You need to check out TraVeller BaBu's YouTube channel before holidaying in Odisha

Odisha, you beauty! - This is probably the expression avid traveller Tapas Mirdha uses the most as he has and will continue to extensively travel this beautiful state
Mirdha during on of his journeys
Mirdha during on of his journeys

Odisha being a treasure trove of unexplored beauty is a fact that we are all aware of, but Tapas Mirdha couldn't leave his beloved state unexplored. Not only does this 21-year-old travel around this beautiful coastal state alone, but he also documents his travel for all to see. "The kind of places I've been to are the ones that have never been seen through a camera lens before," says the lad from Sambalpur. But don't confuse him with every other millennial out there who is struck by wanderlust because what makes Mirdha's travel and documentation unique is his determination to showcase the beauty of this state. "Everyone wants to go to Goa or some exotic place like that, but have we ever tried exploring our own states and discovering all the beauty that lies within it?" asks the passionate traveller. With the help of his YouTube channel, TraVeller BaBu, and his trusty one-year-old GoPro Hero 5 camera, Mirdha wants to show us how enchanting the eastern state can truly be.   

Mirdha has also been to Himachal Pradesh and Munnar and is completely self-taught when it comes to his camera skills. After saving up for eight months, he bought his GoPro Hero 5 camera  

One such video that Mirdha put out just two weeks ago, Odisha Safar, already has more than 4,000 views. And if you haven't checked it out, you should because there is no quicker way to acquaint yourself to the splendour of Southern Odisha then this three and a half minute video. Armed with his trusty Royal Enfield Bullet (and Tibetan prayer flags), Mirdha rides through six districts of Southern Odisha, namely Kandhamal, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Kalahandi and his journey is captured on video for all to see.  

Tough guy: There have been instances where, as early as 2 am, his bike has given up on him, but somehow he has managed to overcome all obstacles

Though Mirdha started his YouTube channel in 2015, he has been travelling solo only for the last two years. While he rides around from place to place, he stays with locals who he says are more than helpful. We naturally ask him if he feels scared while travelling in unknown places, to which the B Com graduate from BJB College, Bhubaneswar, replies, "I used to, but then I started pushing myself and taking more and more risks." He has been to Koraput, which is known to be a Naxal area, has climbed Odisha's highest mountain, Deomali, and many such eccentric and exciting things. "Whether it's a mountain or a waterfall, I feel pure joy while travelling through this state," he says. 

His parents were initially unhappy with his idea of travelling, but when some of his relatives showed them his videos, they become supportive

While Mirdha claims to have seen 80 per cent of Odisha, he plans to explore the rest, like Mayurbhanj and Balangir, soon, so that he can start visiting other states as well. There will be language barriers of course, but he plans to make inquiries and do his research before he treads on unknown territory. Mirdha has his eyes set on Chattisgarh next and, "slowly, who knows, maybe the whole of India," he laughs. 

What a view: Mirdha wants to travel to every nook and corner of Odisha

For more on his work, click on facebook.com/Tapas-Photography-1469541306596272/

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