Roaming in University Town Cambridge

London        7th May 2017

I did not go  even to the  Saint Tat Patti School(sorry our very  own Tat Patti primary sarkari schools) in my childhood days,  as was born and brought in a small Kasbah called Sambhal  and  my grandmother was very protective so did not allow me to go to any primary school and preferred to taught me at home. When gone  for  secondary and higher education,  I had no choice but to study in faceless schools and colleges where a section used to consist of 80 to 90 students and believe me even after year end teacher hardly recognizing​ name and face of all of us! So I always had dream to visit Cambridge and try to find out what makes it a great institution and its alumni sooo big celebrities.

Yesterday, my dream come true. We’d arrived at London St. Pancreas after taking a Metropolitan Line train from Harrow on Hill. We just taken internal underground pathway to reach platform no 2 of  King’s Cross Station to take the train to Cambridge. Trains between London and Cambridge run pretty frequently .

It was a non stop service, so it took us 45 minutes to reach  Cambridge.

It was a  trip of a day to have a feel of the university  town.

University was established some 800 years back,  it is one of the top oldest surviving university in the world, it is also known for its unique study system and overall excellence.

Cambridge is actually a pretty small city, it's economy depends upon university crowd or visitors like us.  Some how it reminds me of IIT Kharagpur campus.  The historic city center is really beautiful and can easily be done on foot.

We took a cab from Cambridge Railway station for City Centre.  The moment our cab stopped we were surrounded by punting tour operators.  Punting is Cambridge style cruising in small river flowing in and around Cambridge city. The boat operator who is called punter,  rows the boat with a hollow aluminum rod.  You can have best view of the city,  it's colleges,  churches and other historic structures.

Punting Tour timing was 11.45 and it was almost 10.00 so we entered into the Mall which houses UK and Europe's top fashion brands.

We walked through the Grand Arcade to get to King’s Parade where we visited King’s College and King’s College Chapel.

After that we walked on to Trinity Street where we saw Trinity College,  one of the most iconic college in UK . There’s a nice little crafts market there on Saturdays . it was a Saturday so we could see lot of work of art and craft proudly claimed to be made in the city itself.

At the crossing of Trinity Street and Bridge Street, you’ll find the Round Church. This church was built around 1130, making it one of the oldest buildings in Cambridge.

Facing the Round Church we turned left to get to the water. This river or canal serpentine around the city.

Now, the time for punting. When you first see it, it reminds of the gondolas in Venice. Punt boats are long rectangular boats without any steering wheel or engine. The punter stands at the back of the punt and pushes it forward using a long stick. By pushing in a certain direction, he or she also uses the long hollow aluminum rod to steer.

It quickly turned out you really need to know how to punt and master the technique for it to go smoothly. Experienced punters guide their punts smoothly through the water way - and have no problem in maneuvering. They narrates interesting stories shout the structures and its builders. The canal route passes old beautiful bridges.

After our punting tour,  we were very hungry and tried to find out a place to eat.  Options were in plenty,  but being vegetarian,  we zeroed down at a Vietnamese restaurant called Pho,  it was recommended by many of our friends in London.  Pho is a noodle source with Tofu and lot of veggies. Another interesting dish was sticky vietnamese rice served with sauted fresh veggies.

Plenty things to do here in Cambridge,  open art bazar,  street food,  pizzeria places,  museums,  Cathedrals.

Another interest thing about the city is no of cycles per person and passion for  cycling. Every Road has separate track for cyclists and the city is ruled by cyclists.

After this visit I understood little  secret of Cambridge University's success.  It has  nature to evolve in its DNA,  create an environment to learn and  giving space to the teachers and students in their academic pursuit and excellence. This made it a great institution. The best part of Cambridge is that it has made its name and still evolving.

The best part of Cambridge is that it has made its name and still evolving.

                                                                                              copyright pradeep gupta