Volunteer in Karnal, India

Summary
Volunteer and live in a rural community north of Delhi. The Karnal District is renowned for its agricultural research institutions and for its production of rice, wheat, and milk.

Programs

   • Farming

Location
Karnal District is located in north-central India, in the state of Haryana and approximately 125 kilometers from Delhi. Karnal has a population of 250,000. Your international flight should arrive in Delhi at Indira Gandhi International Airport, then you will travel with our Coordinator to Karnal.

Language
Hindi is the official local language in Karnal, however English is also widely spoken. Other languages include Punjabi, Urdu and Haryanavi.

Accommodations
You will stay with a local Indian family who will provide you with your own room, most meals, include you in family activities, and generally help you adjust to and learn about their culture and country. Our families can host more than one volunteer at a time, so you can stay in the same house with your friend(s) or partner. You may also need to share a room with another volunteer if you are traveling alone.

Meals
Meals usually will be vegetarian and will be freshly cooked 2/3 times a day depending on your program. A typical Indian meal consists of rice, roti (bread), dal (lentils), vegetables and salad. Meat is seldom cooked, however you can always order some if you wish to eat.

Communications
We strongly suggest that you have a mobile phone while in India. You can bring an "unlocked" GSM phone from home, or buy a mobile phone at one of the numerous market areas in Karnal. For the SIM card, we recommend that you buy the SIM card at the airport upon arrival, due to new telecommunication laws. For Internet access, there are shops about 10-minutes away from your host families. Your host family will also have a phone that you can use for emergencies and local calls.

Transportation
Our local Delhi Coordinator will pick you up at the airport in Delhi, then accompany you by either train or bus to Karnal. It is best to arrange a flight that arrives during the day. However if you arrive late at night, we will take you to a hotel in Delhi then travel the next day to Karnal (hotel cost is included in your program fee). On a daily basis in Karnal, volunteers usually travel by "auto rickshaw" by themselves. Our local coordinator will show you how to do that for the first day. At the end of your program, your Coordinator will accompany back to Delhi to the airport.

Health & Safety
Karnal is safe in terms of personal safety as well as health, especially compared to other large Indian cities. The biggest problem faced by volunteers is usually an occasional upset stomach as their bodies adjust to the food and water and warmer climate. Only drink bottled water, which costs $0.30 (12 Rupees). There is also the risk of malaria, so check with your travel doctor to see if malaria medication might be appropriate. There are medical clinics and large hospitals in Delhi that can handle basic and serious medical problems.

Climate/Weather
The climate of Karnal is very hot and mostly dry. High temperatures range from 90 F in April to 120 F in June. There is a brief wet monsoon season in July/August. Click here for the current forecast.

Sightseeing & Activities
There are many sightseeing and cultural events to see in and around the Karnal area. Some of the highlights include Karan Lake, Oasis Tourist Resort, Atal Park, Rose Garden, Karan Taal, Devi Temple, Cantonment Church Tower, Old Fort, Gurdwara Manji Sahib. You can also take weekends trips to Delhi and the Agra Taj Mahal.