72 Things To Do In NITK

RAHUL DAS
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 Foreword
December 22, 2015

The freedom and roughness that you associate with a government institute in India; a residential setting in a quiet and yet, cosmopolitan city; a location on
the coast that connects you to South Indias most interesting hotspots; fellow students whove mastered the art of being freakishly smart while remaining
chilled out, and most spectacularly, the promise of a reputed degree once its all over. It certainly is hard to find a combination that works better than this.
Consider yourself fortunate if NITK Surathkal is indeed where you are.

Looking back at the four fabulous years I had spent at NITK, I am proud to say that I surpassed the standards I had set for myself while I was in college. I
write this e-book in the hope that it inspires you to live the high-octane college life that youve always desired.

Coming to the structure of this e-book, the 72 things that I have mentioned are based largely on my experiences (and my former roll number 72!) for you to
gather ideas and devise exciting things to do yourself. Since travel may well play a major role in stretching your college aspirations, I have dedicated 23 of
these thoughts from #26 to #48 solely to destinations that you can visit from NITK. You will find links to detailed itineraries on my personal blog for 13 of
these 23 places.

And finally, this e-book isnt just for folks at NITK. A lot of what Ive mentioned in the 72 things section should interest you if youre looking to pursue an
exciting college experience in general. Furthermore, people visiting locations in the South (or Nepal!) should find the 13 travelogues Ive written quite useful.

I created this document because I was buoyed by messages Ive received from several people with regards to my blog. The effort that Ive put in will be
justified if it has inspired even one of you in the slightest of ways. Reach out to me if it has or if theres anything you wish to share with me about the book
or my blog.

Go ahead and live the college life of your dreams. I wish you luck.

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 72 Things To Do In NITK
1. Spend time at the beach. Our private beach is indeed the ideal go-to spot for evenings, events and Red Rock after-parties. But its more than just
that. It sets us apart. Its a symbol of our pride.
2. If you do happen to be part of a DisCo proceeding, anticipate the worst for youll probably find yourself in the most helpless situation of your life.
Hang in there though, for youll emerge out of it stronger than you ever were.
3. I cant speak for the girls here but there is a special thrill about being a part of the 504-strong community living at the Mega Towers. In part due to
the closed circular construction of the tower, everyone gets to be a part of everybody elses sloganeering, celebrations, GPLs and even power outages.
Relish every single day of your stay at the Mega Towers.
4. Dance at Crescendo! No matter how pathetic your dancing skills may be, Crescendo is the platform for you and your friends to cast all your
apprehensions aside and go crazy on stage in front of a wild and roaring audience.
5. Placements. Thats what it all comes down to, isnt it? Take them seriously and prepare hard. You can vindicate all your college sins if you do this one
thing right. Good luck.
6. Be creative and do something that becomes the talking point of all your friends circles! If youre looking for inspiration, you could do something like
impersonating a professor and teaching the first years on their first day before they learn who their professor really is! This was something that I had
done during my final year at NITK.
7. NITK does have decent sports facilities. Youll find that playing a sport every single day of your four years will keep you active and inspire you to
experience college to the hilt.
8. Jump over the swimming pool walls at night when the security guards arent observant. There is nothing quite like an illegal midnight swim! When
youre done with that, walk along the so-called haunted path behind the basketball courts. Watch out for the scorpions though!
9. After you leave NITK, chances are youll never have an Olympic sized swimming pool a five minute walk from your wherever it is that you stay. The
pool is a gift. Use it well.

