Travelling Solo – Why I Will Do It Again

A recent trip to Kutch that I announced with great fanfare about being my first solo trip, wasn’t the first time I had travelled to a new place alone. I was researching a Parsi family for a docu series on the BBC, which took me to Sanjan in 2009 – one of the first places that the Parsis settled in India. As I googled Sanjan today, a lot of information showed up, but back then, it was a fairly obscure place and I remember how hard it was for me to plan my visit.

Then an Animal Planet documentary took me to Nileshwar in North Kerala. Today Nileshwar is increasingly becoming popular on the tourist map given its clean beaches, serene backwaters and close proximity to the beautiful Bekal Fort. Four years back, I again struggled to find this place which was literally off the map!

But both these visits were for work and I had a reason to be there then. Kutch was pure indulgence! The joy of exploring a place because you simply want too is very special. Having travelled to 20 states and 4 union territories in India, and having visited 20 countries, travel is not new to me. For me this trip to Kutch was as much a discovery of the place as it was about me as a traveler, and about what travel means to me.

It was a fairly last minute trip as my husband and daughter were both unwell a week before I was scheduled to leave. Four days before my trip I finally booked my tickets. Then I started my search for a good hotel to spend my first night. I was hoping to spend a night in the villages, so although I didn’t book a hotel for the remaining nights I made sure they had availability and was assured that I would get a room if I needed one.

I had to figure out how I would get to the villages and was keen on finding a local guide who could take me around. I am beginning to really warm up to the idea of spending time with locals, its not the same as striking up a conversation with a bell boy at the hotel or a waiter at a restaurant (most often these tend to be outsiders).

So what was it about this trip that made it standout from all the ones I have done so far! Singularly it was the freedom of choice. It felt so liberating to do exactly what I wanted too. I didn’t go into this trip with too much planning. I knew I had adequate time to explore Bhuj and around, so I really went with an open mind. I wasn’t carrying too much baggage of expectation.

To be honest, I didn’t think too much about the trip because I was sitting on a fence, on one side of which, was an ocean of thoughts about my safety, boredom and doom. I steered clear of this side because I did not want to do this trip feeling sorry for myself, well I had made the choice of doing this!

I spent the first evening of my trip around Hamirsar lake, a popular spot in Bhuj. Many of the cities iconic buildings are located around the lake. When I first got to the lake, I was not struck by its beauty, because its a fairly ordinary water body. I decided to walk around and just soak in life as it was unfolding before me. I discovered some beautiful, serene temples, standing silently as they kept watch over Bhuj and her people. I passed by this rectangular room that had people standing around tall tables looking at something. On close inspection it turned out to be a library and people were reading newspapers, catching up on the news. I was instantly reminded of times when newspapers were a luxury and such reading rooms the norm.

I have expounded about the cows of Gujarat to anyone who has lent me their ear. Not only are they statuesque, but they are super bold! I have had them follow me, stare me down and one even nibbled my back pack much to my horror!

As I walked the periphery of the lake, I stopped to ask locals directions and no one looked at me like I was from outer space. As the sun began its downward descent, the sky and clouds put on a magnificent show that evening.

At the lake I saw this old lady throwing bits of dough for the fish into the lake. I stopped to chat with her and eventually she invited me to her house for chai (tea). She told me about the food that one has to try when in Bhuj and where the best places were for me to sample them.

I spent the rest of the evening finding the best pakvan, gulab pak and thali in town. There was no one else who’s needs, desires, opinions I had to consider. I just indulged myself. When I got back to the hotel that night I was a very satisfied person. I had spoken to far more people than I could have imagined. I felt very confident and content as a person.

Over the next two days I travelled to far flung villages in Kutch. My guide and I met some very interesting people on the way. We gave a lift (ride) to 8 people over those 2 days, from farmers, to cattle herders, to even a beggar. Each one of those people and our interactions with them made our journey more meaningful.

We travelled to some very remote villages and spent time talking to the people who lived there. Some were engaged in specific crafts and showed them to me proudly. We were in no rush to be anywhere. We did maximum 2 villages before lunch and then one or two in the evening. We never visited any with the intention of just ticking it off our list.

