A Consortium of Liberal Arts Colleges to Promote Asian Studies
ASIANetwork Faculty Enhancement Program (ANFEP)
Deepening Asian Studies in the Liberal Arts
Seminars in India, South Korea and Vietnam
supported by
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Summer 2011: India Seminar
“India: Religion, Globalization, and the Environment in the 21st century”
June 14 – July 5, 2011
Directors: Dr. Cathy Benton, Lake Forest College and Dr. James Lochtefeld, Carthage College
- ANFEP Main Page
- Summer 2011: India Seminar
- Summer 2012: South Korea Seminar
2011 India Seminar: Program Details
Shahi Gate from the southern minaret of Jama Masjid, Delhi (Photo by Jim Lochtefeld)
For the summer 2011, those chosen as participants in the India Seminar will visit North Indian religious and historical sites connected with contemporary Indian religious communities — Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Buddhists. These sites draw pilgrims and travelers from other parts of India and from around the world, and their needs are served by global businesses as well as by local merchants. Commerce and social service organizations operate side-by-side in these densely populated areas best known for their religious shrines. And in 21st century India environmental activists also work in these areas, demanding that the central government institute better programs and policies to protect the natural resources at these sites and in the surrounding regions. India is a profoundly complex society whose citizens are drawn from sharply different regions, educational levels, economic resources, and religious identities. India is also a modern society that has successfully hosted world class athletes from around the globe during the recent Commonwealth games, that has an indigenously developed space program, and has launched commercial enterprises now competing for international business from Los Angeles to Hong Kong. The itinerary includes Delhi, Agra, Amritsar, Dehradun, Mussoorie, Lucknow, Varanasi, and Bodh Gaya.
Please see the page listing the individual participants selected for the ASIANetwork/Mellon India Seminar for 2011 for a brief description of their research projects in their own words.
Detailed Itinerary
Pearl Mosque in the Red Fort, Delhi (Photo by Jim Lochtefeld)
Wed, 15 Jun ARRIVE DELHI
Arrive Delhi by International flight.
Overnight in Delhi
THE CONNAUGHT, NEW DELHI
Thu 16 Jun IN DELHI
Forenoon : Guest speaker on History of Delhi and Shahjanabad
Late afternoon: Visit to the Shrine of Hazarat Nizamuddin Auliya to hear the Sufi devotional music known as Qawwali.
Dinner & overnight in Delhi
THE CONNAUGHT, NEW DELHI
Fri 17 Jun IN DELHI
Morning : Tour of Old Delhi
Afternoon : New Delhi tour
Dinner & overnight in Delhi
THE CONNAUGHT, NEW DELHI
Sat 18 Jun IN DELHI
Morning tour of Delhi visiting Craft museum, Baha‘i temple and a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Krishna.
Afternoon : Free time to explore the city.
Dinner & overnight in Delhi
THE CONNAUGHT, NEW DELHI
Taj Mahal (Photo by Cathy Benton)
Sun 19 Jun DELHI / AGRA
Leave Delhi for Agra by bus (215 Kms / 05-06 hrs drive) visiting en route the UNESCO World Heritage site Fatehpur Sikri. Fatehpur Sikri was built by Akbar the Great in 1569 to serve as his capital, but was abruptly abandoned 14 years later.
After lunch in a local restaurant, return to Agra (40 kms / 1 hr drive) & check-in at hotel.
Dinner & overnight in Agra
HOTEL MARINA
Mon 20 Jun AGRA / DELHI
Morning and afternoon: Visit Agra Fort & Taj Mahal
Later in the afternoon, drive back to Delhi by bus (5-6 hrs drive). Check-in at the hotel
Dinner & overnight in Delhi
THE CONNAUGHT, NEW DELHI
Golden Temple, Amritsar (Photo by Cathy Benton)
Tue 21 Jun DELHI / AMRITSAR
Board flight for Amritsar at 0750 hrs, arrive at 0905 hrs and transfer to hotel.
Morning : Guest speaker on History of Sikh traditions
Late afternoon : Visit the Wagha border by car (30 kms /1hr drive one way) for Beating Retreat (daily ceremonial border closing).
Dinner & overnight in Amritsar
SITA NIWAS
Wed 22 Jun AMRITSAR / DEHRADUN
Attend the early morning ceremony at the Golden Temple, in which the Guru Granth Sahib is ceremonially installed in the Golden temple for the day.
Morning: Enjoy morning tour of Amritsar visiting the famous Golden Temple, the Durgiana temple dedicated to goddess Durga, and the Jallianwala Bagh, famous for the notorious massacre by the British General Dyer on 13th April 1919.
