One of the most popular travel bloggers in India, Siddhartha is currently working on a project named 'Tell me your dream' that focuses on life of a common person, story and their dreams.
A traveler with a restless soul is how Siddhartha Joshi, Pune based travel blogger likes to describe himself. One of the most popular travel bloggers in India, Siddhartha is currently working on a project named 'Tell me your dream' that focuses on life of a common person, story and their dreams.
A product designer by profession and travel blogger by passion, Siddhartha speaks to iamin about his writing and journey so far.
When did the travel bug bite you?
I traveled across the states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat during my growing up years. We moved every two to three years as a result of which I did not call one place my home. I felt at home wherever I was. Since then, traveling and new experiences have been a part of my life.
When did you start blogging about your travel?
I started blogging without really giving it too much of a thought. I was already traveling a lot and wanted to share my experiences with the world and not just my family and friends. Blogging also helped me connect with the world outside. As I traveled more and shared my experiences, I received more appreciation and got recognition. This fuelled my passion to share further.
I believe that people are able to accept those from different cultures when they travel more. I was happy that I could inspire others also to take up life changing journeys as well.
Share an anecdote from your travel that is close to your heart
No matter how clichéd it might sound, it's impossible to pick one experience. However, the first that comes to mind was actually a road trip from Srinagar to Leh in a local bus. The journey took me three days as a bridge collapsed. By the time the journey came to an end, we had all become good friends. While I had started out as a solo traveler, I found travel partners for the rest of the trip – which included a girl from Germany and a man from Korea.
What are the career opportunities for travel bloggers in India and how can one go about it?
Well career opportunities in travel blogging are not traditional. One has to work hard to build himself up. I think the first step should be to pick a niche that you are excited about and become an expert in it. It is important to know what people need and then do something about filling that gap.
Every travel blogger needs to be an expert in social media and also understand how the Internet searches function.
What is your opinion about Pune's development and growth as a city since you have traveled so much?
Pune lacks a few features which metro cities have. This includes good air connectivity and a lack of vibrant travel blogging community. While you are always digitally connected, old school physical connectivity comes in handy at times. Pune is an attractive place for bloggers because of its culture and heritage. Since I am one of the few travel bloggers in the city, I also have the potential to build a brand specific to Pune.
Which are the places that you would like to explore in the future?
My plans are hazy, like they always are. Location is not always as important to me as I always find something interesting to do wherever I am. But Goa in the monsoon is on my mind and so is spending Dussehra in Uttrakhand. Kumbh is starting soon in Nashik and currently I am most excited about going there and interviewing the elusive Naga babas.
Tell us more about the project 'Tell me your dream'.
I am working on a very interesting personal project called 'Tell me Your Dream' on Instagram which combines my passion for travel with exploring local ways of living.
As part of this project, I speak to a new person every single day and capture their life story, way of living and their dreams. It's a 365 days project, and no matter where in the world I am, I always find a new person to talk to. It's been the most fulfilling part of my travel blogging career so far and one the helps me grow everyday as a traveler.
For the longer version of the report, click here
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