Students work in groups, pen articles, and shoot photographs. Then our team of publishing professionals weaves their work into the EdTerra Student Travel Chronicle. Choose Travel Journalists Program to show your students’ analytical and intellectual maturity to the world. This project activity delivers 21st Century Skills.

1. Student Travel
MADHYA PRADESH
The Land of Serenity
OUR JOURNEY
BHIMBETKA
BHOPAL
EXPLORE
CHRONICLE
CHRONICLE
SANCHI
Tourism in
Madhya Pradesh
Kunskapsskolan International,
Sector 70A, Gurugram
VOL I, 2022

2. Welcome
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3. Hello
PRINCIPAL’S LETTER
The quality that marks this very first issue of ‘Student Travel
Chronicle’ is a testimony to the maturity of the young minds
who joined forces to enthusiastically shape and provide
substance to its form.
Kunskapsskolan International, Sector 70A, Gurugram, is
committed to creating the vital link between learning in the
classroom and the equally important topical learning from the
school of life outside the classroom. The pages that follow
are representative of the aim of the school, which is to take
teaching beyond the walls of the classroom into the freedom
of outward exploration and creativity.
There were many outcomes from this intensive
3 day journey to Sanchi and Bhopal, finally
culminating in the awards ceremony for the
prize-winning students at the end of this journey of excitement.
All this, and much more is yours to discover as the students
help you relive the excitement of their experience in the pages
ahead - replete with photographs and one-liners, memories
and impressions.
We, at Kunskapsskolan International, Sector 70A, Gurugram,
wish to acknowledge our gratitude to the accompanying
teachers for their excellent collaboration. I would also like to
recognize the essential contributions of EdTerra Edventures
Private Limited, who have designed and taken out this journey.
The company’s efforts before, during and after the journey
enabled students to produce this beautiful magazine. EdTerra
takes pride in designing journeys that offer substantial
educational opportunities for students, while ensuring that
they have incredible fun at the same time.
We know there is no better way to conclude this message
than to give a stirring THANK YOU to the students, who were
energetic participants and willing learners throughout.
Ms Rupa Chauhan
Head of School
Kunskapsskolan
International,
Sector 70A, Gurugram

4. Content
02BHIMBETKA
07-08
We learnt that early humans with origins
as far back as the Palaeolithic Ages
used the rock shelters of Bhimbetka for
habitation
05-06
01OUR JOURNEY
Standing next to one of the four gateways
to the Great Stupa
09-10
03BHOPAL
The Tribal Museum Bhopal showcases
an outstanding collection of sculptures,
paintings, and inscriptions through full-
scale models, colourful installation arts
and performances

5. 11-12
04SANCHI
The Great Stupa has been the focal point of the
Buddhist faith in the region. The main body of
the stupa represents the cosmic mountain. It is
topped by a ‘harmika’ to hold the triple umbrella,
or ‘chhatraveli,’ which represents the three jewels
of Buddhism - the Buddha, the Dharma, and the
Sangha.
05
13-14
TOURISM IN
MADHYA PRADESH
Standing beside the 80-year old railway engine
on the banks of Bhojtal
Photographs & Articles
Students of Kunskapsskolan
International, Sector 70A, Gurugram
Journey Mentor(s)
Tayyab Ali
Publisher
EdTerra Edventures Private Limited
Chief Editor
Amita Midha
Created as part of EdTerra’s on-journey Student
Media Projects
THE
EDTERRA
EDITORIAL
TEAM

