Excursions

Excursions

Andaman Islands – 29th February to 5th March, 2024

On 29th February 2024, 84 students of Forms 9 and 11 accompanied by seven teachers embarked on an adventurous expedition to the breathtaking Andaman Islands. Brimming with anticipation, the group divided into six groups departed from the Ahmedabad airport.

On the 1st of March, the school group visited the Cellular Jail, also known as “Kala Pani” during the freedom struggle, which held political prisoners in isolation to suppress freedom struggle against British colonial rulers. Guided by a knowledgeable local, homage was paid to the sacrifices made by our freedom fighters. The light and sound show left an indelible mark on the young hearts, serving as an emotional reminder of our nation’s history.

The following day, the group set sail for Havelock Island, a journey filled with laughter and camaraderie, basking in the beauty of the Andaman Sea coastline. The overnight stay on the island provided an opportunity to be completely immersed in its serene surroundings.

The third day was packed with thrilling water activities such as snorkeling, undersea walking, banana boat rides, flying fish, and glass-bottom boat tours on the Elephant Island. The Radhanagar Beach, which is celebrated for its untouched beauty and global recognition as one of the most splendid beaches, was also explored. The return to Port Blair on the fourth day included a visit to the Fisheries Museum, where the students were awestruck by the array of marine life on display, including colorful corals and various fish species.

The trip was filled with enjoyment at every turn, from the places that were visited, to the delicious food which was savored, as well as the hospitable and wonderful locals whom we met. Each moment crafted a profoundly memorable experience for the students and teachers alike.

Udaipur – 22nd to 25th February, 2024

A trip to Udaipur was organised for students of Form 8 of the Rajkumar College from 22nd to 25th February 2024. Sixty boys were escorted by 4 staff members and 4 admin staff members. Trip itinerary included a visit to the City Palace, Jagdish Temple, Saheli ki Bari, Fateh Sagar Lake, Haldighati and Kumbhalgarh. Everyone enjoyed the trip to the fullest and returned with many memories.

Visit to Pradyuman Park Zoo – 25th January, 2024

On the 25th of January 2024, the Form 1 students embarked on an exciting excursion at the Pradyuman Park Zoo. The young explorers set out to encounter various animals, learn about their habitats and explore the beauty of nature. The students spotted a variety of magnificent creatures from mighty lions, white tigers, leopards, bears, emus, deer various reptiles and a variety of fishes. They gathered information about each animal’s diet, habitat and behaviour.

The visit to the zoo exemplified the joy of learning through hands-on experiences. It provided them with a deeper understanding of the animal kingdom and the importance of preserving our environment.

Statue of Unity – 8th to 10th January, 2024

Boys of Form 4 went on a 3 days trip to Statue of Unity from 8th January to 10th January 2024. They were accompanied by members of teaching staff comprising of Mr. Shivam Gandha, Mr. Hardeepsinh Jadeja, Mrs. Mamta Chauhan and the tour director Mr. Jaleshbhai Trivedi.

On the first day, students visited Nilkanthdham Temple at Poicha. On the second day, they witnessed the statue of the iron man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who welded numerous disintegrated states into a nation because of his strong conviction and vision. At Statue of Unity, students interacted with the local guide who narrated to them some rarely known anecdotes about Vallabhbhai Patel. Learning about Vallabhbhai’s life made them aware about the significance of leadership skills in our life. Seeing the hills from 500 feet above the ground level from the viewing gallery at the chest of the grand statue was an exhilarating moment for all of them. On the final day of the trip, students went to Bounce Up play zone at Taksh Galaxy Mall in Vadodara.

Pradyuman Park   –   20th & 21st December, 2023

The students of Form 5 of The Rajkumar College embarked on an excursion to Pradyuman Zoological Park in Rajkot, as part of their immersive Living Science Learning program on December 20th and 21st, 2023. This educational visit allowed the students to witness a diverse range of wildlife, including White Tigers, Lions, Bears, Emu, Ostrich, Migratory birds, Reptiles, and Crocodiles, effectively bridging the gap between classroom knowledge and real-world application. The trip not only provided an invaluable learning experience for the children but also fostered a sense of camaraderie and enjoyment as they felt connected with nature and each other.