On this trip I discovered the luxury and beauty of slow travel, of enjoying a place and of savoring it. This was such a heady feeling and so addictive too, I can’t wait to be off again and hoping secretly I will do it solo.

“To awaken alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world” – Freya Stark

24 Comments

  • Reply
    R Niranjan Das
    October 9, 2015 at 4:29 am

    This is how one should travel! Loved the article, Chaitali. Freya Stark's statement is so so true.

  • Reply
    Arun
    October 9, 2015 at 5:11 am

    Loved your post.. Going solo is indeed good at times…

  • Reply
    Indrani
    October 9, 2015 at 5:13 am

    That is indeed inspiring. I have never done a solo travel yet, so this was a great read for me.
    Great pic too.

  • Reply
    imchhabria
    October 9, 2015 at 5:18 am

    I so agree chaitali. Great going. Will catch up offline.

  • Reply
    Rishi Shah
    October 9, 2015 at 6:55 am

    Hi Chaitali.. Sounds like an interesting adventure.. It must have been great to travel alone and learn through all the interactions you had on the trip..

  • Reply
    Mridula
    October 9, 2015 at 8:54 am

    Glad to hear about your solo trip to Kutch, waiting to hear more.

  • Reply
    Sumandebray
    October 9, 2015 at 3:39 pm

    Never travelled alone to remote places .. travelling alone to tinsel towns are easy and common though!
    Great reading your tales

  • Reply
    Lata Subramanian
    October 10, 2015 at 6:47 am

    Inspiring travelogue Chaitali

  • Reply
    Chaitali Patel
    October 10, 2015 at 3:29 pm

    Thanks Niranjan! :)

  • Reply
    Chaitali Patel
    October 10, 2015 at 3:29 pm

    Thanks Arun! Glad you liked it :)

  • Reply
    Chaitali Patel
    October 10, 2015 at 3:30 pm

    Ahhh coming from you this makes me very happy! :)

  • Reply
    Chaitali Patel
    October 10, 2015 at 3:30 pm

    Thanks for dropping by and for leaving a comment!

  • Reply
    Chaitali Patel
    October 10, 2015 at 3:31 pm

    Rishi!!! Great to see you hear… it was an awesome trip!

  • Reply
    Chaitali Patel
    October 10, 2015 at 3:32 pm

    Thanks Suman!

  • Reply
    Chaitali Patel
    October 10, 2015 at 3:32 pm

    Thanks Lata, glad you enjoyed it!

  • Reply
    POTPOURRIOFMYLIFE !
    October 11, 2015 at 5:11 pm

    Nothing like travelling solo right :) i love it too! Great post Chaitali :)

  • Reply
    eileeninmd
    October 11, 2015 at 5:26 pm

    Hello, what a great post. Thank you for sharing this solo adventure! Great photo. Have a happy new week!

  • Reply
    Siddhartha Joshi
    October 13, 2015 at 2:32 am

    Lovely post Chaitali :) I also agree with the allure of traveling solo…I do it very often as well :)

  • Reply
    Chaitali Patel
    October 13, 2015 at 3:39 am

    Thanks Pot Pourri of my life!

  • Reply
    Chaitali Patel
    October 13, 2015 at 3:40 am

    Thanks Eileen!

  • Reply
    Chaitali Patel
    October 13, 2015 at 3:41 am

    Thanks Siddhartha! Its so addictive! :)

  • Reply
    Charukesi
    October 15, 2015 at 3:21 am

    Good for you, Chaitali! And yaay, Freya :)

  • Reply
    Chaitali Patel
    October 15, 2015 at 3:59 am

    :) That quote fitted my state of mind when I was writing that piece perfectly! Thanks Charu!

  • Reply
    Swati & Sam
    November 4, 2015 at 4:27 pm

    I have never been on solo trip :( … i always want someone for company to eat their head 😛 But your post makes me think to try something out of my comfort zone ..

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