Himalayan Gap offers a ten-week core
program that includes Hindi language lessons, yoga lessons, Indian
classical dance and music lessons, and volunteering opportunities.
During the last week of the program, students spend a week visiting the
cultural and historical sites in the cities of Agra, Khajuraho, and
Jaipur.
Himalayan Gap has decided to incorporate a
shorter summer program to enable high school students to avail this
opportunity. We will have two four-week summer programs in June and
July 2010. The June summer program will follow the structure of the gap
core-program for the first three weeks. In the last week, students will
trek to the Valley of Flowers in the Garhwal Himalayas. In July, we
have planned a special four-week Ladakh cultural immersion program
which will include rafting and trekking. Please direct
any questions to info@himalayangap.com. More Information >
Hindi
Hindi is one of
the most widely spoken languages in South Asia and is the national
language of India. Although it is predominantly a North Indian
language, people throughout the subcontinent speak it as a second or
third language.
At Himalayan
Gap, we believe that to learn the Hindi language, it is very important
to understand the culture of North India that is behind it. We
therefore offer yoga, Indian classical music, and community service
opportunities alongside the Hindi program. While yoga and Indian
classical music will help you understand the rich cultural heritage
that India is gifted with, volunteering in the villages allows you to
partake in the life led by more than 70% of the Indian population. What
you learn in the classroom, you practice in the bazaar and streets of
small-town Mussoorie. The weekend activities, that include exploring a
Buddhist monastery and a Tibetan refugee camp, can further enhance your
comprehension of Indian religions and the cultural significance of the
various different communities that inhabit the region.
At the end of
the program, students will be able to speak conversational Hindi as
well as read and write in the Devanagari script. Each evening students
have the option of enjoying a Hindi movie or documentary with a native
speaker to further enhance their comprehension of Indian culture and
Hindi.
For students
who are interested in pursuing a more intensive Hindi language program,
we offer an extra four-week long Hindi program before the beginning of
the core program. Please contact us at info@himalayangap.com if you are
interested.
Yoga
Students will
have the option of receiving yoga instruction each morning. A yoga guru
will conduct classes, weather permitting, in an open-air space
overlooking the beautiful mountainside. This yoga program will include
asanas (postures), pranayam (breathing) and non-denominational
meditation. Practicing yoga tones the body and makes it more flexible.
Very often, even with regular exercise, one can miss out on stretching
muscles important for relaxing the mind and body.
Our yoga
curriculum has been especially designed to meet the needs of college
students. The yoga gurus have tailored the course to focus on pranayam
and asanas that are stress-relieving and will help cope with the
pressure that often builds up in college students. If students want
one-to-one instruction for specific needs, independent sessions can be
arranged at no extra cost.
At the end of
the program, students will be able to practice yoga and meditation
independently.
Hindustani Classical Music
Learning Indian
classical music is another fascinating way to explore Indian culture.
In contrast with the Western school of music, the Indian classical
music system is based primarily on raagas (melodic note patterns) and
taalas (rhythmic beat cycles). All raagas are classified under the time
of the day during which they can be played and the most prominent note
of the raaga. These two concepts correspond with the mood the raaga is
meant to depict. The theory of Indian classical music is rooted in
significant aspects of Hinduism. Therefore, the music study aids in
understanding the major religion of India.
Students can
choose from sitar, santoor, Indian classical guitar, flute, tabla, and
vocal music lessons.
Indian Classical Dance
Kathak is one of the oldest dance forms of northern India. The word
“kathak” literally means “to tell a story.” This dance form was first
practiced in village squares, temple courtyards, and at religious
festivals to recount mythological and religious tales. However, with
the arrival of the Mughals in India, kathak started to be used to
recount non-Hindu mythology and stories as well. The dance form, as it
is practiced today, has been greatly influenced by the Persians.
Since kathak
is used as a means of story-telling, it is highly theatrical in nature.
The dancers wear ghunghroos, small bells tied around their ankles, to
mark the beat of the dance with their feet. The dance is accompanied by
either vocalists or by instrumental music.
Students can
take dance lessons with our experienced Kathak teacher. This is yet
another way in which they can enhance their understanding of Indian
culture. Moreover, the music they dance to will allow them to further
hone their Hindi language skills
Volunteering Opportunities
Himalayan Gap
is one of the few programs that stresses upon a strong link between
volunteer work and language study. Once students start learning the
local language, they are able to communicate with the local people.
This makes them especially effective in their volunteering endeavors.
For example, when students teach English and Math at a local village
school, they are able to connect with the kids at a whole new level if
they can speak their native language. The impact the act of service has
on both, the volunteer and the receiver, is much more significant when
the two parties are able to communicate. Likewise, students interested
in perfecting their language skills have the opportunity to practice
what they learn in the classroom.
There are
several ongoing projects in conjunction with local NGOs (non-government
organizations). Students can get involved with one or several of the
following projects that have been initiated in neighboring villages:
organic and sustainable agriculture, women empowerment work, teaching
English or health education, and HIV/AIDS awareness programs.
Students are
also welcome to introduce their own ideas and spend time implementing
it in the local community.
Traveling On the Beaten Path – Agra,
Jaipur, and Khajuraho
After spending
more than two months in the pristine surroundings of Sisters’ Bazaar,
students spend the last week traveling to Agra, Jaipur, and Khajuraho
to visit some of India’s most significant historical sites and
monuments. We take the overnight train from Delhi to Khajuraho where we
tour the Khajuraho temples, which are
considered one of the “seven wonders of India.” We then make our way to
Agra to visit the world famous Taj Mahal.
On the car ride back to Delhi, we also see the Red Fort
and Fatehpursikri, two forts constructed
by the Mughal Emperor Akbar to serve as his imperial capitals. In
Jaipur, we visit numerous palaces, forts, and temples that reflect the
rich cultural heritage of India.
Setting
Mussoorie
Mussoorie,
seven hours away from Delhi, is known as the Queen of the Hills. Set
amidst the foothills of the Himalayas at an altitude of 6,000 feet,
here you can shop in the bustling bazaar, hike in the solitude of the
mountains, raft in the nearby Ganges, or enjoy pancakes while watching
playful monkeys jump among the rooftops.
Accommodations, Food, Laundry
& Housekeeping
We have planned
the living facilities for our students with a family-like atmosphere.
The comfortable shared accommodation (two or three students to a room)
will have a common room with free Wi fi internet, newspapers, selected
periodicals and a television. Laundry and housekeeping will be carried
out by the resident staff twice a week.
Three meals of
local and Western cuisine will be served in a common dining area. We
ensure that every meal is healthy, hygienic and sumptuous.
There will be
staff present on the premises 24 hours a day to ensure that all your
needs are met.
Price
$7260 includes
the main program, accommodation, food, laundry, housekeeping and travel
expenses between Mussoorie and Delhi. A few of the optional weekend
activities have additional costs (refer to FAQs).
The Everest region trek is an add-on and is charged separately. (refer
to DATES & PRICES)
