This adventure trip started on an excited
note as 60 students of class IV and class V accompanied by 6 teachers boarded
the buses at 9:30 pm on 10th of March for Kanatal, Uttarakhand.
After a 12 hours’ journey via scenic Chamba
Valley the group reached Camp Kanatal which is situated at 8,400 ft. near
Mussoorie. Tucked away in the midst of deep forests of oaks and set in the
heart of the Indian Himalayas the beauty of the serene mountains was breath
taking.
After a hearty, savoury breakfast in the
dining area the students were allotted their tents. Each tent had an attached
washroom with running water facility and 24hrs supply of electricity with an
adequate back up. The cooperative staff happily and readily provided hot water
for drinking as well as for washing purposes.
The day started with warm up exercises and
endurance run, in the clearing, amidst picturesque dense pine, long wooded
slopes of deodar, oak and rhododendron forests.
The weather played hookey, after lunch, in
the second half of the day, as the heavens opened up. The children were packed
off to their tents to escape the drizzling and the chilly temperature. But soon
all was hunky dory as, to the delight of the group, there was unexpected snow
fall. The snow covered tents were a sight to behold. After a steaming hot
dinner everybody retired early to bed.
The next day dawned bright and sunny and
after breakfast the group started for a long trek to Surkanda Devi temple.
Perched on a peak, the temple demands a stiff two-km climb from devotees. To
the intense delight of the students the temple courtyard was covered with
pristine snow. Soon snow fights ensued, lopsided snow-men were built and excited
squeals filled the courtyard.
Post lunch, back in the camp, the children
were taken for various outdoor activities such as Burma bridge, parallel rope
walk, wall/pillar climb etc. The Flying Fox Activity saw the students flying
down the mountain slope, harnessed on to a tight rope.
The day concluded on an exalted note with
bon fire, dance and music.
Thursday morning we bid a sad adieu to the
lovely mountains and again boarded the buses. Stopping for lunch at Dehradun Mc
Donalds was the highlight of the day. Here students enjoyed burgers and Pepsi
and even celebrated a fellow student’s birthday with chocolate cake. The group
arrived at the school at 10:30pm.
Beautiful and captivating environment, a stay
in the tents, excellent camp food and the company of
friends made for an unforgettable Camp Kanatal trip.