Dwarka     –   2nd & 3rd December, 2023

Experiential learning being the salient feature of the Day Boarding module at The Rajkumar College, students (girls and boys of Grades 1 to 9) availing this facility were taken on a trip to Dwarka from 2nd to 3rd December 2023. The learning outcome of this trip was that the students understood the importance of caring, sharing, and having control over their emotions. Being responsible and independent in routine tasks is another learning that they acquired, in turn making this excursion a meaningful one.

Trip to Science City, Ahmedabad – 31 October, 2023

“Not all classrooms have four walls….. “

104 students of Form 6 and 7 (girls) accompanied by Academic in-charge (Ms. Anita Singh) ,4 teachers (Ms. Jagruti Chudasama, Ms. Shilpa Bawishi, Ms. Hirva Bharadwaj and Ms. Bhavna Rathod), and 2 support staff visited The Science City, Ahmedabad on 31st October,2023.

This visit helped the students to enhance their knowledge and also gave them a break from the monotony of traditional classroom teaching.

ISRO, Ahmedabad – 27 October, 2023

The young enthusiastic students of class 11th and 12th Science stream embarked upon a journey to ISRO Ahmedabad on 27/10/2023.  They were escorted by Mrs. Anjali Namiraj , Mr. Manish Raimangia, Mr. Ritesh Vyas  and Dr. Jatin Gondalia.

Students paid homage to Father of the Nation GANDHIJI at Sabarmati ashram and later reached their destination ISRO.  They were enthralled by the achievements and research going on in the field of space science in India.  They were inspired to become scientists in Astrophysics.

At ISRO they visited VSSE (Vikram Sarabhai Science Exhibition) , where they interacted with junior scientist who explained how ISRO works and makes the rockets and what are the different department and phases right from designing to launching of the space craft. They had a golden opportunity to interact with the Head of ISRO station Dr. Paresh Sarvaiya, who spent more than an hour interacting with our young RKCIANS, and was more than happy to answer the curious questions asked by Rkcians.

NSE – BSE Mumbai –     16 – 20 October, 2023

It has been the endeavour of The Rajkumar College to spread knowledge about financial markets as widely as possible. As part of this commitment, the Department of Commerce at The Rajkumar College organized a “Study Tour to BSE & NSE in Mumbai”, between 16th October to 20th October,  2023. The tour included 36 students and three teachers Dr. Mitesh Popat, Mr. Mukesh Patel and Mr. Vivek Damodar, who visited NSE, BSE, NISM, the RBI Museum, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) at Dharavi, Mumbai.

The primary objective of this program was to provide school students with valuable insights, an overview, awareness, and exposure to financial markets. During the tour, students had the opportunity to witness and engage in the live trading environments of both BSE and NSE, involving various securities and commodities. This experience not only enhanced their financial literacy but also introduced them to a wide range of potential career opportunities.

This educational excursion aimed to offer our students a practical understanding of how stock markets operate and exposure to different facets of the financial and industrial sectors. The sessions at BSE and NSE were led by industry professionals, allowing students to interact with experts and learn about stock trading, investment strategies, and market dynamics. Furthermore, they gained insights into the operations of SME industries in Dharavi. Undoubtedly, these experiences contributed significantly to the holistic development of our students.

Nilambag Palace, Bhavnagar  –  14 – 15 October, 2023

 

Participants- Prep Lodge Students and House Masters

Activities done- Heritage Tour, Palace Walk, Pottery Workshop

Nilambag Palace Hotel is located in the city of Bhavnagar. In the year 1879, Maharaja Saheb Takhatsinhji of Bhavnagar commissioned the German architect, Simms to design the Nilambag Palace that is the home of the erstwhile royal family

of Bhavnagar. An imposing Rajula stone structure, the Palace was constructed with influences of colonial architecture. Nilambag is a unique amalgamation of regal grandeur and functional magnificence. When India became independent in 1947, Maharaja Krishna Kumar Singhji  was the first Indian ruler to hand over his kingdom and join sovereign India.

