Waking up at a new place has a sweetness not comparable to anything else. The sight, the smell, the taste, the language, the sound and the touch- all the senses have a newness about them. The view from the window feels so refreshing! Everyone you talk to feels like a new lesson in itself. Everything you eat feels like a gastronomic exploration. This is the beauty of travel. However, it’s more than the sensory pleasure only. In many ways, travel enriches the heart and soul. If you are travelling well and consciously, it can awaken your spiritual being. This is why I feel that travel is the essence of life. Let me share these thoughts in some detail.
Let’s start this discussion with a few questions. Sometimes it’s great to ponder over questions, whether you have the answers or not. Just having some fundamental questions to talk to oneself is a great way of educating the self. At least, I have felt it many a times.
Relating to the broad subject- “Travel is the essence of life”, like many of you, I also often ponder over questions like ‘what’s life?’, ‘why are we here at all?’, ‘what makes our life fulfilled?’, ‘what makes us happy?’, ‘what’s travel?’, ‘why is travel so important?’, ‘is travel everything in life?’. Answering these questions lead me to a broader perspective of life.
{For further reading on similar subjects, check out: Responsible Tourism Practices ||| Animals in Tourism}
Understanding ‘Life’ and ‘Travel’
Since I say, travel is the essence of life, let me start with my views on ‘what’s life’ in the first place. Is it bio-chemistry following a pattern of evolutionary processes, or is it a divine order? The answer depends on whether you believe in God or Science, or a bit of both. At a personal level, I trust in science more than divinity. But I don’t refuse the possibility of God. Simply speaking, I stick to the idea that ‘I don’t know’. However, the ‘theory of evolution’ as framed by Charles Darwin appeals to my conscience strongly. That life started as bio-chemical process and got polished over millions of years before reaching this stage of the ‘modern human being’. But whatever it is, doesn’t change the simple fact that we are here, and we will leave this space one day.
In a literal sense, travel means a movement between distant places. However, in a fundamental sense, travel is an amalgamation of various experiences of exploring new places, their history, heritage, people, culture and understanding the essence of life. At a personal level, it immensely enriches one’s life- be it from leisure point of view or carrying out business or for spiritual purposes. Even for the society as a whole, travelling helps in accelerating the pace of development and growth. I’m here talking of travel in a broad sense and not in a narrow sense as understood by the majority- as ‘tourism’ or ‘trip’. While ‘tourism’ is commercially oriented, ‘travel’ is experience oriented. {For a better perspective on the subject, read: Sustainable Tourism}
When I started looking at travel and life combined under a common lens, I discovered for myself that the former enriches the latter in many ways. Let’s see how.
So, is travel the essence of life?
Some 2 million years ago, when the first species of human beings (Homo Erectus) moved out of Africa, food was definitely not the only reason. Among many contributing factors, I think, it was someone’s curiosity about the world beyond their purview motivated them to take that first step. And that was the beginning of ‘travel’. Human beings have not looked back since then. After setting foot on every corner of the earth, humans have set foot on the moon and in the space.
This is how knowledge has progressed for centuries. Every now and then, someone got curious and had the courage to go somewhere no one had gone before them. Their courage led to discovery of new territory, new information and new knowledge about our world and the universe.
A pragmatic world view:
What’s the essence of life? Is it engaging oneself in duties of the society, or devoting oneself to the almighty, or a bit of both? The answer depends again on your beliefs (shaped by experiences). Whatever it is, doesn’t change the fact that one needs to be happy, while keeping others happy.
Now, what’s happiness? This is again subjective; depending on the answers one gives to the questions above. Think of tourists. As soon as people have some savings or/ and have some money, they look to travel. Why? Travel brings joy, mental peace, pleasure and happiness to people’s lives. Whether it’s a new place or some new food or new visuals, novelty has a surreal appeal in people’s lives. For me, the greatest source of happiness comes from my experiences. And my best experiences come from my travels. Thus, it’s natural for me to always feel that travel is the essence of life.
