The hot sunny afternoon and even the warm breeze couldn’t dampen the excitement that filled the air, as we waited to board the school bus to take us to the railway station. After the good-byes and instructions from the parents, 31 Mangalamites started their trip to Amritsar.
After the initial wait for our train, we finally boarded the Shatabdi at 4.30 pm. The kids settled quickly, each one choosing a seat with his/her friend. We, teachers heaved a sigh of relief as all the 28 students were safely on board. Everyone enjoyed their evening snacks along with the favourite game of UNO. The journey was smooth and we reached our destination at 11.30 at night. There was a coach waiting to take us to the hotel ‘Best Western Merrion’, our home for the next two days. The rooms were very comfortable and cozy. Sleep was the only thing on our minds and we soon dozed off…
The next day, after a stodgy breakfast, we set out to see the beautiful land of Amritsar. Our first stop was the The Golden Temple, where people come to pay their reverence to Guru Granth Sahib. The sacredness of the place engulfed us and we indeed were fortunate to have smooth ‘darshan’ of the Harmandir Sahib. The colorful fish in the sacred tank around the temple also added to the beauty of the place. We also bought a few momentos from the shops outside the temple.
We then walked to the Jallianwala Bagh, which was just five minutes from the Golden Temple. The park commemorates the 2000 Indians who were killed or wounded at this site in 1919. This place fascinated us to no end and we clicked pictures after pictures of the The Martyr’s Well and the walls bearing the bullet holes, a reminder of the gruesome incident.
Next day was our departure from Amritsar and we thanked our host Mr.Sanjeev, who was also the organizer of the trip, for our comfortable stay at the hotel. A coach took us to the Pushpa Gujral Science City, located on the Jalandhar-Kapurthala road. We were amazed to see things that worked from highly innovative gadgets. There was mind boggling and exciting Laser Show. The most thrilling moment was our ride in a Flight Simulator. We also saw cut-view models of satellites, dinosaurs and various science exhibits. Post lunch, we entered The Giant Dome Theatre, which has a screen that is 10 times larger than 35mm used in regular theatres. The movie on the universe and the solar system truly mesmerized us. After a quick look at the souvenir shop, we left for the station.
Our next halt was the spacious dining area of the hotel and after the delicious lunch we retired to our rooms for an afternoon siesta. By 4.00 in the evening, we were on our way to Wagah Border, which is 28 km from Amritsar to witness ‘The Retreat Ceremony.’
This half an hour ceremony is a matter of pride and prestige for the Border Security forces of both the countries. The guards at the border on the both side dress up to the mark and try make loudest salute to the flag of one's nation.
Although the gate at Attari, is open from 1000 H to 1600 H for commercial activities, the retreat ceremony is held only at Sunset when the national ensigns of both sides are brought down as per the martial traditions. The view of the ceremony is hair raising.
The Mangalamites had a great time displaying their patriotism, by running closest to Pakistan with the Indian Tri-color in their hand and shouting “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”
Our last evening in Amritsar was a special one. Soon after the dinner, there was a dance session for the kids. They danced on the foot tapping music, coaxing us to join them!! The evening ended with a round of pastries for all of us.
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| And, finally we boarded the Swarna Shatabdi at Jalandhar station to head home and reached Delhi at 11.15 at night. Parents thronged the platform to take the kids home. Although we are back to the mundane routine of life, the memories of the trip will always hold a special place in our hearts.
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