When:
Winter Session, 2018-19
December 30, 2018 – January 14, 2018 (±3 days based on cheapest flight fare)
 
Course:
Earn 3 credits in GEOG 481/581 Special Topics: Field Study in India
3 days of preparatory session in Indiana, PA
15-16 days trip to India (traveling across 5 different places in Western India, State of Rajasthan)
Field Study and observations in Jaipur and Jaisalmer 
Description:
This Special Topics course will explicitly incorporate field observations in various Indian cities – Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur, and Bikaner, to explore and understand urbanization trends and the complexity of urban issues. Contemporary Indian cities offer some excellent case studies to observe problems and conflicts that arise with rapid economic change and globalization influences in developing world countries. Indian cities have a long tradition of planning, yet are challenged by rapid population and economic growth, rural to urban migration, unemployment in more traditional economic sectors, rapid expansion of slums and informal activities, environmental degradation, and a lack of adequate infrastructure. Added to this is the need to preserve cultural heritage, environmental quality, natural resources and dwindling habitat for wildlife threatened by the growing large-scale cities.
The course will be a 3-credit “Special Topics” offering in Winter 2018/19. Through field visits and data gathering, we will emphasize issues connected to preservation of rich cultural heritage in the State of Rajasthan, and expansion of emerging high tech sectors, increase in informal settlements, handicraft and tourism industry, natural resource utilization, and changing energy sources in cities of Rajasthan. Students will be required to participate in a 3-day preparatory session (at the end of Fall Semester 2018) to be held in Indiana, PA. We will then fly to New Delhi from Washington DC, tentatively on December 30, 2018, and visit the city of Jaipur. The faculty and staff of Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur – a premiere public university in India, will accompany us during our trip. In Rajasthan, we will stay in Jaipur (3 nights), Udaipur (2 nights), Jodhpur (2 nights), Jaisalmer (3 nights), and Bikaner (2 nights) to undertake field study. Local travel among these places will mostly be by bus, car and/or railways (over-night train rides will be included), informal transportation within cities – autos, rickshaws etc. will also be included.
Overview of Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, and Bikaner:
Jaipur, also known as the Pink City, was founded by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Amer in 1727, as the capital city of Jaipur State. Jaipur State was a pricnely State in India that existed from the 12th century until Indian Independence from the British Empire in 1947. An example of a typical fortress town, the urban landscape of Jaipur is dominated by the Amer Fort and other palaces. The town is home to two of the UNESCO World Heritage sites:  the Amer Fort and Jantar Mantar. Presently, Jaipur is the largest and the capital city of the State of Rajasthan, India.
 
Udaipur was founded by Maharana Udai Singh II of Sisodia in 1553, as the capital city of the Princely State of Udaipur in the Mewar region of Rajputana. It is famously known as the White City, or the City of Lakes. The city was settled surrounding a sophiscated and interconnected system of 5 lakes: Fateh Sagar, Pichola, Swaroop Sagar, Rangsang, and Doosh Talai. Presently, the economic drivers of the city are tourism industry capitalizing on historic forts, musuems, architectural landmarks, and the lakes, mineral and marble industries, and handicraft industries. 
 
[Image result for jodhpur] Jodhpur, the Blue City, was founded by Rao Jodha, a Rajput Chief from the Marwar region in 1459. The former Princely State of Jodhpur served as the capital of Marwar kingdom from the 15th century until India’s independence from the British Empire. Mehrangarh Fort and Umaid Bhawan Palace are the notable tourist attractions in the city. The city boasts its culture heritage as a blue city, owing to extensive use of Indigo in painting the exterior of houses
[Image result for bikaner] [Image result for jaisalmer] Jaisalmer, also known as the Golden City, was founded by Maharaja Rawal Jaisal Singh in 1156, as the capital city of Jaisalmer State. The former Princely State was merged with the State of Rajasthan during Indian Independence in 1947. The city owes its name as the “Golden City” to extensive use of sandstone as the predominant building material. As of now, tourism industry provides the largest source of income in the region.
Bikaner, also known as the Red City, was founded by Maharaja Rao Bika in 1486, as the capital of the former Princely State of Bikaner. Extensive use of red sandstone as predominant building material establishes the Red City image and defines its cultural heritage. The city also famously hosts its annual Camel Festival, which draws hundreds and thousands of tourists from the western world. We are planning to stay in Bikaner during the Camel Festival of 2019.
 
 

 
 

* The exact day-to-day itinerary is subject to change owing to local issues and conditions.

Budget:
 
Airfare = approximately $1,000 per person roundtrip
* Our entire team will book the flight tickets at the same time in consultation with the faculty members leading the program. It is suggested that we book our tickets no later than mid-September, 2018. We plan to depart together from IAD in the same flight.
 
Program Fee = approximately $2,000 per person (the exact fee to be finalized by October, 2018)
* this includes stay at hotels and hostels, food and transportation costs for the entire duration of the trip.
 
Recommended Extra Personal Money for Spending = approximately $200-$300 per person
* this will cover individual costs of buying souvenirs, camel or elephant rides, additional excursions, or food.  
 
Education Abroad Fee = $100 per person
 
* Additional fee for IUP Tuition for GEOG 481 or 581 Special Topics: Field Study in India (3 credit course). Must be paid by the University's deadline.
 
* Additional cost for Passport and Visa. Students MUST have their passports, VISA process can be assisted by the Office of International Education. (Visa fee is approximately $60).
 
Financial Deadlines:
Education Abroad Fee of $100 when you apply for the program.
Deposit of $500 due on September 15, 2018.
Second Installment of $750 due on October 15, 2018.
Balance of remaining amount due on December 1, 2018.
 

 

For more information, contact Dr. Sudeshna Ghosh (sudeshna.ghosh@iup.edu) or Dr. Brian Okey (bokey@iup.edu)