At A Glance Highlights Overview Description Itinerary Need To Know!

India, Asia -
Namaste

teen community service Trip AND cultural immersion program

June 24 - July 21, 2018

Call for Availability 773-342-5200

Length: 28 Days

Completing Grades: 9-12

Service Hours: 72-80

Destination: Delhi, India

Tuition: $6,795

We travel to India on a 28-day community service trip and cultural immersion program to spend time in the mountainous northern regions of the country as well as to explore some of the oldest and most culturally rich cities in the world.

I learned the true meaning of Namaste. "Not for me... but for thee." The sense of doing 'in service' or 'in honor' of the people we were there to help, removing any personal agenda of my own.

We work side-by-side the dedicated monks at the Buddhist Institute, high in the Himalayas, providing much needed assistance. The institute cares for a number of children – many traveling long distances from remote villages – for the opportunity of an education. Our time at the institute is spiritually, culturally, and politically rich; we live alongside the monks and the children they care for and gain a deep appreciation of their lives.

We explore the Himalayas with the trek of a lifetime to the top of the world, experience colorful city life in Varanasi, and witness sunrise at the Taj Mahal.

Keep scrolling to discover more about our teen community service trip and cultural immersion program in India, designed especially to challenge and inspire teenagers!

Questions about this trip?

Call Laura at 773-342-5200
or just drop us a line!

Highlights

India // You Don't Want to Miss...

#1 Varanasi

“Older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together” – Mark Twain. This colorful city boasts a rich history and looks out over the Ganges River. As you walk through Varanasi you'll pass colorful booths and tapestries and get a taste of city life.

#2 Oracle

Spirit worship is one of the most ancient beliefs in India. With a complex system of rituals, it can be traced back to the tribal era. Experience the "oracle", spirit, deity, or entity that temporarily possesses or enters men and women who act as spiritual mediums between the phenomenal natural world and the subtle spiritual realms.

#3 Taj Mahal

Built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, the Taj Mahal is the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage.

#4 Spice Market

Delhi's bustling spice and bazaar market is well worth a visit to experience the centuries old sights and smells. Huge sacks of herbs are stacked on long narrow barrows with hundreds of refined, local, and exotic spices rich in color and smell.

#5 "Land of the Gods" Trek the Himalayas

Rising to towering heights, the snow-covered Himalayan Mountains vary from dense forest landscapes and fertile plains to high desert valleys. "Dev Bhumi", the ancient name for the Himalayas, is not ill-conceived, as the Himalayas sport towering peaks, glaciers, and vast valleys so breathtaking they're considered the abode of the gods.

#6 Ladakh

A destination to feed the soul and enrich the senses, Ladakh is set among the beauty of the Himalayan mountains. The scenic splendor of the soaring peaks, pristine valleys, and vibrant cultural life makes Ladakh one of the last and best undiscovered destinations.

#7 Prayer Wheels

Buddhist teachers and ancient texts reveal the profound benefits of the prayer wheel. To quickly harmonize the environment, increase compassion, encourage a peaceful state of mind, and assist practitioners with their journey to enlightenment, Buddhists recite the six-syllable mantra – om mani padme hum – while turning the wheel.

#8 Gandhi's Resting Place

Gandhi was cremated on January 31, 1948 in Delhi, India, where a memorial was built to the father of the nation. Raj Ghat is a simple square platform with a black memorial stone with “Hey Ram” inscribed on it, meaning “Oh God”, as they were the last words uttered by the Mahatma before passing.

#9 Mani Stones

Mani stones are carved with the Sanskrit mantra om mani padme hum. In Tibet, this six-syllable mantra can be found on prayer flags and prayer wheels, but most spectacularly it is carved onto the rocks and stones that decorate the landscape.

#10 Morning Yoga and Mantras

Each morning begins with the resonating chants of monks and villagers. Young disciples can be seen learning mantras under the strict tutelage of senior monks. The practice especially informs one of ego and of a separate self.

#11 Agra Fort

Most people visit Agra to see the Taj Mahal but never see the Agra Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site and once the capital of India. Shah Jahan, imprisoned by his son, is said to have died in the Musamman Burj, tower of the fort, looking out at the Taj Mahal.

#12 Butter Tea and Teachings with Monks, Scholars, Doctors and Shamans

Enjoy the drink of the people of the Himalayas. Butter tea is made from tea leaves, yak butter, water, and salt. According to Tibetan custom, after each sip the host refills the bowl to the brim; thus, the guest never drains his bowl.

#13 Jama Masjid

The largest mosque in India with a courtyard capable of holding 25,000 devotees, Jama Masjid is the final architectural extravagance of Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor who built the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort.

#14 Hemis and Thiksey Monasteries

The Hemis Monastery hosts a festival dedicated to Lord Padmasambhava (Buddha reincarnate). The festival consists of dance performances and other sacred rituals. Their observance is believed to give spiritual strength and good health.

#15 Hemis Festival

#16 AARTI Ceremony

The aarti ceremony, performed by young pandits draped in saffron-colored robes with puja plates, commences with the blowing of a conch shell and waving of incense sticks in elaborate patterns. The circling of large flaming lamps creates a bright hue against the darkened sky with the scent of heady sandalwood saturating the air.

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Overview

72-80 Community Service Hours

Ngari Institute of Buddhist Dialectics

A Certificate of Community Service indicating the total number of hours worked and a Presidential Volunteer Service Award will be issued upon successful completion of the program.

