FAQ’s
What do I do when I first arrive in India?
When you get to the airport you will exit in to the main corridor and there will be a “prepaid taxi stand” to your left. If you have not found a place to live prior to arriving in India (see below) you can stay in a guesthouse. These are found all over the city – mostly in Pahar Ganj. Pahar Ganj is a very crowded area in the north of the city and we do not recommend you to stay there. A short-term solution recommended by our past interns is;
Recommended:
“Home away from home B&B” (only for females and couples) – will do airport pickup and help with booking train and bus tickets. Also will drive you to the train/bus station. It is a bit of a distance from the office, about 30 minutes by rickshaw, but it is clean, and you can get meals there as well.


Email: Pramendra Kumar

Very Basic, but cheap for Delhi:
Sunny Guesthouse

152, Scindia House
Connaught Place, New Delhi

+91113312909
If they are booked they also own Ringo Guesthouse which is on the same street.
FOR INTERNS:
What should I expect at the Navdanya office?
At the Navdanya office you will find a relaxed work environment. It is, like many offices, a place where people are usually hard at work on their computers or personal projects. Dr. Shiva will often pop in to meet the interns and ask you to work on different projects as things arise. Typically people are working on their own research projects as agreed prior to your arrival.
Is there a dress code at the office?
There is no dress code so you can wear what you are comfortable in according to season.
How do I find lodging? What neighborhoods are close to the office?
In order to find a place to live we recommend you to visit the following websites and choose according to your budget and needs. You could live comfortably close to the office in Hauz Khas, UDAY Park, Green Park, Malvia Nagar, Defense Colony, Lajpat Nagar and other locations in South Delhi. Navdanya has a guest house that may be able to accommodate you, depending upon availability. Once you have been accepted, write to the intern coordinator to ask if there is an open room. This may be a nice option for you, as there is no lease required and it is a 5 minute walk from the office.
Some interns have recently rented a room in a house in Panscheel Park, which is walking distance from the office. It is owned by Peter Braun, a German expat, who lives and works in Delhi. It is a very fun atmosphere, with many people from all over the world renting rooms from him. It is on the higher end of the price scale, however those that have stayed there seemed very happy with the environment. Peter also teaches Hindi classes from this location, if you are interested in learning basic Hindi (or beyond). Contact him at .
As always, use caution when looking for housing over the internet! Do not give your personal or financial information to anyone you do not know and trust. The Yahoo group Delhinet has gotten very good reviews from interns. You can also check out they have disabled their housing listings due to spam, but it is a super source of information about delhi and the ins and outs of getting anything done here (like hooking up internet!)

What is the cost of living?
Depending on personal preference and whether or not you choose to live alone you can expect to pay from Rs 5000 (100 USD) to Rs 18,000 (350 USD) for rent. Additional costs would include transport to the office in Hauz Khas via bus (cheap! from Rs 3 = less then one US Cent) via Rickshaw (Depending on distance it would be less than 3 USD per day for sure) or via taxi (about twice the price of a rickshaw). Eating in and dining out can vary greatly. Street food and native Indian foods are quite cheap, where as western style foods tend to be a bit more expensive. Fresh fruits and vegetables are found in every neighborhood and are extremely affordable, though typically not organic. If you are going to be in Delhi longer term, you could sign up with our Navdanya vegetable delivery service, which delivers organic veg every week to your door.
Should I bring travelers checks?
This is up to you. Most people bring a debit card and withdraw funds as they need them. Check with your bank as to the fees they will charge you for each withdrawal. Many banks here will charge a rather large fee (up to $10 US dollars), but they will NOT tell you this when you withdraw (you find out later on your statement). Typically it is best to withdraw larger amounts less often.
Does the office have A/C?
Yes, but we tend to use the fan except in the hottest months of summer.
Can I use Navdanya as a base for my research project?
Students pursuing research should define their expectations about the internship before coming to Navdanya. The Navdanya office has very limited resources so unless your project is directly related to our work then we can only offer limited support. Those conducting their own research will also be expected to help with other on-going projects in the Delhi office.
How do I get a cell phone here?
In order to get an Indian SIM you will need a photocopy of your passport and the visa page and 2 passport sized photos. You will also need to give them an address and phone number in Delhi. If you do not have an address or a friends phone you can give them the office address and phone number.
FAQ’s for Farm Volunteers
What kind of work am I expected to do?
This will vary according to season – but you will not be forced to do work you are not comfortable with (i.e carrying heavy loads if you have a back problem). You are welcome to focus you time and energy around those tasks which interest you most. Please look at the website on the page for Earth University- Bija Vidyapeeth. On the bottom of the page there is a link for 'learn more'. Download this document- it is about 30 pages and will tell you all about the farm. There is also a chart inside which tells you what we are planting, harvesting at different times of the year. This will give you an idea of what could be going on during your preferred visit time.
Is there cell phone service?
Vodafone, Airtel, and other services usually work fine at Bija.
Internet?

There is wi-fi in the office area, you should bring your own laptop if you have one. THere is only one computer that is shared by all, for limited time per day, so if you have a laptop it is most helpful.

What will I be eating?
The farm serves 3 meals per day. The food is organic, vegetarian, and comes mostly from the farm itself depending on how many people they are feeding on a given day.
What is daily life like?
Most people rise around between 5:30 and 6:30, have chai and go out to the fields after breakfast. Around 8 you can expect breakfast, followed by a community clean-up times called Shramadan. Other farm tasks are completed until lunch (between 1-2) followed by some relaxation, some more work, and dinner. Most people get to bed early, however there is the option to watch a film, or read books from the library.
What if I have academic research to conduct?
If you are working on research you can rely on having some guidance from Dr. Vinod Bhatt who is our full-time faculty adviser at the farm. It is wise to contact him ahead of time if you need for field work to be organized.
Do I get Days Off?
You are welcome to take time off to explore Dehradun and beyond, but please inform farm staff so that they know how many people they are cooking for on given days.
How do I arrive at the farm?

Travel to Dehradun
By Train: If you wish to travel by train you should sign up to the India Rail Website and buy the ticket ASAP -- trains fill up fast. I prefer the night train "Mussorie Express". You can take Second Class Sleeper, or 3 A/C Sleeper class (3A is nicer with A/C).
To Check which trains exist for a given route check:

then book through:

By Bus: You can also take a gov't, non A/C bus or a private tour bus to Dehradun. These leave several times per day from the ISBT (inter-state bus terminal). You can also find private companies online with a google search. You don't need tickets for buses -- for the most part you just show up and hop on-- so if the trains are booked rest assured.
From Dehradun to the farm:
When you show up at the train or bus station you can take a Vikram or Rickshaw. The drivers will literally swarm you when you exit the station -- don't be scared it is their standard protocol. Just ask a few drivers if they know NAVDANYA --if one does, then use him... you can also say "Old Shimla Road, Navdanya" -- basically the farm is on Old Shimla road and they can ask along the way. The trip should cost no more them Rs300-400 and will take 30-40 mins.

What kind of visa should I get?
We encourage you to get a tourist visa because it is easiest and usually cheapest. If you find it difficult given your nationality then we are happy to help you by sending you an invitation letter.
What if I want to do some traveling/trekking?
Kuldip Shiva () is happy to assist you in travel planning.
Will I get to meet Vandana!?
Vandana visits the farm about once per month depending on her busy travel plans. If you come for a course you will almost certainly meet her, otherwise it depends on her schedule.