Our newest humanitarian destination was a hit in 2018! Color My World is headed back to India! Join us on this amazing adventure that will be full of exhilarating experiences.
We launched Color My World in India to establish programs that would change the lives of impoverished Indian women and children.
We love our volunteers to visit the communities to engage with people, share YOUR stories and see their lives transform. We figured others would too so we launched our sustainable tourism with two goals in mind – to raise revenue to fund more programs and to share the experience of engagement and ‘changing lives’ with others.
Your contribution to change is simply to visit, connect and know your travel experience with Color My World is helping to fund our humanitarian programs around the world
A travel visa to visit India is not included and can be applied for online. Approximate cost $75.00
A humanitarian, Angela Hughes is the director and co-founder of her family foundation, Color My World (501c3) and personally arranges and escorts each group that travels with the foundation. She is engaged with each project from start to finish.
A mother of four children, ages 15-24, Hughes has been in the travel business both as a travel agency owner of Trips Inc. for over 30 years and as a former adjunct professor at both Brigham Young University in the Geography/Travel &Tourism Department and The New Hampshire Community College system teaching Travel & Tourism.
Angela’s expertise include a masters degree in geography and hobbies include third world development humanities, photography and the Renaissance. She has taught her children on location throughout the world bringing to life art, history and science through travel education. Her and her Husband, Brian started the organization as a way to give back to those in need.
Hughes plans and escorts groups around the world and specializes in Europe, Asia and 3rd world humanitarian Trips.
will serve as volunteer co-program director for all of our 2019 sessions. Hillary is a co-founder of Color My World and senior studying international development at Brigham Young University. She can often seen behind the scenes creating our social media, creating our programs and coordinating our programs in many countries.
Hillary has been leading humanitarian groups and teams since her return from Taiwan where she lived and volunteered for 18 months. She has studied in London, England. Worked as an intern in Washington DC at the National Archives and taught english in China. She helps develop and create our Color My World programs.
New Delhi – Bharatpur – Jaipur – Pushkar
12 Days / 11 Nights
06 June 2019 – 17 June 2019
Depart USA on June 05, 2019
Included
Excluded
New Delhi
India’s largest city, Delhi, has been one of the country’s commercial and economic hubs for centuries and, as a result, is incredibly rich in culture and history. Made up of the ancient walled city of Old Delhi and the more modern sector, New Delhi, the city encompasses a staggering array of beautiful architecture, notable monuments and age-old temples, including three UNESCO World Heritage Sites – the Red Fort, Qutab Minar and Humayun’s Tomb. Other key attractions include the 17th century Chandni Chowk marketplace – still one of the city’s most popular retail centres today, particularly for jewellery and traditional Indian saris; the iconic Bahà’i Lotus Temple – an award-winning architectural gem; and the Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque.
Day Itinerary
Welcome to Delhi, India! a monumental city with a vibrant mix of old and new teeming bazaars, stately British boulevards, powerful Mughal palaces and forts, and intricate, ethereal towers, temples and tombs. On arrival at Delhi International Airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel for check in.
Day Itinerary
0800hrs: Visit Salaam Balak trust – an organization dedicated for the upliftment of street children. They believe that there is no higher priority, no mission more important, than that of education. Education of children here is need-based and demand-driven.
To fulfill these criteria, the trust employs various schemes of educational intervention, both formal and non-formal. Wherever possible, the objective is to bring children into mainstream education. The overriding goal, though, is to help children develop into informed, capable, and responsible citizens of our nation and the world. We will arrange Pizza Party along with some activities like Musical chair, drawing competition, dance competition.
Overnight in Delhi
1200 hrs: Later Visit the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, one of the most prominent Sikh gurdwara, or Sikh house of worship, in Delhi, India and known for its association with the eighth Sikh Guru, Guru Har Krishan. See the community kitchen. The institution of Guru ka Langar has served the community in many ways. It has ensured the participation of women and children in a task of service for mankind. Women play an important role in the preparation of meals, and the children help in serving food to the pangat. Langar also teaches the etiquette of sitting and eating in a community situation, which has played a great part in upholding the virtue of sameness of all human beings; providing a welcome, secure and protected sanctuary. Everyone is welcome to share the Langar; no one is turned away. Each week a family or several families volunteer to provide and prepare the Langar. This is very generous, as there may be several hundred people to feed, and caterers are not allowed. All the preparation, the cooking and the washing-up is done by volunteers and or by voluntary helpers (Sewadars) (Photography may be restricted at some places inside Gurudwara). Later drive past India gate, where you will have ample time to photograph this land mark.
