Travelling – My Biggest Therapy

 Walking through the journey of life, the soul starts feeling oppressed and suppressed inside our bodies. The mind feels smothered. And, the playful heart starts getting paralyzed with depression. 

The worst part is mostly there are no defined and definite reasons behind it all. Routine work life and the monotonous ‘my life’ with occassional occasions to add some sensation didn’t work for me. 

What I resort to after going through such a suffocating robotic existence is good therapy. Yes, I need therapy but in my case, it is called Solo Travelling. Not travelling with anyone dear and near, but far away from everything and everyone with a smile and tears (every time I cry in silence when I start my journey anywhere without my parents). 

Travelling all alone to distant places has worked wonders for me. No, it is not always a fun-filled journey guaranteeing excitement and enjoyment only. 

Solo travelling isn’t just fun, it’s a responsibility!

There are times when I feel sick and have no one to take care of me. I recently went to Delhi (India’ Capital) and became a little sick the very day I reached there. Though I went there by flight, which takes around 2-2.5 hrs from Kolkata, I got sick for some reason (maybe was carrying my heavily loaded backpack and other luggage after a long time in the intense heat during my menstruation) and vomited multiple times in the evening. There were none, and I didn’t like troubling the homestay hosts there. 

Thankfully, resting that entire remaining day with lots of water and some light food helped me recharge quickly! I wasn’t very ill as it was due to the intense heat and the journey combined in my delicate situation. 

Delhi

The very next I kickstarted my Delhi tour in full throttle, starting a little early in the morning. I ensured not to neglect my physical condition by compromising on sensibility. I kept the excitement under check whenever possible and planned my itinerary on the go as I deemed to be fit.

I covered India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan (the outside view just), Lodhi Garden, Humayun’s Tomb and Chandni Chowk (old Delhi) on that day. Trust me, I was very happy and also, very tired. But, not exhausted as I had resisted not distracting my health by adding one more attraction to my “I wanna definitely explore this in Delhi” list. 

I returned to my homestay at Saket and had my food (chicken Biriyani from Old Delhi). Dive deep into my softy bed and dozed off. Started for the Qutub Minar around 7 pm with a friend, who stays there in Delhi. I must admit it was a damn good decision to visit the monument in the evening time due to its spectacular light show. Had coffee and a little snack and returned to my homestay before the time could be labelled as “too late”. 

Yes, I would never shut up about returning to your hotel or homestay before late at night. It’s important to enjoy and equally essential to ensure your safety at every step when you are on your own in a different place.  

Solo travelling is a responsibility. It’s a responsibility towards yourself that you enjoy to your heart’s fullest but also takes you back to your place safely. Solo travelling isn’t always about fun and enjoyment without ‘conditions apply’. If you don’t understand the responsibility part, you are not yet ready to go on a solo trip anywhere. Period. 

The next day also I started early pampering my tummy and taste buds with a filling and tasty breakfast. It was complementary, so was extra happier (Yes, I’m a miser when it comes to food on solo trips). This day I covered Rashtrapati Bhavan museums (only two museums allowed), Lotus Temple and Akshar Dham.

I enjoyed my trip to Delhi and its brilliant archaeological marvels amazed me. I like the Delhi vibe. Never felt unsafe. A little credit goes to my judiciousness when I knew to what extent should I allow myself to roam around freely unaccompanied. Nevertheless, Delhi also treated me right. 

Relaxing and Night travelling in NueGo Bus

The next morning I took complete rest. I couldn’t reserve a train ticket to Amritsar as I am not a very disciplined person when it comes to do prior bookings and planning for weeks ahead. I could have done it in Tatkal but, thought of not rushing into anything and simply enjoying my travelling therapy by going with the flow. I booked a seat on the electric bus NueGo. To my surprise, I found that all the Amritsar-bound buses and many other interstate buses for that specific day were scheduled at night. Oh teri! I was worried. But, gathered up enough courage to do the booking knowing the safety aspects that NueGo buses follow (I had travelled previously by NueGo Bus while going to Jaipur and Haridwar from the national capital). 

