Chennaiite embarks on first all-India caravan expedition

The 23-year-old was inspired by the concept #Vanlife, the bohemian movement that several American youngsters followed last year, creating a social media phenomenon. Rohith has joined two more trippers – solo backpacker Ankita Kumar who has been backpacking globally for two years and just returned from South America, and investigative traveller William from Ireland who has been documenting unheard of stories from different parts of the world, and was mostly recently in north Korea. 

“This is the first caravan journey that has been documented in India. We are also converting the van in a food truck, as well as a place where people can make music and other adventure activities. We are also working with nature conservation camps and organic farming projects, picking up people along the way,” said the trio, who began their trip this month. 

Beginning at Pollachi, the ‘Droom Caravan Chronicles’ traversed via Chennai to Bengaluru, after which they explored Coorg, Wayanad, Bandipur and Munnar. Rohith said, “Every night, we park at camp sites, or find suitable places to rest for the night. The vehicle has been rebuilt extensively by us, but has no locks, hence we have to be very careful with regards to safety. It’s the mornings that are most amusing; as our bright orange vehicle attracts attention everywhere we go. We even get pulled over often by the cops.” The trio will end the trip in Delhi, after which they will decide how to document their journey. Could a book, movie or travelogue show in the works? “We aren’t pressuring ourselves with that kind of decision yet; we will decide how to spread the word on the go,” they said.