Industrial Tour

Don't let the name fool you!... The so-called Industrial Tour which our college batch embarked on this winter, was anything but 'industrial'. Amid all the conundrum, with the 'end of the world' Mayan myth turning out to be a poor joke in colloquial terms, and an explosion in the number of debatable topics worldwide, 2012 had an equally exciting finish for us.

After having enjoyed the Durga Pooja and Diwali festive seasons with friends and family, and the semester witnessing a successful finish for most of us, a ten-day rejuvenating tour was all that was needed to keep us psyched and re-energize us for the onset of the brand-new year. First the calm tides of Vishakhapatnam and then the modernity of Bangalore were like a double treat.

In Vishakhapatnam, although the main purpose of our visit was to tour the Vizag Steel Plant of R.I.N.L, it was quickly over-shadowed by our two day site-seeing trip in which we experienced everything from the majestic Ramanaidu Film Studio and the placid shores of the Ramakrishna Mission Beach (popularly known as R K Beach), to the INS Kursura Submarine Museum. We followed it up with a visit to the Borra Caves and the well-known Araku Valley on the final day of our stay at Vizag. After ceaseless photo-sessions, it was time to take the satiating experience to our next destination, Bangalore!...

After an interesting journey with a bunch of Ayappa devotees occupying the same coach as us, having woken us up in the wee hours of the morning by their clamorous prayers, we reached the city with heavy eyelids. But a visit to the Lal Bagh Botanical Garden, with its wide variety of flora and picturesque Glass House, and its background outlined by the benign rays of the setting sun, would prove ample to freshen us up. This followed by a late-night visit to India's first luxury mall, UB City, set the stage for an awesome stay in Bangalore!...

But before our final day visit to Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., we were left with one more day in our hands. So after a decisive vote, plans were made of visiting Wonderla, an amusement park 28 kilometers from Bangalore. And what a gut-busting experience that was!!!... It had everything ranging from a Wave Pool, in which real life waves (up to 2.2 meters) were being pulsated at regular intervals, and a Rain Disco to the gut-wrenching Dry Rides, not meant for the faint-hearted. 

Overall this tour would easily rank among the most enchanting trips of my life, especially since I got the opportunity to share my elation with all my friends and colleagues. From Bangalore some guys went off on an unofficial trip to Goa as an icing on the cake, while others including myself, having already visited this paradise, preferred the serenity of our hometowns for a few days of leisure. 

Signing off, I'd like to wish everyone a very happy new year and prosperous 2013...!