May 18 to June 10, 2009
(24 days)

Cost: $3,295 which includes:

* tuition for 6 upper-division credits at University of Montana (with out-of-state students paying the same as in-state students)

* a program fee (which covers all accommodations, all meals, all in-country transportation, emergency and international health insurance, trekking guides and porters).

**Not included: airfare**

Students will earn their six (6) credits by taking two complimentary courses:

Himalayan Environment and Development FOR / RECM 395 (3 credits)

Tourism, Livelihoods and Sustainability in the Himalaya FOR / RECM 395 (3 credits)

The Indian Himalaya Field Course is an exciting study abroad opportunity, exploring the wonders of the Indian subcontinent and local mountain cultures. The program will introduce students to the Garhwal region of the Indian Himalaya located in the northern state of Uttarakhand.

The Garhwal region is known as the abode of the gods, a holy place containing some of the most sacred sites in India. One of these sites, Nanda Devi, is the second highest mountain in India at over 25,600 feet and is worshiped throughout the region as the physical incarnation of the goddess Parbati. Nanda Devi is the centerpiece of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, a United Nations World Heritage Site for its extensive biodiversity and one of the last great wilderness areas in the Himalaya.

We will spend most of our time trekking and living in the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve experiencing the area's unique physical and cultural landscapes. Students will learn through extensive readings, class discussions, direct field experience (including living in a remote mountain village), meetings with development officials, sustainability activists and stakeholders in the region.

Himalayan Environment and Development: FOR / RECM 395 (3 credits)

This course covers the contentious issues surrounding environment and development in the Himalaya using the Garhwal region of India as the model for larger issues in this region. The Garhwal Himalaya contains some of India's most sacred sites, highest mountains and is widely known for its biodiversity. The region is also experiencing rapid economic development, particularly in the tourism and energy sectors.

After familiarizing ourselves with the unique physical and cultural geography of mountain regions, we will explore conservation and development issues affecting the Himalaya from the global to the local.

Tourism, Livelihoods and Sustainability in the Himalaya: FOR / RECM 395 (3 credits).

The Garhwal Himalaya of India is fascinating because it draws large numbers of adventure tourists, eco-tourists, religious tourists and sightseers. These tourists are attracted to the natural landscape features of this region and they visit the parks, protected areas and religious sites in the millions. As such, tourism is a major driver of development in the Garhwal and the impacts, economic, cultural and environmental are many. At the same time, local people are still practicing traditional livelihood activities (such as transhumant pastoralism and the collection of non-timber forest products) that are being transformed by tourism and development.

In this course we will explore the opportunities and challenges of conservation and development with particular reference to nature-based tourism and sustainability in an isolated but rapidly globalizing region of the Himalaya.

We will cover issues of livelihoods and sustainable development in the Himalaya and explore the complex interactions between natural resources, local people, NGO's, government agencies, tourism providers, resource managers and tourists. We will focus our discussions on livelihoods, livelihood change and nature-based tourism in the context of sustainable development.

Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve

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"the abode of the gods"

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Nanda Devi is the centerpiece of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, a United Nations World Heritage Site for its extensive biodiversity. The designation of Nanda Devi as a Biosphere Reserve has resulted in the closure of some areas once claimed by local populations. Closures have limited the local people's ability to graze their sheep and goats in the high pastures and as such many people have either sold or slaughtered their flocks resulting in economic downturn for the area. Recently local people have implemented a plan to promote community based eco tourism that will benefit the local environment while providing communities in the area with a sustainable livelihood option.

For more information on the struggle for resource rights and sustainable livelihoods in the Nanda Devi area please go to www.nandadevi.org.

If you are interested in learning more about sustainable community based eco-tourism in this area please go to www.mountainshepards.com.

We work closely with the Nanda Devi Campaign and the Mountain Shepherds on our courses.

Indian Himalaya field course
May 18 - June 10, 2009

Faculty Instructor: Keith Bosak
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Day 1 18-May Depart from USA Overnight flight, 20+ hours travel on airplanes.

Day 2 19-May Arrive New Delhi Airport (8pm), hotel in New Delhi. One hour class meeting upon arrival at hotel.

Day 3 20-May Train to Hardiwar, drive 45 minutes to the holy city of Rishikesh, GMVN rest house in Rishikesh. Class will be held on the train via personal lectures and landscape assignment from 8:00am - 12:00pm. Their will be an opportunity to explore the local markets upon arrival in Rishikesh. Evening class from 6:00pm - 8:00pm.

Day 4 21-May Morning class (1 hour). Drive 6-7 hours to Midway. GMVN rest house in Midway. Evening class from 6:00pm - 8:00pm.

Day 5 22-May Morning class (1 hour). Drive 6-7 hours to Auli. Bungalow accommodations in the resort town of Auli. Evening class from 6:00pm - 8:00pm.

