Activities

Orientation

In addition to sessions on health and safety, academics, and cultural adjustment conducted at the off-site orientation at the start of the program, students are also introduced to rural Indian village life, folk religion, and tribal issues.  Students hike from the retreat center to a nearby tribal village and the Astavinayaka shrine, led by our intrepid and knowledgable Resident Guru, Professor Ram Bapat, who provides context and background on these sites and the surrounding area.

Rural Village Visit

After the first several weeks spent immersing and familiarizing yourselves with your new, urban environment in Pune, students are given a more in-depth look at rural issues and village life from the perspective of environmental issues, public health, and sustainability.  Led by our Environmental Issues faculty, students stay at an NGO conducting fieldwork in the area and are given a firsthand look at active rural development projects.  Cultural activities are also arranged that highlight the differences between contemporary urban and rural life in India. 

Semester programs only.

Mumbai Field Trip

In juxaposition with the rural village visit and living in Pune as a mid-size city of 3.5 million people, students are also exposed to the neary megalopolis of Mumbai, India's finance and cultural capital, city of staggering extremes, rich history and non-stop action.  Visits to Mumbai's financial hubs, Bollywood film studios, NGOs working in the vast slums, and other cultural and historical sites offer students exposure to the richness and complexity of India through the lens of one of its largest and most vibrant cities. 

Semester programs only.

In and Around Pune

The program calendars are filled with numerous activities in and around Pune, and vary according to the season, religious and secular holidays, and cultural and academic events as they arise around the city.

Examples include: visits to the Shaniwarwada palace (seat of the Marathi empire), the Aghakhan Palace (now known as the Gandhi memorial, where Mahatma Gandhi and other nationalist leaders were kept prisoner), local markets, a Holi celebration with traditional Maharashtrian lunch, the Parvati Hill Temple, the Tribal Museum, and numerous academic lectures that are a staple of this vibrant intellectual center.

There are many spots of natural beauty just outside of Pune, as well: Khandala (known for its waterfalls), Lonavla and its rock temples and caves, and hill stations such as Mahabaleshwar, Bhimashankar, and Matheran.

Expressive Culture

In addition to its rich academic life, Pune boasts a thriving performing arts community, and students are given the option of taking classes in expressive culture.   Choices may vary depending on the availability of instructors, but yoga, bharatnatyam (dance), tabla (drum) or other musical instrument, and vocals are commonly offered. 

A demonstration of the various expressive culture possibilities is arranged at orientation, and students are asked to commit to at least 10 classes if they choose to pursue this option.   The Alliance provides up to 15 classes; any additional classes are the student's responsibility.