For most of us, the concept of a road trip was unheard of until the iconic film, Dil Chahta Hai hit the screens in the early 2000s.
At that time, all that travelling meant was a planned vacation with the whole family to a hill station or pilgrimage site, and that was that.
But with this one movie, debutant director Farhan Akhtar made us wish for not just that one epic Goa trip with friends but more importantly, gave us a glimpse of how much fun a road trip could be!
Eighteen years down the line, we have this growing tribe of travel enthusiasts in India who are choosing to spend their vacations and leaves wisely. Travelling with friends is one thing but imagine the possibility of doing the same with like-minded people who are as passionate about travelling as you are!
Opening the doors to new experiences, friendships and obviously, places—this kind of travelling is relatively new in India but surely catching on!
If you love road trips and are already smitten by the idea mentioned above, then the Road Trippers Club is tailor-made for you!
Started in 2018, by a group of friends based in Mumbai, the idea of conquering the fear of travelling along the highways is what gave birth to this unique club. Comprising Ruchik Gandhi, Rikin Gosai, Tanmay, Ankush Birajdar, Vineet Rajan and Deepak Ananth, these friends would hit the road quite frequently.
“It was when people reached out to us with inquiries about the safety of driving through highways, did we realise that it was indeed a roadblock for those keen on travelling in their own vehicles. When we travel in packs, there shouldn’t be a reason for worry, and also, it is a great way to meet people from different walks of life who share common interests. That’s how Road Trippers Club came into being,” shares Deepak Ananth, the CEO of a startup named Scout My Trip.
Flagged off in Mumbai, this growing community of travellers now has chapters in 12 different cities across the country, including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Guwahati, Kolkata, Bhopal, Hyderabad, Nasik, Aurangabad, Nagpur and Pune.
So how can one join this club?
All you need to do is join them for a drive. All the upcoming trips are listed on their website, and you can choose one that suits you. The best part is that once you sign up, you can even create drives of your own with interested people. Each of these trips has themes as well as a slew of activities that are unanimously decided by the members joining the drive.
“It is heartening how far we have come along in less than a year. From kids as young as 2-3 years old to a dynamic 75-year-old joining us, we have also had pets with us on these road trips. The idea of travelling with like-minded people is always exciting and the fact that more people nurse the same joy and thrill of travelling as much as we do by joining us at different locations in the country, all the more proves this point,” says Deepak.
From watching the Olive Ridley turtle hatchlings in coastal Maharashtra and the blooming Neelakurinji flower in Kodaikanal to witnessing the legendary Hornbill festival in Nagaland, the club is spreading its wings across the country with its designated chapters.
In fact, in December 2018, they had organised 45 trips!
But keeping aside all the fun and wanderlust goals, Deepak mentions that the club is very particular about the safety of its members, and has actually helped many people become more confident about their driving.
Furthermore, every drive is has a designated captain and tail chosen by the group based on their experience. While the former coordinates the route as well as the activities planned out, the last driving vehicle makes sure that no one remains behind or gets lost throughout the drive.
Before every trip, Deepak shares that they have a small session to brief members about guidelines to follow and essential things to carry in their vehicles—be it a two-wheeler or four. While there is no age limit for people to join the club, the eligibility for a driving member is a valid driver’s licence.
From 12 people in five cars to close to 4,000 members spread across the country, the Road Trippers Club is only growing, and we are sure this number is just going to rise.
So what are you waiting for? Go road tripping with these travel lovers from across the country and make new friends along the way!
You may also like: Wanderlust Goals: This Group is Redefining Budget Travel for Indian Women!
To check out more, you can look up the Road Trippers Club and their upcoming trips on their website. You can also follow them on Facebook.
(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)
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