Our Timeless Travels - Series
Some journeys stay longer in our hearts, longer than the miles covered. A road trip from Raxaul to Kathmandu, Nepal amidst laughter and togetherness with a batch of school students during the festive glow of Dasara in 2006 is still fresh in memories. An exciting road trip filled with laughter, scenic wonders, innocent joys and priceless teacher-student bonding turned into a meaningful adventure with countless unforgettable moments. As I look back, the entire experience feels like opening an old travel album filled with photographs, stories, and emotions. A school excursion unfolded into a tapestry of culture, camaraderie, and unforgettable lessons beyond the classroom.
On Day 1 of Dasara vacation in Oct 2006, we (a group of school teachers) accompanied senior class students to an excusion to Kathmandu, Nepal. We started from Visakhapatnam Rly station and reached Kolkata RS the next day morning. We halted at this place for hew hours and visited Victorial Memorial. We boarded the afternoon train to Raxaul, Bihar and reached the destination, the next day morning. From Raxaul RS we took tongas to Birganj which was a jumpy bumpy first-time experience in tongas for some students.
On reaching Birganj in Nepal, we refreshed, had lunch in a hotel and started our onward journey to Kathmandu in luxury buses. The nearly 8 hours ride from Birganj to Kathmandu was a memorable one.
The road to Kathmandu is full of valleys, hills, and villages and we enjoyed having the glimpses of terraced fields and Himalayan foothills. The journey was long but was lively with games like 'Antakshari', dances, songs and what not. As our bus started ascending the winding ghat roads, the scenery gradually transformed from flatlands to lush green mountains, deep green valleys and misty stretches of forest. The young ones were bubbling with energy shifting from one window to the other and sharing snacks with friends. Everyone is busy watching outside the windows, pointing out something and discussing while some where interestingly scribbling down something on their notepads as if they were learning something interesting outside the classroom walls.
All the students were glued to the windows enjoy the nature and we teachers too lost ourselves in the serene beauty of the Himalayas. At every bend of the ghat road, the mountains seemed to whisper their own stories — stories, I think, only travelers could hear. The stretch of Trishuli River (some say it's Bagamati river) was especially memorable with its sparkling water taking twists and turns all alongside the highway which created a perfect soundtrack for our journey. There was continuous shouts of thrill and Laughter inside the bus. The scenery outside was spectacular and enchanting while inside the bus it was lively. Each one was busy in one's own way, some capturing nature in their digital cams (in the pre-smartphone era), some silently gazing at the mighty Himalayas, while other busy singing and dancing. These simple moments make school trips priceless.
It was almost dark by the time we reached hotel Vaishali - a star hotel with neat ambiance - where our rooms are booked. All of us so tired that we dumped our luggage in our rooms and rushed to the restaurant for dinner. And what else, after dinner everyone jumped into their cozy beds with thinking of Day 2 itinerary and went to sound sleep within no time.
'Timeless Travel Stories Cherished Forever'
Some journeys stay longer in our hearts, longer than the miles covered. A road trip from Raxaul to Kathmandu, Nepal amidst laughter and togetherness with a batch of school students during the festive glow of Dasara in 2006 is still fresh in memories. An exciting road trip filled with laughter, scenic wonders, innocent joys and priceless teacher-student bonding turned into a meaningful adventure with countless unforgettable moments. As I look back, the entire experience feels like opening an old travel album filled with photographs, stories, and emotions. A school excursion unfolded into a tapestry of culture, camaraderie, and unforgettable lessons beyond the classroom.
An Excursion to Kathmandu During Dasara Vacation
With the festive spirit of Dasara, students were brimming with energy, excitement and curiosity with the thought of cross-border journey. For many, that was the first international trip and the idea of entering into a different country added a sense of wonder in them.On Day 1 of Dasara vacation in Oct 2006, we (a group of school teachers) accompanied senior class students to an excusion to Kathmandu, Nepal. We started from Visakhapatnam Rly station and reached Kolkata RS the next day morning. We halted at this place for hew hours and visited Victorial Memorial. We boarded the afternoon train to Raxaul, Bihar and reached the destination, the next day morning. From Raxaul RS we took tongas to Birganj which was a jumpy bumpy first-time experience in tongas for some students.
On reaching Birganj in Nepal, we refreshed, had lunch in a hotel and started our onward journey to Kathmandu in luxury buses. The nearly 8 hours ride from Birganj to Kathmandu was a memorable one.
Birganj - Kathmandu Scenic Drive
The drive from Birgunj to Kathmandu was too spectacular and enchanting. Raxaul in Bihar and Birgunj in Nepal are the main Indo-Nepal border crossing points. Mainly the trucks moving between the two countries are thoroughly checked at these crossing points. However border crossing for the tourists is made easy through inter-state relations between the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) countries. Indian tourists don't need any visa for traveling to Nepal.The road to Kathmandu is full of valleys, hills, and villages and we enjoyed having the glimpses of terraced fields and Himalayan foothills. The journey was long but was lively with games like 'Antakshari', dances, songs and what not. As our bus started ascending the winding ghat roads, the scenery gradually transformed from flatlands to lush green mountains, deep green valleys and misty stretches of forest. The young ones were bubbling with energy shifting from one window to the other and sharing snacks with friends. Everyone is busy watching outside the windows, pointing out something and discussing while some where interestingly scribbling down something on their notepads as if they were learning something interesting outside the classroom walls.
All the students were glued to the windows enjoy the nature and we teachers too lost ourselves in the serene beauty of the Himalayas. At every bend of the ghat road, the mountains seemed to whisper their own stories — stories, I think, only travelers could hear. The stretch of Trishuli River (some say it's Bagamati river) was especially memorable with its sparkling water taking twists and turns all alongside the highway which created a perfect soundtrack for our journey. There was continuous shouts of thrill and Laughter inside the bus. The scenery outside was spectacular and enchanting while inside the bus it was lively. Each one was busy in one's own way, some capturing nature in their digital cams (in the pre-smartphone era), some silently gazing at the mighty Himalayas, while other busy singing and dancing. These simple moments make school trips priceless.
Arriving the Calm Cultural City of Kathmandu
After that 8-hour long and tiresome bus journey, we reached Kathmandu which welcomed us with pleasant weather. Though, a capital city, it's rich in old looks with charming narrow lanes, prayer flags fluttering above and many more that reflected the rich Nepali culture.It was almost dark by the time we reached hotel Vaishali - a star hotel with neat ambiance - where our rooms are booked. All of us so tired that we dumped our luggage in our rooms and rushed to the restaurant for dinner. And what else, after dinner everyone jumped into their cozy beds with thinking of Day 2 itinerary and went to sound sleep within no time.
Reflections on the Journey
Looking back, the Birganj - Kathmandu road trip was more than an excursion for us. Each travel teaches us many things which can be learnt within the four walls (the classrooms). As we were back home after a joyful school excursion, the echoes of Kathmandu stayed with us — the chants at Pashupatinath, the laughter on the bus, the awe of the valley views. For the0 students, it was a first glimpse of the world beyond borders. For me, it was a reminder that teaching isn’t confined to textbooks, sometimes the road itself becomes the greatest classroom.'Timeless Travel Stories Cherished Forever'
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