6. 01.OUR JOURNEY
A Walk Through Indian History
M
adhya Pradesh has a history that goes
back centuries. It has witnessed immense
transformation from the ancient and medieval
times up to the colonial era. Further, given its central
location in the Indian subcontinent, this region came
under direct influence of various significant rulers.
For example, the art, culture, and architecture in
Madhya Pradesh have seen influences of the Mauryas,
the Guptas, the Delhi Sultanate, the Mughals, the
Marathas, and later, the Scindias, and the British.
Madhya Pradesh is a place where India’s history
comes alive. The rock paintings and tools found in
Madhya Pradesh indicate the existence of human
settlements in prehistoric ages. When history began
to be recorded, a major portion of modern-day Madhya
Pradesh was referred to as Malwa.
In the last thousand years, Madhya Pradesh has been
ruled by Muslim and British rulers, which began with
Iltutmish’s invasion in 1231 CE who appended Gwalior
into the Delhi Sultanate. In the 14th century, the Khaljī
Sultans of Delhi overran Malwa. Thereafter, it became
a part of the Mughal Empire under Akbar and later,
the Marathas and the Scindias ruled parts of Madhya
Pradesh from 18th century onwards. However, by 1818,
the British took control of the region and strengthened
their control over what constitutes present-day
Madhya Pradesh. After gaining independence, the
state of Madhya Pradesh was formed through the
States Reorganisation Act of 1956 combining three
regions namely, Madhya Bharat, Vindhya Pradesh,
and Bhopal State. Today, it is the second largest state
of India in terms of area and the fifth largest in terms of
population. Bhopal, the city of lakes, is its capital city.
Madhya Pradesh is also home to the Great Stupa of
Sanchi as well as Bhimbetka rock-shelters that contain
the largest collection of prehistoric art in India.
Things to
SEE
Bhimbetka
Bhopal
Sanchi

7. Team Members
Our journey started with boarding the bus at 03:30
a.m. We reached the train station at 05:15 a.m. It was
a delightful train journey. When we reached Bhopal, it
was really hot. We went directly to the Science Museum,
where we learnt about intriguing science concepts such
as energy, mirrors and lights. After which, we went to our
hotel.
The next morning we woke up at 07:00 a.m. and went
for breakfast at 08:00 a.m. We boarded our bus to go to
Sanchi Stupa. It was a stimulating experience learning
about Buddhism and its history. After our visit to Sanchi
Stupa, we boarded the bus and had a dance party with
blasting music.
The next day, we went to Bhimbetka where we learnt
about the rock shelters. We got a peek into the pre-
historic life through rock paintings. We also went to the
Tribal Museum. This trip made us realise the importance
of human bonds and friendships.
Adish, Amairaa, Arnav, Chaitanya, Divyam,
Gurnoor, Ishika, Jozleen, Khushi, Nitika,
Paarth, Parisa, Punya, Shaurya, Shreyansh,
Vaani, Vihaan, & Yaniv
Our journey to different parts of Madhya Pradesh was
worth it because of its natural reserves and historical
riches
Standing by one of the four ceremonial gateways or
Toranas of Maha Stupa
We found the Tropic of Cancer to be the perfect place for
a pit-stop on our way to Buddhist monuments at Sanchi
06

8. 02.BHIMBETKA
The Story of Prehistoric Origins of Art
B
himbetka is located in Ratapani Tiger Reserve
in the Raisen District of Madhya Pradesh. It
is situated nearly 45 km from Bhopal in the
foothills of the Vindhya Ranges. The rock-shelters
were first discovered by Dr. Vishnu Sridhar Wakankar
and his team in 1957. There are more than 700
rock-shelters in the complex and from the time the
investigation began in 1957, cave paintings have been
found in many shelters. The paintings found here have
opened a window into not one, but multiple periods of
prehistory.
When seen from a chronological standpoint, the cave
paintings offer an in-depth study into the cultural
transformation of humans from the Stone Ages to
the Bronze Age. The paintings are mostly simple,
depicting animals, humans, hunting scenes, weapons,
and day-to-day activities. They suggest that over a
period spanning thousands of years, humans evolved
from being hunters and gatherers to food producers.
Further, what is interesting is the use of natural
colours and a variety of materials such as manganese,
hematite, red stone, and wooden coal in different
ages. There is evidence that vegetable colours, leaf
extracts, and animal fat were also used.
Bhimbetka gives us a peek into the social and cultural
lives of early humans. Moreover, it presents us with
an opportunity to understand the evolution of human
species over time. It is an antidote to the illusion
that the current state of the world is how things
have always been and that things will remain largely
unchanged in the future. It tells us, in a broad sense,
how far humanity has come.