From a meta-physical perspective:
In a philosophical sense, life is a journey, from birth to death. From place to place. To quote Vivekananda: ‘expansion is life, contraction is death’. So, one must keep expanding, and travel helps one expand one’s horizon. Moreover, for intelligent beings, life is about seeking a purpose. Think of seekers like Huen Tsang, Fa-Hien, Ibn Battuta, Marko Polo. They travelled across the globe seeking knowledge.
For ordinary people, travel is a way of life. Practically speaking, life is livelihoods. Everyone gains skills, earns their bread and butter, and keeps on repeating. Does travel help in that? Think of entrepreneurial communities of India- Marwaris, Sindhis and Gujaratis. They started travelling for livelihoods and then became entrepreneurs. Think of skilled labourers from Bihar, UP or Odisha. It’s the same; those who chose to leave the comfort of their houses, lifted their families out of poverty.
At a global level, Indians, Chinese now travel to plug the gap between demand for and supply of skilled labour or intellectual resources. In ancient/ medieval times, it was trade that paved the way for early explorers like Columbus, Vasco da Gama and Magellan.
Travel is all of the above and more.
Is travel the most important thing in life?
No doubt, travel is an inseparable part of life and growth. But is it the most important thing in life? No, not for everyone for sure. Yes, there are people who need to or can afford full-time travel. They can lead their lives in a way that their livelihoods also come from travel itself. However, it’s not for everyone. In general, people would take a break from their otherwise busy lives and go on a trip and come back. There are other priorities to take care of. I always maintain that there’s nothing in the world that is most important for everyone. Everyone’s life is unique and their priorities are different.
“To travel is to live, and to live is to be happy.”- Hans Christian Andersen
Nonetheless, I would suggest, everyone should imbibe travel as a way of life. Here, I’m not talking of tourism. I’m talking of travelling as a day-to-day practice to enrich your lives- both professional and personal. Whatever you do, go on a trip to a place to see how others do the same thing. If you are a doctor, go to a rural area and explore how health facilities work there and how people practice traditional medicines. If you are an engineer, go to a mountain and see how people build bridges without modern technology. Or, go to an ancient archaeological site to see how people used to build structures without sophisticated tools thousands of years ago.
“Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.”- Dalai Lama
Travel has great value and lessons for everyone. Whatever discipline you belong, travel can add value to it. Even if you gain nothing professionally, travel can make you happy and rejuvenate you.
What travel really means to me...
Now, the question is why I love travelling.
Over the years, many people have asked me this question, and even I have often asked this question to myself. But honestly, I don’t have the answer. Have you ever found out the reason why you love something or, someone? I have never found out a reason for anything I love; I just love them. Same with travel. To me, it’s not a hobby, it’s not only a passion, and it’s not limited to be an experience. That’s why, travel is the essence of life for me.
I loved travelling much before I realized that I love travelling. It was natural and spontaneous. Then retrospectively, I attributed reasons for it by observing things/ feelings that I love about travelling.
Basically, travel means five things to me:
- Travel satiates my curious mind
- It dispels a lot of negative perceptions, and makes my thoughts broader
- Travel dissolves the ego
- It helps me narrate my story, and share my passion with the world
- It makes me happy
I choose five of my favourite quotes (below) on travel to express my thoughts on ‘why travel is the essence of life’
1. Curiosity:
I cannot say whether curiosity induced an urge for travel in me or the other way around. Since childhood, I was always curious about things around me. I would often question. I would not accept anything if I didn’t see the logic. As I started travelling more and more, I started noticing broader significance to places, better understanding of history, deeper insight into cultures. I started connecting the dots and get some answers to my questions. But every trip generated more questions than answers. So, I would start planning for the next trip immediately in my mind.
However, inquisitiveness was not the starting point for me. Initially, I started travelling, not in search of something, rather because I just enjoyed seeing new places. Then I realized that I was curious of the world in general and life in particular. Every time I travelled, I got excited to learn something new. Sometimes a bit of history, or anthropology, and at other times about cultures. And this started to grow on me. Slowly I started travelling to learn, to know more and more of what lied beyond me. And slowly, it became a passion.
