Freedom With Purpose and Poetry on Roads

Time of India

2 days ago

1
2
Ranchi: In 2014, when Ranchi's Ankush Kasera set out alone to Raigarh Fort during his college days in Pune, he wasn't chasing a tourist checklist. He was chasing silence and found something far bigger.
"At Raigarh, I understood life. It was poetic, spiritual, and also held a mirror in front of me. I went there alone but came back as a new person," he said.
Since then, solo travelling has become his life's calling. From the cliffs of Meghalaya to the misty trails of Arunachal Pradesh, Ankush has wandered alone through the remotest corners of the Northeast. These journeys led him to pick up nature photography. "In the Northeast, I would trek alone in the rainforests, wait for the perfect light to fall on a bird's wing or a waterfall.
Solo travel teaches you patience and sharpens observation," he said.
Today, Ankush works closely with the Jharkhand govt, capturing forests, lifestyle, and tribal culture. He has solo-travelled to Gujarat's Kutch, explored Rajasthan's deserts, and continues to write poetry inspired by his journeys.
Among Jharkhand's young adventurers, solo travelling is emerging as a powerful personal movement, driven by the urge to disconnect, reflect, and rediscover life beyond the routine.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
The Ultimate List: 30 Hidden Seaside Towns in Europe That Deserve the Spotlight
12facts.com
Learn More
Undo
Some seek solitude, others chase a poetic high or spiritual clarity. For some, it's about bold storytelling; for others, it's about mental relief.
Social media platforms have also opened many avenues. But at its core, solo travel is about freedom, self-love, and resilience, learning to be alone without feeling lonely.
For Samir Ranjan, a Tata Steel employee from Muri, solo travelling started during a stressful phase of life but ended up becoming a lifelong practice.
In 2019, after completing his apprentice training, Samir faced the classic transition pressure moving from student life to job responsibilities. Feeling stuck and tense, he booked an impromptu solo trip to Varanasi.
"I was scared of this new life phase, earning, adjusting, and being responsible. But when I sat at Manikarnika Ghat watching corpses burn, I realised life will always be uncertain. There's no point carrying stress forever.
That trip gave me clarity," Samir said.
"In group trips, you're stuck between selfies, food debates, and time-wasting. I wanted to travel for clarity, not for social media posts," he added.
Since then, Samir has solo-travelled to Ladakh, explored Odisha's hidden trails, and trekked alone to Pangarchulla Peak in Uttarakhand, a high-altitude summit that tested both his endurance and mindset.
In a remarkable feat of endurance and courage, Kanchan Ugursandi, a senior pharmacist with the Govt of India, has emerged as the first solo woman rider from Jharkhand to cover 22 Himalayan passes, including some of the world's highest motorable routes all on her trusted Royal Enfield Himalayan 411cc motorcycle.
Originally from Ranchi, and currently posted in Delhi, Kanchan's journey began from the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, and stretched to the Uttarakhand-China border, passing through Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
Among her most notable milestones are: Umling La Pass (Eastern Ladakh) at 19,024 ft, the world's highest motorable pass; Sasarla Pass (Siachen Sector) at 17,250 ft; Nurbula Top (Eastern Ladakh) at 17,421 ft Lipulekh Pass (Kailash Mansarovar Road, Uttarakhand) at 17,500 ft, near the Indo-China border.
"I received immense support from the Ministry of Defence and Border Roads Organisation (BRO). Security forces ensured I had the guidance and safety needed to access restricted terrain. I want to encourage women to travel on their own," she said.
While navigating treacherous terrains, unpredictable weather, and altitude sickness, Kanchan says mental strength was as important as physical preparedness.
For women aspiring to travel solo, she advised: "Always inform your family about your route, carry satellite navigation tools, and wear full riding safety gear.
Confidence is key, but preparation is non-negotiable."
For 25-year-old Abhinav Yadav, solo travel is not just a hobby; it's his way of life. A resident of Sahibganj, Abhinav said he found his true calling not in classrooms or corporate jobs, but on the open road.
"I shifted five jobs between 2018 and 2019. Nothing made sense to me. Then I took my first solo trip to Darjeeling and Sikkim, and I realised I didn't want to travel like a tourist, I wanted to explore as a traveler," he said.
In the last five years, Abhinav has covered nearly 1.5 lakh km on bikes and another 20,000 km through hitchhiking. His hitchhiking routes have taken him from Kanyakumari to the Kartarpur Corridor in Punjab, the visa-free entry point for Indian pilgrims visiting Pakistan's Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, and also to African countries.
Pranay Sinha, a passionate biker from Ashok Nagar in Ranchi, has become the first solo rider from Jharkhand to reach the world's highest motorable road in Chumar, Eastern Ladakh, a region secured by the Indo Tibetan Border Police near the China border.
Pranay's biking journey began in 2017 with a group ride to Darjeeling. Motivated by travel shows and a deep interest in India's border cultures, he started solo riding in 2018, completing trips to Ladakh, Srinagar, Sikkim, Bhutan, Nepal, and Himachal Pradesh over the past 7–8 years.
A mechanical engineering graduate from Delhi, Pranay originally aspired to join the Army or Merchant Navy.
However, during a long waiting period, he began exploring remote terrains on his own, using self-drawn maps and riding gears.
"Solo travel gives you a blank canvas. There's no one telling you where to go or how to feel. You create your own story," Ankush added.
Samir agrees, "It teaches you that you're enough. You don't need a crowd to validate your happiness."