Caravanning to us in Goa is the stuff of children’s stories – Enid Blyton and the like. But it is in
fact a very popular mode of travel in many parts of the world, from Europe to
Australia. In India, however, caravanning has yet to make a mark. Its sometimes
uneven roads and cultural differences could be seen as a deterrent. However
with many beautiful corners hidden away in a vast landscape, and local cultures
that can only be experienced up close, caravanning may just be the perfect way
to discover it all. In India, making a case for “the van life”, as they call
it, are Rohith Subramanian, Ankita Kumar and William Meara, or collectively –
the Caravan Chronicles.
Each of them is an adventurer in their own
right. Rohith, a self-described ‘modern day Magellan’, is known for his
two-year biking trip spanning 45 countries. Ankita is a solo traveller – a
“travel monkey” – who’d just returned after four months backpacking across
South America. And Irishman William’s adventures have led him into off-beat
territory all over the world, including Syria and most recently, North Korea.
Their caravanning trip, the first that’s being documented in India, is their
new adventure and it is proving to be an exciting one!
Setting out on March 5 from Bangalore, the
trio have made their way across parts of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, and
have just spent the last few days in Goa. They plan to continue up north to
Maharashtra, Rajasthan and even Uttarakhand!
Their home-on-wheels is a restored and
tricked-out 1990s Matador, obtained through Droom, the app-based automobile
seller. Christened Kiro, the van seems to have a personality of its own, with
its attention-grabbing orange and white look and with its “temper tantrums” –
breaking down along the way yet refusing to give up as the trio makes its way
across pretty bumpy territory, giving us all ‘Herbie’ vibes!
So, the three of them (four, if you include Kiro) have been
making their way across the country, braving crazy weather, from heavy rain to
blistering heat, dealing with their van’s tantrums and learning as they go,
running into trouble with policemen (check out their Instagram page for why!),
making random detours, and discovering off-the-beaten-track,
out-of-the-travel-guide spots that make the whole journey worthwhile. A very
important part of their trip is their involvement with nature conservation;
they’ve visited sites such as the Gerry Martin Project in Hunsur that houses
rescued animals, and have participated in activities like ‘plogging’
(jogging+picking up trail trash) with Camp Monk in Kodaikanal. Along the way,
this group of formerly perfect strangers has turned into a family, bonded by
their love for unconventional travel and their own crazy streaks.
What made them think of caravanning in India, where hardly
anyone had ever heard of such a thing? Rohith says, “When I was in Europe, I
saw many people travelling in campers. Ankita had seen them too. That’s how we
came up with the idea of doing it in India. Besides, I didn’t really have a
home and I wanted one that was unconventional – I see my home as being wherever
I am, and a caravan is the definition of that. On many an occasion, people have
hosted me in their homes during my travels. Now I can do the same. Anyone can
hop in and hop off as they like!”
One of the objectives behind this trip, he says, is “to bring in
a culture of caravanning” to India. “This country is huge and it’s not easy to
cover the whole thing. Caravans are a good way to do that. The motorcycle thing
has also been done and dusted now, so the van life is a better alternative.
Besides, in a van, you can cook and sleep as well,” he adds. So would they
recommend the van life to others? “Yes!” is his resounding response.
The Caravan Chronicles experience so far has been “amazing”,
says Rohith. The enthusiastic response they have received from people they meet
along the way has been phenomenal, especially upon seeing their crazy Matador!
They’ve also been letting many others follow them on their trip, through their
Instagram page @thecaravanchronicles. Some of the people they meet recognise
them from the page, which never fails to surprise and delight them.
The
group has just left Goa after a few days of fun and R&R. They enjoyed their
stay as much as they always have in the past. “Can we stay one more day?” is
what they kept asking, having postponed their departure a couple of times
already, Rohith admits. Now they’re back on the road, driving into Maharashtra.
Next stop – Pune! Check out their Instagram page if you’re interested in
following their travels – who knows, you might get a little inspiration to go
caravanning too!
