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Our sister organization:
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INDIAN VILLAGE TOUR
Purpose of tour
The idea behind the tour is to give an understanding of life in the Indian villages. We visit three separate
communities (including a tribal community) and you see the way in which they live. Krishna, one of the co-founders
of the company acting as tour guide, will
explain to you their beliefs, their customs including the role of women,
their superstitions, their religion and the problems that
they face, and you will be able to ask questions through him.
It is also a great way to get out of Mumbai and enjoy the simple life, with fresh air in beautiful surroundings.
Activities
You won't just observe and learn about life in the village but we encourage you to actively take part.
For example you can milk the cows, plough the field, wash clothes, learn to carry water on your head. And there
are other activities which you can take part in, such as fishing, swimming and playing cricket.
Stay night in village
You will spend at least one night in one of the villages that we visit, with your hosts being an incredibly
friendly and hospitable Indian family. Besides talking to them, they will provide you with typical village
food and a place to
sleep.
Your living arrangements are not meant to be 5 star,
but we do believe that we cater to people
requiring different levels of comfort, and most importantly where you stay is CLEAN.
You can sleep on the floor or on a bed, you can take a shower by the well
or in a bathroom. You can go to the toilet in the open or inside. It's up to you!
Food
The food is an essential part of the trip. Lunch and dinner on the first day, and breakfast and lunch on
the second day are included in the price. Wherever possible, we try and eat in the villages that we visit, the
food being typically what the villagers themselves eat, although for our trip to
Raigad Fort
on the second day we have to eat
at a restaurant. For some of the meals there is a vegetarian/ non-vegetarian option. Beware that you will be
encouraged to eat with your hands!
Cleanliness is very important to us and we ensure that the food and the cooking facilities are clean and hygienic
if fairly basic. We also take plenty of mineral water. If you have any dietary
issues, then please let us know
Travel by boat and car
When getting to the villages, which are all located near a small town called Indapur in South Maharashtra,
or when travelling at other times by car, you will experience some stunning countryside, as well
as observing country life with additional interesting information given by the tour guide. The tour
starts (and ends) with a
50 minute boat ride between the Gateway of India in Colaba (the main tourist area) and the mainland, and then you
go by car- it is a 2.5 hour drive.
Raigad Fort
On the second day we go to Raigad Fort.
This was built in 1674 by the great Marathi King Shivaji, who made the
fort his capital. It is accessible by a 1,400 step walkway or by cable car, both offering great views as you
ascend the hill.
Reviews
Curious to know what others have thought about the tour. Visit our discussion
forum to read their reviews.
Catch train to Goa
Do you want to carry onwards on your travels without having to return to Mumbai? You can catch a train
on the second day to Goa either in the morning (when you have milked the cows and ploughed the field first of course!)
or in the late afternoon having been to Raigad Fort.
We will book this ticket for you if you wish.
If you are coming from Goa, the only suitable train arrives at 17.25. To get the most from the tour, you would
need to stay two nights in the village, although just one night is possible as well.
If you wish to go elsewhere in India besides Goa, then please give us your requirements and we will try to
organise something.
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Click on image below to see popout slideshow of the village tour
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Flexible Itinerary
The itinerary is completely flexible to your requirements. If you wish to spend more or less time in the village,
then let us know and we will give you an itinerary and price for you then to make a decision.
Tour timings
The standard tour lasts two full days and one night in the village. You need to meet at 7.45am at the boat ticket
offices in front of the Gateway of India in Colaba. See map for a clear details of this
meeting point including a photo.
You will return by boat, arriving at the Gateway of India at 8.30pm the following day.
Prices
For all tours, the cost quoted is all inclusive. It includes boat trips, mineral water and food (lunch and dinner
on first day, breakfast and lunch on second day). It includes entrance to Raigad Fort but not the cable car- we think
that you should walk to the top!
Private tour
If you wish to do a private tour (up to six people) then please give us the dates most suitable for you,
and we will do our utmost to book you in.
For a group of up to 6 people, the cost is Rs 12,000 plus Rs 1,000 per person- e.g. for a couple, total
price would be Rs 14,000
Shared tour
We realise that some people travel as individuals or in very small groups and will want to
go on a trip with others who they don't know. See the table below for people who wish to join a tour
with others. If you would like to join one of these tours, or suggest another date for a tour, please let us know.
Please note that we need at least three four people to do a tour (@ Rs 5,000pp). If we manage to get four to six people, the
price would be Rs 4,000pp
| TOUR DATE |
SEATS LEFT |
DETAILS OF PARTICIPANTS |
| 12/13 Feb 2010 |
5 |
| 1. |
Male, USA |
| 2. |
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| 17,18 Dec 2010 |
4 |
| 1. |
British, male, 54 |
| 2. |
British, female, 50 |
| 3. |
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| 6. |
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Contribution to villages
We think that it is natural and proper that people are going to wonder how the tour fee will be
spent. For every tour these are the following approximate costs:
We pay each of the families in the places that we have food and stay the night
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