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The Shooting Star

Conservation and communities at the heart of travel.

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  • Aishwarya Muralidhar
  • Shivya Nath

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  • 7 Years of Travelling Without a Home – and Then a Pandemic.

    by Shivya Nath

    What's it like to chain myself to one place after 7 years on the road?

    October 3, 2020
    Comments 28
    Digital Nomad, Reflections

7 years ago, I gave up my home, sold most of my possessions and embraced a nomadic life. This journey has taken me as far within as with my feet.

FEATURED ON:

Shivya Nath

My first book

the shooting star, shivya nath

Reviews | Order a copy

visiting kashmir

What No One Tells You About Visiting Kashmir.

Published by Shivya Nath

I came to realize that there is more to Kashmir than the one-sided narratives of “trouble” and “jannat.”

May 31, 2022
Comments 11
Culture, Featured, Kashmir, Reflections
chile stories

To Chile, With Love.

Published by Shivya Nath

I had no idea that it would be the beauty of your people that would really overwhelm me.

May 1, 2022
Comments 27
Chile, Culture, Featured, Latin America, Stories from the road
Robinson Crusoe Island

Why Robinson Crusoe Island Might Just Be the Most Unique Place on Earth.

Published by Shivya Nath

"Those who do not know the Chilean forests, do not know this planet. From those lands, from that soil, from that stillness..."

April 11, 2022
Comments 15
Chile, Conservation, Featured, Islands, Latin America, Sustainable tourism

RECOGNITION

Shivya Nath

AWARDS

Shivya Nath

CONNECT WITH ME

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Recent posts

Adventure, Chile, Featured, Latin America, recent, Reflections

Turning 34 in Quarantine in the Middle of the Pacific Ocean.

A 20-something girl set out to defy societal expectations... at 34, I feel ready to shed her skin and find new unknowns to tread.

February 28, 2022
Comments 18
lesotho, lesotho travel
Africa, Lesotho, recent, South Africa

How We *Almost* Got Stranded at the South Africa – Lesotho Border.

We had our documents and visas in order. The plan was foolproof. Or so we thought.

May 30, 2020
Comments 16
sustainable tourism in kerala
India, Kerala, recent, Responsible Travel

What India (and the World) Can Learn from Sustainable Tourism in Kerala.

Responsible travel is important than ever. After all, nature might have wrecked havoc on us to remind humans of the havoc we've been wrecking on her.

April 7, 2020
Comments 21

about me

Hello! I’m Shivya Nath. In 2011, at age 23, I quit my corporate job with a dream of traveling the globe. 2 years later, I packed up my life into a backpack and decided to hit the road indefinitely. I travel slow, seek offbeat and local experiences, stay in a place for a few weeks or as long as it inspires me, and move on.

In 2019, I did a solo land journey from Thailand to India via Myanmar, and travelled overland from the Persian Gulf via Iran to Armenia. I’ve lived with a Mayan community in Guatemala, volunteered at a coral reef restoration project in Cuba, lived in a nunnery in Ladakh (India), and shed my fears and clothes at onsens across Japan.

Join me to discuss responsible travel, under-the-radar destinations, veganism and sustainability. I hope to inspire you to step out of your comfort zone and experience the world too!

More about me

What’s a life of travel like?

Why I turned vegan

In the midst of a climate crisis and overtourism, all roads point towards a way of travel that is more sustainable, meaningful and inclusive.

Sustainable travel

Robinson Crusoe Island
April 11, 2022

Why Robinson Crusoe Island Might Just Be the Most Unique Place on Earth.

"Those who do not know the Chilean forests, do not know this planet. From those lands, from that soil,...

by Shivya Nath
Comments 15
the shooting star, shivya nath travel tips
November 11, 2019

Responsible Travel Tips for Meaningful Experiences on the Road.

In the age of overtourism and in the midst of a climate crisis, responsible travel tips to meaningfully...

by Shivya Nath
Comments 36
KLM flight
September 16, 2019

Is it Possible to Fly Responsibly?

KLM is the world's first airline to openly encourage people to take the train - and for that they've...

by Shivya Nath
Comments 18
Volunteering in a remote island in Cuba, Shivya the shooting star, Shivya Nath
May 18, 2019

What I Learnt Volunteering on a Remote Island in Cuba.

About travelling, our consumption patterns, our dietary choices and how climate change is impacting the underwater world.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 44

I try to make conscious choices to support local communities and minimize my environmental impact. Not just because it’s the need of the hour, but also because it’s a more immersive way to travel.

Stories from the road

chile stories
May 1, 2022

To Chile, With Love.

I had no idea that it would be the beauty of your people that would really overwhelm me.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 27
chhattisgarh tribes
July 30, 2020

Ideas of Love and Life from the Tribes of Chhattisgarh.

Ideas I gathered on sexual freedom, relationships, food and sustainability, while spending time with the tribes of Chhattisgarh.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 16
April 30, 2018

Little Acts of Kindness in Japan.