Activities

Trek: Stok Nala, Himalayas
Explore: Leh, New Delhi, Varanasi, Agra
Tour: Taj Mahal (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Agra Fort
Cultural Experience: Oracle, Hemis Festival, Aarti Ceremony on the Ganges River, Teachings from a Buddhist Scholar and Musical Historian, Spice Market, Gandhi Memorial, Jama Masjid and Hindu Temple exploration
Classes: Morning Yoga

Completing Grades

9-12

Days

Tuition (Airfare and baggage fees not included)

$6,795

Accommodations

With the exception of the trek, we stay in hotels. Showers are available at the hotels; however, we shower every three to four days to conserve resources and support sustainability. Toilets will vary between western and old style toilets. During the five-day day trek we sleep in tents and use backcountry bathrooms.

Arrive/Depart

Newark, NJ (EWR)

A leader escorted round-trip flight is available (but not required) for those travelers who wish to fly with a leader.

Additional in-country group flight is required and is not included in tuition.

Social Media

Join in on the fun! Check out #NAMASTERLT for a behind-the-scenes look at photos from past participants and leaders.

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Description

Traveling cross-country into the northernmost reaches of India, we arrive at Ladakh and explore this seldom visited region. We experience first-hand its rich cultural and religious history.

In the city of Leh, we find ourselves in one of the rare places where traditional Tibetan Buddhism is still practiced. Here, daily life is infused with symbols and rituals, chortens (reliquaries) are scattered across the landscape, and colorful lungtas (Tibetan prayer flags) flutter from rooftops and mountain passes. The Buddhist mantra om mani padme humis is found written on rocks and mani prayer walls line the streets.

As we acclimate to the elevation of the Tibetan plateau, we explore monasteries, sharing tea with monks and conversing with local doctors, Buddhist scholars, and shamans.

During our residency at the Buddhist Institute, high in the Himalayas, we spend nine days working side-by-side the monks, improving the facilities at the institute while also helping with the care of the children who live there. These 45 children, ranging in age from 6 to 12, come from the remote villages of Changthang, Nubra, and Zanskar, where there are no schools.

The snow-covered mountains rise to towering heights, and it becomes clear the region’s ancient name Dev Bhumi, which means “Land of the Gods,” is no misnomer. We trek through the Himalayas alongside packhorses to stunning vistas where we commune on the roof of the world.

Our adventure takes us to India’s fascinating capital, Delhi. We hear stories and look beyond the frenzied facade to find a city rooted deep with history and human diversity. We head to Jama Masjid, the spice market, and visit Gandhi’s final resting place.

We board an evening train to Varanasi—one of the holiest cities in India and Hinduism’s most important pilgrimage site.

We see the soul of India through an emotive traditional aarti ceremony in which incense, flowers, and lit candles are balanced on fragile lilies and released into the water. The brilliant light show of prayer offerings on the banks of the Ganges River at sunset is an unforgettable experience.

A train ride to Agra culminates our adventure with a misty sunrise view of the heartbreakingly exquisite Taj Mahal before returning home.

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Itinerary

Arrival (Days 1-3):

Once gathered up in Newark, NJ, board the flight for Delhi. Arrive in India the next day to rest before heading up to Leh.

Orientation (Days 4-5):

Visit monasteries, gompas, palaces and markets in Leh. Acclimate before beginning service work.

Community Service Project & Festival Experience (Days 6-16):

Settle into new home at the Ngari Institute of Buddhist Dialectics. Work side by side with the monks to help build and improve conditions at the institute, help with the children in residence, enjoy a traditional ladakhi dinner with a local family, attend the Hemis Festival, and visit an oracle.

Himalayan Trek (Days 17-21):

Trek through the awe-inspiring Himalayan Mountains. Climb from Stok to Changma, passing by the base of Mount Matho La and up over Matho Pass at 16,000 feet.

Delhi & Varanasi (Days 22-25):

Hop on a morning flight to Delhi in time for a stop at a spice market and a city tour, including a visit to the Gandhi Memorial and Jama Masjid. Take the night train east to Varanasi to experience the sacred aarti ceremony on the historical Ganges, yoga and musical history of Varanasi classes, and concerts.

Taj Mahal (Day 26):

After a nighttime train ride, visit the Taj Mahal just as the sun rises over its pearl white domes – a sight for all travelers to see in India!

Homeward Bound (Days 27-28):

The trip home begins with a train ride back to Delhi. Time for some exploration at the Janpath market, before boarding the group flight back to the U.S. to say our final goodbyes.

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Need To Know!

International Traveler’s Health

The Road Less Traveled does not require any vaccinations or immunizations to travel with us, other than an up-to-date tetanus shot or booster (within the last nine years).

Please visit the CDC’s website to read more about recommended vaccinations for travel to India. The decision to get some, none, or all of the recommended vaccinations is a personal one, and should be discussed with your family doctor.

Packing List

Please click below to view your program’s equipment and packing list!

India: Namaste Packing List - 2018 list coming soon!

Day-To-Day Calendar

To receive an emailed copy of this program’s day-to-day calendar, please call our office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. CST at 773-342-5200, and we’ll happily send you one!

General Travel Info

It is imperative that no one make any travel arrangements until RLT provides instructions for specific arrival and departure time windows. Those details are typically released in mid-spring.

Families are individually responsible for booking their own airfare to get their student from home to the starting destination on the first day of the trip, and from the ending destination back home on the last day of the trip.

In-country flight will be booked and invoiced by RLT, in addition to the tuition.

This program offers an optional leader-escorted flight for those families who are interested.

If you wish to have your participant fly directly into the starting location, please call the office for details.

"India: Namaste" is a program that requires a Tourist Visa. We will provide directions to our clients on how to apply for the necessary visa at the appropriate time of year (usually mid-spring).