The Contemporary Traveler!
If you are at all present in the world and see cheesy movies then you must know that traveling is all the rage now. Young people want to work hard not to settle but travel the whole world. With the ever-improving technology and an exponentially increasing access to it this, once a herculean task, has now become a relatively smaller one. Photo by Charlotte Noelle on Unsplash But what is it that attracts the Gen-Y and the Gen-Z people to travel? Is it the cheap airline tickets or the affordable railways fare? Is it just an overly spread out viral challenge? What is it that traveling does? If at all it does anything. After traveling to more than a dozen places, ranging from beaches to mountains and deserts to forests myself, I’ve developed strong opinions on this issue. I do not claim that the reasons I am about to give you are right, but I know that they make sense to me, and are true to my very best knowledge. I think that the current scenario is so not just because of several individual factors but a long list of reasons intertwined in a very complex web structure. I also want to be clear on the fact that I will be as elaborate and clear as possible to explain properly what I am trying to convey. Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash Starting from the first question which pertains to the appeal traveling has for the younger generation, the answer is very clear. We are at the meeting point of technological revolution, globalization, and the culture of risk-taking. Individuals have developed this curiosity which has effectively changed the culture of settling down to the tradition of trying and testing out things before. The younger generation is not interested in the old ways but wants to try out new things. The individuals want to witness different cultures, traditions, cuisines. They feel that they are part of something much bigger than their national identity. They feel that they are truly a part of this greater society and not experiencing each integrant of this beautiful and magnificent global village is inherently sinful. The elaborate interconnectedness which allows a person to reach from one place to another in just a matter of days is also a compelling reason. Adding on to this are the massive drops of the prices of airline tickets, and railway fares across the world. Traveling or vacationing is not just a rich man’s dream, but well within the grasp of the middle class as well. But, in all this reasoning we have forgotten about the most important element. The growth of an individual’s personality, the change in his character, his perception after traveling is not only apparent but can-do wonders for him. Photo by Taras Zaluzhnyi on Unsplash The first thing that comes to mind is that it increases happiness, boosts confidence and morale, and improves self-satisfaction. It provides you with an outlet to bust out your stress in a productive manner. Traveling to a foreign country also exposes you to different cultures and norms which also helps you to rewire your brain, making you more perceptive and provides a much-needed change from your mundane and monotonous lifestyle. In the expressive words of writer Patrick Rothfuss: A long stretch of road can teach you more about yourself than a hundred years of quiet. Photo by Anastasia Petrova on Unsplash Traveling to someplace new and unknown can simultaneously make you feel intimidated and excited which in turn helps by making an individual more adaptable to a difficult situation and teaches them how to deal with them. This imparts the ability, to a person, to mentally and emotionally deal with tough situations. It makes them more flexible in difficult situations and also allows them to operate far beyond their comfort zone. Traveling to different places also stimulates creativity. Interacting with the local culture allows you to subsume different and previously unknown stimulants that increase the depth of your thought and productivity. Traveling also can make you realize what is important in your life. It helps you figure out what you want rather than let you continue to do what is expected of you. It teaches you how to make decisions and then prepares you to face the consequences of your actions. Traveling is also responsible to help you find yourself; this sui generis personality dancing to the rhythm of his soul in a sea of banality. It helps you realize that you are unique and your thoughts matter, your ambitions matter and that you play an important role in this grand and carefully woven tapestry, known as the universe. Last but not the least, there is also no denying the fact that traveling makes you more interesting and sexier. With several funny, adventurous and life-altering tales to tell, it automatically puts you on top of the dating pyramid. It will make you look young, radiant and carefree. Traveling with your partner also helps to strengthen your relationship as the much-needed carefree time is hard to get, and if you are a solo traveler then it provides you with ample opportunities to take selfies at picturesque locations. Photo by Taras Zaluzhnyi on Unsplash So, in the end, I hope that I have answered most of the questions related to the culture of traveling and the reason for its boom. I hope that what I said was sound and made sense. If it did not, do not worry, more is yet to come. Also, I would just like to say that even though I have listed several reasons supporting the fact that traveling is good for an individual there might be some people who wouldn’t believe me or choose to experience this on their own, to them I say “Be an open-minded person and then make your decision. A decision that will change your life. Go ahead! See the world, Explore different cities, experience different cultures. Trek in the
