“After we used to journey individually, individuals used to ask us ‘How might or not it’s protected to journey alone in India?’,” Harikrishnan J tells me. Two years after he tied the knot with Lakshmi Krishna, they’ve been on the highway on a mission to show precisely how protected it’s to find oneself and one another whereas travelling throughout the nation.

The thought struck them on their honeymoon. As two avid backpackers with a penchant for adventures, they satisfied one another to give up their full-time jobs and dedicate sufficient time to do what they have been most enthusiastic about. After six journeys to locations like Thailand and Rishikesh, final yr, wanderlust lastly bought the perfect of them. On October 28, they revamped a Hyundai Creta, packed it with a number of necessities and a gasoline cylinder earlier than embarking on their longest journey but.

ON THE ROAD: The duo have been travelling since they bought married

“After we met one another for the primary time, the very first thing we spoke about was how a lot we like to journey,” says Harikrishnan. “We have now travelled loads on our personal and have been excited to search out out what it might be wish to share that love. We normally plan budget-friendly journeys. For this one, we have now saved apart a 2.5 lakh price range however we’re blissful to say that we have now been capable of save much more than we even anticipated!”

The couple eats, sleeps and explores new cities of their automobile. Whereas Lakshmi runs an internet accent retailer, Harikrishnan works part-time jobs to maintain them going. Throughout our dialog, the couple was in a village in Uttarakhand, 5 months into their journey. The thought was to cowl Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Lucknow and to slowly make their approach down again residence to Thrissur.

“We by no means deliberate any a part of this journey,” he says, “Most of our plans are impromptu and made on the highway. After a most of 5 days, we actually go the place the highway takes us. Fortunately, each our households are very supportive and have by no means questioned us about our alternative to do that.” The couple has a treasure trove of suggestions and pointers for anybody who desires to grasp budget-friendly journey together with methods to save on resort bookings and secrets and techniques behind cooking on the transfer.

MAKING LEAPS: They all the time make sure that their journeys are budget-friendly

“We have now learnt loads from the wonderful individuals and locations we have now seen up to now on this journey. Folks have been supportive all through the best way. Typically, strangers have approached us whereas we’re cooking in our automobile and provide us an area of their home to prepare dinner so mud wouldn’t fall on our meals,” they are saying. I suppose that is the ability of group.

The duo continues, “On our approach again from Kumbhalgarh Fort in Rajasthan, we stopped by a lake to take a number of photos. We noticed a bunch of individuals cleansing a dam close by. Two younger ladies within the group spoke to us and we turned very pleasant. We went with them to their village the place we turned near the individuals who stay within the 70-odd homes there. We have now felt a lot acceptance each step of the best way. And that is our reply to the query individuals ask about how protected it’s to journey in India.”