A visit to a Hill Station
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I was in standard nine and our Diwali vacation was close at hand. Some of us got together and coaxed our teachers to organize a school visit. After some discussion 20 students and two teachers decided to go to Lonavala.
We left by school bus in the morning at 6 o’clock. I expected the journey to be long and jerky, but it was not so. We were on the Mumbai-Pune highway and the road was fine. It was a smooth, fast drive. It took us about one half hours only!
Our teachers had hired a lodge and a Mali and his wife gave us breakfast and tea. We had a quick wash or bath and scattered ourselves in various directions. The air was so clean and fresh; there was greenery wherever we looked. In the distance we could see mountains clad with forest trees. We took care not to lose our way and as per instructions, came back to our lodge by one o’clock.
Now all of us set out together to a tourist hotel where we had placed the order for lunch. It was simple, tasty, vegetarian food. Some of us had ice-cream. We returned to our lodge and entertained ourselves in little groups in various ways jokes, songs or mere story telling.
In the evening, after tea, some of us played some games with the ball that we had carried with us. Soon it was sunset time, and the best thing we could do, was to get ready for a campfire. We had ordered some light dinner that we enjoyed. Then we sang and danced round the campfire till 11 p.m. Many of us could not sleep, it being a little too silent and eerie at night.
However, we were up the next morning. After tea, some students went to the dam site. They were interested in the hydroelectric power generating station. Others just enjoyed the bounties and beauties of nature around.
Some of us collected specimens of leaves and plants, with the intention of showing them to our Biology teacher.
After lunch we happened to meet a group of officials from the forest department. Their leader delivered a lecture on conservation of forests and how we are tampering with nature and harming the forest animals and ourselves in the long run. It was a real revelation to some of us. We thanked him for making us conscious of the mistakes of human beings and the remedial measures to be taken. After the lecture we were discussing the matter among ourselves.
It was already evening. We had tea and hurriedly began to collect and pack up our things. The trip had a relaxing and refreshing effect on us. On the whole we enjoyed ourselves those two days.