We kindly ask all our guests to apply for
TOURIST visa. India contact: Dr Raj Arole, Jamkhed PO, Ahmednagar
District, Maharashtra 413201. Application for U.S.
citizens/permanent residents is available online at (http://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com/)
– need 2 passport photos. Travisa Outsourcing handles all India
visa requests from inside the United States as a private
contractor to the Indian Embassy. If you apply in person,
you can usually leave the application in the morning and get it
that afternoon/evening. VISA date begins the day you submit your
application (not the day you enter India). Please do not wait
until the last day to apply for a visa! In rare situations, it
may take up to a week for visa processing.
If you are traveling with a Pakistani, Afghani,
Iranian or Bangladeshi passport you will likely need to get
registered with the district police in Ahmednagar city. We will
help you arrange this and obtain the necessary paperwork once
you get to India.
What vaccinations and/or prophylaxis do I
need when coming to Jamkhed?
We strongly advise visitors to have their
tetanus vaccine up to date (no more than 10 years since last
booster dose). Typhoid and Hepatitis A vaccines are recommended.
Check with the health department or ministry in your country for
their latest recommendations.
Visitors should also bring enough malaria
prophylaxis with them. Consult a physician or travel clinic on
the type of prophylaxis best for you. The CRHP hospital stocks
Chloroquine, which we use to effectively treat malaria and for
prophylactic use as well. We generally discourage the use of
Mefloquine (Larium) due to past experience with unpleasant side
effects among some guest taking this medication.
If you take prescription drugs regularly, make
sure to bring enough to last you till the end of your stay. We
cannot guarantee the availability or quality of certain
medication. Multivitamins are also good to have but can be
obtained locally for a low cost.
What
clothes should I pack?
Women - it’s important to have your knees
covered when in public (e.g. skirts/dresses below the knee – and
full skirts so when you sit on the floor, you are modest);
slacks are OK, you can buy/have made punjabi (dress & pants)
outfits in Jamkhed if you want.
Men - long pants preferred. Sports clothes (men
& women) - modest style (shorts are not preferable
although the people of Jamkhed are more accustomed to
foreigners); bring a bathing suit if you want to swim (sometimes
possible).
What is the weather like in Jamkhed?
If you’re only going to Jamkhed, it’s OK to
bring USD/euros in cash. You can use ATMs in the large cities
(e.g. Bombay, Pune, Ahmednagar). It’s a good idea to have a credit card
(Visa/MasterCard) or ATM card, especially if you plan to travel.
Some major credit cards tend to charge a fee (about USD$10) for
international ATM withdrawals. Check with your bank on their
policies. Past visitors have said that most bank/debit cards
charge a much smaller fee (USD$1-2) but please check with your
bank regarding its international ATM policies. Remember to
contact your bank and inform them you will be traveling to India
to avoid account suspension.
You can change money at the airport or withdraw
rupees from the airport ATM. Otherwise, the nearest bank to Jamkhed
to change money is 1-2 hours by bus in Ahmednagar (more
difficult for changing, but ATMs are available) or 4-5 hours in Pune
at the Thomas Cooke off MG Road . Money can also be changed at American Express Travel Services
in Mumbai (Colaba area). Check the exchange rate before you
leave as it tends to fluctuate.
Exchange Rates (as of November 2, 2008):
USD$1 = 49.33 INR; 1 EUR
= 62.64 INR
What kind of
accommodations can I expect?
Jamkhed is located in a very remote and poor
area. Water shortages are frequent and electricity is only
available for part of the day. However, we do our best to
provide, as far as possible, the type of accommodation our
guests are used to, on a limited budget. Because
CRHP owns a generator, the electricity blackouts will usually be
brief. We try to conserve water as much as possible and ask our
guests to do the same. The rooms are singles or doubles with
bed, cabinet, private bathroom (some are shared). Each room has
a ceiling fan (no a/c). Mosquito nets or mosquito repellent
coils are provided if you wish to use them. Plug-ins with liquid
mosquito repellant tend to work very well and are readily
available in Jamkhed village. Towels, sheets, pillow case and pillow are
provided and changed weekly.
The bathrooms have western-style toilets (toilet
paper will be provided). We have recently installed showers
although some recurring
technical problems may mean that you will have to use a bucket
bath (hot water is usually available).
We discourage guests from bringing too many
valuables, such as jewelry, with them. Anything important (e.g.
Passport/VISA) can be stored in our secure safe located in the
administrative building on our compound.
What about water?
Filtered water is provided and bottled water can
be purchased in Jamkhed and near the CRHP compound for about
USD$0.30/liter.
What kind of food can I expect?
Our kitchen staff prepare Indian and occasionally
western-style meals. They realize that foreigners may not be
used to the spice and try to limit the use of chilies in the meals.
But let
us know if you prefer hot food. Meat and fish are served
occasionally but vegetarians can easily be accommodated. Please inform
us of your dietary needs prior to arrival. Students who can cook
are encouraged to prepare a meal from their homes as a method of
cultural exchange.
You can buy various snacks near the CRHP
compound and different foods, sweets, and fruit/vegetables are
available in the Jamkhed market, about a kilometer walk. Eat
street food at your own risk, although tea and biscuits tend to
be a safe choice. Drinks, such as sodas, juice and
bottled water, are also available in Jamkhed and near CRHP.
As a note, it is customary to eat traditional
Indian food using your right hand as a scoop. However, we
provide utensils for those who prefer to use them. Also, most of
the food that is served at CRHP comes from our very own organic
farm. Therefore, the food, including diary, is always very
fresh, nutritious and high quality since we don't use pesticides
or inorganic fertilizers of any kind.
