The 28th of September was a much anticipated exciting day for the 33 students scheduled to go to Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur on a school excursion. Our first day began with a long, yet short airplane ride to the Indira Gandhi National airport. A soft breeze welcomed us to the capital city of India.
Our first stop was the Qutub Minar, a scientific marvel and a beautiful architectural structure. Then we drove over to the Lotus Temple which truly mesmerized us. For the first time, all of us were completely silent, taking in the serenity and peace of the place. After lunch, we journeyed over to Humayun’s Tomb, Rashtrapati Bhavan, and the India Gate. Finally, our last stop was Hotel Apra International, an unforgettable component of this trip.
The second day was just as exuberant as the first. We visited the Raj Ghat, Indira Gandhi Memorial, the Red Fort, and the Jama Masjid that day. In my opinion that was the best day of the trip. As soon as we reached the hotel, we went for shopping and then all the 10th graders sneaked into a room to share spooky stories. Of course, we got our share of scolding after that as well.
The third day was a road trip. We drove to Agra and once we entered the city we were entertained by the numerous monkeys and distinct views of some beautiful monuments, such as the Taj Mahal. We made a quick visit to Sikander, Akbar’s tomb, and the Agra Fort, a vast and designed fort. Soon, we retired to the Hotel Taj Inn.
The fourth day was simply beautiful. It was this day that I’m sure most of us were waiting for. We made an early morning visit to the Taj Mahal and were spell bound by its beauty and intricacy. After riding rickshaws and purchasing artifacts and souvenirs, we had another great road trip to Raipur, our last destination.
The next day, we visited some significant places in the Pink City, such as the Birla Temple, Albert Hall, Jantar Mantar and the City Palace. There, we shopped to our hearts’ content and even tried our hands at bargaining. After reaching the hotel, we visited the malls of Raipur which have a diminutive resemblance to the malls in Hyderabad.
The last and final day was spent visiting the Amber Fort and driving back to Delhi. This time, we were filled with the melancholy of wrapping up this memorable trip upon reaching the airport. As we boarded the plane, we were all a homogenous mixture of satisfaction and emotion. At the Shamshabad airport, we were greeted by our parents and by the time we hopped into the car, most of us poured out all the wonderful contents of the trip into them.
Sanjana Bukkapatnam
Class X
