The Soaring Culture of Campervans in India

Does the idea of touring the globe by road excite you? If yes, you definitely need the right vehicle to ensure that you travel safely and comfortably. That’s where campervans or hippie vans or trailers come into the picture. Adopted in the US and the UK a few decades ago, the culture of campervans is yet to become as popular in India.

However, the good news is that the culture of campervans does exist in India and it is soaring gradually. In fact, the Ministry of Tourism has also recognised the importance of Caravan Tourism in their 2009-10 annual report. One of the pre-requisites of this tourism is the presence of sufficient Caravan Parks. These parks are required to provide allotted parking spaces to the trailers to stay overnight.

Let’s dig deeper into this…

Why touring in a campervan is a brilliant idea?

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In a country like India, people usually prefer checking into hotels to enjoy a laid-back and luxurious stay, but caravanning is a brilliant idea for those who don’t like to play by the rules. Here’s why:

You can either rent a campervan or invest in one. You will feel a sense of independence when you hit the road.
A campervan will be your home away from home, without compromising on comfort or luxury.
Caravanning is a cost effective alternative, as you will be saving a lot of money. You don’t have to book a hotel or eat at a restaurant.
Your entire luggage, from clothes to your camping equipment, will easily fit into the trailer. So you don’t have to worry about leaving stuff behind due to overflowing bags or exceeding luggage weight!
The best part is that you can travel with your pets. Why leave your ‘paw-some’ buddy behind, when you can take them with you, no matter how far you go?!

Why caravanning still has a long way to go in India?

Though the culture of campervans was adopted in the US and the UK long ago, caravanning in India is still taking baby steps. There are several aspects related to it, including the lack of infrastructure, good roads, and service centres. Also, since there are only a limited number of brands selling campervans in India, they are expensive, making it almost inaccessible to the middle-class. But, we’ll definitely catch up soon.

What trails can you take in India while caravanning?

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Since India is blessed with diverse landscapes, it gives immense opportunities to the travellers to explore nature’s beauty in their campervans. Since, these hippie trailers need wide and non-bumpy roads, there are a few destinations in the country where you can plan a long road trip.

Leh, Ladakh: Explore the scenic valleys and the high altitude passes.
Rishikesh: Experience the spiritual side of the country and soak in the calmness.
Darjeeling: Explore the velvety tea plantations and get mesmerized by the charming views.
Coorg: Test your driving skills on the curvy roads and get allured with the magnificent landscapes.
Jaisalmer: Pass through the golden sands and try delicious Rajasthani cuisine at a local food joint.

Brands you can check out before buying a campervan in India

Thanks to a few brands, the culture of campervans is picking up its pace in India. You can easily get your hands on the trailers right here. So, yes, no need to import them from other countries and pay tonnes of taxes!

If you are planning to get one, you can check out brands like: Josh Design, Ojes, Kalapuraparambil, Motorcaravans, Feelhome, JCBL PLA Motorhome, Terra Home Car from PCP Motors, DC Design’s Isuzu chassis based Motorhome, Executive Mod Car Trendz Tata Bus based motorhome and Chintamani Motors’ Eicher based motorhome.

Also, if you think the above mentioned brands don’t meet your requirements, you can always modify used cars or old mini buses.

Things to keep in mind before buying a campervan

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Planning to invest on a swanky campervan? You need to take care of a few things before you spend your hard-earned money.

Set a budget and visit a few dealers or individual sellers before actually buying one.
Make a list of “must-haves” and “non-negotiable” features and stick to it.
Ask yourself: Why do you want to buy a campervan? Are you really going to use it, or will just be parked in your garage? Also, do you have enough parking space?
Also consider the insurance and other expenses attached to it.