Indian village life is a different world- different to the Indian towns and cities where visitors will spend most of their time in India, and different to village life outside of India.

There are approximately 500,000 villages in India, of which approximately 80 percent have fewer than 1,000 inhabitants. Settlements range from tiny hamlets of thatched huts to larger settlements of tile-roofed stone and brick houses.

It is in villages that India's most basic business--agriculture--takes place. The work ethic is strong, with little time out for relaxation, except for numerous divinely sanctioned festivals and rite-of-passage celebrations. Residents feel a sense of village pride and honor, and the reputation of a village depends upon the behavior of all of its residents.

The idea behind the tour is to give an understanding of life in the Indian villages. We visit two separate communities (typical rural village and a tribal village) and you see the way in which they live. The 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.

• highlights
• Experience village life Life in an Indian village is alien to most people’s experience. You learn about how the majority of Indians typically live, with their strong faith and sense of community. You will spend time in people’s houses as well as wondering around the village and enjoying the stunning views. You will almost certainly be accompanied by some young people of the village!
• Take part in farming and other activities To truly understand how life is like in the villages, you need to do some village work! For example you can plough the field, harvest the rice, make bricks, 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.
• Enjoy a village lunch The food is an essential part of the trip and the lunch in one of the villager’s homes is a highlight. You will eat the villagers themselves eat- rice and a few vegetable dishes (possibly fish or chicken for those who want). 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.
• Travel by boat and rickshaw The travel to and from the village is much more than just a way of getting from A to B. You will experience some stunning countryside, as well as observing country life with additional interesting information given by the tour guide. On the return boat trip, you will see the Gateway of India, Taj Mahal Palace and all the other buildings stunningly lit up as you approach the coast line
• School Visits Experience the enthusiasm of the young people of rural India, while at the same time get a deeper understanding of the education system.
• Visit an Adivasi (tribal) community Adivasis were the orginal inhabitants of India and have suffered hardships and neglect. There you will see and understand their way of life and their beliefs. No photos allowed here.