Caravans are the newest addition to the Indian travelling sector. Caravan travel is undoubtedly the best mode of travelling amidst this pandemic. Pack your bags, start the engine and you are ready to go!
2020 has been a very unique year for all of us. It's been almost a year since the lockdown started. Travelling is amongst one of those sectors which is affected a lot during this pandemic.
With the commencing of unlocking, some of the tourist locations are now open for travellers. As the situation is still not normal, travelling in groups is still better to be avoided. Camper vans or caravans are the new favorite choice of the travellers as it offers complete isolation along with a flexibility of camping at different locations.
What is caravan? (Caravan definition):
A caravan is a modified vehicle with all the facilities alike home inside and is generally used for travelling and exploration. Caravan travel is a very popular concept in the West whereas in India, travelling by caravan is still a very new thing. Travellers who want isolation and complete flexibility in camping like to travel by caravans. Driving through the deserts, picturesque mountains, lakes and stopping by some serene locations to click some photos and enjoy the calm vibe are what a caravan travel offers.
Caravan vehicle: 5 Vehicles that can be converted into caravans in India:
1. Force Gurkha: With 2.2 litres of diesel engine which delivers a power of 54 BHP, Force Gurkha is the only vehicle in India that offers complete off-roading capabilities.
2. Force Matador: Matador is a vehicle from Force with a perfect size for converting into a caravan, engine is outdated though. Production of this vehicle stopped in the 90’s but still many of this model can be found on the roads of tier 2 and tier 3 cities in India.
3. Mahindra Thar: Thar is an off roading vehicle from Mahindra. An affordable off-roading vehicle made in India which comes with a 4x4 feature, Mahindra Thar is very popular amongst the camping lovers in the country.
4. Force Traveller: Force traveller is one of those vehicles which can easily be found on Indian roads more specifically on the roads of tier 2 and tier 3 cities of the country.
5. Tata Winger: Tata winger is a perfect option for a family camper van. This vehicle is mostly used as a school bus or an ambulance in India. Winger has a great base for converting into a micro camper.
Caravan Inside: How the inside of a caravan looks like!
As caravans are those modified vehicles which are used for long route site explorations and camping, all the basic as well as luxurious facilities should be offered within the van itself. The van is sort of a moving home. In general for big vans, all the facilities like beds, tables are provided with foldable and multi purpose usability options. A mini kitchen with a small gas cylinder is also provided with a caravan mostly attaching a foldable table at the doors. For a small van, a foldable attached camp is offered which can be unfolded once stopping by a location.
Some images showing the inside of a caravan:
Caravan India rent: Caravan renting is a very new concept in India. People have started showing interest for caravan travel recently this post lockdown season. As it offers all the facilities inside and less to almost nil human contact outside, caravan travel is now gaining popularity during this pandemic. There are still very few caravan renting facilities available in India. With its gaining popularity as the safest mode of travelling during this pandemic, more and more travel companies will definitely start offering caravan services in India.
3 caravan facilities from where you can hire caravans for road trips and site exploration in India:
1.Motorhome Adventures: A delhi based caravan company, Motorhome adventure founded by Sanjay Saini and Bina Saini offers caravan services in Delhi, Bengaluru, Bhopal and other parts of Madhya Pradesh.
Amenities:
Sofa cum Bed with a large lounge area
An off board kitchen with microwave, fridge and a storage facility.
Bathroom with hot and cold water service.
Where you can travel to!
You can travel to Rajasthan, Goa, Ladakh, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh depending on your location of departure.
2.Trippy wheels: A bengaluru based company founded by Sanjana Hangal and Vathsala Rangegowada, Trippy soul offers caravans for renting for road trips in the country.
Amenities:
Air conditioning, Charging points, lights and fans.
Kitchen with stove, the required utensils and a storage facility.
Tents, chairs and a barbeque facility.
Where you can travel to!
You can travel to Hampi, BR Hills Bhadra century, Tala Kaveri, Dandeli and many famous tourist spots in Karnataka. Outside of Karnataka, you can travel to Goa or Andhra Pradesh.
3.Camping & Co:
Unlike others, this Guwahati based caravan company offers camping on a caravan with its foldable rooftop tents attached with it.
Amenities:
A rooftop tent that can be unfolded wherever the traveller wants to stop by.
Does not come with a kitchen and washroom facilities, though they have tie ups for those services.
Where you can travel to!
As this is a self driving service, you can travel to anywhere in the North East of India.
Conclusion: Stories are being published over the internet on caravan travel experiences. Still a new concept for Indian travellers but will surely gain popularity for its safe mode of travelling amidst the pandemic.