Salwan Education Trust organised an adventure trip for Heads of Salwan Schools to Rishikesh from 2nd January to 7th January, 2022. Rishikesh, the Devabhoomi, is a celebrated spiritual town located on the banks of the Ganga. It is referred to as the ‘yoga capital of the world’ and is the most popular destination for adventure water sports in India. The trip was organized under the supervision of professional instructors, M/s Snow Leopard, to provide a rejuvenating experience to the school Principals by involving them in adventure activities for enhancing their physical fitness, mental alertness, in addition to energising them and helping them overcome their fears. This gave the Heads an opportunity to bond through persistence and creativity.
The enthusiastic group of seven Heads from different Salwan Schools received a warm welcome and attended an orientation session about their 6-day stay at Camp Panther, Shivpuri. Ms. Mukul Jha Principal GDSPS, Ms. Priyanka Barara Principal SPS Rajindra Nagar, Ms Saroj Achra Principal SBS, Ms. Rashmi Malik Principal SPS Gurugram, Ms. Sunita Madan Principal TDSC, Ms. Anuradha Mathur Head SJS Naraina and Ms. Sona Gumber Head SMS Gurugram were the participants who undertook this adventurous and thrilling journey.
Day 1 was an introductory adventure walk to Leopard Beach, wherein the participants were assigned certain tasks utilising available resources. They were engaged in communication with other members, creating a greater learning environment to help them do the tasks more effectively. Furthermore, the main objective of adventure camp was to encourage the team to survive with less amenities and learn the value of unity outdoors. The most exciting part of the day was the nature walk and exploring the flora and fauna around the resort.
Day 2 was dedicated to spiritual awakening of inner self through an early morning yoga session on the banks of River Ganga. It was a breath-taking experience, providing a holistic serenity to the yoga practitioners helping them attain peace of mind in the lap of nature. It was followed by an exciting experience of adrenaline rush through the rafting session, which was full of thrill and excitement. Geared up for river rafting in life-jackets and helmets, the group embarked upon the 10 km long rafting stretch on the river. The thrilling expedition scared, thrilled and made them go through a plethora of emotions like rowing the boat through turbulent waters, feeling its bliss and finally converting fear into fun! A lot of fun games were organised, which made the Principals enjoy and experience the thrill of childhood with laughter and fun once again. Evenings were usually spent around a bonfire regaling their experience, singing songs and having fun with Jazz and contemporary dances.
Day 3 started with an early morning drive to Neelkanth Mandir, about 15 kms from the resort, to seek the blessings of the Almighty Lord Shiva. Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, an ancient place, is located at the Manikut Parvat in Rishikesh. As per mythological texts, this is the place is where Mahadev consumed poison that originated from the sea when Devas and Asuras churned the ocean in order to get Amrita. This poison that emanated during the “Samudra Manthan” made his throat blue in colour. This is how he is known as Neelkanth. The visit to Rishikesh Ram Jhula and the local market in the evening led to an appreciation of the work of local artisans. The day also opened a greater bonding among the participants with a leisurely time spent together at the Vantage Point. The river flowing by, the dark mountains, and the glow of the fire created an unforgettable memory for all. The evening created a divine atmosphere with rendition of prayers through a soulful aarti near the banks of River Ganga, which was a sight to behold with the melodious chants by the priest. The day ended with a feeling of calmness and peace within through a connect with self, nature and the Almighty.
Day 4 started with a briefing of the team by the trainers of GANGA ZIPLINE that prepared them for a zip line transit over the Ganges. The 5-minute transit was an experience of a life-time for the participants. The experienced and confident trainers helped them overcome all their fears and apprehensions. The view, while traversing the breadth of the river, was indeed breathtaking and exhilarating. The evening was spent sharing a greater bond, excitement, hilarious experiences and tons of laughter. The sight of a multitude of stars sparkling brightly, a rare sight that people hardly get to see in cities, was ethereal.
DAY 5 began with a session on Pranic Healing conducted by Ms Rashmi Malik, Principal SPS Gurgaon. It was a very soulful experience for the participants experiencing ceaseless release of energy. It uses twin heart healing intention, compassion, knowledge of chakras, aura cleansing to activate self- healing mechanisms in our bodies. This was followed by experiential learning with field activities like village walk and mountain hiking to experience outdoor survival techniques at Leopard Beach. The camping experience in Rishikesh, with beautiful natural surroundings, panoramic views, was indeed enthralling. The adventure of river rafting,, mountain hiking, bonfire, and other survival techniques were some of the most exciting things the group was engaged in.
The 6-day trip in the lap of nature made the group live the thrill of adventure every moment. Well maintained cottages and tents, hygienic environment, good food, a wide range of activities offered picturesque location, serene weather, spiritual ambiance, and amazing experiences . It was truly an opportunity to escape the stress and hustle- bustle of city life. It made the camping experience in Rishikesh a memorable one.