9. Bhimbetka treasures unknown secrets about our
prehistoric ancestors through ancient paintings and
carvings.
Upon arrival, we saw a glimpse of the biggest cave, which
used to be an assembly point for the cavemen much like
our Parliament House. Then we learnt about the lifestyle
of the cavemen and how it is connected to our lifestyle
and social behaviour.
We all enjoyed our trip to Bhimbetka where we saw
various paintings of elephants, hunters and their prey,
social functions, clan disputes and wars and much more.
Overall it was the perfect blend of fun and education.
There were paintings of hunted animals in what appeared
to be bedrooms and dining areas. The caves were built
30,000 years ago. The cave paintings were very simple
yet descriptive, detailing the size of the animals they
faced. There was also a mention of a giant mythical
animal. The cavemen used elephants as their main mode
of transport. They painted on limestone using a paste
made of vegetables and fruits. The prehistoric people
hunted in groups for deer and buffalo. We also witnessed
how they kept themselves entertained through music
with drums around fires. Bhimbetka is a must-visit as it
has great knowledge about the past.
We got some extensive information about the 15 natural
rockshelters open for public viewing at Bhimbetka
The rock-shelters at Bhimbetka were discovered in 1957
after which several excavations have been conducted by
archaeologists
The rock shelters contain over 700 prehistoric paintings
depicting animals, hunting scenes and more
Team Members
Aanya, Aaryveer, Advayat, Arshia,
Dasmehar, Deelisha, Devansh, Deverya,
Divit, Diya, Mysha, Nikhil, Pransh, Shivansh,
Soeun An, Suhyun, Touko & Yadvi
08

10. 03.
B
hopal is widely known in India for its natural
beauty and historical legacy. The city is believed
to have been founded in the 11th century by
a legendary king named Raja Bhoj (or Bhojpal). The
princely state of Bhopal was established in the colonial
times by an Afghan soldier named Mohammed Khan
(1707–40). Later, Bhopal became a princely state of the
British after resisting the Marathas. After India gained
independence, Bhopal became a part of the newly-
formed state of Madhya Pradesh in 1956 and took the
title of state capital from Nagpur that became a part of
Maharashtra.
The western half of the city is divided horizontally by
two adjacent lakes. The north of the city is dotted with
beautifully-carved mosques, royal palaces, exotic
havelis and crowded bazaars. Towards the south of
the two lakes lies the new city characterised by wide
roads, parks, shopping-malls, restaurants, and lush
greenery. Bhopal boasts of one the greenest urban
areas in India even after becoming susceptible to
poisonous gases since the tragedy of 1984.
There are several magnificent monuments in Bhopal.
Taj-ul-Masajid is one of the largest mosques in India.
Gohar Mahal is an outstanding example of the fusion
of Hindu and Mughal architectural styles. The Birla
Temple, situated at the highest point of Bhopal, offers
an amazing view of the cityscape.
Bhopal is famous for silver ornaments and the
exquisite embroidery work called Zardozi. Overall,
Bhopal is a wonderful city endowed with beautiful
panoramic views, educational institutions, museums,
and historical monuments.
BHOPAL
Lakes, culture, cuisine - Bhopal’s treasure trove