1500 hrs: (depending upon time in hand), visit Old Delhi, the Mughal capital established by Shah Jahan in 1638. Visit the Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India. Walk through the lanes of Chandni Chowk, and Spice market, the old mansions (havelis), bazaars, colourful shops, thousands of people, temples, mosques, chaotic yet working traffic and more is unlike everything you will experience anywhere.
Overnight in Delhi
Activities
Salaam Baalak Trust City Walk
Gurudwara Bangla Sahib
Khari Baoli, Delhi
Salaam Baalak Trust City Walk
The Salaam Baalak Trust City Walk is an English guided tour of almost 2 hours conducted by kids who used to live in the streets of Delhi before joining our Trust. The guides are adolescents who have been fully trained as local guides and who want to improve their communication and speaking skills. City Walk gets the children’s stories heard, gives people a view of their world through their eyes. Those who take the City Walk tour through the streets of inner city of Paharganj and the area around New Delhi railway station, led by a child who was once living and working on the streets will experience special tour far from the tourist main attractions. City Walk is an example of how a volunteer’s creativity can translate into a unique and enduring programme, which is both popular and economically viable. Over the last seven years, thousands have taken the Walk and empowered a number of children, helping them to join mainstream life.
Khari Baoli, Delhi
Khari Baoli spice market, an important and busy commercial district, as it caters to vast spice market of North India, including states of Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and even as far as Madhya Pradesh, making it perpetually crowded with traders, and shoppers looking for the cheapest deals and bargains.
Bharatpur
Situated in the eastern part of the Indian state of Rajasthan, Bharatpur is a bustling little town known for its Unesco-listed Keoladeo National Park, which is one of the world’s most impressive bird sanctuaries, featuring over 400 species of water bird. While the park is undoubtedly the main attraction, the city itself boasts a number of historical monuments. Chief among these is the 18th-century Lohagarh Fort, which is surrounded by a moat and contains the Government Museum, showcasing countless artifacts of local rajas. Other must see sights include the Bharatpur Royal Palace, designed using a combination of the Mughal and Rajput architectural styles with magnificent apartments and intricately designed floor tiles.
Day Itinerary
DELHI – AGRA SHATABDI EXPRESS TRAIN (0600 / 0800 HRS)
AGRA – BHARATPUR DRIVE 50 KMS/1 HR
0500 hrs: Get transferred to the Railway station to board train to Agra.
Breakfast will be served on board.
0800 hrs: Upon arrival, visit the Taj Mahal (closed on Fridays). Often considered the pinnacle of Mughal art in India, the Taj was built by Emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. When declaring it a world heritage site, UNESCO described it as “the jewel of Muslim art in India”. There are few words that can describe the magnificence of this monument.
1100 hrs: Later visit Mother Teresa home for orphanage. Mother Teresa’s Charity home in Agra is a home to quench the thirst for love, care, protection and guide the poor children for bright future. Since every child deserves a chance, the Foundation exists and works towards making this a possibility. Children who have been hitherto remained unloved, uncared, unwanted and abandoned are given parental care in this home. They are motivated to overcome the apathy and understand the feel of Love.
1300 hrs (If time permits), visit the Sheroes Hangout, a rehabilitation center for girls who are surviving the heinous chemical attacks. You can interact with these girls, share their stories and future planning. They run a café where you can have beverages and/or snacks. Their menus have no cost mentioned but it is written ‘pay as much as you wish.
1500 hrs: Later in the evening drive to Bharatpur.
Overnight in Bharatpur
Overnight: Laxmi Villas Palace
Activities
Taj Mahal
Mother Teresa Charity Home, Agra
Visit Sheroes Café
Taj Mahal
The iconic Taj Mahal is not only an architectural masterpiece, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the new Seven Wonders of the World – it’s also the enduring legacy of a royal love story. It was commissioned in the 15th century by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan after the death of his third and favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, to serve as her final resting place and a symbol of his eternal affection for her. Combining Islamic, Persian, Ottoman Turkish and Indian design elements, it’s an awe-inspiring structure of elegant domes and white marble, which changes colour along with the light – pink at sunrise, pearly white in the afternoon and silver-gold in the full moon.