In the year 1984 the palace was converted into a heritage hotel, in order to maintain and also share a historic monument.

It was a good refreshing trip for the students immediately after the Terminal Exams. The students (preparatory boarders)

had a night stay at the Nilambag Palace. They had few activities arranged like Palace walk, Heritage Tour

and Pottery Workshop.

Gandhi Museum, Rajkot   –   19 September, 2023

On September 19, 2023, Form 5 students visited the Gandhi Museum, Rajkot. The purpose of this educational excursion was to promote knowledge of historical figures and freedom fighters. Our students were enthralled to see the artefacts, related to Mahatma Gandhi’s life in the museum. The escort teachers were Mr. Hardeep Sinh Jadeja, Ms. Mira Paun, Mrs. Rita Thadeshwar, Mrs. Shilpa Bawishi, and Mrs. Rima Udani.

Adani Enterprise, Mundra   –   4-5 August 2023

 

The School organized an educational trip to India’s first private and largest container port, Adani at Mundra, for form XI Commerce and Entrepreneurship girls.

During this two-day trip, the students were made aware on how the crude oil eventually transforms into edible oil in the oil refinery at Adani Wilmar. They learnt about the vast and diverse Adani empire in Special Economic Zone (SEZ).The students were also taken to the largest import – export port of coal in the world, the West Port at Adani Power Ltd.

 

The Adani Foundation also inculcated the importance of Morning Prayer and Meditation by arranging such sessions along with a Laughing program. Overall, it was a great excursion packed with learning opportunities and fun!

The School thanks Adani Foundation for this wonderful arrangement, Mr. Parvrajsinh Zala, an Old Rkcian for his humble guidance throughout the journey, Mrs. Hetal Parekh for arranging the trip. The students were escorted by Ms. Vasundhara Singh and Mr. Nikhil Sharma.

Sabarmati Ashram – 26.08.2023

Form V A & B

 

Sabarmati Ashram, located on the banks of the Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, is not just an important historical landmark in India, but a place that echoes the principles and ideologies of Mahatma Gandhi. 53 Girls of  our school visited this iconic place, which made us  go deeper into the life and teachings of the Father of the Nation.

Overall, the visit to Sabarmati Ashram proved to be a transformative experience.

As we departed from the ashram, we carried with us not just photographs and trinkets, but a sense of reverence and gratitude.

Manali Trekking Camp – May 2023

“It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves…” – SIR EDMUND HILLARY

A group of 35 girls and 18 boys attended a trekking camp at Manali from 7 May 2023 to 16 May 2023. It was conducted under the guidance of Mr. Mahendrasingh Chauhan and Abhiyaan Trekkers.

Seven staff members – Mr. Arun Rathod, Ms. Mitaba Jadeja, Mr. Darshak Gohel, Ms. Hirva Bharadwaj, Ms. Nilofer Khokhar, Ms. Jagruti Chudasama and Ms. Shilpa Bawishi, escorted the group.

The campsite was in a beautiful apple orchard in the Bahang village near Manali, where the stay was in tents.

During these 9 days of the camp, the students were introduced to various activities like Mountain trekking, Snow trekking, Rappelling and River rafting.

Children learned more about their full potential as a result of this adventure-filled excursion.

 

Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), National Stock Exchange (NSE), Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) and Dharavi SME units at Mumbai – April 2023

Each young person learns a bit differently and students receiving a wide variety of learning experiences ensures that no one is left behind. Exposure to new situations automatically stimulates interest and excites the brain. One such trip was organized to cultivate new interests and boost motivation to continue exploring existing ones. Visits to Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), National Stock Exchange (NSE), Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) and Dharavi SME units at Mumbai proved to be a no exception. Our students learnt history and evolution of stock exchanges, new terms, investing in stocks and how we can reap maximum benefits while keeping loss in check. Pictures were clicked at the symbolic bull at the entrance of the legendary BSE building. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) monetary museum demonstrated the evolution of money from barter system to the use of currency notes and coins.  Visit to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port, one of the largest container ports in the country, amazed us with its intriguing technology. Placement and management of hundreds of containers every day stationed for the export and import process contributing in the growth of Indian economy was truly an unforgettable experience.

