Name: Pranav Lal
Age: 38
Occupation: Writer,
Photographer, Cyber
Security Specialist
Photo: gireesh gv
medium and wanted to express myself
through my photography and writing. It
challenges me and helps me push myself.
With Planet Abled, I have gone on heritage
walks within the city and experienced history
in forts and old world architecture like never
before. I also make new friends and just hang
out and chit-chat with them. I have expressed
my wish to Neha about visiting shipyards in
India so I can learn about ships.’’
The uniqueness of Planet Abled lies in its
diversity when it comes to clients it caters to.
Unlike most other travel service models across
the world, where people with disabilities are
usually clubbed together with only their own
section, let us say, blind groups or groups of
children with autism, but at Planet Abled,
everyone is welcome to interact with each
other on trips so they develop a sense of
camaraderie without even realising. They
encourage mixed group interactions, making
the whole experience unique. Rahul Rawal,
34, is an operations manager with AON and
has been wheelchair-bound since childhood.
He went on several heritage walks with Planet
Abled, before going on a solo trip to Rishikesh
last year with aid from Planet Abled.
“A couple of years ago, I was looking
Experience: Lal has a
love for parks and forts
of Delhi and visits them
with the help of Planet
Abled. Plans to visit
shipyards in India and
Planet Abled is gearing
up to make it happen.
I enjoy expressing myself through
photography; travel has proved to be
a vehicle for new visual experiences
for travel packages online for people with disabilities and then I
stumbled upon Planet Abled last year. I got in touch with Neha and
the rest is history. I have always wanted to travel and I love to write
during my spare time. I am wheelchair-bound and my family was
very sceptical about letting me travel by myself, but Neha spoke to
them personally and they have been very supportive and trusting.
I plan to go to Goa sometime early next year with Planet Abled. I
also want to visit Landour in Uttarakhand as I am a fan of Ruskin
Bond’s work. To me travel is not just about enjoying a new place, it
is also about experiencing a sense of self confidence of having done
something great for my soul,” says Rahul Rawal.
It is hard to quantify in words what these experiences can mean
to everyone who are part of the inspiring Planet Abled journey. Neha
likes to goof around and says, “Planet Abled is a travel company
started by someone who has never travelled much.’’ All in all, this
world is kaleidoscopic and made of myriad hues and nuances, with
one better than the next.
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