Arjun Virmani
Storyteller · Traveller · Writer · Digital Freelancer · Software Engineer
I believe that stepping outside your comfort zone—even briefly—can change how you see life.
No matter the circumstances, travel has a way of filling life with small but meaningful joys.
Like many people, my relationship with travel started with a familiar contradiction.
When I was a student and had time, I couldn’t afford to travel much.
Now that I can afford it, I’m often tied to a desk in the corporate world.
Instead of waiting for “the perfect time,” I chose to travel anyway — using long weekends,
planning carefully, and saving my leaves for one meaningful trip each year.
There were phases in life when everything around me felt colourless.
Travel entered my life during one of those phases — and quietly changed me.
New places, unfamiliar streets, and conversations with strangers helped shift my perspective
on life, people, and even myself.
So far, I’ve been fortunate to visit a handful of countries, but somewhere along the way,
travel taught me something unexpected:
India itself has an incredible amount to offer.
The more I travel, the more curious I become about exploring my own country deeply and honestly.
This blog exists for a simple reason.
I like sharing travel stories — both the good and the uncomfortable —
so others can travel a little smarter, avoid common mistakes,
and feel more confident planning their own journeys.
Toads on the Road was born in mid-2017 during a South Asia trip,
not as a polished travel brand, but as a personal board to document experiences as they happened.
Over time, it evolved into a space for practical travel insights, budget-conscious decisions,
real mistakes, and honest reflections from the road.
If my stories help you plan better, travel slower, or see a place with a slightly different lens —
then this space has done its job.