Ooty – Coonoor – Coorg – Mysore   – March 2023

‘Travelling is the best therapy’

On 4th March 2023, students of Form 9 and 11 left the school campus with four escort teachers to explore places with greenery and exotic wildlife of Ooty, Coonoor, Coorg and Mysore. We reached Ooty on 5th March in the afternoon and were mesmerized by the beauty. After a long journey we took rest till the evening after which we enjoyed dinner followed by a bonfire and DJ dance and Garba in the lawns.

Next morning, greeted with a beautiful sunrise, we visited Dodabetta viewpoint. Next was the tea factory and the chocolate factory with additional adventure activities like ziplining and tubby jump. We also visited Dolphin nose point and Sim’s Park at Coonoor. In the evening we celebrated Holi.

Next morning we were on our way to Coorg. After an amazing experience of driving down the lanes of oak, coconut, and eucalyptus trees, we reached Coorg at Woodstock Villa late in the evening. Our Coorg day tour included a visit to Dubare Elephant Camp and spiritual Namdroling Monastery – ‘The Golden Temple of Buddha’ and got enlightened by lamas. We also visited a coffee farm where we came to know lot of things about the production of coffee and other products. Last but not the least we went to the amazing Abbey waterfalls followed by a mesmerizing sunset view point Raja Ki Gadi. The following day we left for Mysore. We got the privilege to visit the Mysore palace. The palace is famous for beautiful paintings, fine carving work and interiors. We then visited Chamundeshwari temple and shopped on the streets a bit. The day came to an end with an early bedtime. Finally, on 10th March early morning, it was time for us to leave for the Bengaluru airport and by afternoon we landed back at Rajkot.

Mount Abu – February 2023

“Through educational trips, children discover new aspects of their personality. They discover things which they wouldn’t in the confines of their homes”   

An educational trip was organised by The Rajkumar College, Rajkot for form six boys to Mount Abu for 4 days and 3 nights

Tour coordinator = Mr Jalesh Trivedi and his team of 8 members

Number of boys = 78

Escort teachers = Mr.  Mahendrasinh Chauhan

Mrs. Usha Vasani

Mrs. Shivani Ahuja

Ms.  Mira Paun

Mrs.  R. Thadeshwar

Activities done = Early morning walk around Nakkhi lake, horse riding, swimming, boating, shopping at Mall Road, mountain trekking and children’s all-time favourite Maggi party post Campfire and DJ dance party.

Places explored = Guru Shikhar, Dilwara Temple, Arbuda Devi, Ambaji Temple, Gyan Sarovar, Shankar Math, Sunset Point, and Peace Park.

* Overall safety, security, comfort, and all-round enjoyment, life-long sweet memories of school trip were takeaways for the students.

* Group photograph at sunset point was taken and given to each child and teacher as a token of sweet memories of the school days.

 

Statue of Unity – January 2023

The girls’ trip to the statue of unity was one that powered us with religious, technological, and historical knowledge. It was a moment filled with both pride and gratitude both. The first stop of our trip was Nilkanthdham Poicha – a famous temple on the banks of river Narmada. Established by Swaminarayan Sanstha in 2013, this temple is dedicated to Lord Swaminarayan and all the different avatars of Lord Narayan. The next day we visited the Statue of Unity and the Sardar Sarovar Dam along with the hydroelectric power plant. The visit to the hydroelectric power plant was quite knowledgeable and we learnt a lot. Next was the Statue of Unity, which is a whooping 182m tall statue, made of iron, copper among other materials, is the tallest statue in the world. This statue of Sardar Vallabhai Patel was a mesmerizing sight to behold. The statue is erected facing the Sardar Sarovar dam. Being a tourist attraction, it holds a lot of importance. We also witnessed the amazing light and sound show in the evening that was put up not just for our entertainment but more importantly for our knowledge enrichment. The next day we packed our bags with lots of memories and made our way back to Rajkot. This trip was truly a memorable one which we will always remember and hold close to our hearts.