The Land of Diversity

Volunteer in India

India is a country of contrasts and diversity.

Known for ancient monuments, Royal Bengal tigers, and as the birthplace of many religions, a gap year in India offers a cultural experience you’ll never forget. The morning calls of the chai wallahs, the vision of smoke curling over the Ganges during a golden Varanasi sunrise, and the rich aromas of simmering curry will all stay with you for years to come.

But with a population of over one billion people and one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, India is also a nation facing wide-ranging developmental challenges.

You can help inspire a generation of change-makers to tackle these challenges.

Volunteer in India

On a GapGuru program in India, you can be a part of influencing change for some of the most pressing issues facing underprivileged Indian communities. You’ll join the efforts of our charity, the FutureSense Foundation, to create a long-term impact on the lives of the people you’ll meet.

Our India programs offer you the chance to do more than simply volunteer abroad.

Join us and leave your handprint in a fascinating and incredibly beautiful country.

Why Gap Year in India?

Why GapGuru?

Extensive Gap Year Experience

Over the past 18 years, we’ve guided more than 6,000 students through unforgettable gap year experiences.

Ethical Gap Year Programs

All our programs work towards the UN’s Global Sustainable Development Goals and are backed up by our charity, the FutureSense Foundation.

A community of support

You’ll be guided by our GapGuru Advisors and Mentors before, during and after your gap year experience.

Don’t just take it from us…

Why visit India?

This was an amazing experience

This was an amazing experience, loved every second even through the challenges. Working on improving the environment and volunteering at the park where so rewarding but also the workshops carried out as a team where great to experience.

I loved experiencing new cultures

This was such an amazing experience that changed how I look at the world and taught me more about what it means to be a global citizen. It also made me realise how much I want to travel in the future.

A wholesome, fulfilling experience

I’d highly recommend this experience to any students. Not only does it look great on a CV but it was tremendous fun to do as well. Overall, a really fantastic experience.

learnt so much and had an amazing time.

Absolutely amazing. Any issues I had in organising the trip, eg flights or vaccines, they told me exactly where to go for the best info. I was completely prepared for my trip, what I would be doing, and the expectations. I learnt so much and had an amazing time.

Your Gap Year in India

All you need to know

India Highlights

Palampur

On any of our volunteer programs in India, you’ll be based in Palampur, a quiet town in the Himalayan foothills. Dubbed the ‘Green Valley’ of Himachal Pradesh, Palampur is famous for its aromatic tea gardens and impeccable paddy fields.
Palampur means “lots of water” as it is a combination of three words: Pani, Alam and Pur.

With its pleasant climate all year round, the region’s many streams and brooks provide a beautifully lush natural landscape with the Himalayas framing the backdrop.

The colonial-era architecture and beautiful temples line the streets of this beautiful mountain town.

Language

India has 22 separate official languages but is also home to a total of 121 languages and 270 mother tongues. The prevailing language is Hindi, with English being the second language. This is a result of the extended British rule of the country and it now is primarily used in business, education, and official documents.

Hindi originated from the interaction of early speakers of Kharli Boli with Muslim invaders from multiple places in Asia. The language dates as far back as the 7th Century!

Here are a few phrases of Hindi to get you started, but we encourage you to try and learn a few more from our team and the community while in Palampur.

English	Hindi Pronunciation	Hindi
Good morning	Subh prabhat	शुभभात
How are you?	Aap kaise hain?	आप कैसे हैं?
Thank you	Dhanayavaad	आप कैसे हैं?
My name is…	Mera naam…… hai	मेरा नाम है…

Indian History and Culture

History

India has a remarkably rich and ancient history. Evidence of farming in the area has been dated as far back as 6500 BC but the first known civilization in India dates back to 2600 BC in the Indus Valley. There were towns with populations of up to 50,000 people, such as Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, which appear to have been highly civilised.

Since then, India has lived under many empires, from the Mauryan and Kushan Empires from 320 BC to 120 AD, to the mighty Mughal Empire that lasted from the early-1500s to the mid-1700s.
After being under the rule of the British Empire from 1858 to 1947, India today is a democracy.

The country is filled with historic buildings and monuments, such as the iconic Taj Mahal, the Khajuraho Temples and many more man-made and natural wonders! A gap year in India is not complete without taking in some of these sights and learning a bit about its illustrious history.

