“As you travel solo, being totally responsible for yourself, it’s inevitable that you will discover just how capable you are!”

And while discovering how capable Lieutenant Commander Pooja Rajput is, she also wanted to find out how safe the country is for solo women travelers.

She took a 2,000-km ride through coastal India to ‘safety check’ the country. According to Drive Spark, she said, “When you are a woman riding on a 1,600 cc superbike, it attracts lots of attention and there are lots of curious people on the road who try to stop you, of whom you should be aware. They can create a situation like an accident. Being a naval officer, the training which you get for becoming one solves most of the issues on the road.”

Through her journey and experience, she wants women to get away with their preconceived notions of fear that hamper their courage to make that travel leap!

However, at the same time, she also encourages women to be fully equipped with self-defence techniques. Lieutenant Pooja herself carries a knife and pepper spray with her all the time. Talking to

Talking to IANS, she said, “Some people are very rowdy on the road. A woman on a bike sometimes attracts a lot of unwanted attention. On a smaller bike maybe people just pass by, but I get noticed more because of my superbike.”

The ride she took on her Superbike took her to all places from beaches to mountain terrains. Her ride challenged her years of training, abilities, and endurance.

Despite all roadblocks, she did not stop her journey. This is the message she has for women who spend their hours and days thinking what can go wrong if they take a few chances they have always wanted to.

This life is our journey and we should get to choose how we ride it!