Kerala couple travels across India on foot, creates record

Benny Kottarathil and Molly Benny, husband and wife, went on a unique walking expedition around India. Their adventure started on 1st December 2021 and culminated on 3rd July 2022. Aged 53 and 46, the husband-wife duo covered 17 States of India in seven months and three days.

Speaking about their adventure, Benny said that they undertook this journey to promote walking. Moreover, they also wanted to convey to childless couples that traveling together could give them a new sense of awakening.

For more than 15 years, the couple taught at a school in Andhra Pradesh. After the pandemic, they were forced to return as schools closed down. Having no work at hand, they decided to go on a walking tour of India. The couple mortgaged their gold jewelry and borrowed funds from their friends and family to fund the travel expenses.


The journey was fraught with challenges as the couple faced many trials. Recalling an incident, Benny said that when they were staying in a temple in Tamil Nadu’s Villupuram, a thief attempted to rob the temple at 2 am. However, they had a dog with them, which barked and scared the thief away.

Benny also recalled a near-death experience in Kashmir’s Banihal Pass when the couple escaped a speeding lorry. He said that, in Bihar, the couple slept in a cemetery when they got no accommodation. That was a creepy experience as they were scared the whole night.

While traveling, the couple savored diverse cuisines across Indian dhabas and restaurants. However, their favorite was Andhra Bhojanam, located in Andhra Pradesh. Also, among the different places they visited, the Golden Temple in Amritsar was their favourite.

The couple has a YouTube channel called ‘Vicky’s Wonder World’. The channel is named after a puppy they received as a gift from their student in Chennai. The channel has a detailed vlog of their expedition.

Benny’s knowledge of six languages helped the couple in their journey. Now, back home, they want to settle down. However, they are willing to travel again if they find sponsors to give them financial support. Meanwhile, the couple received the 2022 National Record for ‘The First Couple To Walk Around India’. The Universal Records Forum gave the award.