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10. While in your first year, avoid being a wuss and be open to the interactions that you will have with your seniors. NITK seniors generally do not go
overboard with the interactions. So tolerate whatever happens in your first year because theres a great thrill in issuing hilarious commands when
its time for you to sit on the other side of the table.
11. Turn your friends of the opposite gender into co-conspirators and break into the GB/ Mega Towers. Return the favour by helping the same
accomplices break into your hostel. Ensure that you avoid getting caught though!
12. Although Manipal is only an hours drive from NITK, the best part about NOT always being in the college-town is that it never gets old! The energy
at the towns restobars and hangout spots is infectious. Blue Waters, Enigma and Deetee are where you should go clubbing. Also, befriend your way
into their apartment parties. Crazy scenes there.
13. College is also the only time you will be pitied upon and be sent out of a police lockup minutes after you are sent into it. If this does indeed happen
to you, walk out with a puffed chest.
14. Being a dating friendly campus, NITK is a wonderful place to fall in love. Consider yourself lucky if you do, despite the skewed sex ratio, find someone
of the opposite sex on the same wavelength as you.
15. There are few things that are as unique, exciting and stressful as forming alliances, plotting strategies and negotiating seats on behalf of your party
in the sixth semester. Play the game. Involve yourself in NITKs politics.
16. Taking the whole election thing a notch higher, if youre up to it, stand for an election! Theres a chasm between being a back-room negotiator and
being the face of a campaign. Youd also have to sell yourself differently to each of your 100 odd classmates in order to win his/her vote.
17. Take up positions of responsibility. You will end up learning loads even in the smallest of positions. NITK is also a fun place to innocently abuse power
;-)
18. While in your first year, take part in as many club activities as you can. The events are fun and are also a great way to meet your fellow students
whom you otherwise wouldnt have had an opportunity to meet.
19. Ah, the night-outs outside college. Have fun and be watchful while youre at it.

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20. The best thing about not being in a megacity like Bangalore is that you dont have to waste your time visiting dull malls. There are so many wonderful
inexpensive restaurants even in the most obscure parts of Mangalore that youll never run out of places to try out.
21. Festivals at NITK are a different story altogether. Ensure that you stay in college during Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali and Holi. With the permanent Bengal
colours, the water guns from the trucks and the t-shirts adorning the trees, nothing quite beats the pomp and vigour at NITKs Holi.
22. Coming to the other kind of festival, visit fests at other colleges. With IIM-B, BITS-Goa and NIT-C all a stones throw from NITK, appreciate that you
are wonderfully placed to enjoy some of the countrys best college fests.
23. In the mood for a quick getaway? You could always visit the Shashithulu coast, Pilikula, St Marys, Bathery or even that beautiful train crossing near
Pavanje.
24. Theres always something extraordinary about being a part of a class trip. This is also the only time youll witness the transformation of a regular
night-bus into a mobile nightclub as it speeds and swerves about Karnatakas potholes and hairpin bends. Never miss out on a single class trip. If
they dont seem to take place, take matters into your own hands and push your CR into making them happen.
25. Driving a car or riding a bike exponentially adds to the sense of freedom you experience at NITK. There are plenty of places in Mangalore that you
can rent vehicles at nominal rates and youll be luckier if one of your friends lives in Mangalore and owns one. Go ahead and relish the boundless
freedom that Im talking about.

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As I had mentioned earlier, travel will certainly play a major role in stretching your college aspirations. Subsequent points up to #48 comprise 23 travel
destinations that you can (or rather, should!) visit along with your friends.

26. Hampi: Deserted ruins of an ancient empire and a perfect location for some great natural adventure. Unexplored by most NITKians, the site is one
of the best places you can visit from college.
27. Pondicherry (and Mahabalipuram): The vestiges of French colonialism that can be seen even today make the town a very interesting place to explore.
Ideal if youre looking for someplace far from Mangalore.
28. Goa: You can feel the party vibes already, cant you? Club Cabana and LPK are must visit clubbing destinations. Rent a bike, follow an 8 pm 8 am
schedule and literally eat-sleep-rave-repeat. Youre bound to keep going back.
29. Mysore: The annual Dussehra that takes place here counts as one of the greatest festivities in the country. Read up about the significance of the
event and go witness the celebrations.
30. Coorg: There are so many places to visit in this scenic hill-station district that youll have a hard time planning your itinerary.

Lets now move to five of my favourite treks.

31. Kumara Parvatha: Although the trek isnt too dangerous, it is highly demanding, both mentally and physically. It is also considered to be one of the
most difficult amateur treks in South India. Some basic planning and preparation required.
32. Dudhsagar: A simple but scenic 3 hour trek along the railway tracks as you receive stunning views of the Dudhsagar falls. Theres a chance that you
may also get to hitchhike a goods train!
33. Kudlu falls: A quick and simple trek near Manipal that will lead you to a spectacular waterfall.
34. Kodachadri: Totally worth the sunset you get to see at the peak. You could also use it as a warm-up in case you decide to scale the Kumara Parvatha.
35. Yana: Whats better than trekking to a place that has some mythology associated with it?

