Virtual cultural exchanges & journeys
Live, interactive sessions between school classrooms
from different countries
In Buddha's Footsteps
Mystical Ganga
Enchanting Krishna
The holy land
African safari
Vedic Ceremony
Cultural Exchanges
Cultural Exchange
For Australian middle school students (Years 8 or 9), a unique opportunity to virtually:
- Interact live with students from an Indian school
- Learn about their lives and experiences through a ‘day in my life’ presentation by an Indian student
- See a live demonstration of the Indian sport of Kabaddi
- Explore an iconic Indian place
Cultural Exchange
For Indian middle school students (Standards 9 or 10), a unique opportunity to virtually:
- Interact live with students from an Australian school
- Learn about their lives and experiences through a ‘day in my life’ presentation by an Australian student
- See a live demonstration of the Australian sport of AFL
- Explore an iconic Australian place
Testimonials
The cultural exchange program run by vyatra between St. Karens and Trinity Grammar proved to be a remarkable opportunity for both educational institutions. Personally, I hold a deep affection for India, considering it among my favourite destinations worldwide. Having explored diverse regions such as Delhi, Rajasthan, Mumbai, Varanasi, Bangalore, and Kerala, I've come to appreciate the vast differences that exist within this single country. The opportunity to share facets of India with our boys was an opportunity too valuable to pass up. I extend my gratitude to Saurabh for affording me and the Year 9 boys of Trinity this opportunity to experience a part of India. His meticulous organisation of the event demonstrated a level of professionalism rarely seen, surpassing the conduct of many external companies that engage with Trinity. The seamless execution of the event facilitated smooth proceedings, and the communication with me was consistently first-class. Exposure to other cultures is vital for the development of the Trinity boys, aiding them in better understanding themselves, their peers, and their place in the world. The interaction with students from St. Karens provided valuable insights into life in Patna, fostering a deeper appreciation for diverse upbringings. Rishabh Mishra played a pivotal role in the success of the event, demonstrating remarkable leadership with his fluency in Hindi and familial ties to India. In particular the way in which he helps to create conversation and also to ensure all students understood was invaluable, and I commend him for his significant contribution to the exchange. Our appreciation extends to St. Karens for extending this opportunity, and the selected students were a true credit to their school. They not only answered Trinity students' questions eloquently but also posed intelligent, thoughtful, and nuanced questions themselves, offering a glimpse into their unique personalities. To the organisers from St. Karens, a heartfelt thank you for your diligent efforts in ensuring the event's success. It is my sincere hope that this exchange becomes a tradition, a recurring event that we can continue for years to come and perhaps culminating in a face-to-face visit in the future. Regards
James Hale (Rev’d) Assistant Chaplain | Head of Religious Education, Trinity Grammar SchoolOn behalf of the Anglo -Indian Education Society of St. Karen's and the School's Management committee I am extremely pleased to inform you that the Vyatra experience has been much appreciated by all the participants in St. Karen's Secondary School and St. Karen's High School. The students have shared their learnings and that is the sure and clear measure of its success. We are hopeful that the students of Trinity Grammar School would also have had similar feelings and we await their feedback. Thank you, Mr. Saurabh, for bringing this educational exchange to fruition and making the whole event SO overwhelmingly memorable. We now look forward with confidence to more such exchanges and journeys in future. A warm and respectful Namaste to you. Edward Galstaun Joint Director, The Anglo-Indian Educational Society of St Karen’s Patna, Bihar, India
Edward Galstaun Joint Director, The Anglo-Indian Educational Society of St Karen’sI would also like to extend a congratulatory handshake to you from across the miles! I am greatly appreciative of this initiative of yours to expose students to their counterparts from all over the world .It has opened up a myriad of possibilities and our first experience of a vyatra was enriching! Please do convey my Congratulations to Rishi for adeptly handling the session.Due credit goes to him for expertly managing the interaction between the two sides and keeping it entertaining as well. I’m sure the team at vyatra will curate many more interesting sessions for us at St Karen’s and I’m eagerly looking forward to us meeting virtually again soon. Warm regards, Sharon Galstaun Joint Director, The Anglo-Indian Educational Society of St Karen’s Patna, Bihar, India
