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India’s long and rich history of religious diversity is both well-known and highly complex.  Nearly equally well publicized is the juggernaut that is the Indian educational system. Popularly  known for producing stellar graduates in mathematics and the natural sciences, it also boasts the  third largest publicly funded higher education system in the world.  

During our month in India, the focus of our study will be threefold: education, religion, and  culture. Our study of the educational system will bring us into direct contact with a host of  educational settings from primary through collegiate in a variety of settings from a village of 2,000  people to a city of 21 million. We’ll study a host of religious traditions (Hinduism, Islam,  Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, Parsi, and Christianity) within a wide variety of their historical and  cultural settings. Our study will examine both individual traditions and the complex history of their  interaction. We’ll also examine how both education and religions interact with political, social, and  economic systems in historic and contemporary settings that contribute to Indian culture.  

Our study will take us from some of the world’s largest metropolises—Mumbai (aka  Bombay) and New Delhi—to remote Himalayan villages—McLeod Ganj—to cities, towns, and  villages in between. In Mumbai we’ll study Parsis with their dramatic Towers of Silence, which are  used in lieu of burial or cremation. Our travels will also lead us to southwestern India, to the  relaxed coastal setting of Goa, a state heavily influenced by 15th century Catholic Portuguese  settlers, to investigate the forms of Christianity spawned by these colonists and their interaction  with Indian religious and cultural forces. And, we’ll have the opportunity to see the “incorruptible  body” of Saint Francis Xavier (1506-1552, co-founder of the Jesuit order) whose remains are on  display in a glass coffin in the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa.  

Our study will also take us north to investigate exquisite examples of Islamic Mogul  architecture and religious syncretism, seen most dramatically in the Taj Mahal in Agra, as well as  in striking examples in a number of Rajasthani cities. We’ll also enjoy a camel ride in the desert  and a leopard safari and overnight stay in the Jawai nature preserve, visiting Jawai, India. In New  Delhi, we’ll tour the famous Islamic mosque, the Jama Masjid, as well as the vast Hindu Swami  Narayan temple complex, and include stops at important sites in the life of Mahatma Gandhi. While  in Agra, we’ll visit the incomparable Taj Mahal, known for its stunning elegance and beauty, as  well as the Red Fort. An investigation of Tibetan Buddhism in “Little Lhasa” (home of the Tibetan Government in Exile) located in the hill station of McLeod Ganj in the foothills of the Himalaya &  a visit Sikhism’s Golden Temple in Amritsar round out our stay in the far north.  

We’ll move between extremes not only in religious and cultural configurations but also in  terms of geography and climate as well. Please note that the itinerary is tentative, and locations are  subject to change. With significant walking required, this trip is recommended for hearty travelers  with intrepid curiosity and a real sense of adventure. 

• Friday, Jan. 2: Depart from SFO
• Saturday, Jan. 3: Arrive in Mumbai
• Jan. 3-4: Mumbai
  Tour of Mumbai (Bollywood, Gateway of India, Elephanta  Island)

Week 1

• Monday, Jan. 5: Ellora
  Tour of Buddhist caves and Kailash Temple (which took 6  generations to carve from a single rock hillside)
• Jan. 6-8: Goa
  Tour Goa: Bom Jesus & Se Cathedrals, Spice Farms,  Cultural Dance, time on beach
• Jan. 9-10: Chandelao
  Tours of Chandelao Village (pop. 2,000) and City of Jodhpur (tour of Mehrangarh Fort with ziplining over it)

Week 2

• Jan. 11-12: Jawai Nature Stay
  Leopard Safari (and birds and crocodiles)
• Jan. 13-15: Jaipur
  Tour of Pushkar Temple (with camel ride) enroute to  Jaipur, Amer Palace (with guided elephant ride), Hawa  Mahal, Jantar Mantar, Galtaji temple, shopping block printing fabrics
• Friday, Jan. 16: Agra
  Tour of Taj Mahal and Red Fort
• Jan. 17-18: Amritsar
  Tour of Sikhism’s Hari Mandir (Golden Temple),  Jallianwala Bagh, and Attari Flag Ceremony

Week 3

• Jan. 19-22: McLeod Ganj
  Tour Tibetan Community, Tsuglagkhang Temple  Complex, Bhagsunath Shiva Temple, water fall, Tibetan  Handicrafts collective
• Jan. 23-24: New Delhi
  Tour Raj Ghat, Gandhi Smriti, National Gandhi Museum,  Jama Masjid, Old Delhi, Akshardham Temple
• Sunday, Jan. 25: Depart from Delhi, Arrive at SFO

Course Fee: TBD
Learn about the Jan Term Travel Scholarship for additional funding.

The price includes:
Airfare, Local Transportation, Lodging, Meals, Excursions (e.g., museums, tours, etc.), Gratuity, Travel Insurance ($35/student - international classes only)

Estimated cost outside of course fee:
$400-500. A number of items are not included in the base price though primarily lunch (and meals on the train or in the air); personal expenses (laundry, beverages, telephone, etc.); any additional tip for our escort; camera fees at monuments; and any spending money for souvenirs. Also, students are responsible for the cost of any immunizations, medications, and visa requirements (visas are currently $25 for US Citizens).