Earlier last month, a group of young students sponsored by the C. Krishniah Chetty Foundation joined us for their first-ever high-altitude trek, a five-day journey through the ancient Har Ki Dun valley in Uttarakhand. This unique experiential learning initiative was part of a special summer program titled “Mountains to Monuments”, designed to give students a deeper understanding of India’s natural heritage and cultural diversity.

The students, recipients of the Foundation’s Scholarship Program for Great Young Minds, have grown up learning about the country’s historical monuments through textbooks and field trips, this was the first time they were stepping into the grandeur of the Himalayas.

Partnering with InSOUL, the C. Krishniah Chetty Foundation planned the trek as a platform for the students to learn outside the classroom and the results were extraordinary.

“The students were extremely curious,” said Harsh, Trek Leader from Indiahikes. “They asked thoughtful questions about the geography, the flora and fauna, and the culture of the mountain villages we passed. Despite this being their first trek, they embraced the challenges with great spirit.”

The trek wasn’t easy. Climbing through pine forests and hiking at elevations close to 11,000 feet presented both physical and mental hurdles. But the students rose to the occasion, displaying perseverance and teamwork.

For the C. Krishniah Chetty Foundation, this trek is part of a larger mission to nurture bright young minds and support them in becoming well-rounded individuals. While their Scholarship Program for Great Young Minds already supports over 3,000 students across 120 schools in Bengaluru, the Foundation also invests in holistic development through libraries, sports, career guidance, and now, transformative outdoor learning experiences.

InSOUL is built on the idea that the outdoors offers unparalleled lessons in character, leadership, and resilience, values that complement academic excellence. Through partnerships like this, both the C. Krishniah Chetty Foundation and InSOUL are working to shape a generation of young people who are not only intellectually capable, but also grounded, resilient, and deeply connected to the world around them.

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