indian travel blogger

Why I Quit My Job To Travel

My name is Dev and I am a full-time Indian travel blogger. I started my corporate career as a documentary producer in England before I quit my job to travel.

In 2016, I started this travel blog, and since then, I’ve only been wandering around and writing about my journeys.

And speaking of the reasons for what made me quit the job to travel the world in the first place, here are some reasons why I…

Quit My Job To Travel

Last week, I took a wee trip to Rishikesh – the land of sadhus and of many people’s spiritual rebirth. I have a personal affection, some attachment to this place. This is where I once spent two months at a place called Sivananda Ashram.

sivananda ashram rishikesh

But this time, my arrival was accompanied by a sense of unexpected realization. I wondered, as I grabbed myself walking along its frenzied, confused walkways, how lucky I am to experience places like Rishikesh again and again. And yet, it is never the climax of my journey. It is always the beginning.

“We wander, some of us forever, to seek other places, other lives, other souls” Anais Nin

It has been a few years now that I have been working as an Indian travel blogger, and made full-time travelling my life and my source of income, yet I never shared here why and how it all happened.

It would be nice to say that I wanted to understand myself and find my inner consciousness, but frankly speaking, it’s not true. To find the inner consciousness was never the reason why I quit my job to travel.

quit job to travel

The only part which is true is that was bored of the monotonous 9 to 5 corporate job and I didn’t want to keep continue doing it until I turn 60, ready to be retired. I wanted something more than that.

I wanted to see the world. Meet new people. Learn better ideas. Find out what’s wrong with this system of corporate culture, that it never made anyone happy – no matter what they achieved in their life.

Simply put, I wanted to educate myself in a way that no school, no job ever did before. And I wanted to do that by breaking free.

To quit the job to travel the world was only a natural decision.

indian travel bloggers

But one thing is saying that I want to do this and the other thing is realizing I am actually doing it.

Full-time Travelling is no less than a pursuit of happiness for me. Yet, throughout this time, I’ve often stumbled upon questions like “Why did I quit my job to travel the world” or “How did I manage to make such a decision” or “How’s life as an Indian travel blogger”?

I think with all these questions, what people actually wanted to ask me was why did I not go for a two-week calculated holiday (or a couple of month’s sabbatical, if I am being pretentiously brazen about it) to quench my thirst for wandering, as an averagely sane person would otherwise do.

The truth is, there is no fun in that. I have taken enough of those recreational holidays – as people often call them – in my life.

dwijing festival bodoland assam

When I was working, I found myself travelling every weekend, with a couple of friends, drinking a few beers and returning with an unsatisfied soul. And I remember, the minute I entered the premises of my office, after that sweet, sally trip, I felt even more restless.

So I realised that I wanted something more than that. Something bigger. Something permanent. I wanted a life of full-time travelling, of permanent movement.

Initially, I looked for ways for how to travel the world without money but soon, this blog started generating revenues and I started getting travel sponsorships.

indian travel blogger

Discontentment Is Good

Discontentment is the very first step to a new beginning. My discontentment towards my job forced me to quit my job and become an Indian travel blogger. I had always loved England, but I never loved my life in England. I always loved my profession, but I never loved my job.

It seemed I was just accepting things as they came because everyone around me told me “This is life and you got to learn to deal with it.”

But I think I wasn’t good at it. Though I tried to suppress my unsatisfied soul the traditional way, by changing jobs and running after money, it was just not enough. My audacious, fertile mind – discontented and grumbling – kept pushing me until I shifted focus and became one of the first Indian travel bloggers.

indian travel blogger

The Journey That Changed It All

I didn’t become an Indian travel blogger as soon as I returned from England. I worked in India for a couple of years and during that time, I travelled a lot.

I remember I took my first solo backpacking trip in 2014 (you can read about it all in this travel blog). Though there was nothing extraordinarily great about the journey, the freedom in full-time travelling was, in fact, most addictive. And that was it. I spent the next few months, saving as much money as possible from the job I was doing, having a very clear focus in my mind – to finally quit my job to travel the world.

“I am not the same, having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world” Mary Anne Radmacher

Though it is true when I quit my job in 2015, I had no idea that I will soon start blogging, but I had a belief that something good will follow. I remember during the initial few months of full-time travelling and searching for a better life, I tried seeking a way to become a community journalist (I even wrote a few articles addressing social issues but couldn’t find the courage to get them published somewhere) and make it my permanent career, but I couldn’t.

And I think it was because I tried and failed that in the end I decided to be a little easy on myself, and chose a more freestyle kind of writing – blogging.

quit job to travel

So the point here is, if you’re discontent, and wanting a little shift in your life, there is no harm in quitting what you’re doing and trying to change the present. Because if nothing else, you can always return to the same present and say to yourself “I at least tried!” And because I quit my job to travel the world, I can say so too!