Day 6 23-May Morning class (2 hour). Fieldtrip to Gaurson meadows for views of Nanda Devi Peak, a visit to Auli ski resort the location of the 2009 Asian Winter Games and a temple visit - 6 hour trek. Bungalow accommodations in the resort town of Auli. Evening class from 6:00pm - 8:00pm.

Day 7 24-May Full day (8 hours) guest lectures, discussion and academic activities. Guest lectures will cover exciting information about the student’s upcoming trekking experiences. Bungalow accommodations in the resort town of Auli.

Day 8 25-May Drive 1 hour to Lata, a village along the Dhauli Ganga River. Trek 1 hour to the ancient Nanda Devi Temple and engage in a cultural interaction with village families from 10:00 to 2:00. After the cultural interaction it is possible it purchase hand made wool goods (rugs, hats, sweaters, blankets) from the villagers. Trek 2 hours to Kanook with more village interaction. Camp in Kanook. Evening class from 6:00pm - 8:00pm.

Day 9 26-May Morning class (1 hour). Trek 4 hours to the beautiful alpine meadows of Lata Kharak (12,400ft) to spend your first night above treeline. Forest Department Hut accommodations at Lata Kharak. Evening class from 6:00pm - 8:00pm.

Day 10 27-May Morning class (1 hour). Day trek to Saini Kharak a grazing encampment that provides glimpses into the Nanda Devi Biosphere core zone and a stunning perspective of the 25,600 foot Nanda Devi as well as twenty or more other peaks over 20,000 feet. Trek back to Lathi Kharak - 3 hour trek. Evening class from 6:00pm - 8:00pm.

Day 11 28-May Morning class (1 hour). Trek 5 hours through old growth forests of Himalaya Cedar to the village of Tolma. Homestay in quaint Tolma amidst groves of apricots. Spend time with friendly villagers learning about community owed tourism. Evening class from 6:00pm - 8:00pm.

Day 12 29-May Full day (8 hours) guest lectures, discussion and academic activities. Participate in an interactive community owned tourism research project. Homestay in Tolma with village interaction.

Day 13 30-May Morning class (1 hour). Trek 3 hours to Suki a scenic village perched on the mountain side with views of Dronagiri (23,000 feet). Camp outside Suki with village interaction. Evening class from 6:00pm - 8:00pm.

Day 14 31-May Morning class (1 hour). Trek 6 hours to Jungle Camp (not actually in a jungle) to the alpine meadows that are the grazing grounds for the shepherds of Suki. Camp at Jungle Camp (11,600 feet). Evening class from 6:00pm - 8:00pm.

Day 15 1-June Morning class (1 hour). Day trek to Rishikund (13,700 feet) - 5 hour trek. Rishikund offers the most dramatic views of the high Himalaya reaching into Tibet. Rishikund is a major camping ground for villagers collecting medicinal herbs. Camp at Jungle Camp. Evening class from 6:00pm - 8:00pm.

Day 16 2-June Morning class (1 hour). Trek 4 hours to Suraithota. Camp outside of Suraithota, the home of the GB Pant Institute of Himalaya Environment and Development’s Medicinal herb cultivation research site. Evening class from 6:00pm - 8:00pm.

Day 17 3-June Morning class (1 hour). Drive 3 hours to Ghamsali (lectures and academic activity on bus). Trek 2 hours to Ghamsali meadows. Explore the ornate wood carved architecture of this prosperous and once very important trading post nestled amongst the high peaks on the way to Tibet. Camp at Ghamsali meadows (12,000 feet). Evening class from 6:00pm - 8:00pm.

Day 18 4-June Fieldtrip to Niti, the last village before the Tibetan border - 3 hour trek with village interaction. Class in Niti (2 hours). Camp at Ghamsali meadows. Evening class from 6:00pm - 8:00pm.

Day 19 5-June Morning class (2 hour). Drive 5 hours to Auli. Bungalow accommodations in Auli. Evening class from 6:00pm - 8:00pm.

Day 20 6-June Morning class (1 hour). Drive 6-7 hours to Midway. GMVN rest house accommodations in Midway. Evening class from 6:00pm - 8:00pm.

Day 21 7-June Morning class (1 hour). Drive 6-7 hours to the holy city of Haridwar, where we will be among the 250,000 pilgrims that make their way to the Ganges for evening prayer. Hotel in Haridwar. Evening class from 6:00pm - 8:00pm.

Day 22 8-June Train 6 hours to Delhi. Class will be held on the train via personal lectures and reflection assignment from 8:00am - 12:00pm. Hotel in Delhi. Evening class from 6:00pm - 8:00pm.

Day 23 9-June Exploratory morning in Delhi, Class will consist of student presentations and end of trip banquet from 2:00pm - 7:00pm. Depart for Delhi Airport at 7:00pm.

Day 24 10-June Arrive USA