Sharon Galstaun Joint Director, The Anglo-Indian Educational Society of St Karen’sThe cultural exchange program organized by vyatra was an excellent platform for students. The host Mr. Rishabh did a great job in understanding the constraints of the children and adding on points to explain the questions and answers for each side to grasp what was being said. He really deserves appreciation for his extraordinary skill to make everyone feel important. The participants of our school were happy that they were heard patiently and were given ample time to interact. We are grateful to the vyatra team for this opportunity for our students. Students were excited and happy to interact with foreign students. For most of them it was a first time experience. This sharing of ideas, through an online platform helped the students gain confidence and hone their communication skills. It was also a step to know, understand and appreciate the culture of Australia and India for the partner schools. Regards, Marrykutty Thomas Principal, St. Karen’s Secondary School Patna, Bihar, India
Marrykutty Thomas Principal, St. Karen’s Secondary SchoolOn behalf of the entire St. Karen's family, I extend my hearƞelt appreciation to Mr Saurabh and all other organisers and also each and every participant of Trinity Grammar School, Melbourne, Australia for the unparalleled experience offered by the VYATRA programme. The initiative has been truly exceptional, marking it as one of its kind for all participating students. Would like to share the key take-aways of the programme with all. 1. Enriching and Real Experience: The program has undeniably been an enriching experience for our students. The cultural exchange, coupled with insights into the daily lives of students from Trinity Grammar School, has added a layer of understanding and appreciation that textbooks cannot provide. It was amazing to see the students interacting live which each other and watching the games directly as well as looking at classroom ambience of either side. 2. Foundation for the development of global citizenship: The program has proven to be instrumental in bridging gaps of doubts and fears about each other's cultures. It serves as a foundation for the development of global citizenship, fostering an environment of mutual respect and understanding. 3. Prospects for Future Exchanges: VYATRA has opened avenues for future exchanges between our schools. These exchanges present exciting prospects for sharing not only academic experiences but also sports-related endeavours. Such collaborations can foster a deeper connection and understanding between our students. 4. Technological Connection for Innovation: The use of technology in the VYATRA program has been instrumental in facilitating the sharing of ideas and fostering innovation. It has served as a plaƞorm for students to exchange thoughts, invent new concepts, and indulge in stress-busting activities. The freshness in these connections has infused happy vibes and excitement among the participants. In conclusion, the VYATRA program has not only been a success but has set a precedent for future collaborative initiatives. St. Karen's High School looks forward to further engaging with Trinity Grammar School and similar institutions, fostering an environment where education goes beyond borders and embraces a truly global perspective. Saurabh a special thanks to you for sure making it so natural, interesting and allowing the students to feel free and relaxed during the interaction. Sincerely, Seema Singh Principal, St. Karen's High School Patna, Bihar, India
Seema Singh Principal, St. Karen's High SchoolVirtual journeys
Select session of your Choice
For Schools
Educational Journeys
Let us take your classroom on an educational journey covering aspects of religious, historical & geographical studies.
We can work with your school to create custom journey’s that fit within your carriculum.
For families
Personal Journeys
Visit your ancestral place of origin or experience a place that has a special spiritual meaning to you.
We can work with you to create a special customised journey for you and your friends and family.
We can help create your own custom journey
Do you have a virtual journey in mind? We have access to local guides all over the globe and can create a custom journey just for you.
Local Guide
Nilesh Sinha
Local Guide
Shivraj Sharma
Local Guide
Kiran Singh
Testimonials
Very helpful to have the guides provide some local information on time of day, temperature etc so we can imagine what it is like compared to our time zone. Also helpful to also show video of the surrounding features - the street, people walking by including all the noises. This will make it easier to 'capture' the experience as you would if you were actually there. Very much enjoyed the experience. Thank you - and the collective noun for a group of sadhus might be a 'holy' of sadhus!
