The first wave of caravanning that Indians ever saw was thanks to the Europeans- much like a lot of other things- when in the late 50s to early 70s, the Hippie Trail saw numerous Europeans “hippies” who believe in a free society, are associated with the use of psilocybin, and are spiritually open, travel all the way to Goa in their colourful, pimped out caravans. This Hippie Trail was an iconic overland travel of these people that started from Europe and ended in Southeast Asia including countries like Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and then Nepal. This trail was kind of an alternative tourism with the concept of a “home-on-wheels” to make travelling as cheap as possible.
That is what caravanning remains largely in India (and in the rest of the world) still- a bunch of Caucasian men and women- often associated with dreadlocks and tattoos- making their way across the subcontinent in their home-on-wheels. While the capitalist society saw these hippies as a class lower to them, rich urban middle-class Europeans and Americans found an alternative way of caravanning as well- in “recreational vehicles” or RVs. These RVs can often be rented out for long periods of time and with dedicated RV parks with community kitchens and shower spaces, this opened up a whole new wave of tourism. While travelling in an RV remained mostly a leisure activity for most (something which is still to find place in mainstream Indian tourism), living out of a caravan is still reserved for the free thinking hippies that opened India’s eyes to this new possibility- something that is also evident in pop culture including shows like “Sex Education” on Netflix or the movie “Into the Wild”. The fact that these free-thinking people are often anti-capitalism and, more extremely, often frowned upon as poor is a discussion for another day.
SO, WHAT IS A CARAVAN?
Put quite simply, it is literally a home-on-wheels. A caravan is a van converted and modified into a home, decked with a kitchen, lounge area, a bed, and sometimes even a shower. It is a way of travelling overland with your home with you. While independent caravanning may still be a lesser-known concept in India, organized group tours in caravans are definitely picking up pace and Karwaan Journeys is amongst the first ones to join this race.
The caravans at Karwaan Journeys promote the idea of community building. With a kitchen, a dining-cum-lounge area, mini library, shower, bunk beds, Wi-Fi, mini fridge and charging points, it is your one stop solution to all your travel woes. With a designated chauffeur and a tour guide, Karwaan Journeys is changing the way people go on road trips. Instead of worrying about where to stay and where to eat, all you have to worry about with Karwaan Journeys is where to go next!
HOW CAN I CARAVANNING IN INDIA?
It depends on what your larger goal is. Are you ready to quit that corporate slavery and make the road your home, while keeping your home on the road? You better get your hands on a secondhand van- a matador perhaps or a tempo traveller would be good too and furnish it like your dream house! With several websites and blogs giving inspiration on how to convert your wheels to a home, scouring through Pinterest may also be a good idea before you hit up your mechanic and your carpenter with a solid vision!
But if you’re not at committing to a full life of travelling just yet, and still want to experience the joys of caravanning, consider taking one of Karwaan Journey’s road trips where even the rental and pimping of the caravan has been taken care for you.
It’s now not uncommon to read of a young boy who cycled through the lengths and breadths of India, relying solely on a tent for shelter and a small burner stove for food. And accounts of the girl who backpacked throughout the country for a year straight are getting increasingly common too- and refreshingly so. Because the youth have finally decided to break through the cardboard ceiling that was put above their heads by the generation before them and devise alternative methods to being happy with the world. With a bed, a kitchen, a bathroom all in the space of a small van, living the “hashtag vanlife” has never sounded as possible as it is today!