Culture

Religion in India

India is a secular state so there is no state religion, but it is still a heavily religious country. The majority of Indians practice Hinduism with the other major regions being Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, Christianity and Islam. A small percentage of the population practice Judaism, Zoroastrianism, and Bahá’í Faith.

With so many religions comes a wealth of festivals. India has an extraordinary festive calendar, encompassing colourful rituals and parades, all reflecting India’s rich cultural background.

Vegetarianism in India

With a high percentage of the country following religions like Hinduism and Buddhism, India remains the country with the highest number of vegetarians in the world. Somewhere between 20 and 40% of the country is vegetarian, depending on where you get your information.

The food is diverse and walking through any street market your senses will be assaulted by heady and mouth-watering scents and smells.

The Indian poverty gap

India is the largest democracy in the world, yet the top 10% of the Indian population holds over 75% of the total national wealth. Most Indians live on less than two pounds a day with an estimated 35% living below the poverty line.

Indian greetings

When communicating with people in India it is polite to greet them with the word ‘namaste’, roughly translated as ‘I bow to you’. You should accompany this by joining the palms of your hands together in front of your chest and slightly bowing your head.

When addressing elders, it’s polite to use their surnames e.g Mr/Mrs Patel.

Culture Shock

Culture shock can happen to anyone experiencing a new culture for the first time. It’s the shock your mind and body go through when your daily life changes and you have to get used to a new routine and way of life.

When in India, you’ll be faced with a close to an endless stream of new experiences. We’ll do what we can to prepare you before you leave the UK, but the only way to truly understand a local culture is to immerse yourself in it.

Head to our Gap Year Advice section to find out more about culture shock, how to recognise it and the best ways to handle it.

The Community

During your time in India, you’ll be working with children, partner organisations and the local community in Palampur.

As a relatively rural town, the families in Palampur face significant disadvantages. Many live under the poverty line and have limited access to quality education, healthcare and income generation opportunities.

Our India programs are designed to be long-term and create lasting change. You’ll be a part of that change, impacting the lives of the people across the Palampur community.

During your time with the people of Palampur, you’ll forge relationships that will last a lifetime. You’ll never forget the people you share this experience with.

Where you’ll be staying

You will be staying at a local, family-run guesthouse that we use regularly for our programmes. All the rooms are dorm style, so you will be sharing with 2-4 other gappers.

The accommodation is safe and regularly cleaned, with plenty of spaces for you to relax in your spare time, but the amenities aren’t the same standard that we’re used to in the U.K. This is all just part of the challenge of embracing the local culture and understanding the way that many people in the world live their daily lives!

There are separate bathrooms throughout the guesthouse that have a western toilet, shower and sink.

Meals

Meals are served family-style and are vegetarian to ensure that we can provide you with safe food and also reduce our carbon footprint.

We can cater for all dietary requirements, so long as our team are made aware of these before your arrival. You’ll have access to free safe and clean drinking water at all times.

Breakfast

We keep breakfast simple to give you time in the morning. Expect toast, jam and eggs with coffee and tea. Some mornings you even get the chance to try a traditional Indian breakfast curry!

Lunch

Lunch is likely to be a packed lunch that you will take with you to your project.

Dinner

Dinner is a bigger affair, where our in-house cooks prepare delicious local meals. Be prepared for lots of rice and potatoes depending on where you are. To give you a taste of home the team might even sneak in the odd western dish like pasta.

Your Typical Day

Though each program is unique you’ll follow a similar routine regardless of what you’re doing.

You’ll wake up around 7:00 am for breakfast, then head out to your project location around 8 am for morning activities. After lunch back at the accommodation or at your activity, you’ll head out again for the afternoon session.

The sessions are between 2-3 hours in the morning and afternoon, with time built into the day for resting, planning and group debriefing.

The evenings are for group bonding activities run by your in-country team learning about Indian culture. The evenings are also time for exploration where you can get out and discover Palampur!

Weekends

Your weekends are yours to spend as you like, but we’ll work with you to create an unforgettable itinerary.

You might stay in Palampur and explore the tea gardens or visit the Tashi Jong Monastery, or head further afield to the home of the Dalai Llama, Dharamshala. Its main attraction is the Dalai Lama Main Temple, but the city is rich with Tibetan culture and history which is showcased in the Tibetan Museum.

There are so many ways to spend your free time so if you want any help organising activities, let us know before or during your stay and we’d be delighted to help.

