Typically, schools are where students usually go for education, and after spending six to seven hours, they return home. However, there are other types of schools where students attend classes and stay on the premises. Such schools provide full-time boarding facilities to students who come not only from different parts of the country but also from other countries. The best
boarding schools in India are known for providing education of the highest level and also a well-balanced environment, including extracurricular and cultural activities. In this article, we will talk about such schools.
What is so unique about CBSE boarding schools in India?
According to the Board of Education in India, boarding schools are a type of residential school that provides education to students and also makes arrangements for their meals and boarding facilities in the hostels. Besides regular classes, multiple activities are organized for students within the campus of such schools.
CBSE Boarding schools in India ensure the all-round development of students for whom these schools are like a home away from home. Students come from faraway places where good schools are not available. Boarding schools are also ideal for parents who cannot spend time with their children because of their busy schedules.
The primary purpose of the best boarding school in India is to help students with discipline and education to make them good future citizens. However, all CBSE Boarding schools in India don’t maintain the same standards for academics and extracurricular activities.
Best boarding schools in India
It seems boarding schools in India have a strong connection with hill stations because you will come across many boarding schools in places like Shimla, Nainital, Mussoorie, and Ooty. As per the Board of Education in India, the following are the best boarding schools in India.
1. La Martiniere College Lucknow
It’s one of the most famous boarding schools in Lucknow was founded in 1845 by Major General Claude Martin. La Martiniere is meant only for boys and was awarded royal battle honours for its unique role during the mutiny of 1857. Some famous personalities in sports and politics passed out from this famous institution.
It has more than Five thousand students from primary grade to class XII. To date, the school has beautifully preserved the colonial building in Lucknow that reminds of the British Raj in India. The school was established as a tribute to Major William Hodson, who played a vital role during the rebellion of 1857.
2. Doon School Dehradun
It’s undoubtedly the most famous boarding school in the country. It was founded by Satish Ranjan Das in 1935 and is considered one of the best boarding schools in India by the New York Times, BBC, and Times of India. Doon School is a boys-only residential school in Dehradun, the capital of hill state Uttarakhand.
You will be surprised to know that the national anthem of India, “Jana Gana Mana”, was Doon school’s official song 15 years before it was finally adopted as our National Anthem. However, only the rich can afford to send their children to this school because their annual fees are 11 lakhs yearly. Alums of this school include illustrious names like Amitabh Bachchan, the Bollywood superstar and Rajiv Gandhi, the ex-Prime Minister of India.
3. Rishi Valley School Chittoor
Rishi Valley is the most well-known boarding school in South India. It’s situated in a place called Madanapalle, Andhra Pradesh.This school was founded in 1926 by the world-famous philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti. For the last 50 years, the school has followed rituals like morning assembly, Asthachal and folk dancing. Some of the famous names that passed out from this school include Bollywood actors Aditi Rao Hydari and Varun Gandhi, the BJP MP.
4. Woodstock School Mussoorie
It’s one of the oldest and best boarding schools in India. The school is famous for attracting international students. Woodstock School is one of the most highly respected boarding schools
in Asia. It was founded in 1854 and operates as a non-profit institution. It was declared an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School in 2019. “Whispering Pine” is the name of its official Yearbook. The annual tuition fee for this school is almost 16 lakh per year.
5. Mayo College, Ajmer
It’s one of the most prestigious boarding schools in India, which was founded as a Boys’ school in 1875 by Richard Bourke, the Viceroy of India, from 1869-72. The school offers one of the best sporting activities, including games like tennis, squash, shooting and Cricket. Some of
its famous publications are Mayoor, Cyber Quest, and Euphoria. The school charges an annual fee of rupees 11.5 lakhs per year.
6. Scindia School Gwalior
It was initially founded as Sardaar School in 1897 by Maharaja Madho Rao Scindia, the King of Gwalior. It became Scindia School in 1933. Initially, it enrolled students only from royal families, but subsequently, this clause was removed. Scindia School was ranked as the 3rd best CBSE boarding school in India for boys in 2014. It’s well known for its numerous cultural societies that help students’ development. Some famous personalities that passed out from this school include Bollywood personalities like Salman Khan and Anurag Kashyap, among others. The school charges annual fees of 12 lakh rupees.