Meet the trio of women who are hitchhiking from Mumbai to Goa

This is the ultimate hitchhiker's guide to an all-girls trip. Photo Courtesy: TheHelloProject/Facebook

Did you always want to go on that all-girls trip, but were too scared to venture out? Well, a trio of women are doing exactly that, and are going one step forward--they are hitchhiking from Mumbai to Goa.

What intrigued us was not just their bravery to make that road trip, but also the fact that they are doing it on a miserly budget of Rs 100 per day per person. Don't believe us? Meet Heena Vasnani and her two friends Sukanya Sharma and Ishika Ray, who are on a 10-day journey which they are documenting on Facebook as The Hello Project.

In an interview to Hindustan Times, Heena said: "Sukanya told me that she had never been to Goa. So we decided to travel, and roped in Ishika as well."

Heena, who is a filmmaker, said that when she suggested that they walk to Goa, the plan was rejected solely on the basis of the number of days it would require to complete the journey.

Eventually, they settled on hitchhiking, an activity that is more common in the West than in India.
"We believe that travel shouldn't be influenced by gender. We started the trip as a social experiment and, so far, we have met interesting people who treated us like family," Heena added.

The only belongings the young women are carrying are their backpacks, sleeping bags, and tents. While talking about their meagre budget, they explained that the spending cap is to ensure they push themselves to meet locals and seek help.

"Travelling on a shoestring budget has helped us gain newfound respect for simple comforts and random acts of kindness, be it a mattress for the night, a cup of tea, or a shower," she added.

The most interesting part of this incredible journey is that the trio's route isn't exactly fixed.
In her interview to DNA, Ishika, said, "We had to see where we could take breaks. Imagine if the first person we ask a lift for is headed to Goa. We'd reach Goa the very same day. That isn't our intention. We chose certain places that are very scenic. Our first stop is Alibaug, then Murud Janjira, Harihareshwar, Dapoli, Guhagar, Ratnagiri, Malwan, Vengurla, and then Goa."

Three young girls, making unexpected stops, asking for random strangers for a lift. Sounds scary, right? But don't worry--our young guns are taking every safety precaution they possibly can. They are carrying pepper sprays, mapping out railway and police stations, and avoiding travelling at night.

"Our parents were apprehensive, but travelling in a group of girls has benefited us. A lot of truckers and people we met were protective and helped us out of concern," Heena asserted.

Their trip has been pretty exciting so far, as it has ranged from travelling in a comfortable ride on a truck fitted with a charging point to a bumpy ride on a tempo carrying slabs of ice. The girls will be back home in about a couple of days--but we are sure their inspiring journey will begin a trend of women hitchhikers in the country. From Banaras to Bhopal, anyone?