Travelling Solo ~ why and how

"Anything that we fully do is an alone journey". Travelling solo is something that is yet to be discovered by a lot of us Indians. Afraid? Expecting a bad trip? Money issues? Family Pressure? What will people around you think? Let everybody be somebody. For you, its you, and the amazing world to be uncovered. Read this one to let your myths burst, and know why is travelling alone one of the most important experiences in life!

Why Go Solo

1. As you travel solo, you become totally responsible for yourself, its inevitable that you will discover just how capable you are.

2. As you are completely on your own on new terrains, the fear of death gets reduced but the desire to live and celebrate life gets increased.

3. "Don't tell me how educated you are, tell me how much you have travelled". Surely, there are a lot of lessons that travelling has to offer, which you will never find in textbooks.

4. You realize in contemplation, when you are alone and absorbed by the surroundings (which is hard to happen when travelling in group) what you really love. If you know your true passion, you become more sure about it.

5. You learn talking to new people, and realize how wonderful the world is beyond the 4 walls you were locked up in.

6. In the quest to stay alive, get back safe, you become more alert and hence, enhance your presence of mind. Also, very importantly, you learn to save money.

7. You get ready for all situations in life. Because when travelling alone, weird and amazing things can happen. You learn taking life as it comes. You learn being in the moment.

8. You get to spend time with yourself. "When you are travelling,you are what you are there and then. People don't have your past to hold against you. No yesterdays on the road."

Some must do/carry things

1. Travel light. Carry only one luggage, preferably a trekking bag, no matter what. If not this, you might just waste your time on the trip and end up doing not too much. Also, no expensives.

2. Carry a smartphone, if possible that has 3G net pack, Google maps(for GPS), installed. But try avoiding social networking to get absorbed in each moment.  Carry a paper soap, notepad, pen, an engrossing book.

4. "A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you can control it". Accept anything that goes wrong, and try making each moment count. Yet, plan well before leaving, expecting your plans to fail so that  you have a net to fall on.

5. Keep asking directions. But, never to just one person. Remember the routes if possible, when you have the the road on the foot.  

6. Never ever get bounded in deals. Be free. Be independent. Take suggestions. But finally, follow your instincts, keeping in mind your potential

7. The traveller is active; he goes in strenously in search of people, of adventure, of experience. The tourist is passive;  he expects interesting thing to happen. He goes sight-seeing. Be a traveller. Not a tourist.

8. Avoid telling your parents(:P), if they are like most Indian parents. Otherwise, they may get worried. But, make sure, people back home/college are informed and are in touch. Also, carry luck if possible (:P) . I am lucky to have amazing friends like Aman Soni (Bhu).

Few Myth Bursters 

1. Travelling Alone is costly:

Hell no! If you are ready to accommodate under circumstances that are harsh for the lucky you and lucky me, but common for the half  of world's population, and keep seeking advice from locals, you can make it in very cheaply. Trust me, I spent a mere 100 Rs on my night stay in the entire 7 days.

2. The world is a dangerous place:

Hell may break lose even under your balls in the safest place you seek, your home. So, put the apprehensions aside. There are more no. of helpful people than thugs. The world is beautiful and you got to explore. 

3. I will get bored:

Well, read the 'why' thing again properly. Being self-centric is different, getting bored from oneself different. You don't get bored with yourself, with so much happening around you, never. 

Finally, as Mark Twain said, "Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off your bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade wind in your sales. Explore. Dream. Discover." So, pack your bag when the time comes. Don't let that time to cross your 20s.

P.S. : If at all anyone wants the itinerary, ping me. :) 

"Ages and ages hence, even when I am not here, I will say that my soul was there!!"

Golden Temple: Visit this place and you will fall in love with Amritsar and the Sikh way of life, even if you are an atheist. You will be spellbound by what you will see.

Wagah Border: Even if you never really felt patriotic, you will, once you are surrounded by thousands of people shouting 'Hindustan Jindabad' with a patriotic song in the background.

Redfort: There is too much inside it for a person to spend a day. The serenity, the breeze, the monuments, they can attract you for long

Hazarat Nizamuddin Dargah: Kun faya kun guys doing the Qawwali at the Dargah. Lucky me.

Sarnath: One of the finest archaeological discoveries of the country. Tranquility & Beauty at its peak.

Banaras Ghats: Even with the swelling crowds, there's something in the wind and the music here, that you feel consumed by yourself, and the river beyond the horizons.

Banaras ke log: You go to Banaras and you meet amazing locals, foreigners and shops like these with innovative concepts and food.