“The important thing is to never stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing”
– Albert Einstein
For example, when I visited Sarnath, where Buddha gave his first sermon, I got curious about Buddha’s birth place, and decided to visit Lumbini. When I visited Mall Road in Mussoorie, I heard about Mall Road in Shimla. I got excited about visiting Shimla and comparing them. When I visited Red Fort in Delhi, an extraordinary Mughal monument, I got interested in seeing another such Mughal monument in Agra- the Agra Fort. Gradually, I got more and more interested in history, heritage and culture. And this in turn positively influenced my penchant for travel.
Even today, I don’t have all the answers to my questions, but the process of discovery is highly satisfying.
2. Empathy and Acceptance
In a country/ society like India, where diversity is the rule, it’s normal to notice communities often divided along lines of faith, race, ethnicity, caste, etc. However, people who travel frequently and keep their minds and hearts open, are more likely to feel united by a common thread.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.”
– Mark Twain
When we are stuck to one place, it’s just normal that we learn the customs, traditions and beliefs of the people of that place. Over a long period of time, this can build prejudices against other peoples and cultures. Reading is one way of breaking the prejudices and bigotry, but the scope is limited. Because reading enables us to know a bit more, but not to internalize.
Travel is the best antidote against prejudices and bigotry. When we meet new people, and experience new cultures, we understand them better. Sometimes, they can surprise us by their generosity. By interacting with them, we get to know the real meaning of things that we thought are not ‘good’. Our negative perceptions dissipate slowly, and our thoughts become broader. We develop empathy towards others and accept their cultural traditions.
3. Modesty
When we are young, the world feels overwhelming to us. From geographical boundaries to organizations, from people to philosophical stand points, everything looks limitless. Not because they are limitless, but because we consider ourselves little. However, as we grow older, things start looking smaller to us. Because we gather abilities to decipher them and conquer them as well.
In the course of growing up, we lose our innocence. We start perceiving ourselves too big and too important. Our little problems look the most important problems of the world. And we start thinking that we can control the world!
“Travel makes one modest, you see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.”
– Gustave Flaubert
However, often travel makes me realize how small I am in the scheme of things in the universe. Many a times, I have felt this way when I stand in front of a mountain, or a sea. The sheer presence of the mountains and the sea connotes that no ‘one’ individual controls the world; there is no point in pretending so. Not only physical forces, but human conditions show us the mirror as well. You see poverty in front of your eyes- the shanties in which they live, their struggles to eat two times a day. These experiences make one realize how our problems are so insignificant.
Travelling simply dissolves the ego away. On the other hand, while traveling I have met with some gem of personalities who have made me realize that there is no limit to ‘goodness’. They go out of the way to help you and others around them with meagre resources. If you are not travelling, you are not likely to meet these people. Hence, on these occasions, I feel travel is the essence of life.
4. Story telling
Have you ever tried to tell your story? If no, try travelling.
I was initially too shy to tell people about myself and my stories. However, when I kept travelling more and more, I felt like sharing with others, and encourage them to experience the same. Now, I have done away with my inhibitions so much that I have this website to tell my story! The journey from relative reticence to being a story-teller has been enjoyable and full of excitement.
Moreover, now I proactively engage with fellow travellers and non- travellers as well. Because, I want everyone to do at least a little bit of traveling every year.
“Travelling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.”
– Ibn Battuta
In good old days, it was not that easy to tell your story. One needed to be a good writer or poet or having some real good writing skills. But not anymore. Now, with avenues like social media, blogging and similar other options, one can tell their story easily, without much skills. Even without any writing skills, these days, people tell their stories on Youtube and other such platforms.
5. Happiness, peace and love
Last but not the least, happiness, peace and love have to be at the core of any travel experience. One cannot continue doing something if they don’t love it. As I said earlier, I didn’t start travelling because of my curiosity or any spiritual reason. Rather, it was for the sheer love of travel that led me on this joyful path of exploration. Everything else- feelings, knowledge, realization came as a by-product.
