The India Trek: From Idea to Kellogg Tradition
- Cathy Campo
- Apr 26
- 3 min read
By: Neel Patil and Navisha Daga
India represents one of the largest international student cohorts at Kellogg. Yet, for the longest time, there was no India Trek. All it took was one person to ask: why not?
That person was Ninaad Balachandran (2Y ’23).
At Kellogg South Asia Club (KSAC), that question stuck. To bring India to life for our fellow students, KSAC partnered with travel planner WizTrek, our on-ground backbone of the trek, ensuring that what could feel overwhelming instead felt seamless, curated, and deeply immersive.
What followed didn’t feel like a one-off trip. It felt like something that Kellogg had been missing.
It was standing in front of the Taj Mahal, trying to take in its scale and symmetry. “I think that’s the most beautiful thing I’ve seen,” one of the participants said.
But it was also realizing that India goes far beyond its icons.
It was exploring the forts and palaces of “Pink City” Jaipur, where history lives in courtyards and stories. It was gliding through tropical Kerala’s backwaters where life slows to the rhythm of water and coconut trees. It was navigating lively Mumbai, the “New York of India,” where heritage meets relentless energy.
And then there were moments you don’t find in guidebooks.
A Bollywood dance workshop—awkward at first, then all-in, as everyone leans into the energy and drama. A hands-on cooking session, figuring out spices, flavors, and why nothing tastes quite the same outside India. Walking through local markets, picking up saffron, cardamom, sweets, and far more than planned. And most surreal of all: feeding and painting elephants.
And then, uniquely Kellogg India Trek moments.
Think practicing cricket, the most-watched sport in India, with professional coaches in full-fledged nets—an obvious instant hit.
And of course, the one experience that came to define the India Trek: Holi, the “festival of colors” that marks the arrival of spring.
What began as a festive inclusion quickly became the heart of the trip. Across recent years, the Holi celebration has brought everyone together—no barriers, no inhibitions. Just color, music, and pure joy. For many, it’s their first time experiencing it. And it’s unforgettable. Messy, chaotic, and beautiful—much like India itself.
And long after the trek has ended, Holi remains one of the most talked-about memories, something every incoming batch hears about, and every participant carries with them.
Over the years, what started with Ninaad has been carried forward by successive student leaders, each adding his or her own flair to what the trek has become. While formats may evolve year to year, the spirit of the India Trek continues to bring Kellogg students closer to the country that so many of us have had the joy of calling home.
What started with 25 students in 2023 has seen groups of up to 60+, making the India Trek one of the most sought-after spring break experiences at Kellogg.
But the real impact isn’t in the numbers. It’s strangers becoming friends. Classmates becoming co-travelers. A shared experience that lives on long after the trip ends.
As one student put it simply: “It wasn’t just a trip—it was an experience.”