यात्रा करना

Since it is a compound verb, the word यात्रा stays the same. You only change the ending of करना to match the tense. If you are a man saying 'I travel,' you say मैं यात्रा करता हूँ. If you are a woman, it is मैं यात्रा करती हूँ. If you want to say 'I will travel,' use मैं यात्रा करूँगा. It is very flexible. You can add the destination before the phrase. For example, भारत की यात्रा करना means 'to travel to India'.

Use this when talking about vacations or business trips. It fits perfectly when discussing your bucket list. If you are at a dinner party, you might ask, "Where do you like to travel?" In a professional setting, you use it for official tours. It sounds polished but not stiff. It is great for social media captions about your latest adventure.

Do not use this for your daily commute. If you are just going to the office or the grocery store, use जाना (to go). Saying मैं ऑफिस की यात्रा कर रहा हूँ sounds like you are embarking on an epic quest to your cubicle. It is a bit too dramatic for a 10-minute drive. Also, for casual hanging out, use घूमना (to roam/wander) instead. यात्रा करना implies a bit more distance and planning.

In India, the word यात्रा has deep spiritual roots. Historically, it referred to 'Tirtha Yatra' or religious pilgrimages. People would walk for months to reach sacred sites. Today, the word has modernized. It now includes secular tourism and global travel. However, that sense of 'discovery' still lingers in the word. It feels more significant than just 'taking a bus'.

You will often hear सफ़र करना (safar karna). This is the Urdu-influenced cousin of our phrase. It is very common in Bollywood songs and poetry. It feels a bit more romantic and soulful. Another casual variation is घूमने जाना (ghoomne jaana). This literally means 'to go wandering'. Use घूमने जाना when you are just having fun with friends. Use यात्रा करना when you want to sound a bit more intentional.