This year’s winter vacation was a memorable one for me. For the first time I got an opportunity to go to India. My school had organised an educational tour classes 9 and 10. I visited various religious and historic places in India such as New Delhi, Nainital and Haridwar.

The first day of our tour was from Kathmandu to Mahendra Nagar, which was in a miserable condition due to strikes. However, we passed that place and reached Banbasa, India, crossing the border. From Banbasa our tour coordinator reserved another bus. The first place we visited was Nainital, which is a hill station. On the way to Nainital, we saw a magnificent view of Nanak Sagar, which is a very big and beautiful lake. Likewise, Nainital is a lake situated at top of a hill, which was constructed by blocking a dam. On the way back we also visited one of the holy places of India - Haridwar, although it was pretty cold, we took bath in the holy river and then visited holy temples there.

After staying at Haridwar for a day we went to New Delhi. We visited Connaught Circus and Connought place on the first day, it is a popular place and has big palaces constructed at the time of English regime in India. Other places that we visited were - Aksharadham, one of the most recently built temples, constructed by Bochasanvasi Aksharpurushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS). Lotus Temple, a very beautiful temple in the shape of lotus that facilitates Bahai’s Faith of Worship. The Bahai house of worship is dedicated to the oneness of all religions and mankind. Qutab Minar, constructed by Qutab-ud-din Aibak in the 12th century to celebrate the victory of Mohammed Ghori over the Rajputs the word ‘Qutub’ itself, means ‘pole of justice’. Red Fort which is popularly known as Lal Qila. Shahjahan had ordered construction of this fort in 1638 AD and was completed on April 16, 1648 AD. Birla Mandir, a famous temple built in 1938 AD, which was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi, on the condition that people of all castes and especially untouchables would be allowed in. The Nehru Planetarium established on May 24, 1982 AD, with the purpose of providing knowledge to people about the solar system and galaxy. We also visited India Gate, a magnificent archway which is 42 meters tall, made of red stone and has India in written on both sides. We also got opportunity to travel by metro which runs underground in Delhi.

Suraj Man Napit

Class IX,

Telic International Model English School (TIMES)