Mother Teresa Charity Home, Agra
Mother Teresa Charity home in Agra is a home to quench the thirst for love, care, protection and guide the poor children for bright future. Since every child deserves a chance, the Foundation exists and works towards making this a possibility. Children who have been hitherto remained unloved, uncared, unwanted and abandoned are given parental care in this home. They are motivated to overcome the apathy and understand the feel of love.
[Photo Credit: Thomas D. Williams]
isit Sheroes Café
A rehabilitation center for girls who are surviving the heinous chemical attacks. You can interact with these girls, share their stories and future planning. They run a café where you can have beverages and/or snacks. Their menus have no cost mentioned but it is written ‘pay as much as you wish’.
Jaipur
Fringed by the rugged Aravali Hills, Jaipur is the capital and largest city in India’s northern state of Rajasthan. This city is famed for being India’s first planned city featuring a multitude of pink terracotta buildings within the walled historic centre, earning it the nickname,’The Pink City’. Jaipur falls within the Golden Triangle, a popular tourist circuit, which includes Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, and serves as a gateway to the neighbouring desert cities of Jaisalmer and Jodhpur. This colourful city is a combination of tradition and modernity and offers visitors vibrant bazaars, lavish palaces and ancient temples. The salmon-hued old city is home to the opulent City Palace, encompassing an impressive assortment of palatial structures, sprawling gardens, courtyards and buildings. Don’t miss the fairy-tale splendour of the Amber Fort, set against the backdrop of the arid landscape.
Day Itinerary
BHARATPUR – JAIPUR DRIVE 200 KMS/ 4 HRS
0800 hrs: Morning take rickshaw ride in the bird sanctuary. The Bharatpur Once the hunting estate of the Maharajas of Bharatpur, the 29 sq km piece of marshland with over 360 species is one of the finest bird sanctuaries in the world. Commonly seen birds include egrets, ducks, storks, kingfishers, cranes, spoonbills, falcons, etc.
0900 hrs: Drive to Jaipur.
1300 hrs: Visit Ikaki village where you will be received by Mr Jaideo or his colleague for a session on supporting work for ‘Rain water harvesting’ done last year by Color My World group. This can be related to drainage, cleaning or maintenance of the project. Last year, we painted the village school.
Overnight: Hotel Mandawa Haveli
The Hotel Mandawa Haveli was built in the Jaipur style of architecture with numerous pillars and arches. It is located in the heart of Jaipur City on Sansar Chandra Road. The hotel combines old world charm with luxurious modern facilities. There are 70 well appointed guest rooms with intricately carved wooden beds, historic photographs and king sized royal portraits. The hotel features pleasant courtyards, lawns and terraces with a view of the splendid Nahargarh Fort.
Activities
Birding at Bharatpur
Birding at Bharatpur
An escorted visit to Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary by bicycle/ Paddle rickshaw. Rickshaws /Cycles available at park entrance Gate, prepare your clicking fingers & camera lens ready for an exercise; as you paddle down into the sanctuary, every corner and every sight has something to capture.
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is one of the finest bird parks in the world; Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary (Keoladeo Ghana National Park) is a reserve that offers protection to faunal species as well. Nesting indigenous water birds as well as migratory water birds and waterside birds, this sanctuary is also inhabited by Sambar, Chital, Nilgai and Boar.
Day Itinerary
0600 hrs: Attend a yoga session with a yoga expert. Yoga is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India. There is a broad variety of Yoga schools, practices, and goals in different religions. Among the most well-known types of yoga are Hatha yoga and Rāja yoga. Many studies have tried to determine the effectiveness of yoga as a complementary intervention for cancer, schizophrenia, asthma, and heart disease.
0900 hrs: After breakfast, visit village school where you will undertake the school painting task. The administrator will brief you about the project, objective, tasks to be taken and end-result desired. This is a good opportunity to demonstrate team spirit!
Late afternoon visit the Elephant village (fun activity). You will first feed these giant animals, tap them and befriend them. Later paint on their back and tusk.
Overnight in Jaipur.
Activities
Yoga for Beginners
School Painting, Jaipur
Elephant Village , Jaipur
Yoga for Beginners
Yoga for Beginners – Meditation – stretching. Route of access to knowledge through research of harmony between body and mind, yoga was born in India. The place is well indicated to understand the philosophy of discipline. To avoid disappointments, know that its form most often practiced in the West, with its more or less strenuous postures corresponds to hatha yoga. There are dozens of other branches of yoga.
We will discover that yoga is based on the motionless meditation with breathing control exercises.
