Interview With Sujoy Kumar Mitra: Guinness World Record Holder For Fastest Tour Of The New Seven Wonders

Sujoy Kumar Mitra, who has travelled across the globe since the age of 25, recently bagged a Guinness World Record for the ‘Fastest to Travel 7 continents in 73 hr 5 min’! This is indeed an awe-inspiring achievement. Such a journey to all New Seven Wonders of the World proved to be a matter of 5 days, 17 hours, and 28 minutes of human being stretching and where modern travel is concerned the focus is speed. The adventurous timeline was September 2-8, 2024.

(Photo Credit: Sujoy Kumar Mitra) Sujoy Kumar Mitra

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1) What made you think of recording your travel exploits in the Guinness Book of World Records?

As a travel enthusiast, traveling a lot I had an intention of breaking this record. I had traveled across India to all the tourist hotspots from 2006 to 2011, and then I traveled the entire world including 193 United Nations members, the Vatican, countries with territorial issues (Taiwan, Kosovo, Palestine), and even to the edge of Antarctica. That made me look for a Guinness World Record in regards to travel.

2) Why did you select this particular category under which to set your record? 

I decided to stay in this category in travel as I was motivated by two records. One was the record of transmitting and crossing all the seven continents in the least time, which I achieved in December 2022. Another was of the fastest tour reaching all the seven wonders of the world. Furthermore, this will also be my 7th Guinness record.

3) What was the most difficult experience or challenge that you encountered throughout the course of accomplishing the record?

During the journey, I faced a multitude of challenges that tested my will. In India, one such challenge surfaced in relation to immigration and the compulsory use of a satellite-based GPS system as per Guinness’s regulation. At first, they did not allow me to take the GPS with me but after a debate, I was allowed to put it in a checked-in bag with the batteries taken out. Another hard part of the journey was in China, where I was interrogated by the immigration officers as to why I was coming to their country for only a span of 6-7 hours.

I had come to the airport only 45 minutes prior to the takeoff of my flight as I had been to the Great Wall and so there was no room for waiting to clear customs and also there was a language barrier. To add to this, I faced another major challenge when I missed my transference flight in Rome because of delays, compelling me to shift my strategy and connect my trip through Munich, Germany to keep the record attempt on course.

4) I know this is going to sound cliché but can you tell me about a time or a place while traveling that you consider as impactful to you?

To my surprise, I discovered that there were places in the world that were not much visited, that had the most enduring effect. On the whole, Africa is a continent of a great deal of wildness. Niger, Chad, and the Congo, for instance, are not the kinds of countries that one would usually visit, but they presented richer tales and experiences. I even recall the enthusiasm with which I visited borderline tourist regions like Syria or Yemen, and the friendliness of the Somali people. Such travel experiences were far boring than traveling to these cosmopolitan cities which people idealize, New York, London, or even Sydney.

5) What was your approach and preparation for this journey?

Of course, being on the previous world tour, I had already visited the seven wonders of the world, which was an icing on the cake when it comes to the planning of this record attempt. At first this was six days and sixteen hours at the record books until an Egyptian comes along and sets up the new record that comes down to six days and eleven hours. Being well acquainted with the places made the logistics of the trip easier.

6) Are you able to provide any tips for junior and upcoming travelers?

When addressing young travelers, I would encourage them to focus on travel as a tool for self-growth instead of social platform projection. I very much push the narrative of visiting far-out and unconventional regions as those come with the most interesting stories and memories. I understand that some famous tourist areas can be attractive, but to me, going to regions where most people do not go especially in the continent of Africa is on a different level. Of course, there is no denying that it is important to be safe and observe certain norms which can at times include engaged the services of local safari guides.

Though, do not let such factors holding you back from seeking these less traveled adventures. There is need to strike a level of compromise between risks and comfort, and I bet those groundbreaking moments in faraway places do exist more than the usual tourist circuits, and it is worth the risk. Travel is not about visiting as many famous places as one can and most definitely, it is not the competition. In the relations I draw above lies the beauty of human travel – in experiences lived, in every single dot of growth and change that has occurred within the self.

Note: This Article is inspired by timesofindia.indiatimes.com