Travelling, which is an inseparable part of modern living, has been considered a part of one’s education from time immemorial. It is one of the most delightful experiences of mankind because almost all people have always enjoyed going from place to place seeing men and things. The Englishmen, in particular, consider their schooling incomplete without a tour of the European continent. In India, unfortunately, foreign travel has been not much encouraged and, in fact there was a time when crossing the seas was declared to be highly sacrilegious. Even father of our nation Mahatma Gandhi was threatened with social boycott for going beyond seas. But, with the passage of time, that orthodox opinion has changed and the Indians, now in general, have began to realize the numberless advantages of travelling.

Travelling both inside and outside the country is a powerful aid to education. It teaches and teaches better than the books. We hear and yet doubt; we read, and yet question and challenge. But if we go to the spot direct, all doubts are set at rest and our doubts are dispelled. So traveling provides an experience of the world and calls into action and practical use of various qualities of mind and intellect developed by education. Tact, firmness, engaging personality and active conversation are the products of travelling.

Travelling refines our knowledge and broadens our mental horizon. However, highly educated a person may be, if he has not come in contact with people of different habits, languages, social customs and morality, his own outlook remains narrow.  He is less accommodating in his view and often fanatical in outlook. But, those who have traveled widely are generally liberal in outlook and have maturity of judgement. So, only by travelling, the narrowness of the proverbial frog in the pond vanishes into the air and our vision is enlarged and we find new frontiers of knowledge greeting us.

History, Geography, Economics, Science and Sociology can be understood properly and meaningfully by undertaking visits to different places of interest and importance. Travelling gives a first hand information about the places visited which supplements our classroom knowledge. The places like Delhi, Agra, Gaya, Dhauli, Panipat etc. refresh our mind about the glorious facts of history. The books of geography tell us about the climate, physical features, different animals of a particular region. But, when we visit those places we come out of the boredom of reading geography books as we see the features mentioned in the books in our naked eyes.

Bigger objects and places like sea and mountains make us realize about our littleness and a sense of sublime takes us to higher planes. The visit to a science park, planetarium or research centre enhances our knowledge and makes it more accurate and objective.                             Again, travelling from one country to another minimize the global misunderstandings and disagreements and abridges the gulf between different cultures. It helps in creating one international society with brotherhood and harmony.

Travelling may be expensive or inconvenient, but there is no substitute to it. As our life is a long journey from birth to death, we may understand the meaning of traveling by understanding our own position.