India: Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management

New Delhi, India

University: LBSIM - Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management

Exchange Program: Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management

Application Deadline: March 10 for Fall Semester & October 10 for Spring Semester

VISA Application Information: Embassy of India

General Information:

Location: India is located on the subcontinent of Asia, which connects the Middle East with Southeast Asia.  It contains over a billion people and virtually every type of environment.  It is a huge country in terms of size as well--the seventh largest in the world. It borders Pakistan in the west, China, Nepal and Bhutan in the north and Bangladesh and Myanmar in the east.  To the south, the island state of Sri Lanka and the archipelago state of the Maldives are located.  India juts out into the Indian Ocean, creating the Arabian Sea on its west and the Bay of Bengal on its east.

Climate: There are three seasons in India.  The hot season lasts from February to May or June, ending with extremely high humidity.  After that, the wet season brings in the fabled monsoons in June or July and lasts until October.  From then, until February when it begins to heat up, cool, comfortable weather ensues.

Currency: The basic unit of currency in India is the Rupee.

Transportation: India has developed a network of domestic flights and an impressive cross-country bus system.  However, the railways in India are legendary.  When traveling, ask about the tourist quota for reservations, as some rail routes have these to encourage tourism.  For around Delhi, there are a plethora of taxis, but be warned, most do not have working meters.  Therefore, negotiate the price beforehand.  An alternative would be to take a rickshaw, which generally have lower rates.  Cheaper still, rent a bicycle, especially for travel around the more modern New Delhi in which the school is located.

Living Arrangements: Single rooms at the Institute's hostel run $125 a month including utilities and meals.  Private housing is often cheaper than this.

Food: Contrary to popular assumption, vegetarianism is not the rule, and dishes that include chicken and lamb are widely found. Beef may be in short supply, due to Hindu prohibitions.  Pork may also be in short supply, due to Muslim prohibitions.  What will not be in short supply is spice.  Prepare yourself for a tasty variety of masalas and curries. Your average meal should cost between $1 and $5. Tipping is not a common practice, except in upscale establishments.

Social Activities: Delhi's museums include collections on the Sepoy Mutiny, the Mughal Empire, Gandhi, Nehru, the Indus River Valley civilization, the Maurya Empire, the Gupta Empire, railroad cars, textiles, calligraphy, costumes, paintings, clay and terra cotta pots, toys, traditional Indian crafts, wooden carvings and images, metal ware, jewelry, sculptures, statues and dolls.  Delhi also has a variety of sporting facilities.  Exploring the local markets is also an adventure.  A variety of religious holidays for Hindus, Muslims, Jains, Buddhists and Christians are celebrated.  Also, a short distance from New Delhi is Agra, which contains the famous Taj Mahal.