Budgeting

Although all meals are included in your programme, whilst you are in India you’ll want to buy snacks and try the local foods.
Here’s a list of a few standard items to help you budget for your trip, however, approximately £5 per day should be adequate for your time in India.

£1.00 = 95 Indian Rupees (Rs)*

Sweet treats


Chocolate 150g-369g	Rs40 – Rs144
Bourbon 150g	Rs35
Oreo 120g	Rs25
Digestive Biscuit 100g	Rs12


Good Day 200g	Rs25
Mari Gold 100g	Rs38
UNIBIC 450g	Rs125

Savoury snacks


Crisps 28g-100g	Rs10 – Rs40
Samosa 1pc	Rs15
Momo’s 10pc	Rs60
Gol Gappe 3pc	Rs10
Gulab Jamun 1kg	Rs250
Jalebi 1kg	Rs300

Drink & Fruit


Per bottle 750ml-2l	Rs30-Rs90
Banana 12pc	Rs70
Mango 1kg	Rs100


Papaya 1kg	Rs70
Orange 1kg	Rs150
Apple 1kg	Rs300

*Correct as of October 2022

Your support

Our Gap Year programs have the best of all worlds: independent, impactful travel with a support network that’s there whenever you need it.

During your stay in Palampur, you’ll be in the care of our dedicated India GapGuru Mentors. They not only ensure you never feel too far from home but they’re also there to help you make the most of your time in India.

Our India team are based in Palampur where they live and work in the community year-round. They’re there for you every step of your journey and will be on hand to help whenever you need it.

Neha

Community Coordinator

Neha has been with the India team since 2018. She has a background in education and a graduate degree in Computer Science from the University of Punjab.

She has previously taught at various schools in the Palampur community which gives her unique insight and ability to connect with students. She has lately been enjoying engaging in STEM workshops and gender sensitization discussions with youth in India.

These were two of the core reasons Neha joined GapGuru as her aspirations have always been to support quality education, reduce gender inequality and raise awareness about health and hygiene in India.

India Program Pricing

Having been doing this for as long as we have, we’ve got the experience to know exactly what makes an incredible gap year experience. As a result, we’ve made our India gap year program format and pricing simple.

Our India programs run for a minimum of four weeks. You can add additional weeks in India or combine another one of our destinations to see more corners of the globe.

If you’re interested in including some independent travel, let us know and we can help you organise it around your programs.

Prices Include

Safe Accommodation
3 x nutritious meals (Mon –Fri)
All pre-travel materials
Training & orientation
Pre-travel, in-country & post-travel care
In-country transport
Airport pick-up & drop-off
GapGuru Mentor

What we can help you with

We know that sorting this stuff out can be hard so we’re more than happy to help!

Things to do in India

Your India Bucket List

Taj Mahal

When someone says ‘India’, you think of the Taj Mahal.

Some historians say that the architectural beauty of this historic monument has never been surpassed. Built by the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, in memory of his favourite wife Mumtaz Mahal, it is an ‘elegy in marble’. Some even describe it as an expression of a ‘dream’.

Unfortunately, the Taj Mahal, which is also one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, is falling victim to chronic pollution and is gradually turning yellow due to air pollution caused by petrol flames and illegal building works.

The Taj Mahal is a long way from Palampur, so the easiest way to visit it as part of your time in Delhi.

Taj Mahal

Explore the Tea Gardens

Step into the lush green gardens near Palampur to discover the tea-making process. Walking through the gardens is like stepping into a dreamscape, with lush growth all around and the beautiful fragrance of the tea leaves filling your senses.

Tea Gardens

Tashi Jong Monastery

One of the not-to-miss sites of Palampur is the Tashi Jong Monastery. This centre of Buddhist worship is also the home for many Tibetan refugees. Found around 15km from Palampur in the small village of Tashi Jong, the entire building is adorned with ornate woodcarving, gilding and painting. You’ll find a number of Buddha statues, including one of the Buddha Shakyamuni.

Tashi Jong

Baijnath Temple

Baijnath Temple is a Nagara-style Hindu temple found in the small town of Baijnath. Around 16km from Palampur, this temple dedicated to Lord Shiva was built in the 13th Century.

According to the ancient scriptures of Hindu tradition, Lord Shiva created 12 jyotirlingas, which were pillars that emanated pure light and unencumbered power. He placed these across the country as a challenge to Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma, and one of these 12 jyotirlingas rests inside the famous Baijnath Temple.

