Contrary to my recent Facebook posts I am not much of a traveller neither do I dig travelling . I am afraid of heights, water and things which can kill you.
The childhood memories include of going to Haridwar , Mussourie , Dehradun as tourists , clicking pictures , eating too much everywhere and coming back tired.
Sometimes we would go to other cities also to attend weddings of cousins whom I have not seen after that.
So the current trip is a conscious effort to explore , see places and experience travelling solo.I think the primary reason is because of the fact that I do not have a job.
Travelling alone or Solo is a very common concept abroad and now Indians are also going abroad solo but we do not see that within our country.
In my opinion these are the reasons Indians don’t travel Solo within india:-
Parents :-
The moment you tell your parents that you are going to a particular place alone they react as if you told them that you want to start a Rock band .
“What will you do there “
“Why are you going”
“Who’s the girl”
You need to find a reason and convince them and chances are they wont get convinced. Then leave it to Allah and pack your bags.
Budgeting :-
Indians have never understood the meaning of Shoestring budget and Backpacking . Even if they are travelling alone they would prefer the best of hotels and best of facilities because of the way we have been pampered during our childhood.
Now good facilities require money and India is a developing economy since last 50 years.
Company matters:-
Indians need company for everything , be it going to movies , going to the market , handling breakups or Para gliding.
Somebody sitting alone in a café is deemed as a loner .
So when we imagine conquering Everest all alone and then realize there is nobody else to click our picture we fall into the Abyss .
Sharing is caring :-
As kids we were told not to take food from strangers , not talk to them and not help anybody when we see them drowning . So how can we go and talk to somebody sitting across the table reading our favourite book ?
Girls may complain that lot of guys will approach them if they see them sitting alone , here is the secret – a guy traveling alone in India will either be rich or Vella or an Artist , so you might get money or all his time or insights of life . A win-win situation .
The fairer sex:-
Half of our population is females and I have not seen a girl travelling alone (except business meetings ) just like that and I don’t think that will see soon also. Security is one reason for that but the protected environment they are brought up in has also an affect. Traveling solo do require some physical work and looking for places on own and sorry to say most of Indian girls cant do that .
A tip for girls:- Sporty girls are always a turn on for guys .
Corporate Blues :-
Check your friendlist , most of the people going on vacations do not have a job, have just quit , recently fired.
90 % of indian population is in corporate sector and they might get 104 days off a year ( 52 weekends ) but since they are scattered they are of no use . Plus if you go away on trips how will you fulfil your sales targets and how will you buy the new iPhone…a scary thought..
Wouldn’t it be better if you work for yourself and take 10 days off 10 times a year….but nobody taught us in school that we can be entrepreneurs.
Risks:-
This will be shown by a real –life incident , some days back a friend of mine was being “seen” by a prospective bride’s family . Along with the parents of the girl her brother and Jijaji were also there .( What was jijaji doing there I fail to understand)
Now jijaji works in good software company and my friend is in sales .
Jijaji to my friend – “ You are in sales , interesting …don’t you think software is more comfortable , easy and settled sector , why are you in sales ,you are an engineer , you should join software company”
The appearance of this question proves the kind of mentality we have – choose careers according to jobs.
If Colombus had the same mentality the world would have never seen Brian Lara .
Ciao…
Anamika Joshi
Agree with almost all the points. I am one girl who has always questioned herself regarding pros and cons of travelling alone. I am dying to have that courage and forget about the negatives for once. If i am able to do that, I know that it would be one of a lifetime kind of experience – for many reasons. Security is the only question that stops me from taking the first step. Arranging the trip from ticketing to booking is fine with me… coz the other side of crossing that bridge is worth it!
And if i ever do that, i will come back to this and then let you know!! 🙂
Jyoti Sandhu
“Indians need company for everything , be it going to movies , going to the market , handling breakups or Para gliding.”
OMG!! I am a completely opposite person 😛 (okay, except for the para-gliding thing from the above list, I have done and do enjoy all of it alone but the thing is I haven’t done para-gliding till now 🙁 but will do soon 🙂 ). I haven’t been able to understand why people are afraid to go out all alone? Why do we have to be dependent on others? It is so much fun, full of thrill and adventurous. Come on! just this one life, we must experience whatever we can, isn’t it? My friends/family feel shocked/surprised when they hear that I went for movie/drink/coffee/walk/anything all alone.
There is no denying the fact that safety is most important but initially one can start by going out to the places/doing things which are comparatively ‘safer’. Hope we Indians open up to this phenomenon 🙂
Jyoti Sandhu
Anamika: Once you start enjoying your company no matter where you are, no fear will matter 🙂 In fact you’ll be fearless. Trust me!!
Nilesh Gamit
Bravo … Good points. “when we imagine conquering Everest all alone and then realize there is nobody else to click our picture we fall into the Abyss” – this is super funny …. 🙂
Chetan Soni
Would wait for it .
Security issue is all cz of the society , probably you can start with short trips to known and safer places .
Chetan Soni
Thanks Nilesh, I guess that’s how selfies must have got introduced.
Chetan Soni
Jyoti , people are not afraid to go out alone we have been brought up in a protected environment .
I must have seen around 50 movies alone and I enjoy them more cz then the whole attention is on the movie .
The things I have mentioned have come through observation of life and 4 months of traveling alone.
You go for drinks alone , interesting..
Sunaina Shenoy
chetan, i have gone on solo trips many a times but they were majorly to metros or the larger known cities and that too for a couple of days only.. but as you rightly pointed out the biggest issue for most girls to go out exploring new places and go on long trips is security and that links to parental concern. it is the biggest barrier for most of the girls who love traveling.
Chetan Soni
Sunaina,
Probably you can start off with Goa or Mcleodganj .
Ram Shengale
Haha.. This one was interesting..
a guy traveling alone in India will either be rich or Vella or an Artist , so you might get money or all his time or insights of life . A win-win situation .
And totally agree with this…
Wouldn’t it be better if you work for yourself and take 10 days off 10 times a year….but nobody taught us in school that we can be entrepreneurs.
Chetan Soni
I am glad you liked it…
Surendro Singh
Dude,I am lucky that I am not a typical Indian.
I have been travelling alone mostly south India and west India whenever I get time mostly during weekends and holidays.
Thank God,I am not sucked my Indian mentality nor had been questioned by anyone why I travelled alone.
Travelling alone is the best form of meditation to me.