Travel Fails: A Solo Explorer's Tales of Mishaps Across India
Long before embarking on a career as a travel writer, I harbored a deep and abiding passion for exploring new places. Over the years, I have journeyed through 25 Indian states, with the majority of these trips undertaken solo, though some were shared with friends and family. Hailing from the northeastern region of India, venturing beyond my home area always presented stark contrasts—not merely in landscapes but also in culture, customs, and situations that I sometimes navigated skillfully and other times utterly botched.
However, this narrative does not focus on the highlights or triumphs. Instead, it delves into the travel fails—those moments when plans unraveled, often due to my own lack of preparation, overconfidence, or sheer ignorance. These are my personal experiences, the kind that linger in memory long after the journey concludes, serving as poignant lessons learned the hard way.
Arunachal Pradesh: The Landslide Ride Home
One of my earliest and most frightening travel scares occurred right in the Northeast. At that time, my parents were stationed in Arunachal Pradesh, while I was studying in Shillong. Eager to visit them, I decided to travel solo and spring a surprise. I boarded a bus to Doimukh in Arunachal Pradesh and then transferred to a Sumo vehicle destined for Hoz, where my parents were posted. It was the monsoon season, and the landline at home had ceased functioning due to the weather, which I thought would amplify the surprise element.
What I completely overlooked was the treacherous condition of the roads during heavy rains. During the journey, we encountered what was easily the worst landslide scene I had ever witnessed. The road had vanished, seemingly swallowed by the hillside that had melted and slid down. Yet, resilient locals continued to traverse this route, which is why the Sumo service persisted. The vehicle lurched over boulders—the only way to describe the harrowing ride.
Inside, my heart pounded so violently I could barely breathe. I was terrified to even exhale too forcefully, fearing the vehicle might topple over the cliff's edge. The fear was palpable and overwhelming. Only after we crossed the most perilous stretch did I finally manage to breathe normally again. Upon reaching my destination and stepping out, my legs trembled uncontrollably, and I projectile vomited. So much for the grand surprise—it was an experience I vowed never to repeat.
Deoriatal in Uttarakhand: When Lightning Struck
Monsoon continues to be my nemesis, and here is a stark reason why. Trekking in Uttarakhand does not halt entirely during the rainy season, and I gave little thought to the weather when I opted for the Deoriatal–Chopta trek. The hike up to Deoriatal was uneventful. I arrived at the campsite, a stunning bugiyal (meadow), and pitched my tent. Dark clouds gathered overhead, but I dismissed them casually, thinking, What's the worst that could happen?
I had just settled inside my tent when a flash of bright red light illuminated everything, followed immediately by the loudest, most deafening boom I had ever heard. For a moment, I believed something had exploded. Campers rushed out of their tents to investigate. The campsite manager soon informed us that lightning had struck nearby, and the sound we heard was the impact. It was one of the most terrifying experiences of my travels. Perhaps now I can boast that I survived a lightning strike, albeit indirectly.
Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai: The Temple I Couldn't Enter
If there were an award for the world's most unprepared traveler, I would likely be a perennial contender. One of my most embarrassing travel fails occurred during a solo trip across Tamil Nadu. My first proper stop was Chennai, which proved fantastic with great food and convenient autorickshaws for navigation. Chennai was uneventful in the best possible way.
My next destination was Madurai, where I aimed to explore temple architecture and local culture. Naturally, my itinerary included a visit to the renowned Meenakshi Amman Temple. I arrived at the temple complex and, within two minutes, found myself heading back to my taxi. The reason was straightforward: I was not dressed appropriately to enter the temple.
I had arrived wearing cotton pyjamas and a sleeveless tank top, completely unaware of the dress code for visitors. Since I was traveling without a guide and had neglected to research beforehand, no one had alerted me to the rules. Standing outside the temple, I gazed back at the magnificent structure, realizing that a little prior research could have averted this situation. It was a simple yet crucial lesson: before traveling somewhere, it is not enough to merely look up places to visit and food to try. Understanding local customs, traditions, and rules is equally vital for a smooth and respectful experience.
About the Author
Precious Rongmei enjoys telling people that she loves traveling—a lot. Her ideal trips are solo adventures that require packing no more than two pairs of clothes, do not keep her away from her cat for too long, and come with ample opportunities for birding and butterfly watching. She is awkwardly passionate about true crime documentaries, gardening, carpentry, and souvenirs, in that specific order.