Leave Amritsar at 22:15 by overnight train for Dehradun.
Thu 23 Jun DEHRADUN / MUSSOORIE
Arrive at Dehradun railway station at 10:05 hrs – transfer to Mussoorie
Overnight in Mussoorie
DOMA’S INN
Fri 24 Jun IN MUSSOORIE
Work with Mussoorie Gramin Vikas Samiti (“Village Development Committee”): visit to Donk Primary School to work with children aged 4-11 years, and to visit with families in Donk Village.
Overnight in Mussoorie
DOMA’S iNN
Sat 25 Jun IN MUSSOORIE
Work with Mussoorie Gramin Vikas Samiti (“Village Development Committee”): Cultural exchange activities with Kaplini School students (ages 11-17).
Overnight in Mussoorie
DOMA’S INN
Sun 26 Jun MUSSOORIE / DEHRADUN – DEHRADUN / DELHI
Morning: Visit the Woodstock School — founded in 1854 to educate the children of Christian missionaries, and one of modern India’s premier educational institutions.
In the afternoon, transfer to Dehradun railway station to board Shatabdi Exp at 1700 hrs. Arrive Delhi at 2245 hrs and transfer to hotel.
Overnight in Delhi
AIRPORT RESIDENCY
Varanasi street scene (Photo by Cathy Benton)
Mon 27 Jun DELHI / VARANASI
Transfer to airport to board flight for Varanasi at 1030 hrs.
Arrive Varanasi at 1145 hrs and transfer to hotel.
Afternoon: Travel to Ramnagar Fort by bus (2 mini bus), followed by a boat trip on the Ganges featuring live Indian classical music. Enjoy the sunset over the river and arrive at the main ghat in time for evening prayer offered to river Ganga.
Dinner & overnight in Varanasi
HOTEL GANGES VIEW
Tue 28 Jun IN VARANASI
Early morning: Dawn boat ride down India's most sacred river.
Afternoon: City tour of Varanasi visiting Shiva temple at Benaras Hindu University, Durga temple and Bharat Mata temple.
Dinner & overnight in Varanasi
HOTEL GANGES VIEW
Morning: Walk along the ghats and talk with a historian (Prof. from Benares Hindu University).
Afternoon: Visit the bazaar which is famous for Benares silk and toy making.
Later in the evening, visit a prominent musician’s family over tea. While enjoying tea with the family, attend a classical dance performance. Later return to hotel for dinner.
Dinner & overnight in Varanasi
HOTEL GANGES VIEW
Thu 30 Jun IN VARANASI
Full day meeting / visit with Swaccha Ganga (“Clean Ganges”) Campaign, an organization devoted to cleaning up Ganges, whose stated goal is to ensure that not one drop of sewage enters the Ganges at Varanasi.
Dinner & overnight in Varanasi
HOTEL GANGES VIEW
Fri 01 Jul VARANASI / BODHGAYA
After breakfast, proceed to Bodhgaya by bus (250 kms /5 hrs drive) en route visiting Sarnath, site of Buddha’s first sermon.
Dinner & overnight in Bodhgaya
HOTEL SUJATA
Sikhs rolling out the dough for chapattis (flat breads) at the langar or community kitchen for anyone who is hungry, Delhi (Photo by Jim Lochtefeld)
Sat 02 Jul IN BODHGAYA
Full day visit to Mahabodhi temple as well as other sites linked to the life of Lord Buddha.
Visit the famous Mahabodhi Temple, which has been restored and rebuilt over the centuries.
Later afternoon: Lecture on Tibetan Buddhism by faculty at the Mahabodhi Institute.
Dinner & overnight in Bodhgaya
HOTEL SUJATA
Sun 03 Jul BODHGAYA / NALANDA / RAJGIR / PATNA – PATNA / DELHI
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Patna airport by bus (200 kms / 7-8 hrs drive including visit) en route visiting Rajgir & Nalanda (Buddhist sites) en route.
Arrive Patna in time to board flight for Delhi at 1920 hrs
Arrive Delhi at 2055 hrs and later transfer to hotel
Dinner & overnight in Delhi
THE CONNAUGHT, NEW DELHI
Mon 04 Jul IN DELHI
Breakfast at the hotel.
Full day free for independent activities – check out from hotel at 1800 hrs
After dinner in a city restaurant, transfer to international airport to board onward flight
Tue 05 Jul DEPART DELHI
Leave Delhi for United States by international flight.
