As a newly admitted student at Sahyadri, the freshers Hike to Shambhu hill was one of my first opportunities to experience the school beyond the classroom. Having only recently arrived, I was still finding my place among the unfamiliar faces and learning to navigate a completely new environment. The hike, therefore, felt like more than just an excursion; it was also an opportunity for me to step outside my comfort zone and become acquainted with the people around me.
We begin our journey by walking from the school towards the base of Shambhu hill. The walk itself was relatively easy and there was a sense of excitement among everyone as we made our way there. Students walked in small groups, talking among themselves while teachers moved around and interacted with us. There was something refreshing about simply walking together without the usual boundaries between students and teachers.
Once we reached the base of the hill, the real climb began. The path gradually grew steeper and the landscape around us began to open up. Looking back I could see the vast expanse of the countryside stretching into the distance. Fields, patches of vegetation and scattered settlements appeared smaller from above while the tall grass on the hillside swayed around us. The changing view gave us a reason to pause occasionally and take in our surroundings. Despite the fatigue, there was something rewarding about watching the landscape unfold as we gained height.
After climbing the hill we reached a series of stone steps that led towards a temple. By then the climate had taken its toll and seemingly endless steps felt like one final challenge before we reached our destination.
We reached the temple and ate breakfast. The meal itself was simple but after the hike it felt particularly rewarding. As we set down together conversations continued gradually becoming more animated and familiar. I realised that in a few hours since we had left school, I had become much more comfortable around people who had initially been complete strangers.
Later, the group began playing games like lagori and the atmosphere changed almost instantly. The tiredness that had settled over us after the climb was replaced by excitement and laughter. Students ran around, calling out to their teammates and cheering one another on. Watching everyone participate so enthusiastically made the game one of the loveliest parts of the day. It was a simple game but it brought everyone together and made the distance between new students, old friends and teachers seem almost irrelevant.
By the end of the Hike, I was undeniably tired but I was also grateful for the experience. What had begun as a morning excursion had given me something I had not expected- a sense of familiarity in a place that was still very new to me. I made friends, spoke to teachers in different settings and shared moments of laughter with people I had only just met. The ‘Freshers’ Hike’ was therefore not memorable simply because we climbed Shambhu hill, the hike became my first step towards finding my place at Sahyadri.
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