Baijnath

Dharamshala

Dharamshala, home of the Dalai Lama, is a great destination to visit on your free weekend and is about 2 hours from Palampur. Its main attraction is the Dalai Lama Main Temple, but the city is rich in Tibetan culture and history, which is showcased in the Tibetan Museum.

Dharamshala

Delhi

Set in the north-central part of the country on the west bank of the Yamuna River Delhi is a long journey from Palampur, but is worth vising before or after your program if you have the time. There are some great things to see and do, including The Red Fort, Qutb Minar, India Gate and Humayun’s Tomb.

Delhi

The FutureSense Foundation

Be a part of something bigger

When gapping with us, you’ll be supporting our partner charity, the FutureSense Foundation.

Through our programmes and initiatives, the FutureSense Foundation works towards achieving a ‘Fairer World’, a world in which each person has the opportunity to meet their aspirations for a better future.

On your gap year, you’ll see first-hand the work that the FutureSense Foundation does and be a part of our long-term, sustainable programs.

India volunteer programs

How do you want to make your impact?

On our programs, you’ll be immersed in our community development projects to help increase our impact in the area. That could be through health promotion workshops, teaching conversational English and life skills to school children, planting trees with the community, or building new classrooms.

However you want to leave your handprint, we’ve created the best programs to help you make the most of your time in Palampur.

Health & Wellbeing

Help bring awareness of vital health issues to improve the lives of the children and adults of the Palampur community.

Education

Work with local schools to deliver workshops on a range of topics, from conversational English to Environmental Awareness.

Climate Action

Work with children and adults to raise awareness of climate change and turn that awareness into action.

Expression

Become an activity leader to inspire the local children to express themselves through creative arts and sport.

How it works

The GapGuru Way

At GapGuru we have the experience to keep things simple for you. With close to two decades shaping over 6,000 trips, we know exactly what makes an impactful, meaningful and memorable gap year. Simply choose your start date then follow these three simple steps:

STEP 01

Choose where you'll make your impact

Pick from five incredible destinations, electing the number of weeks you want to spend in each. You’ll be playing your part to help create a brighter future for some of the most disadvantaged communities around the world.

STEP 02

Decide how you'll make a difference

Select from four activity types that have been designed to be as impactful as possible. All of our programs are built off the back of the FutureSense Foundation, ensuring you’ll be a part of creating lasting change for our communities.

STEP 03

Choose your add-ons

Select additional programs to add to your gap year experience. These can be in the same country as your core activity or in any of our other unique destinations across the globe.

What to learn more about India?

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Contact us today

Chat to our Gap Gurus

If you have any questions at all about what to do, where to go, or how to plan your gap year, get in touch with our GapGurus today. With nearly two decades in the business, we’ve probably had the question before!

Need Gap Year Advice?

Whether you’ve already booked a gap experience with us or are still looking, get in the know about everything ‘gap year’. Our comprehensive Gap Year Guide covers everything you need to know, from why you should take a gap year, to information for parents, travel tips, and more.

Volunteer in India

India is a country of contrasts and diversity.

Volunteer in India

Why Gap Year in India?

Why GapGuru?

Extensive Gap Year Experience

Ethical Gap Year Programs

A community of support

Don’t just take it from us…

Why visit India?

This was an amazing experience

Sarah

I loved experiencing new cultures

Mia

A wholesome, fulfilling experience

Harrison

learnt so much and had an amazing time.

M. Gray

Your Gap Year in India

All you need to know

India Highlights

Palampur

Language

Sweet treats

Savoury snacks

Drink & Fruit

Neha

Prices Include

What we can help you with

Things to do in India

Your India Bucket List

Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

Tea Gardens

Tashi Jong

Baijnath

Dharamshala

Dharamshala

Delhi

The FutureSense Foundation

Be a part of something bigger

India volunteer programs

How do you want to make your impact?

Health & Wellbeing

Education

Climate Action

Expression

How it works

The GapGuru Way

STEP 01

Choose where you'll make your impact

STEP 02

Decide how you'll make a difference

STEP 03

Choose your add-ons

What to learn more about India?

Related articles

Contact us today

Chat to our Gap Gurus

Need Gap Year Advice?

Contacts

About GapGuru

Useful Links

Find out more