School Painting, Jaipur
Visit village school where you will undertake the school painting task. The administrator will brief you about the project, objective, tasks to be taken and end-result desired. This is a good opportunity to demonstrate team spirit!
Elephant Village , Jaipur
You will first feed these giant animals, tap them and befriend them. Later paint on their back and tusk.
Day Itinerary
0600 hrs: Attend another yoga session with a yoga expert.
1000 hrs: Visit the Ladli NGO. For most of our children their alternative is begging& child labour, but at Ladli they learn to make jewellery and handicrafts – valuable skills in Jaipur. The children are also taught Hindi, English, Art and Dance, and provided nutrition, medical check-ups and counselling. Most importantly of all they gain confidence, hope and self-esteem. We believe that in addition to providing children education and employability, Ladli is a place where emotional trauma and the stresses of poverty can in some way be healed.
Late afternoon explore the city, driving past the Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds). This magnificent structure was built to allow the royal ladies of the palace to discretely watch the grand processions along the main street. Continue to the impressive Jantar Mantar, an astronomical observatory built in the early 1700s by Maharaja Jai Sing II, the astronomer to which this city owes its name. The term “Jantar Mantar” literally means “instruments for measuring the harmony of the heavens”. It houses various architectural and astrological instruments that have caught the interests of astronomers, historians and architects around the world.
Overnight in Jaipur.
Activities
Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds)
Jantar Mantar Jaipur
Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds)
One of Jaipur’s most recognised buildings, the Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) is known for its iconic façade. Small windows, decorated with intricate latticework create a honeycomb-like appearance. The original intention of the lattice was to allow the royal ladies to observe everyday life in the street below without being seen. The cooling effect, provided by the breeze passing through the small windows, gave the palace its name. Built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, the unique construction was originally designed to look like the crown of Krishna. A panoramic view of Jaipur can be had from the top of the building.
Jantar Mantar Jaipur
In 1734, the year of its completion, the Jai Singh Observatory was the last outpost of medieval science. From the outside, the eighteen fixed observational instruments look more like playground apparatus than sighting devices, but they were used to measure the position of the sun, stars and planets. Built by Jai Singh, the first Maharaja of Jaipur who founded the city in 1727, the observatory is one of a handful. Jai Singh, fulfilling a lifelong interest in mathematics and astronomy, built observatories in Delhi, Jaipur, Ujjain, Mathura and Benares. The Jaipur observatory is the largest and best preserved of these.
Day Itinerary
Visit the ancient Rajput capital of Amber, 11 km from the city. This fort-palace was begun by Raja Man Singh and used by the Rajputs as their stronghold until Sawai Jai Singh II moved to the newly created Jaipur. See the Diwan I Am or hall of public audience, Kali temple, Jai Mandir or hall of victory with its inlaid panels and mirror ceiling, and Sukh Niwas. The fort provides breathtaking views of the lake below.
Later visit The city palace was built between 1729 and 1732 by the ruler of Amber Sawai Jai Singh II. City palace has a large part of total area of Jaipur which is surrounded by battle door. The palace complex was built like there is another city in a city. A complex of courtyards, gardens, buildings, temples, fountains, pounds, courts, horse stable, workshops and playgrounds.
Later proceed to a local restaurant or home for a Rajasthani theme evening and dinner.
Overnight in Jaipur.
Activities
Amer Fort
Don a beautiful saree and feel like a complete Indian woman
Authentic Rajasthani Dinner with Local family
Amer Fort
Amer Fort, officially known as the ‘Amer Palace’, is one of the most famous forts of Rajasthan attracting around 4000 to 5000 visitors a day during peak tourist season. The palace was named after the small town of Amer, where it is situated – only eleven kilometres from Jaipur. Perfectly picturesque, this 16th century hillside residence is well preserved, boasting grand pavilions and mirrored halls that open onto flourishing gardens and courtyards. Although the palace’s main construction started in 1592 by Maharaja Man Singh, it was added to over the years by successive rulers and continued to be occupied by them until Jaipur was built.
Authentic Rajasthani Dinner with Local family
After a traditional welcome by your host, learn about their culture, cuisine, rituals and festivals. Listen to the stories of the Pink City from your charming hosts, admire the traditional décor of Hindu gods and Savor the great flavors of Rajasthani cuisine. Sit down with the family to feast on naans, lentils, curry, and dal- bati etc, as well as many other dishes typical of Rajasthan, including a dessert or sweet dish.
