📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
FSL-India has been running workcamps all over India since 2001. Over the years, FSL-India has developed a strong network of local partners and local volunteers in the regions where we conduct our camps. In every workcamp, FSL-India works in partnership with local NGOs – since they are able to identify the problems and needs of the locality. This helps us achieve sustainability and a larger impact in the work that we do. Partnering with a local NGO also helps in reaching out to the local community. In addition, FSL-India works in various fields in cooperation with Archaeological Survey of India, Ministry of Women and Child Welfare, Ministry of Health, Education, Forest and Wildlife Departments and Local Self-governance Bodies.
💼 What the programme involves
The Camp:
The work camp at Hampi will concentrate on the protection of its cultural heritage, sites of historical importance and on creating awareness among the locals, school children, tour-guides and tourists, to infuse a sense of responsibility towards the protection of these priceless monuments. For the last 10 years, FSL India has been working in tandem with UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the management of local schools, local NGOs, INTACH and the local tour guide association. Here, you will help to convert dry areas into beautiful, restful spots by planting trees and flowering plants. Street plays to create awareness, creativity, physical work and archaelogical delights are all hallmarks of this unique work camp.
Activities:
Scale up your knowledge on historical monuments of India, attend an introductory session with ASI officials, have a meaningful interaction with INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage) officials
Clean up the scrub around monuments dating back to 1 CE, to preserve and maintain their beauty and cultural heritage
Help to combat global warming and also create pleasant, green spots by planting trees and flowering shrubs
Awaken your thespian skills with a Street Play, to create awareness of heritage conservation to the locals
Conduct a drawing competition for schoolchildren, help showcase their talent by setting up an open gallery
Instil national pride in schoolchildren , make them aware of their rich cultural and historical heritage
Install garbage bins in the community, help manage waste
Use your creativity to educate the public on heritage conservation , paint
murals in public areas
🏠 Accommodation on site
Accommodation : At a rented guest house or hostel, with shared rooms. You will be provided with bunk beds. Toilets and bathrooms are separate, with shower facilities. Hot water will be made available.
Food: South Indian vegetarian and non-vegetarian food will be provided for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Safe, filtered water is available for drinking.
📍 About the location
Once upon a time, Hampi-Vijayanagara, located in central Karnataka, was the medieval world’s second-largest city after Beijing, and India’s richest, attracting traders from as far as Persia and Portugal. Hampi fell into ruins when the Vijayanagara Empire was defeated and pillaged by a coalition of Deccan Muslim sultanates in 1565. It is now a UNESCO world heritage site, visited by thousands of travellers due to its breathtaking temples, intricate sculptures and monuments, which give an insight into the splendour and architectural skills of the ancient Hindu kingdom.
Leisure Activities: Some of the fun things to do at Hampi are taking a coracle ride in the nearby Tungabhadra river. These round cane boats have been a mode of transport here from the 15th century. You can also hire a bicycle and take the trail down to any of the interesting ruins, go bouldering or trekking.
Some must-visits are Vijaya Vittala, the extraordinary architectural marvel with 56 musical pillars, which create melodic sounds when tapped delicately, the stunning Virupaksha and Krishna temples, the Royal Enclosure with the Queen’s bath and Lotus Mahal (palace).
Anegundi, or Kishkindha, the capital of the Vijayanagar empire is a fine repository of neolithic history and prehistoric rock art, represented by Mourya Mane, a several-thousand-year-old Stone Age colony. You can visit the birthplace of Hanuman, the monkey god, or peek at the ancient elephant stable, where the city’s elephants were fed, bathed and trained for battle and other activities.
ℹ️ Additional information
The participation fee has to be paid on arrival to our Team Leader in Indian rupees.