The school which I attended was called D.A.V Public school which has 3 different branches. The D.A.V public school followed the modern Indian curriculum whereas the other 2 branches followed the Indian system. I was able to visit all three branches; all sites were around 15-20 minutes away from each other. In all three schools, there were teachers which spoke in English which was very helpful. In the other two schools, there were a few teachers and children that were unable to speak English fluently as they were charity schools and they had less staff. By being able to visit all three sites helped me to make a better comparison between the systems. All the staff within all the branches was extremely helpful and supportive, I was allowed to observe many classes and activities and also carry out activities with the children myself.
As I stayed in India for 4 weeks, I was able to continue visiting schools around Punjab and Dehli. Overall my experience at this placement was amazing and I have learnt a lot through this journey.
There are many different accommodations available in Amritsar itself, including many hotels and apartments near D.A.V public school. The average amount you would be spending per night is around 27 pounds, which includes food, Wi-Fi and hot water. You can find out more information at: http://hotels.eglobe-solutions.com/lawrenceamritsar/booking/detail#bookingsteps
I was able to save money as I have family in Amritsar, the house was around 15 minutes away from the school, however the journey varied depending on the form of travel used, e.g. on a motorbike/scooter, it took around 8-10 minutes, and on larger vehicles like a car it was around 15/20 depending on the traffic. The accommodation was based quite close to the city centre itself so there was easy access to restaurants, bazaars and shopping centres. There are many hotels, bed and breakfasts and hotels in the area as Amritsar is well known for the Golden temple and there are many tourists that visit the city.
I used many different websites and travel agents to research and compare flight prices and eventually found a travel agent in Leeds and booked a return flight with Etihad Airlines. The flight took around 10hrs there with a connection time of 2.5hrs at Abu Dhabi and it was around 12hr on the way back with a connection time of 3hrs in Abu Dhabi and 2hrs in Dublin. The flight itself didn’t seem very long as there was on flight entertainment.
Due to my delayed arrival at Delhi Airport, I missed by Metro train to take me to a connecting train to Amritsar. I then had to travel by an auto to Delhi bus station from where I got a coach to take me to Amritsar. Amritsar is a 7/8 hour journey by car from Delhi. I travelled by a coach which took 10hrs with only 1 stop in-between to eat, the journey seemed very long and was defiantly tiring, although it only cost 4 pounds. I was lucky to have my uncle to pick me up from Delhi airport as travelling alone especially for a girl in India as it is not suggested because of safety reason; also people try and charge double/triple the price knowing you are foreign. I would suggest that you either book a hotel for the night so you can rest and wait for the express train to Amritsar as it is comfortable and relaxing. On the way back to Delhi I caught the Shatabiti express train which took around 7hrs. This was much comfier, it also came with a food service and a sleeper carriage. The best thing about the train was it only cost around 12 pounds including the food.
Public transport is very common in India as many people travel daily by buses, rickshaws and autos, also cars, motorbikes and bicycles are very popular too. Many people own motorbikes/scooters in India as they are able to drive from a younger age. I travelled to placement by an auto every morning as this was pre-booked by my aunt as she teaches in the same school. There were 2 other teachers and 5 students who also shared the auto as they lived nearby. It is quite common in India for people to share autos, taxis and rickshaws as the drivers are able to earn more money.
Taxi hires are also available for longer journeys; it is another common form of travel for people in India who are visiting family, sightseeing or for people who don’t want to drive. When you hire a taxi the driver normally stays and waits until you have finished visiting places. Taxis hires normally cost around 10 pounds for longer journeys but prices vary for shorter ones.
Amritsar does not have much nightlife or any clubs as it is known as the holy city, but it has a lot to offer with its historical places, food and shopping.
Amritsar is known for the Golden Temple (Darbar Sahib or Harmandir Sahib), this city is the holiest shrines for Sikhs. More than a 1000,000 people visit the Golden temple in a day including tourists from around the world. The Golden Temple is embellished with around 750kg of gold leaf, and surrounded by a sacred pool known as Amrit Sarovar (Pool of Nectar). It is the perfect place to go and regain inner peace and view the beauty of the Golden Temple and its surrounding itself.
Another place to visit is the Jallianwala Bagh also known as Amritsar massacre which is a historical place marking the Indian independence.
There are also many well know shopping places like Puthlighar, Hall bazaar, and many new shopping malls. The old markets like Puthlighar and Hall bazaar offer a wide range of products like hand crafted jewellery, traditional clothing and the traditional footwear (Punjabi Jutti).
There are many different places to eat within Amritsar, the most well-known one being “Bharawan Da Dhaba”, which offers traditional Punjabi food.
Things to do, things not to do
Ensure you have taken out Insurance before going and you have got the right visa needed to travel to India.
Do not carry too much money with you as there are many pocket pickers in India, also it is advised to keep your passport in a safe or with a trusted family member who can keep it safe for you.
Make sure you have a plan of places you would like to visit before actually flying out so, arrangements can be made with a tour guide or family if you have any out there. It would also be helpful if transport bookings are done in advance to and from the airport as it makes it easier to travel.
Neera Sharma ( Headteacher) davpublicasr@gmail.com
Before you go:
Go to the GP to get the right injections which are needed.
Find out if you would need malaria tablets.
Have a copy of flight details, transport bookings to take with you.
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