An Unforgettable and thrilling trip to Cambridge (Dr. Vinay Kumar Singh, India, ITP 2024)

Written by Dr. Vinay Kumar Singh, Numismatic Officer, State Museum, Lucknow (India, ITP 2024)

Hello everyone, NAMASTE.

My name is Vinay Kumar Singh and I am from India. Currently, I am working as Numismatic Officer in the State Museum, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. Being a part of ITP 2024 is a proud moment for me and I am living every moment of this programme very seriously.

I have been hearing the names of Oxford and Cambridge University since my childhood days. Both of these institutions are such where the unique heritage of education, history and culture is found together. Being a part of the International Training Programme, I had fulfilled my dreams of visiting the two unique museums located in Oxford University, the Ashmolean, the Pitt Rivers Museum, as well as roaming in Oxford University last week. I also had a wish to see Cambridge University. There was a hope in the mind to see Cambridge University because visiting this prestigious institution is no less than an unforgettable moment as well as a unique experience for every person.  To live this unforgettable moment and gain the experience, I decided to visit Cambridge and the decision was turned into reality with my fellow ITP friends Abdulrahman from Iraq and Heba Hassan Amer from Egypt. They immediately agreed to go with me to visit Cambridge.

I immediately booked three tickets to Cambridge and we left for Cambridge at 7:54am by train. As the train was moving towards Cambridge, a unique thrill and excitement was also increasing in the mind. After about 1 hour of journey from London we reached Cambridge, where we were welcomed by the cool breeze and old buildings of Cambridge.

Although there are many colleges (possibly 31 in total) under Cambridge University, but it was not possible to visit all due to the short time. We decided to see only a few of them and in this sequence our first stop was the majestic King’s College. As we approached the college, the grand entrance and the sprawling green lawns took our breath away. The Gothic architecture, with its tall towers and elaborate stone carvings, was awe-inspiring. Next, we headed towards Trinity College. A name that has always resonated deep in my heart as many eminent Indian personalities have studied here. The most thrilling feeling of visiting both the colleges was that we were standing in a place that had nurtured some of the greatest minds in history, from sir Isaac Newton and Tennyson to John Maynard Keynes. It was truly a humbling experience to be in a place that has been the centre of innovation and thought for centuries.

After soaking in the rich history and breath-taking beauty of King’s College and Trinity College, we decided to go for a leisurely boat ride on the River Cam. We had two options – either we punt the boat ourselves or enjoy the views in comfort with an experienced punter. Though it sounds simple, the technique requires a bit of skill and balance, especially for beginners like us. We eventually opted to relax and let an experienced punter guide our trip so that we could fully enjoy the views and the stories that came with it. With our tickets in hand, we waited for our turn. The sight of sleek, flat-bottomed boats lined up along the river, each with a long pole attached, seemed to set the stage for an adventure we had been waiting for a long time. After a long wait of about 30 minutes, our turn finally came and as soon as we boarded our punt, the gentle waves of the boat and the cool fresh breeze immediately immersed in us. It felt like we were travelling to Venice as depicted in Bollywood Hindi movies.

As we sailed along the calm waters of the river, we were treated to some of Cambridge’s most iconic buildings such as the tall gothic spires of King’s College, the grandeur of the Wren Library at Trinity College and the beautiful Clare College gardens along the river. The gentle sound of the water lapping against the boat and the occasional laughter from fellow punters added the charm of the experience. In fact, the most exciting aspect of our punting was passing under the iconic stone bridges on the river. Each bridge had its own unique character and history, from the ornate Clare Bridge adorned with 17th century stonework to the beautiful bridge at St John’s College. Passing under these ancient structures, we felt a deep connection to Cambridge’s rich academic and architectural heritage. Eventually we returned to the starting point and our punting trip came to an end. After the boat ride, I realized why punting is such a popular activity in Cambridge. It really provides a relaxing and entertaining way to see the rich history and stunning scenery of the university.

It was almost 2pm by now and the afternoon sun was casting a golden glow on the river. We had another 2.30 hours left as our return train to London was at 4.22pm. Abdurahman told us that it would be good to see the Fitzwilliam Museum here as we still had time. Then we left for our last stop in Cambridge, the Fitzwilliam Museum. As soon as we reached the museum, we saw that indeed its grand pillars and ornate entrance are evidence of the dedication of the museum to art and history, referred to as the “jewel in the crown” of the University of Cambridge. After entering the museum, we felt that this museum is indeed a treasure trove of art and archaeology, which houses priceless heritages from ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome and Europe. One wonderful thing that I would like to share with you is that the museum galleries made me feel like walking through the corridors of time as every object here tells a story and brings the pages of history alive. The fine art collection of the museum was so impressive that we were lost in admiring the paintings of great European masters like Titian, Rembrandt and Van Gogh as the paintings were providing intimate insights into the lives of the subjects frozen in time by the artists’ brush. In fact, the museum’s amazing collection explains why the Fitzwilliam Museum is considered one of the finest university art museums in the world.

Now it was time to go back to London, so we headed straight towards Cambridge station. Three of us had come to Cambridge, but on the way back we met Sophia at Cambridge station and the four of us caught the train to London. Overall, this trip to Cambridge was not just a visit to a famous university city, it was an exploration of the history, culture and lasting legacy of one of the greatest educational institutions in the world. Indeed, this trip to Cambridge not only amidst the combination of amazing architecture, rich history and the serene beauty of the river but also a memorable and thrilling chapter of my life which I will always cherish in the infinite depths of my heart. With these words I now put my pen to rest and hand over the pen to Heba Alders from Aswan, Egypt to write the next blog and share her experiences with our ITP family.