CLASSES 6 AND 7 From 26-27 Dec, 2017
The mystique surroundings of Ranthambore, Rajasthan, left an indelible mark in the hearts and minds of our young Columbans! A unique experience for all the fifty three young lads, who were accompanied by their teachers, Mrs S. Tripathy, Mrs A .Bardhan, Mrs V. Shah and Mrs H. Devnath ; on a three day educational trip to Ranthambore, the land of tigers, from the 26th to the 28th of December, 2017.
Once the hunting ground of the well-known Maharajas of Jaipur, Ranthambore is dotted with magnificent forts and palaces.
The first day of the trip began with an adventurous and exciting "Jungle Safari "at the Ranthambore National Park, where students got an opportunity to spot a variety of wild animals like the spotteddeer, wildboars, the sloth bear, the blue bull antelopeor the Nilgai and also an incredible variety of birds. The group was blessed to have spotted a huge, gorgeous tiger from close quarters, atop their canters! Our young Columbans learnt the importance of knowing our forests; that they are not only our national heritage but the primary source of our survival!
The children also visited "Dastkar", an Indian NGO, working with the local craftspeople of Rajasthan. They got a wonderful opportunity to learn about the amazing crafts of Rajasthan and to interact with the artisans who worked on block printing, embroidery, tie and dye and pottery. They learnt how the people displaced by the Tiger Reserve, made a living through handicraft. Our young lads were sensitized about the need of conservation and how they all can be involved in preserving our rich heritage.
The second day was spent visiting the famous Ranthambore fort which has now become a part of UNESCO's World Heritage Site. The guided tour around the magnificent ruins of the fort, was indeedbreathtaking!
At the end was an exciting and informative astronomy session, which included star gazing, observing the night sky, the stars and the main constellations. It was indeed an enriching experience for our Columbans and we look forward to such trips in the future!
*** Mrs H. DEVNATH ***