Basis
Full Board
Pushkar
Bordering the eastern edge of the sun-drenched Thar desert, in the Indian state of Rajasthan, Pushkar is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage town known for its relaxed atmosphere, countless whitewashed temples and mythical holy lake. While this enchanting town is popular with travellers, it has managed to retain its authenticity and connection to its pilgrim roots. Pushkar offers visitors a variety of attractions including: the 14th-century Jagatpita Brahma Mandir temple, the only Brahma temple in India; the annual Camel Mela, the largest camel fair in the world; and the lively Safara Bazaar, offering locally made textiles, leather goods, jewellery and much more. Tour operators offer exhilarating camel and horse riding safaris as well as quad biking adventures into the surrounding desert.
Day Itinerary
JAIPUR – PUSHKAR DRIVE 160 KMS/ 3 HRS
Drive to Pushkar. The village of Pushkar lies on the edge of the desert. At its heart is one of India’s most sacred lakes. There are 52 ghats around the lake, and numerous temples. The Brahma temple, especially, attracts pilgrims all year round. Apart from its religious significance, Pushkar is known for its Cattle and Camel fair held every year in the month of Kartik (October/November), which attracts visitors in their thousands. You can also witness and participate in the evening prayer meetings in the temples. Being a religious town, alcohol and non-vegetarian food are taboo
Later in the afternoon, mount on your camel for riding. The Great Indian Desert of Rajasthan can be explored using camels which is the great and exciting experience one should have in a life time. The Aravalli Range are one of the world’s oldest, and have sandy fields, small dunes, beautiful hills and mesmerizing sunrises and sunsets. Camel rides are certainly the ideal way to spend time exploring the rustic and royal Rajasthan. Camel rides is an adventure, which takes you through the golden sands of the vast Thar Desert providing the glimpse of the desert lifestyle through remote villages
Overnight in Pushkar.
Overnight: Hotel Pushkar Palace
Hotel Pushkar Palace is situated on the bank of the lake and in the centre of the town. This establishment provides a view of the lake, palaces, hills, sand dunes and temples.
The accommodation at the hotel is spanned over 4 floors (including ground floor)showcasing garden and lake views. There are 48 super deluxe rooms and 5 suites all containing modern amenities.
Activities
Pushkar Camel Safari
Pushkar Camel Safari
Explore the golden sands of the Thar Desert. Tourists on the Pushkar Camel Safari get to discover the lifestyle of villagers and experience special cultural performances.
Day Itinerary
0800 hrs: Visit The Bal Prakash Children’s Center. It supports at-risk children of the Thar Desert (Ajmer, India) learn self-sufficiency skills in sustainable agriculture and food security.
The center serves over 82 students, between the ages 6-16. The children are provided with an education and the skills necessary to help them develop into self-sufficient adults with a brighter future to care for these communities. You will undertake plantation work. The nurseries and tools will be pre arranged for you.
The center serves over 82 students, between the ages 6-16. The children are provided with an education and the skills necessary to help them develop into self-sufficient adults with a brighter future to care for these communities. You will undertake plantation work. The nurseries and tools will be pre arranged for you.
New Delhi
Day Itinerary
PUSHKAR – DELHI BY SHATABDI EXPRESS TRAIN (1545/ 2240 hrs)
Get a chance to explore the prominent religions of India while heading out on this heritage walk tour in Pushkar. Start your tour from Pushkar Gurudwara (Sikh temple) and walk through the small lanes. Visit some of the famous temples and admire the architecture.
Finish working at The Bal Prakash Children’s Center
1430 hrs: Get transfered to Ajmer Railway station to board train to Delhi. Shatabdi is one of the fastest train in India. Dinner will be served in train (cost included).
Upon arrival get transferred to your hotel.
Overnight in Delhi
Overnight: ITC WelcomHotel Dwarka
Day Itinerary
Day at leisure.
Depart to the airport around 9:00pm Flights generally depart around midnight for JFK or early AM hours on June 17th.
Required Forms & Links
Paypal invoices will be sent out to participants for all payments.
Checks may be written to
Color My World
Mailed to Angela Hughes
15795 Turkey Island Circle
Winter Garden, FL 34787
Future India Key Due Dates
Passport photo copy must be emailed to CMW angela@colormyworldkids.org
Remaining Balance due to CMW
Flight Itinerary Due
Independent Visa Application must be filed with United States Consulate approximately $75.00 prior to departure *subject to change