4 Years As An Indian Travel Blogger

Update: It has been over 4 years now since I started this blog ‘Footloose Dev’ and I am fortunate that I could make it work.

Though my journey as a full-time Indian travel blogger has had many highs and lows when I look back and think of what full-time travelling has given me during all this time, there’s just one thing that comes to my mind, and it is – the satisfaction and the thrill in waking up every day!

travel blogger life

And speaking of what’s next, I think now that I’ve got good riddance of my corporate career and have started making money from travel blogging, I’ll continue doing it for as long as my heart will desire.

And if I’ll ever desire some stillness in life, I can always go back and find a corporate job. But this time, I will only do it a lot better and be content.

Respect my decision? Like my lifestyle? Then why not follow me on social media? I can be found on Facebook, and Instagram. You can also contact me with any questions if you are struggling with how to quit the job to travel the world.

You can also find me on Youtube

  1. Hi
    Dev, your journey is truly inspirational! Your decision to leave behind a corporate career to pursue your passion for travel and storytelling is a testament to following one’s dreams. Your travel blog has not only taken us to mesmerizing destinations but has also ignited the spirit of wanderlust within all of us. It’s heartening to see your personal attachment to places like Rishikesh, which adds a genuine and heartfelt touch to your narratives. Keep sharing your adventures, your reasons for quitting your job to travel, and the transformative experiences you encounter along the way. Your story is a reminder that life is too short to not chase our dreams. You’re an inspiration to aspiring travelers and bloggers worldwide. Keep exploring, keep writing, and keep inspiring us all!

  2. Vishal Solanki

    Thanks for providing detailed step by step manual on how to create a blog.

  3. It takes courage to follow your passion
    Well congratulations for listing to thoughts
    And all the best

  4. Ethnava Chikan

    what a wonderful story

  5. Hey Dev, Really Loved Your Blog. Looking forward for more such blogs. Thanks for sharing.

  6. Nisha Batel

    Lovely blog. Keep it up, go ahead.

  7. Varun Sharma

    Now days everyone want to travel and quit the job. From traveling people release stress and depression and feel happy.

  8. Sharanpreet Kaur

    Very inspiring story

  9. Hey Dev, I’ve read a lot of your blogs, and you really inspire the likes of us to break the barriers of fears and stigmas of society to live the life of our dream. Very well articulated. Loved the article sharing it on my social profiles too. Thanx 🙂

  10. Sunny Singh

    Best Wishes for you future ahead. The blog post you have shared is worth reading.

  11. Good job Dev.

  12. This is really nice and inspiring article. Thank you and looking for more posts.

  13. Just loved it, specially this line – Travelling is no less than a pursuit of happiness for me..

  14. Thanks for sharing Nice Blog!

  15. Tanushree Desai

    Hi Dev, your story and many other travel bloggers seem like a dream to me. The only difference being that the dream has come true for you all. I think no one would disagree on how corroding corporate life is. And sadly enough I too have been a part of it. But since I became a mother, I have got quite a bit of break from that senseless life and currently I am travelling around Europe with my husband and one year old daughter staying mostly at Germany. I am on a sabbatical 🙂 which u rightly pointed out is never enough. I have recently started travel blogging. It’s just 20 days old. Do check it out if you have time – http://www.footinstincts.com Your feedback would add a great value. But as my family has not seen me ever this way, all are worried if I would get a job here etc. And sometimes it breaks my confidence of making it in this space. Being a mother I can’t completely ignore the finances and take risks. But people like you keep people like us going and chasing our dreams. Thank you!

  16. Varad Wazalwar

    Hi Dev, U r an inspiration to me.. Recently i travelled to Runn of Kutch & nearby villages.. it was solo trip.. i was travelling alone…it was Great Experience of my life… i met new people, traveled new places….

    Thanks to you…. I hope someday …. i would met you in this journey called Life…..

  17. Manish pandey

    Bro, you’re an inspiration, reading your article is like meditation which leads to the fact that if you have clear focus in mind you will actually get whatever you are looking for, difficulties and failures will always be the part of it leading to some great experiences and learnings.
    Even i quit my job for something i wanted to do which sometimes makes me feel good about my decisions.
    Cheers!
    Keep travelling!

  18. Ruchita Sirwani

    Hey Dev I just feel that happiness reading your blog thinking that atleast one employee is happy in this world. Because​ myself being an employee can feel how my freedom has been curbed. I really wish some day I get the courage and confidence to do what you did for yourself. It’s just that I am not confident about what I should do if I quit my job. I would be glad if you suggest me how to go about this.

