Travel: An Ancient Indian Way of Life

After the great war of Mahabharata, the Pandavas ruled their kingdom for 36 years. Despite having power, prosperity, and respect, a moment came when they chose to renounce everything. They left their palace, their comforts, and their identities behind, and began their final journey towards the Himalayas, a path known as Mahaprasthan.

This was not an escape, but a conscious choice—travel not for pleasure, but for transformation.

When we talk about travel today, words like road trips, backpacking, and hitchhiking come to mind. Hitchhiking is often considered a modern concept, popular among young travelers seeking freedom and adventure. But very few people realize that India has been practicing the spirit of hitchhiking and long-distance travel for centuries, rooted deeply in faith and discipline.

One of the strongest examples is the Kanwar Yatra. Every year, during the sacred month of Shravan, lakhs of devotees step out of their homes carrying a kanwar—a bamboo beam with two pots tied at both ends. These devotees walk all the way to the River Ganga, collect holy water, and then return—again on foot—to offer Gangajal on the Shivling in their local temples.

Some cover tens of kilometers, others walk hundreds, and a few even cross state boundaries. The journey is physically exhausting, mentally challenging, and yet deeply spiritual. What’s remarkable is that this tradition has been followed for nearly 1,400 to 1,500 years, long before modern roads, vehicles, or travel conveniences existed.

No luxury, no shortcuts—just faith, endurance, and the open road.

In many ways, this was travel in its purest form.

Indian history is filled with such journeys—saints, sages, warriors, and kings who traveled not merely to reach a destination, but to discover themselves. Travel was never about ticking places off a list; it was about learning humility, discipline, patience, and perspective.

Even today, when we travel, something changes within us. The roads teach us lessons that books cannot. Distance builds clarity. Discomfort builds strength. And movement reshapes thought.

That is why I truly believe—travel makes a person complete. Not richer in possessions, but richer in understanding.

So, no matter how busy life gets, try to step out. Travel at least once a year. Sometimes, the journey you take outside becomes the journey you needed within.