BESC Excursion to Himachal Pradesh

The Bhawanipur Education Society College organized an Excursion to Shimla -Manali – Kasol from April 11, 2023, to April 18, 2023, with 38 students, accompanied by 3 faculties, Ms. Divya P. Udeshi, Ms. Samiksha Khanduri & Mr. Aditya Raj. The train journey from Kolkata to Ambala was filled with fun & frolic as the students embarked on this journey to celebrate the success of Umang 2022. The first day was spent exploring Kufri & the Mall Road of Shimla. The students enjoyed the chilly mountain wind of Himachal Pradesh, greeting them as they stayed in Shimla for the night. The following day the students were taken to River Beas for a thrilling session of Rafting. The drive from Shimla to the starting point of rafting, called Babeli was mixed with the stunning landscape of Manali and a pleasant rainfall, enroute. The students enjoyed the journey as they looked forward to the first adventure sport of their trip. Rafting in the 9 km long stretch of the river Beas and its chilling water was a refreshing respite from the day-long drive. As the students swam & surfed on the water, they relished every bit of this adventure sport. The second night ended with an overnight stay in Manali.

On the third day, more adventure sports awaited the students with an early morning drive to Lahaul Valley in Himachal Pradesh. Enroute the students crossed the landmark Atal Tunnel, the highest tunnel in India with a length of 9.2 km. Across the tunnel stunning landscape of Lahaul Valley was the view for the students for the next 4 hours. The students enjoyed Skiing & Tubing sports on the snow and were thrilled amidst the mountain massifs surrounding them. From Lahaul the students were taken for the third adventure sport, a Zipline of 1200 m across the Solang Valley. Offering splendid views of the white-flowered apple orchards & snow-capped peaks, the zipline was a treat for the students. After the day-long activities on snow, the students were given time to explore the Mall Road of Manali. From Mall Road, they headed to the hotel for dinner & an overnight stay.

On the fourth day, the students were to pack up & leave for Kasol Valley, enroute which they stopped at Manikaran Gurudwara. The temple premises were dotted with people from all walks of life, and the students too got an opportunity to offer their prayers at this temple, nestled at an altitude of 1,829 mt. The students were then driven to a campsite at Kasol where they were greeted with valley views on all sides. The students were thrilled at the thought of camping with a bonfire, amidst the serene views of the Parvati River. They spent the afternoon by the river & its meditative calm and the evening was spent by the bonfire with music, dance & local cuisine, including siddu; marking the end of this 4 day’s excursion in Himachal Pradesh. The students returned to Delhi the next morning & concluded the trip from New Delhi to Sealdah by looking back at the freshly minted mountain memories and a golden tan as a takeaway from the mountains.