Voltage/Electricity
Voltage is 220, electricity tends to go off
periodically and a diesel generator is used at times. Bring a
plug adapter with you and a small transformer for low voltage
appliances. A voltage stabilizer can be provided if you have a
laptop or sensitive equipment. We strongly urge guests to take
caution. The electricity fluctuates quite a bit and sensitive
equipment has been damaged by this in the past. Always use a
stabilizer on whatever you're going to miss. Plus, add a
surge/spike protector to the stabilizer for anything you can't
live without.
Should I bring my laptop to Jamkhed?
Some guests do bring laptops and we provide them
with a voltage stabilizer. However, be aware that CRHP owns a
number of up-to-date computers with MS Office and other common
software installed. Our administrative office and resource
center also has a Xerox machine, laser and color printers, and a
scanner.
Will I have internet access in Jamkhed?
Email and internet are accessible for a small
charge on the CRHP compound (Rs.1/minute). The dial-up
connection does periodically go down, usually for a few hours.
Internet cafes have recently popped up in Jamkhed [dial-up].
There are also internet cafes in Ahmednagar [dial-up, limited
broadband], Pune [broadband] and other cities. Work is being undertaken to
provide a broadband capable connection to the town of Jamkhed,
however, we cannot predict when it will go online. Check back
for the status of this project.
How can I call home from Jamkhed?
There is a pay telephone service booth at the
entrance of CRHP (ISD/STD/PCO). Recent rates to the U.S. have
been $0.20/minute. You can also receive calls here, at the
training centre,
(+91-2421-222293) for free. For emergencies, you can receive
calls through the CRHP office phone (91-2421-221322). Cell
phones are a very recent addition to Jamkhed town. Can be
purchased with SIM cards and used with pre-paid service.
Receiving calls is free but dialing internationally is usually
costly.
Can I receive packages by mail while at CRHP,
Jamkhed?
Use of the Indian Postal Service is at your own
risk. Please remember that Jamkhed is located in a remote area
and your package will encounter many curious and poorly paid
government workers along the way from Mumbai. In the past, some of our guests
have received opened packages with missing items. Postcards and
letters tend to be safe. Our mailing address can be found on the
Contact Us page.
What is there to do in Jamkhed for fun?
CRHP is located outside of Jamkhed, a small town in a very
rural setting. Living, working, studying is at the CRHP compound
(approx. 1 km from Jamkhed village center) - composed of
training center, staff housing, hospital, administration and
other project buildings. In your leisure time you can engage in:
Reading - a variety of books are
available at the resource center on different health and
development, medical, social science and other topics; leisure
reading is also available.
Sports - the following activities are
occasionally available; Table tennis, badminton, volleyball,
jogging (around compound, on road), cricket, aerobics, yoga or
other group exercise; Various games (e.g. board games, cards)
are available
Music - instruments, singing - guitar and
keyboard available
Crafts/hobbies - to do yourself and we
encourage you to teach others
Day trips - some nice things are
available by foot or bus (e.g. waterfall, lake, deer park, CRHP
farm)
Nightlife - community life on the
compound (although this area is safe, women should avoid walking
alone outside the compound at night); not much to do for
entertainment in Jamkhed town, only small eateries, tea stalls,
market and movie shops selling Hindi/Bollywood films and music.
A TV with VCR/DVD/VCD player is available. We do have a modest
collection of English and Hindi movies, which you are more than
welcome to help us expand.
Shopping - Jamkhed is a large village;
shopping is OK for basics and small gifts, but not much in terms
of Indian gifts to take home (shopping is much better in Pune
and Mumbai). There are several "department stores" that have
come up where you can buy ready made garments or have clothes
custom made. The quality of custom made clothing tends to be
higher in the larger cities.
Community spiritual life
The CRHP community has an underlying orientation
toward Christian spiritual values, which serves as a source of
inspiration for many staff. The project welcomes and respects
people of all traditions and beliefs, and expects
visitors to respect the Christian foundation of CRHP. The
project does not force conversions on any of our project
communities or visitors nor do we require participation in
religious services. Our aim is to reinforce positive humanistic
values common to all groups in order to achieve harmony and well
being within the community.
The staff holds daily early morning devotions,
which also serves as a community-building activity for the staff
and the local Christian population. It is also a way for us to
start the day together. Everyone is welcome to attend but it is
completely optional. CRHP also hosts the Jamkhed Community
Church and there is a service on Sunday morning, which is non
denominational and all are welcome. For non-Christians, these
activities also offer an opportunity to experience and learn
more about the Christian faith if so desired.
Is there anything I can do to help CRHP prior to my
arrival?
Some volunteers who come to Jamkhed choose to do
some fundraising to help support our many programs, including
community-based and medical. If you have such an interest we,
along with our partner villages, would greatly appreciate your
help in contributing to the sustainability of our organization.
Ideas include sending e-mails/letters to friends, family,
classmates and co-workers describing the overall project and a
particular program you wish to support. A bake sale is another
popular method for raising donations. Programs that need
on-going financial support include the Adolescent Girls Program,
Child Development Program (including preschool for poor
children), Village Health Worker training, charity medical care
for patients living in extreme poverty, and the artificial limbs
program. We are also continuing to raise funds for equipment and
other costs related to the ongoing construction of our new
hospital facility. For more information visit our
Get Involved page.
How
do I get to CRHP, Jamkhed once I land in India?
See the
Contact Us
page for travel information within India. We will do our best to
accommodate your schedule and budget. For current rates for
vehicle pickup please contact us by e-mail. Our cars can
accommodate about 4-5 passengers, however, this depends on
the amount of luggage being carried.
