What benefits does travel bring to individual and society:
The most beautiful thing in the world is, of course, the world itself – Wallace stevens.
Traveling- it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a story teller – Ibn Battuta.
The greatest invention of mankind till date is wheel undoubtedly. It is through wheel, transportation began rapidly. People started moving to far places for different reasons, be it in search of food, seasonal accommodations, agriculture, trade and so forth.
Travelers had shaped many countries in multiple ways through their ideologies, perspectives, innovations, technology, religion and culture.
Throughout the history of mankind, people have been fascinated by a plethora of things but, more importantly, by people themselves. Obviously, we cannot relate or correlate to any other creature or any other thing breathing and living as we do to people. It is this fascination that happens to be an important, if not the paramount factor that lead people to travel. Otherwise, what else would have prompted Vasco De Gama or Columbus to sail around the world. To quench their thirst for fascination and discovery, and to firsthand satisfy such thirst, the only remedy lies in travel. It is through travel that people can know what transpires in the rest of the world. Strange enough, sometimes travel helps people know their ownselves better.
After the invention of wheel, this zeal of humans to enquire, explore and examine has become easier and simpler.
To the society at large, travel is significant to have a better understanding of various modes of governance, administration and even military tactics. Travel has paved way to study various cultures and civilizations and to unveil and reveal the secrets and mysteries of yesteryears.
Culture and civilization :
Travel made it possible both for the individual and the society to study and understand various cultures and civilizations. Realizing the significance of studying various cultures, the greek Ambassador Megasthenes visited india as early as third BCE to understand our culture. Similarly, the study of various civilizations such as Indus Valley civilization, Mayan civilization and other civilizations has become possible only when people who realized and recognized the importance of these civilizations visited the regions where these civilizations flourished. The same can be said even with regard to the study of religion and languages. There is no better way to learn a language than to visit the people who speak it.
For instance as early as eleventh century, Al-Biruni from Uzbekisthan came to India and learned Sanskrit and studied religious and philosophical texts by spending time with Brahmana priests. In the same way, Ibn Battuta from Morocco in fourteenth century and frenchman Francois Bernier in seventeenth century came to India and learned its culture and traditions and published the same in their respective countries.
Food and clothing:
Each culture and society has its own food habits and way of dressing. One look at the modern india reveals that it has become next to impossible to come across anyone in our traditional and native Apparel. Similarly, the food habits people have adopted and practiced, in any country, for that matter, are nothing akin to their native foods. With the advent of travel, it has become much easier to gain access to any material thing of any other area in any other country. The traditional chai or tea, which has become a part of our daily routine has its roots in the Chinese tradition and popularized by the British. On a similar note, the coffee beans from South America have found their way into the kitchens in China and Russia solely due to travel.
Technology and inventions:
Each country has its own share of scientists and inventors. Technology, which has changed the very course of history has become so widespread that what was once thought to be impossible has become common place. Who would have imagined that a person sitting in one part of a country could see and talk to a person sitting at the other end of the globe. Travel has ensured that technology does not remain confined or restricted. Similarly, the fruits of various inventions and the inventions themselves have been distributed all around the world. Whatever the purpose of this invention and technology might be, the fact remains that the fruits of the same have come to be enjoyed only because of commute.
Making new friends and worthwhile memories:
One of the best ways to turn the unfamiliar into the familiar is by way of travel. Be it a trip of a week or a journey of a few hours, we get to know the people around us. Travel is perhaps the only way to experience the wonders and mysteries mother nature has to offer. Travelers have always been regarded as uninvited guests. The tales they carry around and the manner in which those tales are foretold leaves everyone in awe. As they say, it is not about the destination but the journey, being on the road not just helps in creating new friends, but also strengthens the existing bonds. A trip with your loved ones, irrespective of the destination, is, in itself, a worthwhile memory.
Development and growth:
Tourists always boost economy and also have multiplier effect. It helps for development of local communities, in turn infrastructure development, and again attracts travelers. Overall, it enhances the country’s national income through spending on local accommodation, purchase of local souvenirs, tourist fee and tickets, gifts and donations if any.
In a nutshell, travel helps the mental health and well being of a person and to rediscover oneself. One can cherish the history of mankind and architectural wonders and get to know how the world has evolved as it presently is. One can immensely involve in nature’s beauty by engaging in adventure sports and thrill rides such as sea surfing, scuba diving, bungee jumping, wildlife safaris.
In this busy and dynamic world, as ironic as it sounds, travel is the only way to escape our daily travel.
By: Bapathu Poojitha
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