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Moving away from treks

36. Bangalore: Only a 7 hour bus journey from NITK, you could visit the megacity whenever you long to be part of the fast life. With interesting pubs
and restaurants, Wonderla and games like paintball, laser tag and go karting, Bangalore never gets old when you live outside it!
37. Kudremukh: Step into the waterfall and visit the now-empty dam thereafter. Although youll find nothing to rave about here, Kudremukh is ideal for
a day class trip or in case youre just looking for a brief change of scene.
38. Murdeshwar (and Marvanthe): Visit the humongous Shiva statue at Murdeshwar. While youre driving to the town, you will also pass through the
picturesque road sandwiched between the river and the sea at Marvanthe.
39. Agumbe: Breathtaking foliage on the Western Ghats. Best experienced on bikes during monsoon.
40. Bekal: An hours journey southward from Mangalore, Keralas Bekal is the perfect place for a picnic.
41. Karwar: Although there isnt much to see in Karwar, the Karavali Boating Centre is a must visit for the wonderful package that they offer: 5 different
adventure sports on the Arabian Sea for as many hours as you want at a combined price of Rs 600!
42. Sringeri, Karkala and Puttur: 3 more instances of it being more about the journey than the destination. Rent your own vehicles, go off the highway,
take your own detours and youll be amazed by what you see.
43. Jog Falls: Indias second highest waterfall. Visit it during the monsoon if youre interested in seeing the falls at their majestic best or after the season
if youre keen on trekking to the base of the falls.
44. Halebid-Belur-Dharmasthala: The stone carvings on the temples at the twin towns of Halebid and Belur will leave you speechless. Visit the pilgrimage
centre Dharmasthala on your way back from Belur to Mangalore.
45. Gokarna: Owing to its laid-back vibes, hippie paradise Gokarna counts as one of my favourite places to visit from NITK. For what you pay, food here
is unbelievably delicious. Ah, I so want to go back to Kudle and loaf about!
46. Alleppey (and Kochi): Those Gods own country commercials do plant gorgeous images of Kerala in our heads, dont they? Stop by at Kochi and visit
Alleppey to have a first-hand experience of what the state feels like.

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47. Dandeli may be situated at a distance of over 400 kilometres from NITK but for that afternoon you spend rafting through the Western Ghats, and
for all the crazy things that will happen to you during your trip, this is an experience you should not miss.
48. Go international! While youre still in NITK, you have the time and most importantly, your closest friends with whom you can have some of those life-
defining adventures. And how better to start them than by travelling abroad and returning with all those memories? My friends and I had backpacked
to Nepal in the middle of our seventh semester. This is something that I would strongly recommend you to do.

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Lets move away from travel now.

49. Colour your hair, spout Mohawks or ponytails and accessorize! Get creative! College is the only time you can try out all those wacky hairstyles!
50. With so many people to choose from to make a bakra, placing prank calls is an unforgettable way for you to connive with your friends. Let your
imagination run riot and come up with the most hilarious of mischiefs.
51. The NITK lighthouse adds charm to the serenity of our private beach. Go inside it one day, climb to the top and take in the aerial 360 view from it.
52. Sit in classrooms and labs with your friends at the other departments. When youre in the mood, visit another college and attend one of its classes.
You need to make use of the fact that Sreenivas is right next to you dont you?
53. Give proxies, cheat in tests and bunk. Its the small wins that will enthuse you.
54. That you dont necessarily need to speak Kannada to get around in Mangalore is also one of the reasons so few of us outsiders try to learn the
language. Show your respect for the land and study the language.
55. With all the multiplexes present around Mangalore right now, there is absolutely no need for you to visit the lesser local cinemas. But trust me when
I tell you that this is something you should not miss out on!
56. Your major project is going to be one of the highlights of your final year not for what youll learn doing it but because of all the eleventh hour jugaad
you will resort to. Savour all the drama.
57. Never walk alone to class if you need to go to the western side of the NH-66. Gesture to any of those bikes and hitchhike!
58. The NITK Racing Teams produce some pretty impressive cars year after year. Talk to the team members and ask them to let you drive the car around
the campus. You will experience a great kick and appreciate all the blood and sweat that these representatives of the college put in to build the
vehicle.
59. The Incident week is when NITK is at its liveliest. Do not make the blunder of going home and skipping the fest. Attend the events, take in all the
buzz and freak out.

