Study Tour Mangalore- Varkala- Fort Kochi

ACTIVITY REPORT

Objectives of the Activity:

1. To provide students with practical exposure to psychosocial rehabilitation and mental health care services.
2. To understand the role of therapeutic interventions and life-skills training in recovery-oriented mental health settings.
3. To explore the psychological benefits of yoga and meditation as complementary approaches to mental well-being.
4. To examine the influence of culture, traditions, and environment on psychological processes and human behaviour.

Activity Overview:

The Postgraduate Department of Psychology organized a study tour for the M.A. Psychology students from 21st February to 26th February 2026. The tour aimed to provide experiential learning opportunities beyond the classroom by exposing students to diverse psychological practices, community environments, and culturally embedded mental health approaches. The tour included academic visits to psychosocial rehabilitation centers, meditation and yoga institutions, and community-based ecological initiatives in Mangaluru, Varkala, and Kochi. The study tour was proposed and coordinated by Dr. Anette Joseph and Ms. Anushka Fernandes.

On 21 February 2026 Students departed from Madgaon Railway Station and arrived in Mangaluru in the evening. The group checked into the hotel and rested in preparation for the academic visit scheduled the next day. Students visited the Snehalaya Psychosocial Rehabilitation Centre on 22^nd February where they were oriented to the concepts of psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery-based care. They learned about therapeutic interventions, rehabilitation strategies, and life-skills training used to support individuals with mental health conditions. Later that day, the group travelled from Mangaluru to Varkala.

An academic visit was conducted at the Pradhi Spiritual Yoga and Meditation Centre on 23^rd february. Students attended guided yoga and meditation sessions and participated in an interactive discussion with the instructor on the psychological benefits of these practices, including stress reduction, emotional regulation, and mindfulness.

On 24 February 2026 Students travelled from Varkala to Kochi and undertook an experiential visit to Fort Kochi and the Kerala Folklore Museum. These visits helped students understand cultural psychology by observing how cultural traditions, heritage, and social environments shape beliefs, identity, and interpersonal interactions.

An experiential academic visit was organized to Kumbalangi Eco Village where students observed community-based living and sustainable practices such as Chinese fishing nets. The visit highlighted concepts related to consumer behaviour, conservation psychology, and sustainable community practices. The group later departed from Ernakulam and returned to Goa.

Outcomes of the Activity:

1. Students gained practical exposure to psychosocial rehabilitation services and learned about multidisciplinary approaches to mental health care.
2. The yoga and meditation sessions enhanced students’ understanding of mind–body connections and alternative psychological interventions.
3. Visits to cultural and heritage sites deepened students’ awareness of cultural psychology and the role of environment in shaping behaviour and well-being.
4. Interaction with local communities at the eco-village provided insight into sustainable lifestyles, community resilience, and conservation psychology.

Beneficiaries: