Postcards from paradise

Pristine beaches, mist-covered mountains and rain-drenched streets... studying or training in India’s most beautiful cities is a great experience. One can choose from cities like Kochi, Kozhikode...

KochiAn outsider or any new student coming to Kochi should first go around the city, preferably walking. Places like Mattancherry Island, Fort Kochi and Marine Drive should be visited first. The government has declared Kochi a smoke-free city. It is clean, green and beautiful. “I was totally new to their language and culture but with the help of my south Indian friends, I can understand Malayalam,” says Gourav Arora, a student

KozhikodeIt’s a quaint place with “not many distractions.” “The university is on the outskirts of Kozhikode so travelling to the city for movies or good food takes nearly an hour so the nerds don’t have to worry about distractions!” says Sadhna Sahu, a biotechnology student at the University of Calicut. The rain-fed leafy geography is quite a treasure. “Right now, the weather is fantastic,” says Sahu

DarjeelingThe mountainous terrain of Darjeeling is an ideal training ground for students at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI) , says Praveen Rangar. Do your basic course and then come back for an advance course. Skill-up in rock craft, snow craft and Ice craft.Trainees getting A grade in advance course can be part of any expedition as members and then come back to HMI to qualify as instructors

PuducherryStudying in the Andamans has its own charm… it is so close to nature and is hardly polluted. It is a very serene environment to study subjects like marine biology, life sciences and oceanography. “If you are in the Andamans, you should visit all the beaches, mainly Wandoor and Chidiya Tapu. You should also visit Cellular Jail,” says Arrushi Doomra, a student of Pondicherry University. Puducherry has many beautiful French-style buildings and churches built during the colonial era. The popular beaches are Promenade Beach and Paradise Beach. The city is also famous for the Sri Aurobindo Ashram

Ooty“The best way to know Ooty is to experience it, there is no other place quite like it,” says Vrushank Patel, who travelled all the way from Surat, Gujarat, to this famous hill station in Tamil Nadu to do his higher education. A student of McGan’s Ooty School of Architecture, Patel recommends Botanical Garden, Dolphins Nose, Pykara (Lake and Falls) and Kodanad viewpoint as places one must visit. The main hurdle for students, however, is getting around in Ooty. Buses will come after hours and rickshaw/taxi drivers charge a lot. “The students need to pre-plan their travel,” says Patel

ShimlaLocated amidst the tall deodhar trees, Shimla in Himachal Pradesh is much more than just a weekend getaway. It provides a peaceful environment for studies. According to Michelle, a student of St Bede’s College, “Life in Shimla is amazing...I simply love it. It has its own magic and in its own way attracts people. Everyone is super friendly here!”