Every journey has its turning point—and for Pranita Jonnalagedda, it came somewhere between slipping through leech-infested trails and standing still in the silence of the Kuari Pass. In an exclusive chat with the pioneer, she opens up about what it truly means to let go, trust your feet on unknown ground and find your voice in places where language doesn’t matter
Needhi Gattani
needhigattani@gmail.com
Most people travel to escape. But some travel to return—to themselves. For Pranita Jonnalagedda, travel was never about ticking destinations off a list. It wasn’t even something she actively sought out in the beginning. A former journalist who once told other people’s stories, she realised she was ready to write her own. But somewhere along the way—amid newsroom deadlines, countless interviews and a thirst to experience life beyond headlines—she found herself walking new paths. Literally! Currently the Marketing Manager at Jio Hotstar, Pranita has been chasing mountain trails and introspective journeys over the past few years and now, she dreams of someday hiking the Grand Canyon.
While most of us grow up dreaming of exotic vacations, for Pranita, travel wasn’t a big part of her upbringing.
“I was raised in Kenya and came back to India when I was 11-year-old. Our travels were mostly limited to religious pilgrimages or trips to visit extended family. Travel was never something I really chased. My first actual trip when I went to Kodaikanal, when I was around 22-year-old,” she recalls.
It was during her stint as a journalist that the desire to travel truly began to take root. “When I interviewed people who were adventure seekers, I would be so fascinated by their stories. There was this one person who chased volcanoes, another who followed tornadoes. I remember writing one story titled ‘The Death Chaser’—and I was genuinely jealous. I wanted to do that too!” But it wasn’t until 2018 that she truly stepped into the world of travel on her own.
In 2018, she joined a Facebook group for solo travellers. “That was the first time I did a proper trip. I just booked a trip with 45 strangers,” she shares. That five-day backpacking trip to Himachal Pradesh covered places like Kasol, Kullu, Tosh and Manali. “It was a completely different world. It was life-changing. That was when I realised what I was missing out on. I had never seen mountains before that. I completely fell in love with the experience.”
What began as a single trip quickly turned into a two-year spree of solo travel across India. “I went to Karnataka at least 7-8 times. I stayed at hostels and booked tickets only till Bengaluru, figuring the rest later. I just wanted to keep experiencing and exploring new things.”
Over the next few years, she visited Goa, Puducherry, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand. In December 2022, she went to Kanyakumari—the southernmost tip of India. “I covered so many beaches, watched so many sunrises and sunsets and even learned to surf at Mulki near Mangalore. I kayaked in the Kerala backwaters. I was in Kerala for 15 days, hopping from one beach to another and one backwater destination to another. I fell in love with the ocean during that trip.”
Her travels weren’t just about landscapes; they were deeply emotional and personal.
“Solo travel made me emotionally resilient and independent. It really made me feel alive. But I also felt very lonely. There were days when I had no one to talk to. I would just eat, get into my hostel room and sleep. While I loved solo travelling, I also started craving shared experiences. I loved gaining confidence in myself, but I missed companionship too.”
After years of self-led travel, Pranita finally decided to take her first proper Himalayan trek —the Kuari Pass trek.
“I signed up with India Hikes, a popular trekking organisation. It was a five-day trek in the Himalayas and one of the most brutal things I’ve done. But it was also the most beautiful and fulfilling experience I’ve ever had,” she says.
She reached an altitude of over 12,500 feet. “I had been working out and preparing for the trek for over two months. But it was nothing like I expected. Your hands freeze and washing dishes in freezing water with no proper toilets was tough. But I loved the experience. I loved the simplicity.” One of the most memorable parts of the trek came during the third day, when they had to climb up to the summit of Kuari Pass. The snow had made the path extremely slippery.
“I kept slipping again and again. Our trek leader finally stopped to guide me on how to walk properly in snow spikes. He taught me how to stamp my heel and then the front of the foot. He gave me a small demo and asked me to do the same. But even after that, I slipped twice again and fell hard. He caught hold of my hand and helped me up. Even the rest of the group kept cheering me on.” Eventually, when she made it to the top, it was a surreal moment.
“We did a war cry at the top of the mountain. Our trek leader taught us the tribal war cry ‘Hookka laila Marichi tumba’ and we screamed it aloud together. The feeling gave me goosebumps.”
On one day, while they were descending and it started snowing, they stopped at a small shop. “We had 40 plates of Maggi and 30 plates of bread omelette. Everyone chipped in to pay the bill. It was one of the most beautiful and heartwarming experiences.”
Every evening, the group sat in their tents and had something called “Reflections.” “We would just talk about our day and what we experienced or liked about each other’s behaviour. Even if someone just helped you carry your bag or offered you water, we would talk about that. We would tell each other things like, ‘Hey, you’re doing great’ or ‘I saw how you encouraged me.’ It felt like therapy. I realised how far I had come.”
While she has loved solo travel, she also believes she’s done with it—at least for now. “I want to share this journey with someone now. I want companionship.” Pranita is now working as a communications professional and dreams of ticking off the Grand Canyon soon. “That’s been on my list for the longest time. I just haven’t had the courage yet. But I’ll go. One day.”