11. Team Members
Our journey began with our arrival at Rani Kamlapati
station with over a 100 students. On the first day, we
visited the Science Museum where we enriched our
minds about different concepts in physics, chemistry
and biology and their daily life application. On our way
back, we saw a glimpse of life in Bhopal through the bus
window. We passed through rural and urban areas.
On the second day we enjoyed a delicious breakfast in
our hotel. On our way back from Sanchi we sang and
danced in the bus which continued with a DJ session
where everyone danced and enjoyed themselves.
On our third day we visited the Tribal Museum and learnt
about the lifestyle and culture of the prehistoric people.
We had a good time together. This has been a very
memorable experience for us.
Aanya M., Aanya R., Aaryaman, Adhiraj,
Avishi, Clissia, Daksha, Dashmehar, Garvit,
Geet, Hrehaan, Kesar, Leanna, Naina,
Prithviraj, Sahyun, Vansham, Vivaan,
Yuvaan & Zinnia
We saw the excavated relics from Bhimbetka at the State
Archaeological Museum
Excitedly exploring different parts of the Tribal Museum
We felt honoured to have gotten the opportunity to visit the
Tribal Museum
10

12. 04.SANCHI
Home To India’s Best Preserved
Buddhist Monuments
S
anchi is situated about 40 km from Bhopal and
houses a number of monuments that were built
during the ancient times. The Great Stupa (or
Maha Stupa) is the most stunning of them all. It was
originally commissioned by Emperor Ashoka (273–
232 BCE) and further expanded by his successors.
Several small stupas, temples, and monasteries were
also built there.
The Great Stupa is the largest of all the three stupas.
It is surrounded by four gateways or toranas facing
the four directions and depicting the life-events of
Gautama Buddha, as narrated in great detail in the
Jataka Tales. There are a number of pillars near the
Great Stupa. Each of these pillars is 40 to 50 ft tall.
Most popular among these is the Ashokan Pillar. The
length of the pillar is 16.4 metres, which is crowned
with four lions that are set back to back.
The Great Stupa at Sanchi and the other monuments
at the same site were collectively declared a UNESCO
World Heritage Site in 1989. In addition to being an
important Buddhist site, Sanchi is representative of
the brilliant artistic and architectural skills prevalent
in ancient India.

13. It would be an understatement to say that our Our day
today was interesting. Words do not justice in describing
the amount of excitement that we started our day with.
Even the teachers partook in the frolic.
We danced like there was no tomorrow because this
opportunity was as rare as seeing a shooting star.
On our way to Sanchi Stupa, we made a pit stop at the
place from where the Tropic of Cancer passes. It was
truly a fascinating sight and left us all speechless. We
took a lot of pictures.
Sanchi Stupa is a divine monument. We walked up to
the North gateway of the Sanchi Stupa with our guide.
He told us intriguing Jataka tales that are carved on
the gates. Our guide helped us comprehend the Pali
language engraved on the Great Stupa. Our favourite part
of the visit was the challenge where we had to identify
which Jataka tales were engraved on the gateways.Even
though we could not guess them all correctly, it was a lot
of fun attempting. Finally, we concluded our journey by
eating lunch at the gateway retreat. We all feasted on the
butter chicken and had a great time.
Besides the Great Stupa, Sanchi is known for temples,
monasteries, and the Lion Capital built in the ancient times
We learnt the importance of equality and tolerance through
the glimpses of Buddha’s life story at Sanchi
The Sanchi Stupa is surrounded by four intricately-carved
gateways or Toranas depicting events from Buddha’s life
Team Members
Aadya, Arisha, Armaann, Arnav B., Arnav
S, Arpan, Caroline, Chaitanyan, Jaskeerat,
Kanav, Kunal, Mahi, Mayra, Neeharika,
Nikita, Pranay, Ruhaan, Sarthak,
Shreyansh, Siddhant, Tejas & Vania
12

