Struck by wanderlust

Meet 22-year-old Vimal Kumar, the man who dropped out of engineering college to start his own company, which he eventually gave up to travel across the country. Vimal is based out of Bengaluru and was studying mechanical engineering at Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU) in Anantapur. Four months ago, he gave it all up to  pursue his dreams. He has travelled across Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and is currently in Hyderabad. What’s unique about Vimal is that he is not just another traveller — he travels without spending a rupee!

“I came to Hyderabad a few days ago. Money is never an issue while I travel. I hitchhike on trucks, mini vans, motor cycles, buses, trains, and once, even a Mercedes Benz! As the nights set in, I take shelter at bus stands, railway stations, apartments, hostels and even five star hotels. A website helps me find places to stay with locals. People are always helpful, and even offer me food for free. I tell them my story and they tell me theirs — it has been an amazing journey so far,” says Vimal. He makes it a point to post it on social media groups and on his Facebook page Inspiring Wanderer, when he stops at a place, so that he can connect with people locally.

So, what inspired Vimal to take on his journey? “I want to tell people that they can always pursue their dreams, no matter what it is. When I can travel without a rupee, what is stopping you? You just have to start and the universe will guide you,” he says.

Recalling a heart-warming incident, he adds, “I was at Munnar in Kerala, when it was freezing. I was just about to crash at a bus stand, when I met a stranger, who offered me shelter at his place, which was located at a tribal village. He asked if I would mind living at his place... I was overwhelmed that he was concerned about me. I went to his place, we cooked food together, and we shared our stories.”

Vimal also clicks photographs of the places he travels to and claims that he hasn’t faced any struggles so far. “There are little hiccups now and then. I have lived at bus stands just on biscuits, for days. But I think of it as a learning experience,” he says.

When asked about where he wants to travel in the future, he says, “It is not about the destination, but about the journey. I never think about what is next. I will continue travelling across India for now.”