Travel Tales Ep 18: Hyderabad Couple Travelled 13,000 Kms To Roadschool Daughters In 90 Days

by Tania Tarafdar
Travel Tales Ep 18: Hyderabad Couple Travelled 13,000 Kms To Roadschool Daughters In 90 Days

We got you a fascinating story of a couple who are roadschooling their children. Does roadschooling sound like an alien term to you? Roadschooling is a popular trend of families who homeschool their children while travelling. Who said you couldn’t travel and educate your kids at the same time? Meet Gangadhar Krishnan and his wife Ramya Laxminath, who lived a fast-paced life in the corporate world for over a decade. Soon the Hyderabad-based couple realised how important it was for them to travel and hit the road. They wanted their twin daughters to see and learn beyond the grind of standardised tests and structured classroom learnings.

Also read: 10 Best Food Memories Every 90s Kids Will Remember

They Travelled Across 13,000 Km And 15 States

In 2018, Gangadhar quit his corporate career of 18 years, started a travel startup Unwind@Unexplored and got on the road. How did he make it possible with kids? He started homeschooling his children on the road. Soon, they began sharing tips on their social media pages with parents across cities who are on a homeschooling journey. Their nine-year-old daughters Ananya and Amulya learn through these journeys. Last year, the family went on a 90-day roadschooling trip in their car travelling across 13,000 kilometres, 15 states and three international borders.

The Hindu

They Girls Learn Valuable Life Lessons On The Go

The girls learnt about the water cycle in Cherrapunji. In Arunachal Pradesh, they ploughed a farm field and knew everything about sustainable agriculture. In another remote village in the Northeast when they were stuck in the middle of nowhere, and unknown villagers helped them, they learnt a valuable life lesson that kindness could be unconditional. Here are 7 Summer Staycation Deals In Dubai Where Kids Can Stay For FREE

The Family Sleeps In Tents For Nights

The couple believes in unstructured education, and travel is an integral part of it. They follow a child-centric schedule where the girls decide what they want to do every day. So, if one morning they wish to take lessons in Kannada, they do so. The family follows a minimalistic approach pitching a tent and sleeping under it for nights. When they are not sleeping in tents, they stay with the local people. Here are 10 Best Camping Spots In India.

thehindu

The Family Went On A Contactless Travel During The Pandemic

While the pandemic temporarily halted their journey, they hope to be back on track soon. Last month, the family went on their first contactless travel from Hyderabad to Mysore and back through Shravana Belagola, Shimoga, Honnemaradu, Jog Falls and Murudeshwar. At Honnemaradu, they met Nari Shakti Puraskar-awardee Nomito Kamdar, who promotes outdoor learning, environmental conservation and social development. Throughout their journey during the pandemic, they maintained a contactless travel approach. They carried two kinds of tents, one each for changing and camping. One of their most crucial travel gear was a camping pocket stove which helped them cook or make hot tea and coffee.

thehindu

They Follow A No-Plastic, No Junk Philosophy During Travels

Throughout their travels, the family follows a no-plastic, no-junk-food philosophy. They carry drinking water containers which they fill up on the way. In the Northeast, they drank water from rivers, public taps or simply filled water at any homes they travelled. They eat what the locals eat because which again helps the girls understand the different cultures. They believe in focussing on life skills like cleanliness, self-defence, handling fears, respecting animals, handling emotions and communications. Here are 5 Important Things To Consider Before Travelling Overseas Again.

So parents sending kids to schools, would you roadschool them?