14. 05.Tourism in
Madhya Pradesh
A Bit Of Everything And A Whole
Lot Of Nowhere Else On Earth
S
ituated in the heart of India, Madhya Pradesh has no
coastline and no international border. However, due to its
rich forest reserves and historical significance, it attracts
its fair share of foreign and domestic tourists. The international
tourist arrival in the state in 2015 was 0.42 million with numbers
only increasing year-on-year. This comes as no surprise
considering all that Madhya Pradesh has to offer.
Madhya Pradesh is the second largest state in India by area;
however, it is not very densely populated. It attracts a number
of tourists owing to its rich heritage, intricate architecture, and
wildlife sanctuaries. Besides its vast expanses of uninhabited
areas, a number of cities and sites including Bhopal, Sanchi,
Bhimbetka, Sanchi, Indore, Gwalior, and Khajuraho lie in Madhya
Pradesh.
A tourist traditionally visits Madhya Pradesh for exploring the
GreatStupaofSanchi,theBhimbetkarock-shelters,theKhajuraho
group of temples, or one of the many wildlife sanctuaries. An
increasing number of tourists are now visiting for: leisure travel,
rejuvenating retreats to resorts, hotels, and adventure sports
avenues that have opened up in cities such as Bhopal; and
second, exploration of history, culture and architecture.
Hence, a visit to Madhya Pradesh is an inquiry into the history of
human civilisation, the relationship between nature and human
beings, human-inflicted disasters (with respect to the Bhopal
gas tragedy of 1984, the ripple effects of which can still be felt
even today), and socio-cultural evolution that has spanned over
thousands of years characterised by the amalgamation of Hindu,
Muslim, and British influences in the region.
It is true that one visit may not be enough to get a full exposure to
the leisure, recreation, or perspective that Madhya Pradesh has
to offer; however, an educational tour to Sanchi, Bhimbetka and
Bhopal is as good a start as any.

15. Madhya Pradesh is one of the most popular tourist
destinations in India. It has tons of indelible experiences
to offer. The capital of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal is a
testament to the rich history of Madhya Pradesh. Sanchi,
one of the most popular destination in Madhya Pradesh,
is famous for being the oldest Buddhist sanctuary. The
Great Stupa or Stupa no. 1 was commissioned by the
Mauryan emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE. The
gateways of Sanchi Stupa have carvings from Jataka
Tales and Buddha’s life.
Bhimbetka is home to a plethora of caves with massive
sculpted formations in rock. The cavemen drew on the
walls depicting in their lives during the Stone Age. If you
are interested in learning about the Stone Age, this place
should definitely be on your bucket list.
The Science Museum in Bhopal has display of numerous
model engines and shows us how lights work.
If you want to learn about our past, there are museums
catering to that purpose too. National Museum of
Humankind or Museum of Man provides an in-depth view
of human evolution over the years. The Tribal Museum
also beautifully showcases miniature depictions of
various tribes, their houses and their lives. The Tropic of
Cancer also passes through Madhya Pradesh. Bhopal is
home to a number of lakes and dams such as Upper Lake
and Kaliyasot Dam. Their beauty cannot be described in
words. Madhya Pradesh is truly magnificent for tourists.
Learning the geographical coordinate system at the Tropic
of Cancer before heading to Sanchi
Visiting Bhimbetka, Sanchi and Bhopal taught us about
early humans, historical architecture as well as the rich
biodiversity of our country
Near the Tropic of Cancer, an imaginary line of latitude
situated at 23.5° N of the Equator that runs through Bhopal
Team Members
Aarna, Aryaman, Joshua, Krisha, Kushaan,
Ojas, Omya, Parth, Prabhu, Pulkit, Saanvi,
Saaz, Shaayan, Udayan & Vivaan
14

16. 06.Moments
Say Cheese
STC The Southern Triangle 14
02
03
01
01 We posed next to the Upper
Lake, the oldest man-made
lake in the country
02 Had a joyful time on our way
to the museum
03 Tea-time refreshments before
we write our Media Projects

17. STC The Southern Triangle 15
04
06
05
04 Our journey to Madhya
Pradesh was one such journey
that makes you experience
India’s history and witness its
natural beauty at the same
time
05 Making history fun - Learning
and dabbing through Bhopal
with our co-travellers
06 Enjoying our meal before we
head to our next destination
16

18. LISTENING TO
THE STUDENTS’
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with EdTerra Edventures
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