Hiking above the clouds. Photo by Christina Rivera-Cogswell, instructor.

India Semester

On The Front Lines of Climate Change

A 3-Month Gap Year Program

Duration
80 Days
Description

Investigate the impacts of climate change: travel to Himalayan glaciers and the Indian plains, examine environmental activism in rural and urban settings, and experience India’s incredible cultural traditions.

fall
Sep 15 - Dec 3, 2024
spring
Feb 11 - May 1, 2025
Group Size (4:1 Ratio)

12 Students
3 Instructors

Tuition

$17,250

Plus airfare & insurance

  • Open
  • Open
Suggested Ages

17-22

Tuition Details

Beyond your budget? Learn how we increase access.

New Delhi

Kolkata

Kalimpong

Gangtok

Santiniketan

The Sundarbans

Program Overview

FROM THE EXPANSIVE GANGETIC PLAINS TO THE HIGHEST HIMALAYAN PEAKS, WEATHER AND WATER DICTATE THE LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS OF MILLIONS.


From the Bay of Bengal to the highest Himalayan peaks, water dictates the livelihoods of millions. As the Earth’s climate changes, warming temperatures result in higher glacial melt in the Himalayas, while more unpredictable weather patterns leave millions vulnerable to drought and l storms born out of the Bay of Bengal. Dragons India semester offers students the opportunity to go beyond India’s trodden traveler trails to live and learn alongside communities on the front lines of this era’s climate crisis.

Program Highlights
  • Deep focus on the practical impacts of climate change and water issues in varied ecosystems from the mountains to the plains
  • Spend time in communities that are off the beaten path, learning alongside India’s vast diversity of people, cultures, and landscapes
  • Delve into local rhythms on a high altitude trek and at a Tibetan Buddhist monastery retreat
  • Experience the unparalleled cultural richness and…

From the Bay of Bengal to the highest Himalayan peaks, water dictates the livelihoods of millions. As the Earth’s climate changes, warming temperatures result in higher glacial melt in the Himalayas, while more unpredictable weather patterns leave millions vulnerable to drought and l storms born out of the Bay of Bengal. Dragons India semester offers students the opportunity to go beyond India’s trodden traveler trails to live and learn alongside communities on the front lines of this era’s climate crisis.

Program Highlights
  • Deep focus on the practical impacts of climate change and water issues in varied ecosystems from the mountains to the plains
  • Spend time in communities that are off the beaten path, learning alongside India’s vast diversity of people, cultures, and landscapes
  • Delve into local rhythms on a high altitude trek and at a Tibetan Buddhist monastery retreat
  • Experience the unparalleled cultural richness and diversity of India through immersion in different communities and regions

Students navigate from verdant tea plantations to high Himalayan passes; from mangrove forests lining the coast to expanses of lush rice paddies fed by the sacred Ganges river. We experience first-hand how India’s emerging global economy and changing climate patterns have generated riches for some and displaced others. Two extended homestays—one in the Himalayan foothills and another in an idyllic Bengali plains town—allow students to participate in the daily rituals that underpin the rich cultural and spiritual traditions of the region. Community leaders and experts share perspectives on Indian politics, climate change, and culture, and independent study projects engage students with artists, musicians, healers, and farmers.

Traveling north to the ancient Buddhist kingdom of Sikkim in the heart of the Himalayas, students settle into a group stay with an indigenous Lepcha community learning about the fragile ecosystem and the impact of decades of river damming, listen to enchanting local folklore, and day hike through lush forests. An extended trek with majestic views of the mighty Kanchenjunga, the world’s third tallest mountain, allows students to witness the exquisite beauty and power of the Himalayas. Off the trail, the group settles into an intensive meditation retreat at a local Tibetan Buddhist monastery, gaining insight into Buddhist philosophy and practicing contemplative techniques, as well as questioning the role that religion has to play in generating environmental awareness and social change.

An overnight train brings us out of the mountains and into the plains. We spend two weeks in the rural town of Santiniketan, located in the heart of southern Bengal’s agricultural expanse and known for its rich culture, artistic heritage, and indigenous traditions. Venturing into the surrounding rice paddies and forests to farm and explore, we witness the community’s dependence on the land and hear first-hand how changing and weather patterns have affected harvests. We stay with Hindu and Muslim families living and practicing their religions side-by-side. Hindu festivals and daily puja punctuate the days and weeks with prayer, celebration, and song; Baul musicians strum single-stringed ektara to accompany Sufi Muslim folk songs, accompanied by harmonium and a variety of local percussion, late into the evening.