I boarded it (had asked a friend of mine to accompany me up to the bus stand pickup point at least). Immediately, all my suspicions and hesitation evaporated into the air. I felt comfy and safe. The lower sleeper was huge and the NueGo bus is known for its aesthetics and service. I had a pleasant night-time travelling experience on that bus. I didn’t close my eyes and let it stare at the dusky beauty of the highways and the passing cities as possible. The huge clean window glass offered me an unobstructed view of the night glory that Delhi, Haryana and a few Punjab-based towns showed me that night. Tired? Towards the end of the journey, I really was quite tired. It felt like someone had placed a heavy bowl on my head and every cell of my body was requesting me to be treated with some ORS. 

Nevertheless, the excitement of solo travelling motivated my body to keep up at least till I crashed on the bed of my homestay. Yes, you read it correctly! Homestay again. I prefer it to hotels and opt for such if I manage to find a decent one without traumatizing my pocket. 

I must mention a little about my homestay here. The property is almost a century old as is claimed by the host. It has been standing long before the independence of India. The window of the back room opens to Jallianwala Bagh. The part where the massacre had happened. THE PROPERTY EXUDES THE CHARM OF A BY-GONE ERA.

I checked in, took a shower and rested a little. From the deboarding point at Amritsar, I easily got a motorized rickshaw (popularly called an auto in India ). I suddenly felt my blood sugar level about to hit its lowest point as all the rats in my stomach started a revolution quite aggressively. I thought I could take some rest afterwards as all I had been doing during the travelling duration inside that luxury bus was laying on my back in a seated position and enjoying the view. So, my body needed food and some walky-walky movement rather than lying on the bed. 

Golden Temple

I straightway headed towards the Golden Temple, which was merely 5-8 minutes from my homestay. On the way I came across some good food outlets and the idea of calming down the revolting mice in my tummy seemed a sensible one. Ps. I’m known for being a sensible lady! One big glass of lassi and Amritsari aloo masala parantha with channa felt like the ultimate gastronomical blessing that the universe could bestow upon me at that point of time. I relished it. Secretly, my Bengali food instinct was craving for some rice. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the Paratha and, especially the lassi thoroughly. 

Then, the devotional spirit (rather the tourist interest) kicked in and, with all the rats in my tummy now properly compensated, I went straight to “mattha thekney” in the Gurudwara. Oh, my my! It was marvellous. Very exquisitely built. I stayed there for a while. Also, had my food free of cost like any other person there in the Langaar. We got Chapatis (flat bread), Rice, Black Gram Dal, Sabji (potato veg item), Kheer (sweet rice porridge) etc. It had to be delicious as it’s the divine food given wholeheartedly without any discrimination to all who come to the Langaar. This tourist was very happy both with her eyes witnessing the grandeur of the place and with the sumptuous tummy affair encountered there. 

Heading back to the homestay, I granted the wish of my body. As told previously and repeatedly, the body is to be befriended and not tortured if one wishes to carry on with life happily. I took a nap. Scrolled through my photography treasure trove. At around 8.30 pm, I headed back to capture in my eye lens the much-heard-about glorious night-time view of the Golden Temple. Now, one might wonder if my night-time safety alert system had been readjusted during my Amritsar trip! Let me clarify, you need not worry about your safety if you book any accommodation near the Gurudwara complex. You can also stay the entire night at the Gurudwara. It closes the main shrine door just for two hours. Though different types of people throng the area, there is no threat to a solo female traveller in and around the Gurudwara. 

Coming to the main topic of discussion here, the Golden Temple looks exceptionally beautiful when the canvas around gets dark as the sun kisses goodbye. Golden temple glows in its full glory during the dark. The lighting that decks up the complex and areas surrounding the holy pool also looks splendid. 

The next day, I thought about extending my stay there but the shift to a smaller room (the room where I was staying was booked for a night only and by the time I had expressed to stay longer it got booked by others) prompted my decision to leave for a nearby hill station the very day. 

To be continued…

That’s another story that starts and makes its course in time henceforth. Wait to know all about it untill my travelling tiredness releases me completely from its stubborn grip. I will be back with my therapy of happiness real soon. 

Meanwhile, go make a solo trip or group trip plan to far or near, anywhere your heart desires. 

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