Let’s start with the core question of this article – “When was the last time you explored your own city as if you were a tourist?”

This is one thing I’ve noticed very often (and also find funny) – many of us rarely explore our own city like we would a vacation destination. I’ve been a culprit of this as well – I had never been on a houseboat despite being from Alappuzha. My first time exploring the town was with college friends – I was the “local” guiding them! 

Same story in Mumbai where I lived for 5 years. The only Mumbai I knew was my home in Chembur, my school in Mankhurd and the few places we used to visit frequently like temples, markets and restaurants. Now I’m looking forward to a Mumbai visit to explore it as a tourist!

To avoid such a thing happening in my current home – Bangalore, we make it a point to explore the city “like a tourist” whenever we get the chance.

Why we overlook our own backyard

The number 1 reason is – we live here anyway, we can go visit whenever we want! And that flexibility ends up being the exact reason why the “exploring” never happens. 

Another reason could be familiarity – what’s so great about it? It’s been here forever, I don’t see what the big deal is! Besides, is it really worth braving the traffic and going all the way there?

What does it mean to be a tourist 

Think back to a time when you went to a city as a tourist. How did you explore the place? What was your mindset? Let’s try to recreate that.

As a tourist, I explore a city by walking or using public transport. It gives me an opportunity to experience the pulse of the neighbourhood. I can see the sights up close, smell the smells (good and bad, but that’s part of the experience!), hear the sounds. I get to walk with the locals, see life from their perspective.

This is one experience that often gets missed out if you own a car and drive around the city in it. With the windows up and AC on (no other option to escape the pollution), you are essentially travelling in a bubble from source to destination.

Practical tips for exploring your own city

One thing I do from time to time is ditch my car and take an auto. It is a completely different experience! The smell of the kebabs grilling by the side of the road, cool air while entering a green part of the city and the noise of the city in the peak hour. These are things you miss while inside the car. I won’t sugarcoat it entirely though – there are the open garbage dumps and smoke-filled traffic signals which you also end up encountering.

By taking autos or other public transport, you invariably end up walking through the streets. If you want to explore the neighborhoods of Basavanagudi or Malleswaram, this is definitely the best way to go.

Another way to do this – if you see that the destination is only 1-2 kms away, walk. Provided that it is a safe part of town and a decent time of day (let’s not get too carried away here!). That’s how I explored Chennai in my recent trip. I was staying in Nungambakkam and looking for places to order lunch from. Then I realised that the place was just 2 kms away from my hotel and decided to walk. 

Then I noticed a dessert place 1 km further down the road and walked – good way to burn those calories after the kothu paratha! And then I walked back from an alternate route. In the process, I pretty much immersed myself into the area and even managed to show directions to some strangers on the road! 

Adopting the tourist mindset in your own city

This is the best part of travel. As a tourist, I’m not weighed down by the commute or the weather. There is always an adrenaline rush of discovering a new place. A curiosity to experience something new. 

Plan some days during the month where you can take on this mindset and visit a different part of town. For those days, just forget about the chores to be completed at home and the work coming up in the office. Pick a place and the things to do. It could be a museum or a park or a bunch of eateries by creating your own custom food walk (my favourite kind of exploration). You can even look for walking tours – culture or architecture or nature or food related – depending on your interest – and join them. 

One such group that I routinely take inspiration from is Thindi Capital in Bangalore. I keep note of the places that people recommend and plan weekend outings with my family!

Summarizing the tips

For all of you who made it till here, here are the tips summarized:

• Leave your car at home and choose an auto or public transport
• Dedicate one day a month to explore a new neighbourhood in your city
• Join local walking tours and cultural events

My biggest motto is to make the most of life. Travel and experiences make it to the top of the list. And one of the ways I get to live this more often is by being a Tourist in My Own City!

Have you tried taking the time to explore your city or neighbourhood? I’d love to hear your story and what you discovered – put it down in the comments!

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