8 Virtual Tours to feed your Travel Bug when Stuck at Home
India has a wealth of heritage sites and iconic historical monuments, now the whole world can view these World Heritage Sites, without even having to go there, Simply Awesome. Here’s a list of 8 monuments that provide a virtual walkthrough of it. 1. Vittala Temple By: Flickr The Vittala Temple in Hampi is the highlight of the beautiful town. The ancient monument is well-known for its extraordinary architecture and craftsmanship. Vittala, after whom the temple is known, is a form of Lord Vishnu. This aspect of Vishnu was worshiped in this part of the country as their cult deity by the cattle herds. The Vittala temple complex is a sprawling area surrounded by high walls and three towering gateways. This temple has some beautiful stone structures – like the stone chariot which cannot be described in words and the interesting musical pillars. The temple is a major draw amongst the tourists who come from across the globe to witness the once-glorious Vijayanagara capital, which lies in ruins now. 2. Bhimbetka-Rock Shelters By: https://www.timetravelturtle.com/bhimbetka-rock-shelters-india/ The Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka are in the foothills of the Vindhyan Mountains on the southern edge of the central Indian plateau. Within massive sandstone outcrops, above the comparatively dense forest, are five clusters of natural rock shelters, displaying paintings that appear to date from the Mesolithic Period right through to the historical period. The cultural traditions of the inhabitants of the twenty-one villages adjacent to the site bear a strong resemblance to those represented in the rock paintings. 3. Badami Cave Temple By: https://bagalkot.nic.in/en/tourist-place/badami-caves/ Badami or The home of cave temples is located in a valley of rugged red sandstone, surrounding the Agastya Lake. It is an archaeological delight owing to its beautifully crafted sandstone cave temples, fortresses, and carvings. Once the royal capital of the Chalukyas, Badami continues to enjoy a unique place, being the home to a number of examples of Dravidian architecture which sustains and enhances instances of both south and north Indian style of architecture. There are three Hindu Temples and one Jain Temple in Badami Caves. 4. Humayun’s Tomb By: Unsplash Humayun’s tomb is sublimely well proportioned, seeming to float above its symmetrical gardens. It’s thought to have inspired the Taj Mahal, which it predates by 60 years. It is known to be the first garden-tomb in the Indian subcontinent. The design of Humayun’s tomb is a typical Mughal architecture with Persian influences. The mausoleum itself stands on a high, wide terraced platform with two bay deep vaulted cells on all four sides. Humayun’s garden-tomb is also called the ‘dormitory of the Mughals’ as in the cells are buried over 150 Mughal family members. 5. Mahabalipuram By: Unsplash Mahabalipuram is an antiquated port city in the Kancheepuram area of Tamil Nadu, close to Chennai, where a clamoring seaport and a bustling city co-exist. Famous for its intricately carved temples and rock-cut caves. Once the abode of the famous demon king Mahabali, Mahabalipuram was later renamed Mamallapuram. The serenity, the alluring atmosphere and the impressive setting with many beautiful white sandy beaches dotted with casuarina trees are all reasons as to why one would want to visit this wonderful town. Today it is an ideal destination for rejuvenation and idyllic setting. 6. Victoria Memorial By: Unsplash The Victoria Memorial, a huge monument made of white marble located in the heart of the City of Joy, Kolkata in West Bengal. It stands upright in all its glory and grandeur, by the banks of the mighty Hoogly river. Dedicated to Queen Victoria, this architectural marvel is truly a poem in marble. The myriad of statues in the sprawling garden also reflects the finesse and skills of the craftsmen and impels us to rightly call it another charming Taj. 7. Taj Mahal By: Unsplash It was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a memorial for his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Constructed entirely out of white marble in the 17th century, it is among the finest edifices of Mughal architecture. Rabindranath Tagore described it as “a teardrop in the cheek of eternity“ Standing majestically on the banks of River Yamuna, the Taj Mahal is synonymous with love and romance. The Taj has as many shades as any kind of beauty can ever have! The Taj is pinkish in the morning, milky white in the evening, golden when the moon shines and the intermediary variants during different hours of the day and during different seasons in a year. The grace of perfection of proportions and grandeur of geometrical patterns of well appointed gardens enhancing the poise of the whole complex together add magnificence to the delicacy of this mance of love, dedication, and purity. 8. Qutub Minar By: Unsplash Standing tall and proud as the insignia of the Mughal might and dominion, Qutub Minar is an iconic monument that spells out the narrative of Delhi like no other. In red and buff sandstone it is the highest tower in India and is the world’s tallest brick tower. This is a tower of victory, a monument that signifies the might of Islam, or a tower for keeping a check for defense. Qutab Minar is a soaring, 73 m-high tower of victory and has five distinct storeys. A 7 m-high iron pillar stands in the courtyard of the Minar. It is said that if you can encircle it with your hands while standing with your back to it your wish will be fulfilled.
