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 Indian 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 of health 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 as it is not the custom for adults in this area); bring a bathing suit if you want to swim (sometimes possible).

What is the weather like in Jamkhed?

CRHP, Jamkhed is located in a semi-arid, very drought-prone area, with fairly flat land and poor, rocky soil. Annual average rainfall is 14 inches, mostly in the monsoon months of July to September so there is a long dry spell of about 9 months. Failure of the annual monsoon rain is not uncommon and causes water shortages. The weather patterns in this area are drastically different than those of Mumbai or Pune so do not use the statistics for those cities as a reference point.

It depends on the month(s) you plan to come. The usual pattern (although exceptions have been known to occur): Rainy season begins early June and lasts through October. The peak of the rainy season tends to occur during the months of July (late) though August to mid-September; you may want to bring a strong umbrella. The months of October-February tend to be very pleasant and dry. During the winter months, the temperature can drop to 4°C (39F) at night and rise up to 29°C (85F) during the day due to the intense sun. The months of March-June are treacherous due to the intense heat and lack of cloud cover. Temperatures can peak at 45°C (115F) during the day, although it's dry heat. These are also the driest months of the year where you won't see much vegetation around.

In 2007, we had very pleasant weather during the months of June-August, although the area received substantially less than the optimal amount of rainfall. Temperatures were very pleasant and comfortable. You can check the latest weather in the Jamkhed area by visiting the Falling Rain Website.

Please be prepared to pay at least half of your CRHP-related expenses in cash. You can either bring cash with you in foreign currency (dollars or euros) or withdraw from an ATM.

You can bring USD/euros in cash, which are acceptable as payment for your room and board and other activities. We now have an ATM right here in Jamkhed which has been very reliable. You can also 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 smaller fee but please check with your bank regarding its international ATM policies. Remember to contact your bank and inform them that you will be traveling to India to avoid account suspension. You can change money at the airport or withdraw rupees from the airport ATM.

Exchange Rates (as of Aug 19, 2010): USD$1 = 46.37 INR; 1 EUR = 59.52 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 administration building on our compound. CRHP employs watchmen to patrol the compound 24 hours a day for the safety of our guests and staff.

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 and surge protector. However, be aware that CRHP keeps a number of up-to-date computers with MS Office and other common software installed at our library in the training center. In addition, we have a Xerox machine, laser and color printers, and a scanner.

Will I have internet access in Jamkhed?

Email and internet are accessible on the CRHP compound on our library computers. We have recently installed WiFi internet at broadband speed in case you bring a laptop or other WiFi enabled device. There are also internet cafes in Ahmednagar [dial-up, limited broadband],  Pune [broadband] and other cities.

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.