India's airlines have already received 999 hoax bomb threats this year, Murlidhar Mohol, India's deputy civil aviation minister, said on Thursday.
How Returning to India Opened My Eyes to Solo Travel as a Disabled Woman
13.11.2024 - 18:51 / cntraveler.com
As a British Sikh, India has always felt like a second home to me. My dad and both sets of grandparents were born there, so there's a deep familial connection to the country. Growing up, I had the best holidays with my family who live in a rural village in Punjab, and I was always eager to see more of what India had to offer. I’d always wished I’d taken a gap year to travel, so I decided to do the next best thing: I took a sabbatical from work to solo travel through India, a journey that would change my life.
The writer on sabbatical touring through 11 different Indian states
After navigating the hassle of getting a visa, the day I left for the airport, I hugged my mom tightly, and we both cried. It only hit me then what a big deal this was—I had had quite a sheltered life so far. I was in my late twenties and had always lived with my family. This was the biggest and scariest step I had ever taken, which is not the norm for a South Asian Disabled woman.
As someone who has always lived with the uncertainty of Brittle Bone Disease, a condition where my bones break without any injury or trauma, this journey was a profound affirmation of my independence and resilience. My adventure spanned three months, during which I traveled across 11 different states, each one feeling like a different country altogether. I didn’t have a set itinerary—I decided what to do each day as I went, which was the most freeing feeling. Over the course of 76 days, I traveled 20,000 miles across 26 cities, visiting Rajasthan, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Mumbai, Goa, Delhi, Kerala, Bangalore, Chennai, Pondicherry, and Madhya Pradesh.
Hanging laundry in Mumbai
From the architectural splendor of the Taj Mahal to the bustling streets of Mumbai, I kayaked in the backwaters of Kerala and visited the world-famous camel festival in Pushkar. In Goa, the hardest decision of the day was choosing which beach to visit. Every day brought new adventures and discoveries, making this journey one of the most enriching experiences of my life.
For the first time, I was completely in charge of my own adventure, unbound by schedules or limitations. The freedom to decide each day’s plans on a whim, to explore the unknown, and to immerse myself in the rich tapestry of India’s culture was exhilarating. I did things I never thought I could as a Disabled individual—I even tried parasailing. The trip allowed me to break free from the constraints of mundane daily life and societal expectations and prove to myself that I could navigate and thrive in the world on my own terms.
The Taj Mahal in Agra
Living with a body that doesn’t always cooperate has undoubtedly instilled a deep sense of urgency to live life to the full. With my condition set to worsen as I age,
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