Mini-Venture in South India offers participants an enriching experience while working with the country’s neediest, most destitute children – teaching conversational English, as well as educating them on topics such as personal hygiene and organizing such creative, extracurricular activities such as art.
Once participants have contributed to lives of the children, they will embark on a 4-day adventure, unveiling the mystery and beauty of such places as Bangalore, Nandhills, Bannnerghatta, Mysore, Belur, Halebidu, and Shravanabelagola.
PROGRAM
OUTLINE
Arrival:
Upon arrival: Airport reception,
transfer to youth hostel/host project/host
family, and rest
Day
1: Proceed to project site early
in the morning for orientation. Orientation
covers children's issues, field conditions,
host family conditions, safety issues, climate
expectations, working projects, and related
topics. Volunteer work begins.
Days 2-10: Volunteer work continues
for 9 days. After breakfast, volunteers
work in the orphanage or with the children’s
project. Tasks include teaching English
and playing games with the children, cleaning,
washing, helping the children with homework,
and extracurricular activities.
Days
11-14: Explore South India for 4 days
 The last 4 days of the
Mini-Adventure Program will take you to
Bangalore, Nandhills, Bannnerghatta, Mysore,
Belur, Halebidu and Shravanabelagola. You
will experience South India's rich past
and exciting future as you explore the unforgettable
panorama of unique sites shared with the
warm and friendly people found at every
corner of South India.
Day
11: Bangalore – Visit this
remarkable city known as the City of Gardens
and Indian Silicon Valley. Kempe Gowda built
the Bangalore Fort, and Tippu Sultan expanded
it. It houses the 16th century Ganapathi
Temple. Discover the Tippu Palace, famous
for its carvings and paintings. Enjoy the
Venkataramanaswamy Temple, which was built
in the 17th century as a splendid example
of Dravidian temple architecture; Lal Bagh,
the botanical gardens laid out by Hyder
Ali; the Bull Temple with a giant Nandi;
and the Gangadhareshware, or “Cave
Temple.” Also explore the Dharmaraja
Temple, the Ravindra Kalakshetra built to
commemorate Rabindranath Tagore's centenary,
St. Mary's Church, and the marvelous Gandhi
Bhavan. Visit the famous racecourse here
and the picturesque picnic spot of Ulsoor
Lake. Also see Vidhana Soudha, a fascinating
neo-Dravidian granite building near Cubbon
Park.
Day 12: Nandi Hills: A small hill
station about 60 kilometers from Bangalore,
this was a popular summer retreat of both
Tipu Sultan and the British, and it is located
4,850 feet above sea level
Day
13: Belur – Halebid: Belur
is situated on the quiet banks of the Yagachi
River. The nearby Chennakesava Temple is
a display of one of the greatest monuments
of medieval art in India. An outstanding
example of Indian temple architecture is
found in Halebid. The Hoysaleshwara Temple’s
entire surface is covered with a succession
of friezes running its entire length, featuring
elephants, lions, horsemen, and an incredible
display of celestial beasts and birds. View
the illuminated City Palace of Mysore. Stay
overnight at Mysore
Shravanabelagola: Situated almost
51 kilometers southeast of Hassan, this
is one of the most revered Jain pilgrimage
centers in the world. It boasts of a 17-meter-high
monolith of Lord Bahubali, the world's tallest
monolithic statue. Thousands of devotees
gather here to perform the Mahamastakabhisheka,
a spectacular ceremony held once every 12
years when the 1,000-year-old statue is
anointed with milk, curds, ghee, saffron,
and gold coins
 Day
14: Mysore - Often known as City
of Palaces, lavish Mysore Palace was built
in 1912 by the Wodeyars in the Indo-Saracenic
style. Its highlights are the Golden Royal
Elephant Throne, the Durbar Hall, the Kalyana
Mandap, and the Gallery. The gothic-style
St. Philomena's Church, with its beautiful
stained-glass windows, is one of the largest
churches in the country. The monolith of
Nandi Bull on the slopes of Chamundi Hills
is a fitting introduction to the massive
2,000-year-old Chamundeswari Temple. Also
visit the Brindavan Gardens with its musical
fountains and colorful lights.
*The proposed itinerary is a sample and is subject to change to meet the changes in the local field conditions.
| Ongoing
Volunteer program in South India |
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