Indira M, a 70-year-old retired biochemistry teacher from Kerala, has travelled solo to 35 countries. But this journey didn’t begin until she was in her sixties. Like many women of her generation, Indira put her dreams on hold, first due to financial constraints, and later while raising a family. In 2015, she finally took her first solo international trip to South Africa, and she hasn’t stopped exploring since.
Her adventures have taken her across continents, with each trip adding not only stamps to her passport but joy and meaning to her life. “I always wanted to travel,” she says. “But earlier in life, I couldn’t. Later, I didn’t know travelling solo in groups was an option. That gave me the confidence and independence I needed.”
Indira fondly recalls her first safari, describing her wonder at seeing elephants, lions, and giraffes in the wild. That journey unlocked a part of her that had long been waiting to breathe. Her group, strangers at first, became like family. “We’re all on the same wavelength. We open up about life. Some of us have gone through similar experiences. Age doesn’t matter,” she shares.
Since then, Indira has explored destinations like Japan, Istanbul, and Cape Town. Each trip has brought new challenges, like forgetting the code to her suitcase or dealing with minor injuries, but she insists that these moments are always met with kindness and support from fellow travellers. “When we travel in a group, we behave like members of a family,” she says.
What truly stands out is Indira’s quiet confidence and her passion for encouraging other women, especially mothers, to experience solo travel. “I started late, but I tell everyone to start earlier. It shapes your personality, builds your confidence,” she says. “When you travel with family, you’re constantly worrying about everyone else. Solo travel gives you your own space, it’s peaceful. You see the world through your eyes, not someone else’s lens.”
Her daughter, Rohini Rajagopal, expressed her pride, noting that Indira’s journeys reflect a thoughtful, safe, and intentional approach to female exploration.
Indira’s journey began in 2010 after her husband passed away. A chance opportunity to share a hotel room on a senior citizens’ trip became her gateway to the world. With the encouragement of her children, she took the plunge, and never looked back.
Now, with her next destination being Scandinavia, Indira is still adding countries to her growing list. With Greece and Egypt also on the horizon, she continues to embrace life on her own terms.
Her parting message is clear: “Every woman should take time for herself. You spend 365 days looking after others. Take a break. You need it.”
