Due to various remarkable changes, India has been witnessing travel patterns of people which were never heard of over the period of last 10 years. As metro cities are occupied with buzz and popular hill stations attack a large number of people heading towards them each year, the trend of backpacking has led travelers to trek the lesser-known towns and villages in order to escape the monotony of sightseeing. These towns are no longer isolated spots on maps; they are the living heritage, culture, and warmth of India. The discovery of faint landscapes is not the only thing that makes the journeys extraordinary but the bonding of communities which is very deep when travelers get involved with local life. Backpackers are acknowledging that the most authentic India-stories are not found in tourist hubs but in the laughter of children playing on dusty village roads, the aroma of food being prepared in mud homes, and the welcoming nature of people who invite strangers to share their meals and tales.
Little towns in India are like the treasure troves of culture waiting to be opened. For backpackers mostly the local cities or remote town prove to be a lesson to them to know more about the diversity that our country, India possesses. Drinking a hot cup of chai at the roadside stall in Bundelkhand or participating in the folk dance in the village close to Udaipur or listening to the local myths from elderly storytellers in the Himalayas , each event is full of the feeling of getting connected to people in such a way which is quiet rare in cities. These interactions are not just for the moment but they become part of the stories of these travelers which they treasure forever and also share to the world through youtube videos or a travel blog. This very form of storytelling is the one that helps these hidden towns, which are often ignored by mainstream tourism, to get their places on the global map. More significantly, it assists in the continuation of local customs and economies, thus giving communities the chance of gaining the pride and visibility.
Backpacking in small-town India is beautiful because of the element of surprise which is always there. It is quite different from the case of organized tourism with its set itineraries, in the latter every day is spontaneous. A backpacker who goes to Orchha with the hope of seeing its temples could find himself at a community cooking event or even a local cleanliness drive. In villages of Kerala, travelers are often engaged in farming activities and at the same time they are learning the traditional farming methods while forming relationship with the locals. These moments of spontaneity are the real human connections where visitors and hosts can mutually benefit and thus live the enriched lives. It is the unplanned and thus not forgotten joyous moments that make the backpacking trips real.
Another point of this change is sustainability. Travelling to small towns is naturally much slower and more mindful way of exploring a particular place does not hush hush related to the cities which become a headache at times. Backpackers are more likely to stay in the homestay as compared to big hotels and eat at the local restaurants instead of the international chain and use public and shared transport most of the time during their travel. This also helps to transfer the money not to the big brands but to the local economy and helps them to flourish as well. For instance, travelers who visit small towns like Chikmagalur or Spiti and stay with the local families help indirectly in the preservation of heritage houses and support local arcticians which ensures that the traditional crafts are thriving. This is a new trend of eco-tourism which helps to set an example of travel diaries in which are less of an extraction but more of the collaboration and this is exactly what our country India wants in order to grow its tourism sector.
The emotional impact of these journeys is huge. Many times, backpackers bring back the memories of the encounters with strangers who, in time, became like their family and the relationships that are beyond the transactional nature of modern tourism. A foreign traveler, who has been in a small Rajasthani town for a week, will probably leave him taking more than just photographs; with him will be the friendships formed, shared laughter, and even the promises of coming back. Locals view such kind of meet ups as the openings to the outside world which they have not encountered in their real life where their curiosity and exchange of ideas are kindled. Kids get to know about different cultures in grown level and elders get to feel that they are getting respect from people all around the world and this helps in communities getting much stronger with the sense of identity. This emotional reciprocity is one of the ways in which India`s social fabric is strengthened that no fancy brochures can do. It is also true that digital storytelling has contributed a lot to this re-engagement. Most of the travelers and backpackers actually record their journeys in their blogs, vlogs or turn it into an instagram reels which attracts more people to think about visiting local areas near Goa and Shimla. Once a traveler posted about a tiny tea shop situated in Majuli which attracted alot of people from all around the world. Travel influencers have come to the conclusion that the audience is more likely to connect with the authenticity rather than with the picture-perfect tourist spots. The creation of an online buzz not only invites other travelers to follow their lead but also assists small-town entrepreneurs, homestay owners, and artisans in getting recognized and making money.
Government is now recognizing the importance of rural and small-town tourism. Programs such as the Swadesh Darshan Scheme and the Dekho Apna Desh Campaign (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) are welcoming tourists to explore the hidden gems of India. These projects are in line with what the backpackers have been doing naturally going for depth instead of distance. The blend of official campaigns and grassroots traveler’s culture is giving us a future where the rise of tourism does not mean the loss of culture but the revival of culture. By putting these towns on the official tourism radar, the government is amplifying the efforts of backpackers who first brought attention to them.
Small town episodes of community bonding which are brought forward with the help of experiences of backpacking are the ones which reveal the raw truth that most often gets overlooked during the hustle of modern travel which now considers people as places as they expose us to stories not heard quiet often through their experiences in their lives. Natural wonders, rivers and architecture around the world may look stunning for a while but the heartfelt and starry night conversations that stand out in our memory. For backpackers who have been rediscovering small towns of India , their trip is not just about the distance that they have covered but the breaking of the boundaries which were artificially created due to lack of understanding and knowledge of these places but have opted for traditions , customs and cuisine in the places where they don’t feel like a stranger. Their heartfelt travelling makes them cherish the moments in small town India and they dare to explore more places less travelled.