“The core of man’s spirit comes from new experiences… There is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon.”
– Christopher McCandless
However, one needs to distinguish between happiness and pleasure. While happiness is a joyful state of mind, pleasure is a short-lived sensual experience. Though seeking pleasure every no and then is okay, one should look for long-lasting peace foe mind. It comes from mindfulness and being conscious while travelling.
Travel transforms
Travel has great transformative effects. It makes me see the subtler sides of life- beauty, love and happiness. Sometimes, it teaches me lessons and at other times it tells me just to chill and take life easy.
Once you start travelling, you cannot remain the same person after a while. It can make you become several versions of yourself, and also become a better version of yourself in course of time. I love this one from Anita Desai- “Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow”. How true! When you thoroughly enjoy a place and internalize its essence, it becomes a part of you.
Travel means many things to many people. Maybe at different times I have felt differently too. But as a whole, it gives me a sense of fulfilment. Sometimes, I feel like exploring the world is the purpose of my life. Seeing new places, experiencing various cultures and witnessing signs of times gone by, are the closest things to my heart.
Travel consciousness:
While travel in general is important, being conscious while travelling is equally important. Indiscriminate and mass tourism has led to many a problem across the globe. Mass tourism has resulted in harming the local environment, pollution of water bodies, dilution of cultural heritage and more. We must avoid this trap.
In recent times, taking care of the environment has become equally essential. So, we do promote “sustainable tourism” and the need for being conscious about one’s budgets. The more one spends indiscriminately, the more the harm is done to the environment. Thus, it’s always good to look for simple ways of enjoying, protecting the local environment, and promoting the local economy. To read more on these ideas, please read our post on: How to Make Budget Trips Enjoyable.
Concluding Thoughts: Travel indeed is the essence of life
I started as a tourist some 25 years ago. Gradually, I understood the essence of travel and then realized that travel is not only about visiting new places, rather it’s the essence of life.
I love to see the colour of sunset in different horizons. While the colour might look similar, the vistas are always different. The same festival has quite different meanings in different places! But maybe, you won’t see the difference if you don’t have the eye of a traveller.
Once you realize the futility of money and material, you will fall in love with nature and people. That’s what travel does to you. One who travels regularly, can easily see why I say that travel is the essence of life. For your reading pleasure, sharing with you an interesting article on why travel is important for mental growth and human happiness.
If you have enjoyed reading this article, do share your thoughts with us. Let’s have some meaningful conversation. Because, one of the objectives of this site is to exchange ideas on travel, especially conscious travel. In the comments section, please share with me what travel means to you.
Mani Kant Giri
After reading the post i got reminded of that bollywoood song filmed on Rajesh Khanna and Hema Malini and the song goes like : Jindagi ek safar hai suhana…and what can be a better metaphor to use for life anyway other than ‘journey’. And how this journey/travelling gives meaning to our life…very well written..keep writing
stampedmoments
Thanks Manikant for a lovely reply. Lemme know when you plan for Odisha. I can be your personal guide 😉
Soumen Chatterjee
It’s a wonderful read Travel is indeed an essence of life. Travel helps in gaining positive energy and thoughts. Travel trasforms life’s of people. We get to learn lot of things with respect to understanding and meeting people , understand nature and environment and from your blog it’s true that we have so many things we can learn from traveling. The blog have been described so beautifully that the people who don’t love travelling will now wants to travel. Out of words, would love to travel with u once.
stampedmoments
Thanks a lot, Soumen. Yes, you are right; travel transforms lives.
And yes, we will travel together soon.
Pinkle
This nice read was a good reminder to make way for travelling in this life resembling a traffic jam. The blog did compel me to think why I like to travel.
stampedmoments
Hi Pinkle. Always good to hear from you; your thoughts are refreshing.
Thanks a lot.
Sarita Rout
Very truly said – travel is the real essence of life. I always love visiting new places. Refreshing and re-energizing.
stampedmoments
Let’s travel more together.
Keep reading the blog posts 🙂