INDO BAVARIAN EXCHANGE- 2018
With to-do lists characterized with ‘Try local Bavarian sausages!’ and suitcases bursting with props for our upcoming cultural performance, 20 of us embarked on our trip to Munich, Bavaria on 6th June 2018. The plane ride was filled with uncontrollable chatter, as we discussed images of towering castles and vast gardens that seemed to encapsulate the Bavarian landscape on Google. These images however, did no justice to the beauty of the Bavarian landscape as our breath was taken away upon seeing the miles and miles of greenery in the region. It was certainly a refreshing change from our concrete jungle!
During the first two days, we visited the Bavarian International School. Our time at the school not only consisted of learning that extended beyond textbooks but also forming bonds that we will cherish for a lifetime. We went on long, meandering treks around the school gardens and beautiful fountains with our gracious hosts. Needless to say, that when we realized the school was also home to a majestic schloss (castle) where classes were held, we were ready to stay here forever. We were honoured to put up a cultural performance for the BIS students. It was a moment of great pride, as we stood there, breathless from dancing to Badtameez Dil in our colourful ghagras and kurtas, attempting to encapsulate the rich diversity and heritage of India.
On our trip to Berchtesgaden, we visited Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest and a salt mine. The alpine climate of Eagle’s Nest set the perfect backdrop for a short hike up the mountain. The ‘summit of power’ itself, was not what we had expected it to be. The miniature cottage consisted of a small fireplace, supposedly gifted from Mussolini to Hitler, which left us bewildered as we stared at the symbol of fascist power. The Berchtesgaden salt mine, had perhaps never heard shrieks of joy as loud as ours, as we flew down 25 metre long slides in the biting cold, clutching onto our best friends for dear life. A mind-blowing lights display and the piquant taste of the salt was the perfect end to our Berchtesgaden trip.
No trip to Germany is ever complete without a trip to a neighbouring country. We visited Salzburg, Austria—Mozart’s birthplace and the first city to host a public introduction of the Theory of Relativity. Despite the incessant rain pelting down upon us, we explored every nook of the city from cathedrals to the Hohensalzburg Fortress, often chancing upon places where the popular movie ‘The Sound of Music’ was filmed. We also visited the quaint Nuremberg City, which hosted the historic Nuremberg Trials. The Nuremberg museum helped us envision events we had only read about in history textbooks, helping us understand the scenario post WWII and reflect on the atrocities committed on the innocent and vulnerable. This gut feeling of sheer horror further intensified during our visit to the infamous Dachau Concentration camp, where we comprehended the true extent of the brutality of WWII. It was an incredibly enlightening moment, as we realized the cataclysmic nature of war and the consequences of human greed and indifference.
The Neuschwanstein Castle, popularly referred to as the Disney Castle, left us spellbound. The beauty and splendour of the castle, built by the eccentric King Ludwig the II, left us breathless, as did the Nymphenburg Palace. Football fans in the group revelled visiting the Allianz Areana, a 75,000 seating capacity stadium, well-known for its exterior of inflated ETFE plastic panels. Learning about the rich history of these palaces, helped us understand the social strata of historic times. On our final day in Bavaria, we were given the challenging yet rewarding responsibility of planning out the day ourselves. After a lot of deliberation we decided to go to a trampoline park and shopping. Some students planned out the logistics of the day completely, from coordinating with receptionists at the trampoline park who only communicated in German, to mapping out routes on the Ubahns and Autobahns. As such, we imbibed essential qualities of independence, responsibility and cooperation.
With heavy hearts we returned to Mumbai, despondent to leave behind the cheesy pretzels and Weisswursts, to leave behind the greenery and castles, to see these historic monuments for the last time. Yet, we returned energized and happy, with the rich history and scenic beauty of the Bavarian region etched in our minds and hearts, forever.