Holiday home on wheels

GETTING AWAY to a place far from the madding crowd can now also be done by being followed all along - by a caravan. Countrywide Caravan is the first and only company in the country offering caravans which come along with you and take care of your every need. These rented houses-on-wheels can be towed by hooking them to any over-1000cc car. And whenever you wish you were home on your holiday, you just have to step into a cosy caravan which comes with a living/dining area, a kitchenette, refrigerator, television, water heater, a bedroom and a toilet, in a facility which is comfortably air-conditioned. With enough space to sleep six people, the plush interior can give you comfort, be it on a sandy beach or a rocky hill.

The company at present operates five units, all of which have been imported from Germany, a country where every other backyard is known to own a caravan for personalised drive-away vacations. Mr. S. P. Sunderrajan, Marketing Manager, reports a "tremendous response" to his company's services. Almost 70 per cent of the clientele comprises movie stars. A virtual who's-who of popular actors and actresses are known to insist on having a caravan as part of their entourage to places as diverse as Ooty and even Delhi. They like the cool comfort of a caravan to retreat to in the midst of tough shooting schedules. It becomes a retreat that provides instant access to privacy during costume changes as well as the availability of a clean toilet on varied locations.

A possible reason why the idea has not caught on in a big way among the lay holidayers is the high cost of Rs. 5000 a day which has to be paid by way of rental (the towing, driver, trained attendant and generator petrol charges are extra). Also worth noting is that the caravans cannot be used during the road haul since ventilation via air-conditioning (powered by a portable genset or a 15 amp electricity plug point) is possible only when the unit is stationary. The company is taking several initiatives to popularise the concept. On the anvil are indigenously manufactured units and caravan parks. It has also tied up with the Tourism Development Corporations of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry to provide parking space, electricity, water and security at all their establishments, at nominal rates. Safety features for smooth travel include synchronised indicator and parking lights, a hydraulic lock and emergency brakes. The company has also obtained permission from the Ministry of Surface Transport to enable automobiles with both black and white number- plates to tow the caravans. Driving too does not require any additional effort and the two-wheeled unit can travel at a speed of 70 to 80 kmph on highways.

Countrywide's corporate clients have included Citibank which took caravans to a Coorg hill resort besides hiring the utility within Chennai for their day-and-night cricket matches at the YMCA grounds.Says Mr. Sunderrajan,"Some of our teams had women participants and they particularly appreciated the ready availability of clean and comfortable privacy." Explains Mr. Rose Kumar, a businessman who took caravans thrice on getaways with family and friends to Marakanam, en route to Pondicherry on the East Coast Road, "We had barbecue cook-outs by the beach. It was really very enjoyable, away from the usual crowds and destinations." So the next time you feel the urge to go on a so- far-yet-so-near-home holiday, all you have to do is pack a house along as well.

Countrywide Caravans can be reached on 8270931/8241424.

LALITHA SRIDHAR

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