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60. I know of friends whove stayed at their professors homes. Some of us had also attended one of our professors weddings. Theres something special
about having an intimate relationship with a professor.
61. The reason I feel grateful about Facebook pages and Quora answers is how their anonymity settings aided us in playing some of the most hysterical
online pranks on our friends. Of course, these are actions that I now regret but I can clearly recall how we would literally ROFL while we came up
with those gems. Go cyber on some of your pranks!
62. There are so many talented music folks at NITK that seeking their help shouldnt be difficult at all. Learn to play an instrument. Apart from reading
books, there are few other ways to spend time more productively in college.
63. Theres this day long concert that takes place in Mumbai every February 4 to commemorate the death anniversary of Ustad Allarakha, the father of
Tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain. The greatest Indian maestros come together on this day to pay homage by creating deep powerful music. For the
musically inclined, its hard to find an event that can get better than this.
64. Theres a special feeling in visiting some of your friends homes or in bringing them to your own. Make it happen.
65. College is where youll be exposed to the vices in a big way for the first time. Even if abstinence isnt quite your thing, know exactly where you want
to be and stand by the rules you set for yourself.
66. Four years at NITK is also a great opportunity to build your online profile. And please, Im not referring to Facebook picture uploads here. Build your
LinkedIn profile, start a blog, upload to Github or write answers on Quora. Youd be surprised at how some of these seemingly insignificant steps
lead to bigger things.
67. Even if you arent willing to sacrifice college for building a startup, do try starting your own short-term business ventures and unleash your business
instincts. Theres a lot to be learnt even by simply selling merchandise or running a betting syndicate!
68. Life at NITK can be rough. You may be hurled into situations where youd have to physically fight to defend yourself. Be mentally prepared for
moments of crises. How you overcome the trauma associated with such conflicts is important.
69. One of the pluses of living in a residential campus of over 4000 is that you will always know only a minority of your fellow college-goers. Try getting
to know the fresh faces that you come across. Make it a point to get to know as many as you can in your own batch.

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70. Revel in every second of your final semester. All the farewells, Ring Ceremony, Shoreline photo-shoot and of course, your last Inci and Crescendo.
With nostalgia and emotions running high, the eighth semester is when it all comes full circle. After all, saare years ka baap kaun?
71. With so much happening at NITK, it is quite possible for you to lose track and start taking your family for granted. Theyre the ones wholl be there
for you long after you stop living with your friends. Reiterate this as your priority and youll find yourself being even happier in college.
72. Funnily, none of the 71 things Ive mentioned above even matter unless you realize this one imperative point. The quality of your life at NITK will be
determined by the strength of the relationships you forge with your closest friends. You will go through a rollercoaster of emotions during your four
years. Savour even the silliest of things that you experience with them because in the end, its that simple: Your friends are all that matters.

*****

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 Links To Travel Itineraries

Hampi: Paradise for the Adventurer

Pondicherry: Appreciate its Unique Feel

How We Witnessed the 404th Mysore Dussehra

Kumara Parvatha: Not for the Weak-Hearted!

Dudhsagar: Tunnels, Falls and a Goods Train Hitchike

Kodachadri: The Trek and the Sunset

Yana and Vibhuti: Exploring Mythology

Agumbe: Ignoring the Omens

Water Sports at Karwar

Jog Falls: Jump-starting the NITK Final Year

Kochi & Alleppey: Why You Must Visit Them

Dandeli: Rafting Through The Western Ghats

NITK to Nepal: Go International While Youre In College!

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 Rahul Das

Rahul is a recent engineering graduate from the National Institute of Technology

Karnataka (NITK), Surathkal and an alumnus of the Good Shepherd International
School, Ooty.

An avid traveller, a violinist and a competitive swimmer, he maintains a blog

where he shares his travel itineraries and opinions on Indian politics.

You could reach out to him on www.rahuldas.net.

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