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Kerala India Open Team

Project Full
Dates
December 4 - 16, 2014
Location
India
Participation Fee
$1200
What's Included

Overview

For the last 15 years Maranatha has been working in India to provide churches and schools, and the immense need continues to provide opportunities for volunteers to experience God’s work in India. On this project, volunteers will travel to Nedumkandam, India to help build classrooms at the Seventh-day Adventist Higher Secondary School.

Scope

One-Day School Classrooms

Leaders
Bruce Fjarli,
Project Coordinator
Itinerary
Thursday, December 4
Early morning arrivals in Kochi (COK) on Emirates or Etihad Airways. Group transfer to Thekaddy hotel and orientation
Friday, December 5
Work day
Saturday, December 6
Worship with local congregation
Sunday, December 7
Work days
Saturday, December 13
Worship with local congregation
Sunday, December 14
Work day and clean up
Monday, December 15
Periyar National Park
Tuesday, December 16
Afternoon departures from Kochi
ARRIVALPlease plan to arrive in Kochi (airport code COK) in the early morning of Thursday, December 4 or in the evening of Wednesday, December 3, if you choose to arrive early and book a hotel room.Please wait for confirmation from Maranatha before purchasing your airfare to ensure there is still space on the project.
DEPARTUREProject Only:
Travel home from Kochi (COK) in the afternoon of Tuesday, December 16.

Optional Excursion-Agra:
Please book the following flights:
• Kochi (COK) to Delhi (DEL), Air India 478 Tuesday, December 16, 5:45 p.m.
• Travel home from Delhi (DEL) Thursday, December 18, after 11 p.m.
Hotel
VIEW ACCOMMODATION DETAILS
Travel Information

Volunteers will purchase their own plane tickets to the Cochin International Airport in Kochi, India, where Maranatha representatives will meet you . If you will be transferring to a domestic airline for your connection from Delhi, Chennai, or Bangalore to Kochi, we recommend trying to book all the way to Kochi on one itinerary to take advantage of the international baggage allowances.

Please plan on arriving on Emirates or Etihad Airlines early Thursday morning around 3:00 a.m. Maranatha representatives will meet you and take you to a local hotel for breakfast before driving to the project hotel in Thekaddy, which is approximately three and a half hours from the airport. Some volunteers may choose to arrive on Wednesday evening. If you choose to do so, please plan on booking a hotel room at the Flora Airport Hotel in Kochi. There is a shuttle from the hotel, and Maranatha representatives will meet you in the morning for breakfast.
To see the hotel and book a room visit:
http://www.florahotelsindia.com/kerala/kochi/kochi-flora-airport-hotel.aspx

Travel Resources

Azumano Travel: 800-454-4099 or by email with Erle at edpenha@azumano.com

Butler Travel: 503-879-5005 or by email with Nathanael at nathan@butlertravel.com

Kayak: www.kayak.com

When contacting the Azumano or Butler travel agencies, make sure you mention Maranatha for the best fares.

Excursions
Periyar National Park - Included

During the project, volunteers will visit Periyar National Park. This national park is located in the middle of the Cardamom Hills, a mountainous area an hour from Nedumkandam. There are 35 species of mammals in the park, and it is an important tiger and elephant reserve for the area. In 2008, there were 24 Bengal tigers reported in the park. Other mammals include the gaur, Indian giant squirrel, sloth bear, Nilgiri langur, Nilgiri tahr, and the stripe-necked mongoose. There is also a wide array of birds and reptiles throughout the park. The park is also known for a variety in plants, including eucalyptus trees and orchids.

Optional Excursion: Taj Mahal - $300

Continue on with the group excursion to Agra, located outside of Delhi. Here, volunteers will visit the Taj Mahal, a stunning marble mausoleum considered one of the world’s architectural masterpieces. Mughal emperor Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal as a memorial to his wife. An estimated three million people visit the beautiful building each year.

India Facts & Figures

CAPITAL

New Delhi

POPULATION

1.22 billion

LANGUAGE

41% Hindi, 8/1% Bengali, 7.2% Telagu, and various other languages.

CLIMATE

Varies from tropical monsoons in the south to temperate in the north

RELIGION

80% Hindu, 13% Muslim, 2% Christian

CURRENCY

Indian Rupee

Entry Requirements
  • All passports must be valid for at least six months from the dates of intended return.
  • Tourist Visa
  • COVID-19 Requirements
Medical Requirements & Precautions
Contact Us Want to speak with someone at Maranatha directly? Please call our office at 916.774.7700 to speak with a volunteer specialist. Alternatively, you can send us an email.

 

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