Last month I visited a school in downtown Mumbai. It was a very well equipped, new, IB school. While I was being ferried around I saw, in the corridor, lots of charts and projects pinned up on a notice board. Titles like Australia, Switzerland, London, New York, France…caught my eye. The faculty member saw me eye them and said that the students had made those as part of a ‘plan-a-travel’ project (or so I understood). The first thought to cross my mind was – why did no one think of India?
India is a very vast country, and when I say vast I am not referring to its area, but to the number of places to see and experiences to have. I am always amazed at how foreigners coming to India see more of the country than we see; inspite of us living in it.
Take a map of India and mark in red all the places (city or nearest city) you have been too. Then mark out all the highways and rail routes you have traveled. Look at it. How much red do you see? That is how much you have seen of your own country.
If you would like to see more of our country, there is a way to accomplish that. But it will take time. It will take around 20 years, assuming you take one holiday of 20 days each year. From among the 28 states our country has, choose one state for your annual vacation. Research it completely, make a detailed itinerary, a good mix of natural history, heritage sites, cities, fairs and cultural events. Some states are small and can be clubbed together with adjoining ones, therefore I say 20 years and not 28 years.
I am not saying you should not travel out of the country. Of course you should. By all means, grab every opportunity and see the whole damn world. So, to facilitate this, let’s alternate the vacations – one year you visit a state in India, the next year you visit a foreign country. This way, by the time you have seen the whole of India, you would have visited at least 20 other countries. And 40 years would have passed. You would be in your mid 60s or 70s and you would have the satisfaction of knowing for yourself how vast your country is – it took a lifetime to see.
…don’t leave out this huge corner, called India, either.
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Nice post.
I’d love to see more of my country. The diversity appeals to me. I don’t mean cultural diversity. I’m not a people’s person. Period. I mean the diverse landscape, the different climates, the assorted specialties of the various regions… while I can think of only these right now, I’m sure there exist more and better reasons. Also, I’d like to visit the less inhabited of the lot. I wouldn’t mind avoiding a Taj Mahal (I’ve been there) for a lesser known, obscure little place. Not for the sake of being different, but because it’s almost like you have seen the Taj Mahals a hundred times through different lenses. Now ‘I’ want to see and experience a new place.
Yes Yes Yes
The more i travel in india the more i fall in love with My India. The variety we see in india is something astoundingly beautiful. Its no wonder numerous foreigners throng India year after year and fall in love with this beautiful landscape.
India has best of everything to offer — mountains, rivers, valleys, deserts, forests, wildlife, monuments, cultures, tribals, beaches, temples, etc etc. There’s hardly a thing which we miss whil travelling india. India offers a choice for each of us according to our tastes and preferences.
And moreover everything is so affordable thankfully. There are options suiting to each budget. One may travel on meager expenses or be frugal.
Travelling foreign lands is a good idea, but the budget is not within everyone’s reach. But my beautiful India offers a choice for all.
So lets pack our bags and get going.
Hi Vishal,
It’s good that you know our country is diverse with lots of different places to go to and see. Many among us do not know this fact and therefore are unable to think about India the way you do. They feel, if they have seen one village, they have seen it all.
It is sad to learn that our mountains and rivers dont wow us any more and we need foreign ones to wow us.
You also mentioned a very important point — its affordable. Very often we forget this important aspect. We can comfortably see a bulk of our country in the same budget that we might allot to a trip overseas.
There is really no reason to not see more of India, except of course lack of will.
Thank you for sharing your views. I really appreciate it.
I want to see the whole world. Starting with India. And in India I want to see every state, every national park, every place that has a story worth repeating. This is an ambitious plan and it think it might take more than 20 years, which is still time well-spent. I want to explore this country because it has everything. There are many touristy, beautiful places, but despite the influx of foreign visitors, and documentary-makers there are so many other places we, the original citizens, still haven’t heard of. I do not want to be an arm-chair traveller. I want to experience the length and breadth of this land, because some of it is mostly untouched still, and there’s much to marvel at. So many endemic insects and flora and fauna, I am beginning to think there will never be a time when I can say my travels are over.
Yes, of course I want to explore every corner of this country. Even those so-called touristy spots. I once went to Fort Aguada in Goa, and stood in a silent crowd, and watched the sun set. It was surreal to stand in the middle of a ‘typical Indian city’, all noisy and lit up, and suddenly see waves and a lighthouse and an unforgettable view of the sea.
I read somewhere, that most of our pilgrimage sites take you through some of the most scenic and well-protected places in our country. I surely believe that. For those who love to travel, it would be a shame to not know our country as well as we should. My only problem so far, has been getting time off from work. As far as the budget us concerned, I think there are many shoestring budget trips that can be made. This is not to say that I wouldn’t like to travel to other countries. It is just that I know that India is still extremely beautiful and its treasures are fascinating and unforgettable.
What?
Does this question have to be answered?
Ofcourse, yes.
Why?
Because exploring India will be partly exploring myself and the people I know, because whatever I have seen, I have enjoyed.
And because I want to know my country.
When?
Because I stay here, it can be anytime, sometimes one fine day and sometimes a good 20 days.
How?
By foot,bel gadi,bike,bus,rickshaw,coracles,train,plane.
Answering this question led to new answers. Thanks.
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i am lattteee.…for the coment!
i have never been anywhere! like really.
i am from nagpur so i know the city but not too well…bombay i did my pg n wrking now but not explored the city yet…only colaba n VT.
been to Goa once.
been to kerala for a friend’s wedding but couldnt go out…
I have been reallyy from the bottom of the truest truth of my soul wanting to explore INDIA but never got a chance…
i hope i earn a lott of money so that i can take a trip somwhere!