Visiting The US? Plan A Day Trip At Harvard, America's Oldest University

"Like most Indian high school kids, I kept getting asked about my plans to join IIT. I told them I had set my sights on Harvard". In 2023, Ashmit Singh, an alumnus of Modern School Barkhamba Road in Delhi, realised that dream. He is now a Harvard Junior pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Economics and Sociology at one of the world's most prestigious universities. Ashmit was also our student guide on a campus tour typically conducted by Harvard students. It was Harvard University that brought me first to Boston more than a decade ago from New York City, and I revisited this iconic institution all over again. Except this time I stayed longer to discover the charms of Boston, easily one of the most photogenic cities in the US.

I've often wondered why more people don't visit Harvard the way they visit Oxford or Cambridge from London. Whether you're on a family holiday with the kids (A Harvard visit might be just the inspiration they need) or just seeking to experience the vibes of a university town, Boston ought to be on your list. My first trip to Boston was a packed day trip from NYC that almost entirely revolved around Harvard experiences. We'd recommend arriving by 11 am (about 4 hours away from NYC) if you're planning Harvard as a day trip, and begin your day at the Harvard Art Museums.

Museum Hub

Harvard is home to 15 museums, but if you have time for just one museum, head straight to the Harvard Art Museum, which combines over 50 galleries of art across three floors. Admission is free, and you will need an hour to check out the key highlights. These include paintings by European masters like Van Gogh and Rembrandt, and a contemporary collection that features modern masters like Andy Warhol.

One of our favourite paintings here is a self-portrait of Vincent van Gogh from 1888 that is dedicated to his friend and artist Paul Gauguin. Van Gogh manipulated his features in response to the popularity of Japanese prints at the time. We also discovered another stunning masterpiece - "October's Gone... Goodnight" by American artist Barkley L. Hendricks. This triptych (that shows the same figure from the side, front and back) stands out for its unique blend of the techniques of Old Masters with the aesthetics of pop art. If you're a serious museum junkie, then also head to the Harvard Museum of Natural History, which includes exhibits on minerals and fossils.

^{Photo Credit: Ashwin Rajagopalan}

Harvard Square

Harvard and MIT are both located in Cambridge, a suburb in the Greater Boston area across the scenic Charles River. Harvard Square is at the very heart of this city and the perfect spot to begin your discovery of Harvard. You can make a stop at Harvard Coop, a popular bookstore where you can also find official Harvard merchandise. Like any university town, Cambridge offers a long list of dining options and eclectic cafes. Some of the students we spoke to recommended Tatte Bakery & Cafe, which offers a terrific mocha latte and iced latte. Tatte is a magnet for Harvard's Coffee snobs. We checked out Harvest, which features seasonal menus that showcase contemporary cooking mixed with timeless American culinary traditions. Harvest is a great spot to check out the fresh catch of the day from around Boston, which is known for its exquisite seafood.

^{Photo Credit: Harvest}

Campus Trails

Almost all tours begin at Harvard Yard, the oldest and most significant part of the campus. This land was first purchased in 1637, soon after Harvard was founded as New College in 1636. Ashmit walked us through some of the freshman dormitories, the Memorial Church that was built in the 1740s and the Widener Library, a Beaux-Arts building that's one of the largest university libraries in the world. Most visitors make a photo stop at the John Harvard Statue. Ashmit tells us that most students rub the foot of the statue for luck, an old Harvard tradition that continues to this day.  The statue is located near University Hall, a historic building that dates back to the 1810s.

No tour to Harvard is complete without a walk past Memorial Hall, a Victorian Gothic building that might remind you of one of the heritage buildings in South Mumbai. The Anenberg Hall, which is home to the first year undergraduate facility (not open for public tours), is supposed to have inspired the Great Hall in Harry Porter.

^{Memorial Hall. Photo Credit: Ashwin Rajagopalan}

Harvard And Beyond

While Harvard University is enough reason to visit Boston, we'd suggest staying on to explore one of America's most historic cities. It's here that the Boston Tea Party (the Boston Tea Party Museum is an engaging experience), which led to the American War of Independence, was staged. Harvard might have made the news like most Ivy League schools in the US over the last few months for campus protests, but the Harvard legacy stretches way beyond. It's the wealthiest academic institution in the world (with an academic endowment valued above $ 53 billion) and has been the learning ground for 8 US presidents, including Barack Obama and John F Kennedy. But most of all, it continues to inspire generations of students to dream big in a world full of uncertainty.