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Alleyn’s School 
During Easter Break, a number of Year 10, 11 and 12 pupils ventured to India for a Religious Studies school trip. See below a day by day break down of what they did and where they went.
Day 1 Delhi Delights
Delhi was just a pit stop. Everyone was tired, and with only 4 hours rest we were on to our next city of Varansai. Morale was good, and then we discovered the "delights" of Indian security. More culture shocks to come!
Day 2 & 3 Galivanting in the Ganges
After another early morning flight we made it to Varanasi. Our tour guide explained the religious significance of the place relating to the Lord Shiva also known as the destroyer.
Varanasi represents life and death and life again. As we saw the many pilgrims give their offerings and bathe in the sacred Ganges, we were left a bit aghast at the scale and magnitude of the religious ceremonies taking place. We watched the chants and prayers of the Arti ceremony on the boat on the Ganges. This is where the priests bless the Ganges for bringing life and washing away mortal sins.
It was extremely difficult to navigate a large group of us in what was a busy, noisy and "fragrant" Varanasi, with crowds beyond crowds, stray dogs, cows, preachers, and extremely loud noises of traffic. There were even locals hammering us for photos and selfies.
It was an assault on the senses, India had just welcomed us and her message was - "Just embrace it".
Day 3 Be One With Buddha
The Dhamek Stupa is a serene place where wall carvings and paintings depict the major events of Buddha's life. After the madness that was the Ganges, this place was quiet and tranquil. It allowed us to be calm and contemplative, especially when watching the monks in meditative prayer.
Day 3 All Aboard the Shalimar Express
After two days of shock and fun in Varanasi, the time had come to move on. Jumping onto the night sleeper train to find our berths and make up our beds, there was a mixture of excitement and trepidation in the air. But all was fine in the end.
Some card games were played, and conversations were held. It was soon time to sleep as we left the colourfulness of Varanasi for our next stop, Agra.
Day 4 Ambling through Agra
After our overnight sleeper train we finally reached Agra. After a quick early morning breakfast at our hotel, it was then time to go and see the magnificent Agra Fort. We all got lost in the beautiful halls, arch ways and secret passageways. We listened to our guide telling the story of how the Shah Jahan spent years of confinement at the hands of his son Aurangzeb only to have a small view of his Taj Mahal (the Palace he built for his wife).
Day 4 Sunset at the Taj Mahal
After a morning at the Agra Fort, we returned to our hotel for lunch, relaxation, and swimming. Later, we all adorned our best clothing as we knew we were going to the Taj Mahal, and it deserved us looking the part. Everyone was excited, and there were smiles all around. Honestly, walking through the gates and seeing the Taj Mahal in all its symmetrical beauty for the first time really does take your breath away. After visiting the tomb of Queen Mumtaz Mahal, the pupils had some time to explore by themselves. Whether it was taking personal pictures or sitting on a bench and soaking in the magic or even studying the intricate Arabic patterns adorned onto the white marbles of the Taj, everyone had space to experience something special for themselves.
Day 5 Stopover at the Stepwell
On our long journey from Agra to Jaipur, we had a short stopover at the Abheneri Stepwell. Chand Baori (stepwell) in the Abhaneri village is one of the oldest and most popular attractions in Rajasthan. It was built by King Chanda of the Nikumbha Dynasty in 9th century AD. One of the largest stepwells in the world, Chand Baori was built to conserve water and provide a respite from the intense heat. It was certainly a respite for us on our 6hr journey to Jaipur.
Day 6 A Jaunt in Jaipur
Next on our journey was Jaipur, the pink city, the capital of Rajasthan. Pink is the colour of welcome, and we were certainly greeted to so much colour and life in this magnificent place.
It was another early start for our group. First on our list was a quick photo stop at the Palace of Winds. Built from red and pink sandstone, it is on the edge of the City Palace, Jaipur, and extends to the Zenana, or women's chambers.
Second on our itinerary was the mighty Amber Fort, which we could only get to on jeeps. Once we arrived, we were met by roaming goats and elephants. We all enjoyed witnessing the marvel that was the Winter Palace, getting lost in the passage ways and court rooms as we wandered. The Amber Fort certainly delivered.
The third stop on our jaunt was to see the mighty Jantar Mantar (Royal Observatory). The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur is a collection of 19 astronomical instruments built by the Rajput king Sawai Jai Singh, the founder of Jaipur, Rajasthan. The monument was completed in 1734, featuring the world's largest stone sundial and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The instruments allow the observation of astronomical positions with the naked eye. The observatory is an example of the Ptolemaic positional astronomy, which was shared by many civilizations.
We then visited the City Palace, which was followed by a personalised tour of the Palace School Jaipur. This was a fantastic experience for all of us on the trip to see another school in action. We managed to have some taster lessons in economics and physics and also had a tour of the royal school by their prefects. We ended the tour with our students and their students taking part in a Bollywood dance class. It was fun and enjoyable, with the pupils exchanging their social media handles, and it felt like a perfect way to end our exploration of Jaipur.
Later that night, we had a demonstration on how to use delicate indian spices in our cooking class. Everyone engaged by helping cut vegetables, making halwa, and rolling out chapatis. Though the best bit was eating the feast prepared by our host family. We left with full tummies and smiles all round, feeling more than ready for bed! Thank you Jaipur.