Following waterways all the way out to their end point in the Bay of Bengal to witness the tensions between tiger and other wildlife conservation and development for the communities that call the forest their home. The Sundarbans are a labyrinthine mangrove forest that connects the Brahmaputra and Ganges Rivers with the Bay of Bengal. Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site for its unique ecosystem, but heavily affected by climate change and rising sea levels, the Sundarbans offer deep insight into the themes of conservation, human ecology, and resource management. Conversations with the communities living on the fringes of the forest allow us to hear personal stories which highlight the tension between humans and nature and identify the compelling factors behind urban migration.

A visit to Kolkata, India’s colonial capital, offers the opportunity to speak with NGOs and academics about their city’s growth and development and to witness the effects of significant urban migration. Strolling along the city’s wide-tree lined avenues and watching pick-up cricket games in the city’s expansive parks, we also get insight into cosmopolitan Indian life. According to the group’s interests,  we will have the option to embark on a student led trip to explore places such as Varanasi, Bodhgaya, Rajasthan, or neighboring states Assam or Meghalaya. The program shifts back to the tranquility of the Himalayan foothills for its final days, offering a peaceful environment to process and reflect on the journey.

Following the waterways that provide a lifeline to millions from glacial melt in the Himalayas through the plains and out to the ocean, India semester students are witness to some of the quickest and most consequential environmental changes of our time, learning alongside the scholars, scientists, farmers, and activists who are working around the clock to adapt and protect their life, livelihoods, and communities.

Read More Read Less Sample Itinerary

Program Components

5/5
Religious & Spiritual Traditions

Inquire deeply into Hindu mythology, philosophy and practice. Learn about Buddhist philosophy and attend a meditation retreat, see Islam in its Indian context, and explore animism as it's been practiced for generations.

5/5
Social & Environmental Justice

Investigate issues of health, education, urban migration, the caste system, human rights, gender, social inequality, poverty, and more.

5/5
Focus Of Inquiry

Witness firsthand the impact of climate change on diverse ecosystems, and see how environments and people have responded and adapted to these pressures.

3/5
Homestay

Two extended homestays, one in the Himalayan foothills and another in an idyllic Bengali plains town, give deep cultural insight and redefine the notion of family.

4/5
Independent Study Project (ISP)

Pick an area of interest and dive in with a local mentor! Sitar, tabla, Indian cooking, Kathak dance, Hindi or Urdu language, vocals, women’s issues, comparative religion, stone carving, woodworking, and jewelry making are some popular options.

3/5
Language Study

Learn some basic Nepali, the lingua franca of those living in north Bengal and Sikkim, and immerse yourself in Bengali, with regular lessons and immersive practice. There may also be opportunities for Hindi language lessons.

2/5
Learning Service

Reflect on the meaning of service in the context of Indian culture and explore the meaning of reciprocity with youth in Sikkim.

4/5
Rugged Travel

Travel by rickshaw, bus, jeep train, and boat into the Himalayas, across the vast plains, and through the Sundarban mangrove forest.

4/5
Trekking

Trek for ten days in the high Himalaya near Mount Kanchenjunga, the world's third tallest peak. Go on day hikes in the Himalayan foothills, and explore the dense labyrinthine Sundarban mangrove forest on foot.

Optional College Credits

In order to deepen your experience abroad, you may elect to enroll in a college-level course while participating on the India Gap semester program. Those who enroll in an optional course will be invoiced an additional fee top of the land cost, for up to 4 college credits. To learn more, click here.

Students who take a for-credit course will receive an official transcript from a School of Record after successful completion of the program.

College Course Offerings

Through our Schools of Record, you may take the following courses for-college credit:

  • NPL 150: Nepali I, NPL 250: Nepali II, NPL 350: Nepali III*

See full Course Offering descriptions.

*Nepali is one of the many official languages spoken in India and is the mother tongue of the majority of residents of the Himalayan foothills in northern Bengal and Sikkim.