My grand travel affair
A few months ago I turned 30. For all the vivacious beings who call that a young and ripe age, let me be clear I coldly disagree with you without offering any lattitude for mollifying my strong views about the age vs action graph. I am a strong beleiver of the right age for the right action. Anyways, that is besides the point here. Now I am having difficulty judging whether this particular ‘landmark’ of 30 has been achieved with thumping fists, clapping encore or has it just passed by like inconspicuous, effaced milestones on an unfrequented state highway. Right now, I am inclined to believe the latter is more likely rather than the former. This disturbing inference has, in some part, forced me to relook, refocus on the transcendental goals of my life and he who seeks thus HAS to travel. Please accept this as gospel truth.
Hence I have a dream… to visit each state and union territory in India and write a book on my travails. There are 28 states and 7 union territories in India. If I were ever to achieve this dream, I would need more than just inspiration from Robert Frost’s lines ‘Miles to go before I sleep’. Maybe that could end up as the title of the book.
When George Mallory was asked “Why climb Everest?” he had a rather simple reply “Because it is there!”. Behind the simplicity of the remark, in fact, lay a profound truth. For a person like Mallory the particular question was inane, rhetoric and hence elicited that befitting response. If I were asked “Why travel to the ends of India?” should I say “Because it is there?” Not really. One, I am no Mallory and two, I do not have an irrefutable answer yet.
So much so for a rather boring (maybe esoteric) explanation to the why, let’s get on with the what, where, when and how of traveling to the ends of the country.
What do I want to do? - Travel and write. Simple :-)
Where do I want to go? – This is probably the most crucial part. India is such a vast country and getting to know which place fits my bill is exceptionally difficult. However, I have been doing some thinking and what it boils down to is really following a strict guideline of prioritizing places which not only excite me but are also conducive for story telling. The usual stuff around accessibility, safety etc would need to the ticked in the checklist off course, but that’s not a big concern anyways in the 21st century.
How do I want to do it? – My very initial estimate puts a figure of 213 days required to sufficiently cover all 28 states & 7 union territories (there is much logic to that number, its not random). This is the time spent on site and not considering the travel to and forth. Taking a 25% uplift to cover the to and fro time, it comes to 213*1.25 = 266 days or 9 months. It is very clear that under no circumstance can I get 9 months off, either from my profession or from my domestic duties as the man of a family. It has to be done post retirement.
Then there is also the budget! How can we ever forget that?. I have yet to estimate what could be the budget required, but a safe guess would be 20-25 lakhs INR, which could be the chief reason why this dream could remain subscribed to the realms of either fantasy or this blog.
If I were to assume divine benedictions on my mortal self which cause the time and money factors to turn favorable, then how would I do so much travel. The answer to this is a well thought out plan. Some initial points which could be used as inputs in making this grand plan, if the need for one arises
- The travel has to be done in phases. Best way is to club the states as per their geographic regions: North, South, East, West, Central and North East. This way, Phase I would mean spend 1 month travelling south and come back to home. Then Phase II and so on
- I am mulling over the need and justification for travel companions. Point is, if I were to write a long story out of all this travelling, continuous character are a must to help glue the shifting stories. So, depending upon people’s readiness, I should be open for one or more people joining me.
- The months need to be planned carefully. I would not be wanting to visit Kalimpong when it is frozen or Sasangir when it is closed for 6 months
I think there are some wry smiles out there. I totally accept the whole idea is exceedingly improbably to execute. But…
It is and shall be a dream to keep.
And miles to go before I sleep
Maybe I will never achieve it
But when my days are numbered, I shall be proud I tried that little bit!
Hence I have a dream… to visit each state and union territory in India and write a book on my travails. There are 28 states and 7 union territories in India. If I were ever to achieve this dream, I would need more than just inspiration from Robert Frost’s lines ‘Miles to go before I sleep’. Maybe that could end up as the title of the book.
When George Mallory was asked “Why climb Everest?” he had a rather simple reply “Because it is there!”. Behind the simplicity of the remark, in fact, lay a profound truth. For a person like Mallory the particular question was inane, rhetoric and hence elicited that befitting response. If I were asked “Why travel to the ends of India?” should I say “Because it is there?” Not really. One, I am no Mallory and two, I do not have an irrefutable answer yet.
So much so for a rather boring (maybe esoteric) explanation to the why, let’s get on with the what, where, when and how of traveling to the ends of the country.
What do I want to do? - Travel and write. Simple :-)
Where do I want to go? – This is probably the most crucial part. India is such a vast country and getting to know which place fits my bill is exceptionally difficult. However, I have been doing some thinking and what it boils down to is really following a strict guideline of prioritizing places which not only excite me but are also conducive for story telling. The usual stuff around accessibility, safety etc would need to the ticked in the checklist off course, but that’s not a big concern anyways in the 21st century.
How do I want to do it? – My very initial estimate puts a figure of 213 days required to sufficiently cover all 28 states & 7 union territories (there is much logic to that number, its not random). This is the time spent on site and not considering the travel to and forth. Taking a 25% uplift to cover the to and fro time, it comes to 213*1.25 = 266 days or 9 months. It is very clear that under no circumstance can I get 9 months off, either from my profession or from my domestic duties as the man of a family. It has to be done post retirement.
Then there is also the budget! How can we ever forget that?. I have yet to estimate what could be the budget required, but a safe guess would be 20-25 lakhs INR, which could be the chief reason why this dream could remain subscribed to the realms of either fantasy or this blog.
If I were to assume divine benedictions on my mortal self which cause the time and money factors to turn favorable, then how would I do so much travel. The answer to this is a well thought out plan. Some initial points which could be used as inputs in making this grand plan, if the need for one arises
- The travel has to be done in phases. Best way is to club the states as per their geographic regions: North, South, East, West, Central and North East. This way, Phase I would mean spend 1 month travelling south and come back to home. Then Phase II and so on
- I am mulling over the need and justification for travel companions. Point is, if I were to write a long story out of all this travelling, continuous character are a must to help glue the shifting stories. So, depending upon people’s readiness, I should be open for one or more people joining me.
- The months need to be planned carefully. I would not be wanting to visit Kalimpong when it is frozen or Sasangir when it is closed for 6 months
I think there are some wry smiles out there. I totally accept the whole idea is exceedingly improbably to execute. But…
It is and shall be a dream to keep.
And miles to go before I sleep
Maybe I will never achieve it
But when my days are numbered, I shall be proud I tried that little bit!
3 comments
I liked the idea and the post!
All the best :)
A pan India trip is something that me and Prabhu also planned in detail several times..always a non-starter and on one memorable occasion almost a starter but for multiple acts of god that intervened..later on when I was based in Cotonou and Prabhu was in London we expanded our planning horizon to include a pan Europe trip 9 which is less ambitious actually, but definitely more expensive)but that plan also hasn't seen the light of day yet...you already know my passion for travelling and a firm belief that travelling and tourism are completely different things..the first being an education as you so correctly put it , the second being pursued for others ends including leisure and relaxation.
anyways, count me in as a more than willing pardner on your planned pan-india excursion
I liked your plan!! Definitely few states and union territories are on my mind. But I want to live in north east for few years.
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