HC – Harper College – India 2024

DAY 1 – DEPARTURE – Monday, January 1

Depart Home for Kochi, India

DAY 2 – KOCHI – Tuesday, January 2

Arrive in Kochi

Airport Transfer – Check-in, Relax & Refresh

DAY 3 – KOCHI – Wednesday, January 3 

Breakfast & Day Briefing 

Orientation Walking Tour – The group will become oriented with their neighborhood, the public transportation systems, nearby pharmacies, markets, ATMs, etc. Additionally, an in-depth safety briefing will be provided for what to do incase of an emergency. 

The Group Will go and Travel Around to Check Out The Beautiful Places at Fort Kochi with a Historian – Take a stroll through Jew Town in Fort Kochi, a vibrant neighborhood with narrow streets and colorful shops. The Paradesi

Synagogue is one of the oldest active synagogues in the world. Observe the fishermen skillfully lowering and raising the Chinese fishing nets, a symbol of Fort Kochi, against the backdrop of the Arabian Sea. A nearby architectural gem with murals depicting scenes from the Ramayana and other Hindu legends is the Dutch Palace in Mattancherry. Discover the Portuguese

cultural and artistic influence on Kerala at the Indo-Portuguese Museum, which displays artifacts, furniture, and religious pieces from the Portuguese era.

Welcome Dinner – The group will be taken for an authentic Indian dinner with a wide variety of menu options to cater all diets. 

Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner

DAY 4 – KOCHI/MUNNAR – Thursday, January 4

Breakfast & Day Briefing 

The group heads for Munnar and stops at the Thattekad Bird Sanctuary on the way. (approx.4h-5h)

The Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary – Nestled in Kerala, India, is a biodiverse haven cherished by bird enthusiasts and nature aficionados. Renowned for its rich avian diversity, including rare and endemic species among its 300 types of birds, this sanctuary’s lush Western Ghats habitat and water bodies form an optimal setting for birdwatching and wildlife photography. Its vital role in

conserving diverse avifauna and promoting ecotourism underscores its ecological importance. Moreover, beyond birdwatching, the sanctuary offers a chance to encounter

diverse wildlife, from elephants and deer to sloth bears and butterflies, making it.

Cultural Performance – In the evening, the group will have a beautiful Kathakali dance.

Meals Included: Breakfast & Packed Lunch

DAY 5 – MUNNAR – Friday, January 5

Breakfast & Day Briefing 

High On Chai – Early in the morning, the group will explore Munnar in a unique way. Understanding the tea pickers and the leaf’s journey from the plantation all the way to being processed. The group will be able to experientially immersive and explore this activity run by the locals exclusively for our group. We will have lunch with the tea picker community and have heart-to-heart interaction with them.

Cultural Performance of Kalaripayattu – Which is the world’s oldest martial arts, completes the day.

Meals Included: Breakfast & Packed Lunch

DAY 6 – MUNNAR/KUMARAKOM – Saturday, January 6

Breakfast & Day Briefing

Transfer to Kumarakom by Private Bus On the way, we halt at some scenic stops. (approx.4h-5h)

Check-in at the Hotel, Relax & Refresh

Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 7 – KUMARAKOM/KOCHI – Sunday, January 7 

Breakfast & Day Briefing

Boat Cruise in the Kerala backwaters

The group enjoys a beautiful morning private

cruise in the Kerala backwaters, with lunch served on the boat.

Transfer to Kochi Airport and Late Evening Flight  to Mumbai.

For Dinner, The Group will go to an Authentic Restaurant near the Hotel as they Familiarize Themselves with the Surrounding Area. 

Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch

DAY 8 – MUMBAI – Monday, January 8 

Breakfast & Day Briefing

Dharavi Walking Tour – The tour lasts about 3 hours (from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.). The local guide will arrange for participants to interact with the locals and ask any questions they wish.

Visit a Local NGO that Educates the Children of Dharavi – Dharavi is a suburb in Mumbai, considered to be one of the world’s largest slums and is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. Home to some 20 thousand small businesses and manufacturers, Dharavi is particularly famous for its leather market.  Discussion with the Management – the functionings and back end of the NGO ecosystem in India. 

Evening & Dinner with Business, Startup, and Engineering Professionals (CCBC Faculty will be given a flat amount to cover dinner expenses while allowing flexibility to choose dinner location with guests)

Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner

DAY 9 – MUMBAI/AURANGABAD – Tuesday, January 9

Breakfast & Day Briefing

Spend the Day with the Dabbawalas – 

The group will meet at Churchgate station where the local guide will have the group interact with the Dabbawalas and understand their coding system. The interaction usually takes about 1 hour. The group can also follow the Dabbawala to the nearest office, where the actual delivery will take place (additional 45 minutes).

Visit Historical Places in South Mumbai – Gateway of India, Marine Drive, Kala Ghoda, Asiatic Library, St. Thomas Cathedral, etc. 

Fly to Aurangabad/Sambaji Nagar in the evening. 

Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 10 –AURANGABAD – Wednesday, January 10

Breakfast & Day Briefing

Visit Ajanta Caves – The first Buddhist cave monuments at Ajanta date from the 2nd and 1st centuries B.C. During the Gupta period (5th and 6th centuries A.D.), many more richly decorated caves were added to the original group.

The paintings and sculptures of Ajanta, considered masterpieces of Buddhist religious art, have had a considerable artistic influence.

Meals Included: Breakfast & Packed Lunch 

DAY 11 – AURANGABAD/PUNE – Thursday, January 11 

Breakfast & Day Briefing

Visit Ellora Caves – Ellora, with its uninterrupted sequence of monuments dating from A.D. 600 to 1000, bringing the civilization of ancient India to life.  Not only is the Ellora complex a unique artistic creation and a technological exploit, but its sanctuaries devoted to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism illustrate the spirit of tolerance that was characteristic of ancient India.

Transfer to Pune by Private Bus (approx. 5h-6h) The group takes a bus journey to the educational capital of India – Pune. Reach by night and proceed to rest for the night.

Meals Included: Breakfast & Packed Lunch 

DAY 12 – PUNE – Friday, January 12

Breakfast & Day Briefing

Day at the University – They will interact with different faculty members of various disciplines as they explore the campus. Their respective fields of

interest will be covered through lectures and discussions with Professors. (Here at the topics fields – Computer Science, Engineering, Geography, AI,

Film Studies, Cognitive Science, Biology, Psychology, Ecology, Finance, Economics, Astrochemistry, 

Philosophy, Media & Cultural Studies, Religious Studies, Art History, Management, Physics, Sociology, Archaeology)*

Meals Included: Breakfast 

DAY 13 – PUNE/MUMBAI – Saturday, January 13

Breakfast & Day Briefing

Transfer to Mumbai by Private Bus (approx. 4h) The group leaves for Mumbai and will be residing at a hotel near the airport. Spend the day relaxing, reflecting, preparing, and packing to leave. It has been a long and meaningful adventure.  

Farewell Dinner & Program Closing 

Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner

DAY 14 – DEPARTURE – Sunday, January 14 

Transfer to Mumbai Airport 

Depart Mumbai, India for Home