across India on a motorcycle to spread the message – Atulya Yatra

Bella Manoj during his visit to Ladakh in June 2022. | Photo credit: HANDOUT

When Bella Manoj fell in love with solo travel earlier this year, she decided to use it as a tool to prove a point.

Six years after donating one of her kidneys to her husband, Ms. Manoj, a design director at a US-based clothing brand, is on a cross-country motorcycle ride, albeit in stages, to experience the thrill of exploring and expanding. A word about the importance of kidney donation.

“Nothing beats the joy of traveling alone and exploring new places,” says the 50-year-old fashion designer, who is currently on the last leg of a tour of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. She traveled over 12,500 km covering 13 Indian states and five union territories in two trips on her Royal Enfield Bullet 500 in the last six months.

“I have been riding a motorcycle for many years. But didn’t go beyond a certain distance until I rode my bullet to Velankanni in March this year. Then I did a trip to Bangalore and I immediately realized that I need to do more of this,” says Ms. Manoj, who hails from Punnapra, Alappuzha.

Challenging, but fun

In June, she went on a road trip from Chennai – traveling through the west coast, Rajasthan, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir – to Ladakh. “It is a 30-day tour. After reaching Ladakh I spent a week exploring places like Kargil, Leh, Khardung La, Hunder, Pangong Tso, Kharu and Sarchu. On my return journey, I traveled through North and Central India. Traveling alone can be challenging, but you can’t be anyone but yourself,” says Ms. Manoj, a graduate of the National Institute of Fashion Technology.

The travel buff said she faced many doubts about her health after she started traveling long distances. “I want to prove that a person can live a normal life with one kidney. Despite his opposition, my husband almost died of kidney failure when I decided to donate a kidney. Unfortunately, many kidney patients in our country die without finding a donor. In my case, I am completely healthy and well after the surgery. I am sharing my story to inspire others in similar situations,” says Ms. Manoj, who is planning her next trip to Northeast India. She vowed to donate her body to medical science.

She is settled in Chennai with her husband Manoj Mattan and their daughter Ivy Manoj.