For students of geography, there is plenty that can be learned in the classroom and from textbooks, but school trips are a great way to consolidate and expand learning – especially for a subject that is all about our planet, its natural phenomena, its populations and societies.
For its natural and historical wonders, its ever-growing and adapting civilisation, and its position as a forerunner of knowledge and technology, India is a dream destination for geography-based school trips. A huge country, full of many distinct cultures, not to mention all its varying terrains, it would be impossible to see everything – luckily, there’s a world of knowledge and discovery within Delhi. Here are some of the ways this great metropolis could help boost your students’ learning.
Explore the Metropolis
Geography encompasses the study of urban centres and the way they develop to reflect expanding populations and interaction with the rest of the world. School trips to Delhi offer the perfect illustration of a city that has been doing just that across many ages. Although New Delhi was only made India’s capital in 1931, the area is known to have been continuously inhabited since the 6th century BCE, and Delhi itself has been a key city in regional trade and politics since the founding of a walled city (now Old Delhi) by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in 1639. With an area of 177 square kilometres and population of over eleven million, the metropolis balances the ancient with the cutting-edge, and offers a unique study in human growth and urban development. Spending some time in the grandeur of New Delhi and the bustle of Old Delhi is a great way to begin exploring these topics.
Monuments and Museums
Anyone with an interest in how different groups interact can learn plenty from Delhi’s multicultural, multi-faith population. With Hinduism in the majority, the city is also home to communities of Muslims, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, Christians and Jews. With monuments and temples from all groups, many of them open to visitors, there is plenty of opportunity to explore. Other historic sites of interest include the magnificent Red Fort, the Jama Masjid, and the national monument India Gate. Museums include the National Museum, the National Museum of Natural History, the National Rail Museum.
Green Delhi
One important concern for geographers studying urban areas is the increasing importance of integrating ecology into our cities. Although it has been a densely populated urban centre for centuries, Delhi has never forgotten the need for green spaces and nature, and today’s ecologists are continuing to explore the potential of Delhi’s parks and its animal populations. Students on school trips will be able to observe a unique urban ecosystem, and a visit to Buddha Jayanti Park will provide a great space for discussing how biodiversity can be preserved in an ever-growing city.