My Home, My India: 29 states, 7 UTs

What’s this you wonder?

History has it that most of the greatest travelers of history has some time or the other crossed borders to India, yet, there is no name in the same history which is of an Indian Traveler.

The reason? Most of us wanting to travel or passionate about travelling only travel within the country for a short while before they can get the perfect opportunity to head out. Before starting my travels in December 2013, I too had a similar plan: travel in the country for 6-8 months, then visit Nepal, Bhutan and then fly to Indonesia and other countries. However, having travelled across my country in the last 10 months, I realized why it was so wrong.

I still want to travel international but, before I do all that I have to ensure I have done something not just to make myself happy but to give back to the society.

My Plan

• Travel all across the 29 states and 7 union territories of India.
• Spend minimum 2 weeks and maximum 1 month in a state/UT.
• Divide my duration of stay into visiting at least the capital of the state and one other important city (at the least), experience the normal city life of the people of the state, spend some time in the rural area, research Backpacking and Solo Traveling Possibilities of the state.
• Extend volunteering help if and when required.
• Promote travel as a way of life in India (like it already is internationally), and encourage more people to start taking travel seriously than just a leisure activity.
• Promote volunteering for travellers to encourage them in trying to give back to the society by various means such as community building, teaching in rural schools, cleaning and maintaining deteriorating architectures, indulging into hosts of customer service oriented opportunities.
• Focus on the state’s history, culture & customs, and tourism. Explore Safe Solo Travelling Opportunities for Women in India so that they can finally walk shoulder to shoulder with women of any other society, and become independent.

What do I get out of it except for travelling?

Be the change you want to see in the world – Mahatma Gandhi.

I am not a big follower, yet I live by the thought which for me means its time I stop talking and start doing.

A few other reasons

• Encourage men and women in our country to broaden their logical horizons and look at travel beyond the luxury and relaxation and more as a way of life.
• Encourage Volunteer tourism especially related to basic education of children in rural areas.
• Encourage Solo Travelling and backpacking concepts (for women especially) in India.
• Explore backpacking/budget travelling possibilities in all states that I travel (which means all of India).

Why should you help?

With a little help from you, I can not only fulfill my dream of travelling and knowing my roots but also do my bit (even if it’s negligible) of making a few people in the world happier and better.

I will be publishing every moment of my travel (good, bad, ugly) on my blog and every social website that I am linked with and maybe in some other corner of the world; you will know India a bit better than you do already.

Precisely, this is what I have to offer:

• 1 post per district visited highlighting the history of the place, important places to see, the list of hotels to stay at, the activities to indulge in, the transport and food options in the district, and volunteering options, if any.
• Dedicated posts on backpacking and solo travelling opportunities at various districts of India. This will also include any and all volunteering opportunities, if available.
• Visual capture (images and video) of the places and personalities I come across during the time-period and spreading them on all social media platforms such as Instagram, Flickr, and Pinterest.
• Promote the safety and security of Solo Travelling for Women in India through dedicated posts.
• Promote and encourage tourism all over India (even the most off-beat places) through my website, blog, and all other social media platforms.
• Share and promote the posts, images, and video not on the website and blogs but all other social media platforms.

You can help by

• Donating any amount to the project (min $2)
• Hosting me at your place if you live in any of the cities in India (if I am travelling to the city)
• Sending me old books, torches, notepads, medicines (not expired and not old)
• Give me suggestions, advices, tips… anything to help me on the go
• Following my project and sharing it on the social media sites to let others know
• Giving me company and joining me in my tour in your city or any other city/state I may be travelling to that you have always wanted to go to, if you are in India.
• And, of course, Wishing me luck.