The canteen was buzzing with excited students and staff. A school trip is always a chance to be together and learn about something new.

Just north of London, in the Hertfordshire countryside, sits Bhakti Vedanta Manor surrounded by farmlands, beautiful gardens and a temple. Open all year round to visitors and students, an ideal place to visit.

We set off for the Krishna Temple in our minibus, with anticipation.

On arrival, we were warmly greeted and guided into a large room where we got to listen to the stories of the Gods and their wives and the structures within Hinduism. The students got a chance to dress up as the characters and looked fabulous in the sarees and turbans on offer.

We enjoyed a ride pulled by the resident oxen and visited other sacred cows who enjoyed the carrots we offered them. Amongst visiting the beautiful gardens and learning about the iconic mock tudor mansion which the famous George Harrison gifted to the Hare Krishnas, the highlight of the visit was being allowed to take part in and witness a daily prayer and offering to the Gods. All the students and staff alike found this to be a very peaceful and enlightening experience.

We rounded off our visit with a generous offering of vegetarian Indian food called a prasadam– once again both students and staff grateful and contented.

This was an inspirational visit, a real sanctuary for the soul and highly a recommended visit for anybody, anywhere.

Some comments from the students include:

“I enjoyed the prayer ceremony as it was like nothing I have ever experienced. The music was very relaxing and I liked the cultural outfits and enjoyed learning about the Gods”

“At the temple I learned why cows are important to Hinduism. I enjoyed feeding the cows carrots and learnt that the nose ring helps with giving the cows direction and does not hurt them.”

“I wore a turban and dressed like the Demigod Shiva and I got a bindi. I fed the blessed cow with carrots”

“I learnt a lot about Hare Krishna Hinduism and got to wear a saree and bindi. I got to meet the cows there too and look around the grounds - I loved it”