    • Hey Richita, thanks for stopping by. I wish I’d a formula for ‘how to quit the job and travel’ but unfortunately I don’t. You’d have to find your way out of this and convince your family (if that is another point to consider personally). But I’d say, work a little and save as much money possible. Because if you did this, and left everything behind, even as a full-time blogger you may need a few months (or possibly even a year) to survive unless you ended up writing for magazines and getting paid in return. I’m running a workshop around blogging and taking your first few initial steps in New Delhi soon, find the EVENT on my Facebook page (facebook.com/footloosedev) and see if you can join. I’ll be answering all the questions, in person, there. Good luck 🙂

  19. @Dev. Congrats for the bold decision you took and thanks for inspiring insights. I takes a lot of passion and determination to take such decisions and it is visible in your article and your persona. If you want to know more about similar people, try visiting Woovly.com and meet like minded people.

  20. Inspiring indeed. Thank you sharing Dev!

  21. Chandra

    Very inspiring story.

  22. Profilesign

    Great Blog. Love to read.

  23. Antionio Atkinson

    Dear Dev, there are several reasons to leave your job, great experience. Whether I am not so travel minded, reading your article, I almost become a mad!! I will follow you!!

  24. Richa Choudhary

    Congrats Dev!!! its an awesome journey its a dream which many people take but can hardly fulfill. Wish you loads of luck with your blog and travel.
    AllThatsMom

  25. It’s always very interesting to the individual stories behind people’s motivation to travel, thanks for sharing yours!

  26. antilog vacations

    Wonderful Dev, It’s really inspiring and touching too!

  27. Wonderful Dev..it’s one of the ‘really good’ write ups that I have come across.

  28. Hi Dev nicely done article. I am also a fellow traveller who quit her corporate job to travel and write and photograph and what not. I m going thru the journey myself and understand that the transition is difficult. Mostly financially. I am not sure how are you managing but I also find that in this scenario, many fellow travellers or bloggers are not forthcoming and do not help. I sincerely wonder why? Anyway I wish u all the luck. Will subscribe to your posts. If u get time visit my blog at http://www.curiousfoots.com

    • Hey thanks. Checked your blog, looks good. Since when are you blogging?
      And what did you mean by “many fellow travellers or bloggers are not forthcoming and do not help?” They don’t share how they make money? Possible, maybe because they’re not making any money at all. So don’t follow them. haha

      Making money is indeed tough. But you learn as you chase the journey. Eg, I’d be much thankful to someone, if someone had told me to explore how Affiliate Marketing, the day I started blogging.

      • Thanks for visiting. True I feel lost in the ocean of Affiliate Marketing and Targeted Ad system and what not. Anyway it’s good to see that people like u n me r taking the plunge and doing something which our heart desires.

        I wish you all the best.

        Ciao.

        Papiya

  29. Traveller

    Quitting a job and that too in India is not easy, but you had done that. Following your passion is always take you a step ahead in your life.

  30. Obsessive Traveller

    Hey, glad to come across an Indian quitting his job to travel the world, mostly due to the low value of our currency we get restricted to India only then. Where all did you manage to travel in this year?

    • I totally agree. Going out of India and travel is fairly tough. This year turned out to be great. As you said, most of it was spent in India of course, but trust me you need an entire life to travel india and understand it well. Outside of India, and in this year, I travelled to Thailand, Cambodia and Nepal. And there is still one more quarter left! 😉

  31. Well said. I love that Land Rover in the first photo. Where is it? The registration doesn’t seem Indian…

  32. Alok Singhal

    Good to know about your journey. I would want to do that too, but then funding might become a major issue one day – and I love my job anyway ☺️

  33. Ha ha … So great!!
    When I was read u, oh! sorry ur article. It was wounderful, sometime I feel I am telling this story or this is my story. But I am not good writer like you. Even I don’t know anything about writing… Ha ha…. 🙂
    Keep going n enjoy life it’s beautiful…

    Vivek Panwar
    Little traveler 😉

    • As long as people understand you, you’re a good writer and I understood you pretty well there. Good luck with your adventures.

  34. Sajel Saxena

    Nicely done.

    And oh yeah, did I tell ya, I am planning to go on a 30-days road trip to visit the most haunted places in India (as many as I can). Wanna join in?

    • 30 day road trip to visit haunted places? Sounds gripping. Calling you (right away) for more details, haha!

  35. Kirtida dalal

    ☺good… Best of luck..

  36. The Traveloholic

    Yes. There is always that one trip fhat is the eye opener for us. Really glad for u 🙂

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