is provided.

Food Arrangements
The meals are a mix of Western and Indian food, consisting mainly of vegetarian dishes including rice and vegetables. You can expect to have a chicken dish about twice per week. You can also use the kitchen facilities to cook for yourself or eat out at any of the local restaurants.

Facilities
Our house is located seven kilometres away from the city centre, where you can find anything you might need.

The nearest ATM and supermarket are located 2 Km from our accommodation, we can help you get there and return.

Mandatory Orientation Day
On the Monday of your first week at this location, you will join our orientation day, to familiarise you with the surroundings as well as local culture. Your program will continue as usual from Tuesday onward throughout the rest of the week.

Schedule

• Welcome, introduction to India, House rules, Code of Conduct and handling of documents
• Witness a Rajasthani cultural dance concert
• Visit the local market, and a few supermarkets located close to our center. You can also utilize this time of the day to exchange your currency or purchase any of the essential items you might need during your stay.

Activities & Events
No scheduled activities outside the program.

Sights & Surroundings
Jaisalmer, a gigantic sandcastle that remains inhabited and has mesmerised people from all over the world. With ninety-nine bastions, the castle encircles shops, a palace and more.
Pushkar, a Hindu pilgrimage town that is set around a holy late and home to one of the few Brahma temples, over fifty bathing ghats and over 400 temples. The main street is a long bazaar, where you can find any souvenir you can think of to bring back home.
Jodhpur, dubbed “The Blue City” for its blue-tinted edifices, Jodhpur is considered an architectural masterpiece due to its ever-photogenic streets and Mehrangarh, a magnificent fort that towers over the town.
Jaipur, a colorful and flamboyant city made famous by the Hawa Mahal, a pink-toned building that towers over the main bazaar and was historically built for royal women to be able to see festivals without being on the streets.
Ajmer, famous for its Islamic heritage and for containing one of India’s most important Muslim pilgrimage centers. In Ajmer, you’ll be able to find examples of Muslim architecture such as the Jain golden temples.

Transportation
From this location we do not provide free transport to other locations.

Accommodation
Volunteer camp with shared rooms (2-8 people per room); Basic but comfortable; Shared toilet and shower facilities; Communal areas for socialising and relaxation designed with an authentic Indian style; internet access and use of a TV with international cable channels; Single and double rooms may also be available – contact us.

Food
3 meals a day are provided on weekdays, and then 2 meals per day on weekends; Basic but nutritious vegetarian meals are provided. Meals are of a typical Indian fare.

Airport Transfer
Included on arrival date. Ask us for details if you are arriving early/late. You be supported at the end of your trip in your onward travel.

Training
A full orientation and project induction takes place. You will also receive full training relevant to your volunteer role.

Support
Pre-departure help and advice; Local in-country team; 24 hour emergency support.

Donation
Part of your fee is used to buy decent equipment for the project and community you work with. If you wish to bring further donation, please make sure that this is in the form of equipment and not monetary donations.

Flights; Travel Insurance; Visas; Vaccinations; Spending money; In country travel; Laundry service; Extra activities not on itinerary; Departure transfer.

Preferred Duration
This is a one week trip only to help you settle into a new culture and get to know people in a similar situation to you. We would encourage you to join one of our community projects after this cultural immersion week and participate in a worthwhile activity that you will remember for years to come.

Pre-requisites
No prior experience or qualifications are required, but an interest in understanding a new culture and actively getting involved with it. Participants will also require a CRB/DBS check in order to take part in the project.

Ideal for
Cultural experience abroad, community projects in India, settling into a new culture, Indian cultural experience, those on a gap year, student holiday or career break that want to experience India and it’s amazing people and culture.

Suitable for ages 17 to 80

Most participants are between 18 and 25, so please be aware of this. Those under 18 will need to provide parental consent. We do welcome older people because of the value and experience they bring to the community.