OP 109 at HP University, Shimla.

Even though Me and Shanavas sir had applied six months in advance for our Orientation Programme in 2013 Feb 25^th to March 23rd at Himachal Pradesh University Shimla,  our selection was not confirmed till 20^th Feb 2013. Actually on 20^th February we were in sports meet of our college at PeeVees Ground. Immediately after getting confirmation of our selection over phone we have cleared all formalities from college office on same day.  We started journey at 2.00 am from Calicut on 22^nd feb in Rajadhani express. We reached Delhi around 5 pm on 23^rd and that day we stayed with our old students in their room near Noida. The next day we visited Lotus temple, India gate, Mughal garden and by night we started to Shimla in bus. On 25^th very morning at 5 am we reached at shimla bus stand and in a taxi car we went to our hotel City Inn. We were allotted room no 14. The temperature was around 7 degree celcious and unbearable without sweaters or thermal coat. On the first day after inauguration in the ice breaking session we realized that we are the only two south Indian among that 29 participants. There were heaters in every four corners of the hall to warm up the temperature. In the first week we find it very difficult to interact with Hindi speaking people. There were formal training sessions up to 5 pm in the evening. After the class we used to visit places around HP university. Out of them Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Porter Hill, Tara Devi Mandir, Summer Hill narrow rail station, The mall road, Lakkadi bazaar, etc were very attractive. On first Sunday we went along 14 others to Kufri and Narkhanda and found and played in plenty of icy at mountain valley. The choice of food was very limited in Summer Hill to a few dishes such as chaval, dhal, dhahi, butter, aalu pranta, rotti, soup, etc. The sleeping coat provided in the hotel was almost sufficient to protect against the so cold climate. On Firday i shifted to a new room Numbered 6 as shanavas sir’s wife will reach Shimla on Monday. In the second Sunday me along with 18 others went to Chandigrah and visited rock garden, rose garden, sukhana lake, sector 17 market, and more. The participants from 10 different states of India were diverse in terms of cultures, subjects and behavior. The orientation programme was an active learning sessions because the participants had active role in the overall conduct of the programme. The mall road, lakkidi bazaar, IIAS, etc were visited many times during our days in Shimla. Some amount shopping were done at mall road. The prices were cheap to moderate. In the last Sunday the Academic Staff College Sponsored tour was to Kifri and Naldera. On that day at kufri we went to zoo and at Naldera we had a walk around one of the oldest Golf Course constructed by briteshers there in 17s. The last we were busy with our project submission. Photo sessions, lunch with VC, etc. Finally on 23^rd march after noon the session were wound up and everybody returned back. We around 12 participants were booked deluxe bus from shimla to delhi by 9 o clock in the night. We reached delhi by 7 am on 24^th and by metro we two went to Nizamudheen railways station and our return journey by rajadhani express started at 11 am on same day and we arrived at Calicut by 10 pm on 25^th march. By KSRTC bus we reached kottakkal around 1 am and home by 1.30 am. The next day we joined duty in our Amal college. Overall the journey was enjoyable with new places, new friends, new classes and more.