The culture of the Mughal was revealed to the students of class 9 (B & C) on their school educational trip to Delhi- Agra between 13th and 18th Feb, 2007. They took the August Kranti Express on the 13th, accompanied by Ms. Khurana, Ms. Verma, Mr. Shreeraman, Mr. Oze, Commander Joshi and Mr. Stone. Much to their chagrin they spent the first half of Valentines Day on a train trying to discipline sixty excited teenagers. Once at the hotel, the students were allotted rooms on a triple sharing basis, amid loud protests.


After a sumptuous lunch of paneer and butter chicken, complete with naan, the group set off to see the Qutab Minar, followed by the Lotus temple. They witnessed the wonders of Mughal architecture and the Minar that got struck by lightening twice. The Lotus temple had a soothing effect on all the students including the notorious Manan Shah. After a dinner of, once again, paneer and butter chicken, the students were forced to retire at 11 pm so as to ensure they were fresh for the coming day.


The second day the students got a taste of the post freedom India. Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Presidents Ornamental Gardens that were in full bloom, and the Teenmurti Bhavan that gave them gave them an insight into the life of the first Indian Prime Minister. Once they had had a lunch of another variation of paneer and chicken, they caught a glimpse of the various foreign consulates, after which they spent an hour at India gate. In the evening, they visited the red fort for the magnificent sound and light show that was held in open air resulting in sixty icicles due to the chilly temperatures.


The last day in Delhi was spent at the National Science Center and Delhi Haat, a common market place where the student's clamouring desire to shop and bargain was satisfied. The teachers assisted the students in purchasing stuff at the highest possible discounts. After another meal of again, paneer, the students were chased into bed by their beloved Mr. Shreeraman in his distinctive lungi and were constantly reminded by Mrs. Verma that "this is Delhi and not Bombay."


The next day they departed for Agra, reaching the impressive Mansingh Palace Hotel after spending four long hours on a bus. They ate a delicious meal which, at last did not contain paneer in any form and visited Agra fort. There they got a guided tour and took a lot of photos of the attractive monument. The students who bought whips were accosted. At night they enjoyed a dinner and dance party at the hotel.


Finally, the students got to see what they had come for, the exquisite Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. A group photo was taken professionally and distributed to all students as a memento. Each student planned to have a Taj Mahal built for them. The group then left for Akbar's city, Fatehpur Sikri, where they witnessed a chapter from the life of the greatest Mughal emperor, and made wishes at the Jama Masjid, before leaving for Mathura station and taking the train back to Bombay.


The trip was eventful and left a lasting impression in everyone's mind. the students were able to bond as they laughed and cried together, took tons of group photos, pretended they were the FBI, sang with Mr. Shreeraman and bought the famous heart shaped pedas.

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