AFS Intercultural Programs: India High School Program

India is bounded to the southwest by the Arabian Sea, to the southeast by the Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean to the south. Along its northeastern frontier are the Himalayas, which form India's geographic boundary with the People's Republic of China, Bhutan, and Nepal. The Ganges is the longest river in India and along its western frontier is the Thar Desert, which is the seventh-largest in the world. The terrain varies from the Himalayas to flat river valleys. The climate is Alpine to temperate to subtropical monsoon. Four major world religions – Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism – originated in India. On the other hand, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam arrived with traders in the first millennium CE and helped shape the region's diverse culture. While Hindi and English are the official languages, there are more than 1,500 dialects. Family life and school are central in India. Most of India is rural, though the cities are growing. AFS host family placements are located throughout India.