Travelling is the most liberating thing one can ever do

This isn’t just a lofty statement—it’s the plain truth that people tend to overlook most of the time. I get it, not everyone is into wandering through unknown streets, exploring new cultures, or trying food items they can’t pronounce. But honestly, travel is the one thing that can open your mind to endless adventures and crazy-yet-totally-amazing experiences.
I've been travelling since childhood—my father introduced us to the thrill of visiting new places. He used to plan family trips in and around India. Having visited all the states himself (mostly thanks to his sports activities), he still has that spark for travel. Maybe the travel bug bit me genetically (lol).
I began travelling without family in 2017 after finishing my Masters and moving to Kolkata for further studies. My first trip? Lucknow, with a friend, for a national conference. What started as an academic outing quickly turned into a mini adventure (thanks to my not-so-predictable friend 😄). From casually exploring an Indian city to planning a foreign trip just six months later… it all feels a bit surreal now.
Living away from home gave me a bit of freedom. My dad—usually an anxious scaredy-cat—would’ve never agreed to let two girls backpack to a foreign country. But my mom? She’s always been about raising independent women. I told her first about my plan to travel to Thailand, and she was surprisingly excited. She slyly passed the news to my dad.
Now, my dad isn't exactly loud or intimidating, but when he found out I had planned a backpacking trip on a 35k budget including flights, his reaction? Classic:
"When she runs out of money, she’ll get into trouble in a foreign soil and come seeking help."
Well... Spoiler alert: I didn’t (because I’m a top-tier travel researcher, thank you very much 😄). That 35k-all-inclusive trip (yes, flights too!) was a big success.

That trip was an eye-opener and gave us major realisations. A lot of Indian travellers are missing out on living life to the fullest. Many due to several family restrictions, monetary crunches, fear of exploring the unknown and many similar situations.
Most want luxury, air-conditioned comfort, and zero cultural immersion. Many of my friends have splurged nearly a lac on a single trip to South Asia, while my four international trips have been covered within that budget. So either I’m a very good planner—or I just believe in living like a local, soaking it all in.
Of course, not all adventures go as planned—and that’s exactly what makes them unforgettable! Like the time I literally tumbled down a hill with the paraglider during takeoff in Bir (don’t worry, both I and the pilot survived—just not our dignity). Or that one chaotic evening in Bali when my friend and I got stuck near Ubud Palace the day before Nyepi because of the parade crowds—no vehicles, no way out—and then spent the next day completely locked in thanks to Nyepi’s “no movement” rule. And let’s not forget getting totally lost in a completely different city with no signal and zero clue where we were heading. Honestly, half the thrill of travel lies in moments like these—they make the best stories once you are back home and your knees have stopped shaking!

From all my travels, I've realised that I’m not a fan of luxury travel. I want to be a traveller, a collector of stories, not spa coupons. Another funny thing—during our hostel stays and backpacker hangouts, we were often the oldest in the room. Most fellow travellers were fresh-faced 18–2o-year-olds. (Thank the gods for youthful genes or else it would’ve been so awkward lol. I was 25 at the time 😌)
To date, I’ve explored four South Asian countries with two of my oldest female friends—and we’ve racked up a treasure trove of wild and wonderful memories. We did hit a snag for three years for COVID, but that really didn’t stop our wanderlust. Between the first and second waves, I managed trips to Dharamshala, Bir (with camping and paragliding), Goa, Sethan, Andaman, Pondicherry—you name it. (I’ve shared stories from some of these in earlier posts, by the way!)
Amidst all these, one thing I’ve learned over the years? Your travel buddy matters. A lot. The company you keep can make or break a trip. I’ve been lucky to have kind, flexible, and fun people with me each time.
Now, with borders more open and the world calling again, I gear up for my next big adventure (fingers crossed for a foreign one!), I’m hoping the future holds more journeys, more stories, more passport stamps and more soul-satisfying escapes.
Ending this blog with a mantra I live by:
"You don’t need to be rich to travel—you just gotta be smart."
So go on, readers. Travel, travel, travel... and broaden those horizons.

Adding some pictures here to increase the glamour of the post 😁