These Bhopal ladies love to travel solo

Travelling alone can be a great way to rejuvenate and many ladies in the city are starting to realise this. Shivi Goel, 35, is a solo traveller who also jots down her experiences in a blog. “I have been travelling alone for the past 10 years and have explored nearly all of North India, and in the South I have been to Chennai and Kanyakumari.
My passion for travelling solo has been with me since I was in school.It was all thanks to my father who encouraged me to be independent and conquer my fears. Post marriage I faced a few rejections over my solo trips, but my passion was gradually accepted by my family. Travelling on my own satisfies me the most and I share my experiences on my blog which get me a lot of feedback from readers who take inspiration from it.”
Solo travelling helps you overcome fears, make new friends, explore places and also teaches you to manage time, money and stay alert. Nikita Kothari started travelling solo when she was 18 and over the past seven years she has travelled all over India. “Travelling alone will make you confident. You get to know your strengths and weaknesses and vulnerabilities in the company of unknown people. Travelling with family and friends is fun, but travelling solo for me is an experience of making a whole new family while heading towards a new destination. My passion for solo travelling has also given me an identity. Many educational institutions invite me to share my experiences with the students,” says Nikita, who believes that a bit of planning is always good. “I once lost my way and got down at a wrong place near Chennai. I managed the situation, but thereafter I always plan, check maps, get local information and then travel.”
Ruma Bhattacharya, a psychiatrist and an avid traveller started to travel solo when she was 16. “Travelling can be a challenging experience. I generally don’t plan my trips and let them pan out naturally. That is the most exciting part of travelling solo. I was inspired by Bachendri Pal and was fortunate enough to meet her. Under her guidance I learnt rock climbing, rappelling and other adventure activities I wanted to try my hands on. My interest for travelling has taken me all over India and abroad too. My next destination is Italy and Spain and I would also like to explore the Niagra Falls,” says Ruma who travels within India at least 10 times a year and makes it a point to travel abroad at least twice.
Kakoli Bhattacharya, an architect, found her soulmate in another solo traveller. “My husband is also a solo traveller. We plan trips together, but most of the time our respective professions don’t match with our schedules. It’s been eight years since I have been travelling alone,” she says.
Most of these travelers agree that travelling solo is fun, but requires one to be alert and cautious to stay safe. Prerna Jain, a fashion designer and avid traveller says, “My work takes me to new places, but I love to go on trips that don’t involve work. I have travelled so much that I have friends everywhere and I keep their contact numbers in phone. Thankfully, I haven’t faced any unpleasant situations and this comes with experience. The more you travel the more you get to know people and end up making good friends too.”