Field Trip Date: 4th to 7th November 2015
Grade: 4
“The use
of travelling is to regulate imagination with reality, and instead of
thinking of how things may be, see them as they are.” – Samuel Johnson
To explore
the characteristics of the past civilizations and to understand that
the present is connected to the past, the grade 4s went on a field trip
to Hampi.
Hampi (UNESCO
world heritage sites) is a small village in northern Karnataka, situated
on the banks of the Tungabhadra River.Today the site remains as
the ruins of Vijayanagara Empire
En
route to to Hampi, we stopped to explore the Chitradurga fort which
was a part of the Vijayanagar Kingdom.We also watched the sunset at Tungabadra
reservoir situated few kilometers before Hospet.
On
the first day we visited the Royal Enclosure of Hampi which was once
the seat of power of the earstwhile king. The area is packed with numerous
palace bases, underground temple, aquatic structures and the likes.We
also saw the ruins of the Krishna temple where we noticed the bazaars and the
step well tank. Our little explorers found broken pieces of pots which
date back to as old as 500 years. We then visited the Hazararama temple, whose
walls unfold the story of Ramayana.We visited the beautiful Virupaksha temple
which is the oldest shrine still in active worship. Our day ended with the
climb up the Hemakuta hills where we watched the spectacular lights of the
temple come on as the day transformed into an even more beautiful night.
On the second day
we visited the Vithala temple, famous for its fascinating musical pillars and
magnificent stone chariot. We also visited the Tungabhadra River flowing at the
back of the temple where the famous pioneer of Carnatic
music, Purandaradasa sang..This was followed by a visit to the Lotus Mahal
and the elephant stables influenced by Islamic architecture brought in by the
Bahamanas.The evening ended with the trek to the Mahatunka hills from where
our inquirers soaked in the unbeatable splendour of the entire
kingdom that once ruled on the banks of the mighty river.
The trip left
the Grade 4 with lasting memories of enduring learning and understanding
different cultures.
