The P.G. Department of Commerce organized an educational tour to Amritsar- Manali from 9th January to 16th January, 2019. Under the guidance of 8 faculty members, 75 students visited the Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh,Wagah Border, Kullu and Manali. The main objective of the tour was to provide students with an opportunity to integrate new perspectives with informal environments to enhance learning initiatives.

The group boarded the train from Durgon 9^thJanuary.After a long journey & lunch at the hotel, students alighted at the Golden temple. There, they got to witness the majestic appearance & rich history of the temple. Harmandir Sahib is not only a central religious place of Sikhs, but also a symbol of human brotherhood and equality. Its unique ethnic architecture (blending Indo-Islamic, Mughal & Hindu Rajput styles), tradition of community kitchen (langar) & religious significance helped to build life skills among the students.

This was followed by a visit to the Jallianwala Bagh which houses a national memorial to commemorate the massacre of peaceful crowd in 1919. The historical place is now managed by a trust, which has converted the area into a well maintained and beautiful park.The visit to the place enlightened the students about the historical aspect of the incident which proved to be the turning point in the Indian national movement after the revolt of 1857.

From there,they headed off to Wagha Border to witness the Beating Retreat ceremony which is a military practice carried out by the Indian Border Security Force & Pakistan Rangers. The Border is famous for the flag lowering ceremony that takes place every day around 4-4.30 pm.  The ceremony was preceded by cultural events in which the students participated with full gusto. With patriotic songs playing in the background &motivational slogans raised by the commandos& spectators, the atmosphere was brimming with nationalistic fervor.

Braving heavy snowfall, the students visited Kulluand Manali which promise an abundance of scenic beauty, temples, monasteries and adventure sports. Manali is one of the most popular hill stations in the country with jaw-dropping views, lush green forest, sprawling meadows carpeted with flowers, gushing blue streams and a persistent fragrance of pines and freshness. They also visited Hidimba Temple which is an ancient temple dedicated to Hidimbi Devi. The students got to know about the rich art & cultural heritage of the places.

All in all, the tour was a perfect blend of fun and interactive learning, and a very enriching experience for all the students.