Murray, Australia"The experience was enjoyable and aspects engaging. I think it might have worked better to let the main host speak while the person on the ground does the camera work, just a suggestion. I appreciated the extract from the diamond sutra being read aloud in a way that was clear and able to understand and it was lovely to hear that from the site where the Buddha spent a great deal of time. The footage at Vultures peak was stunning and I wonder if you could include there a reading aloud of the heart sutra in english and perhaps in Sanskrit ... The scholar at the end was also excellent. I was last in India in 2013 and it was truly great to visit some places virtually again. Yours in the Dharma"
Namaskar- I can not express enough gratitude to Nithya and Vyatra team for taking us on this beautiful journey of Buddha's Footsteps. Kudos to the whole team !! And would love to see other places in India like Shirdi, and even journey to non-religious places like a tour of Rajasthan, Kerala, Dharmshala, Goa, Eastern India- Assam, and more. Growing up in India, I didn't get the chance to travel much but I am sure vyatra can fulfill my dream.
Bhawna, IndiaI enjoyed this more than I expected to. I also appreciated the gesture of asking each guide what teachings they hold dearest. I feel a couple more iterations will result in a perfect flow between host + guides. The Buddha Ballet dance was a lovely little touch. Thanks for putting so much thought into this offering.
家にいて仏陀の足跡をリアルタイムで観ることができておどろきました。準備に相当時間をかけている様がよく分かりました。できれば、もう少し仏陀の人生の蘊蓄を聞きたかったですね。幾つかトリビアが散りばめられていたのですが、もう少し欲しかった。(I was surprised to be able to see the footsteps of Buddha in real time at home. I understand that it takes a considerable amount of time to prepare. If possible, I wanted to hear more about the Buddha's life. It was studded with information, but I wanted a little more).
"先ず、参加できましたことを感謝いたします 今回は初めての試みということで不具合やアクシデントもありましたが、特に大きなトラブルもなく良かったと思います 遠く離れた場所がインターネットで繋がって、それぞれの場所に居ながら、リアルタイムで一緒に見て聞けるなんて、現代ならでは、素晴らしいことですね (It's wonderful in modern times that distant places are connected via the Internet and you can see and hear together in real time while staying at each place)"
"I enjoyed the experience. Loved the Google Maps and getting a perspective where each place was situated. Would have liked to have known a bit more about each place - what makes it unique, population (I liked the comparison of people who live there and how many visitors during tourist season), any specific or unique foods in that region etc. I loved the story regarding the temple being protected by the rock and then seeing the animated film - what a great story!! Perhaps contacting Indian Consulate in each Country (or Capital City) to promote tourism, could help to introduce vyatra to the wider world. Fabulous concept - well done. I look forward to more."
"On Sunday the whole extended family had a once of a lifetime experience of “virtually” going to where our ancestors lived in pre-partition India currently in Lyallpur, (Faisalabad) Pakistan. It was great to pin point the exact house where the family lived, now into ruins and probably built on both sides. Tears, emotions, love, possibly anger…. However one in a lifetime experience…. Big thanks to the vyatra online team for this out of the world experience. With COVID-19 & travel restrictions, it was a great way of this immersive experience for the whole family with tears, emotions, history and coming together. #experience #mehtafamily #familyhistory"
BD Mehta, Hong KongAmazing experience! I logged on out of “duty” and thought I would be bored! But this has been the most exhilarating experience. Uplifting! The large house and spacious gardens had been described to us endlessly by our parents, and we all thought there was a bit of an exaggeration. But it turns out they were telling the truth!
Madhu, IndiaThis was amazing at so many levels. Firstly just to see all of you and hear you after so many years was so wonderful. The whole experience of discovery and adventure was so authentic that I really feel you don't have to have a direct family lineage to be touched by it. Bravo vyatra team. If this was a netflix docuseries I would be binging it and so would be many that I know 🙂
Vishal, USAEven though I am not directly in the family, I was so nostalgic watching the event. To have found both homes , hospital unbelievable. You and your team did such an amazing job. The streets of Pakistan remind me of Delhi streets and left us ravenously hungry after watching the yummy street food. Thank you for doing this. I loved it! Also may add another request to ur list of Pakistan places to see, Peshawar and Rawalpindi? My dad was born there and he has such fond memories. He would love to visit it with vyatra
Divya, USAThank you so much for this. For the Mehta's house it felt as if we were right there and we could imagine Dadiji working in the kitchen there and the family moving around the house. Breathtaking. For Naniji's house, I can now look back and imagine her years there... Thanks a ton for this. Very nostalgic! Huge thanks to Zeeshan and Zaira as well! Aanvi says: Gorgeous experience! Adhrita says: Awesome!
Sushim Mehta, India