In this digital world, our minds are flooded with impressions created by others.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 42
Mauritius sunsets | Mauritius things to do | Mauritius travel
June 19, 2016

Mauritius is Not Just About The Seas You Sail, But Also the People You Meet Ashore.

Everyone who comes to Mauritius falls in love with the island; but you, who live here, do you love...

by Shivya Nath
Comments 46

"An adventurous life does not necessarily mean climbing mountains, swimming with sharks, or jumping off cliffs. It means risking yourself by leaving a little piece of you behind in all those you meet along the way."

Shawna Grapentin

offbeat escapes

February 11, 2022

Enroute to One of the World’s Remotest Islands!

The first rays of sunlight penetrated the darkness outside my window, revealing layers of dramatic, snow-dusted, desolate mountains.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 13
uzbekistan things to do
October 7, 2019

11 Incredible Experiences That’ll Make You Fall in Love with Uzbekistan.

I fell in love not just with Uzbekistan’s grand mosques, minarets and mausoleums, but also with its quaint mountain...

by Shivya Nath
Comments 28
tajikistan travel, tajikistan landscape, visit tajikistan, tajikistan tourism
September 11, 2019

Tajikistan: A Country That’s Not on Your Travel Radar but Should Be.

With its awe-inspiring mountainous landscapes, warm-hearted people and "off the beaten path" status, Tajikistan beckons.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 40
nasir ol molk shiraz, why visit iran, iran travel blogs, iran travel 2019
May 14, 2019

Why You Should Drop Everything and Travel to Iran Now!

If you pick only one international travel destination this year, pick Iran.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 102

"I always wondered why somebody doesn’t do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody."

Lily Tomlin

Projects

explore rural india
May 6, 2021

Explore Rural India and Meet Inspiring Storytellers – Without Leaving Home!

A chance to explore remote corners of India virtually, through the words, photos and videos of the very people...

by Shivya Nath
Comments 22
Spiti, Shivya the shooting star, Shivya Nath
September 20, 2017

“I Love Spiti” – A Campaign to Save Spiti Valley from Single Use...

An initiative to create awareness and alternatives for single-use plastic in the cold mountain desert of Spiti.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 30
indian instagram accounts to follow | rural life in India | village homestay uttarakhand
February 19, 2017

Sarmoli, Uttarakhand: A Himalayan Village Where Locals Run Marathons and Their Own...

@voicesofmunsiari - India's first and only Instagram channel to be run entirely by a rural village community.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 57

"Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, maybe you should set up a life you don't need to escape from."

Seth Godin

Inspiration

never getting married, not wanting kids
June 16, 2019

How Travelling Changed My Perspective on Getting Married and Having Kids.

I finally decided to write this post for fellow dreamers, adventurers and rebels, who dream of doing life differently.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 80
how to grow organically on Instagram
February 3, 2019

What I’ve Learnt on the Way to 60,000+ Organic Followers on Instagram –...

You CAN grow on Instagram organically, without gaming the system, plastering your gallery with perfect bikini shots and editing...

by Shivya Nath
Comments 42
digital nomad packing list, packing for long term travel, digital nomad lifestyle
January 8, 2019

How I Fit All My Life Possessions in Two Bags as I Travel the World.

I couldn't help but wonder whether we humans own things, or our things own us.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 29
best indian travel books | best travel books on india | bestseller books by indian authors
September 1, 2018

My Journey From the Cubicle to a Nomadic Life – Now in a Book!

This adventure is yours now, this journey is yours.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 52

The thing about solo travel is, you can never feel 100% ready. There will always be a tiny voice at the back of your head asking, "Are you crazy?"

Solo travel

March 3, 2021

Meet the Indian Solo Traveller Who Quit His Job, Set Out for His Dream Trip in 2020...

His travels were always constrained by time and finances. Finally, he quit his job and boarded a flight to...

by Shivya Nath
Comments 11
bhutan solo travel, bhutanese blogger, layap bhutan, western bhutan
June 19, 2020

Meet the Bhutanese Blogger and Solo Traveller Unearthing Bhutan’s Best Kept...

While hiking with Denkar, I learnt how the King of Bhutan reads her travel blog and even invited her...

by Shivya Nath
Comments 25
solo travel destinations
December 18, 2018

Unusual Solo Travel Destinations to Feed Your Adventurous Spirit.

As solo travellers, we often tend to take shelter in the same tried and tested places.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 35
uttarakhand india
July 14, 2018

What It’s Like to Travel Solo When You’re in a Relationship. 

When people read about my solo travel adventures, they often assume that I travel alone because I'm single.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 58

"If you think it's difficult to be vegan, imagine how difficult it is for the animals that you're not vegan."

Gary L. Francione

Travelling as a vegan

August 7, 2021

What No One Tells You About Being a Vegan Muslim.

Some Muslims think that it's un-Islamic to be vegetarian or vegan. And some vegans have an anti-Muslim sentiment. So...

by The Shooting Star
Comments 6
February 7, 2021

Try These Cafes and Restaurants in Auroville for Divine Food!

A collection of organic farms, silent meals, and unique cafes and restaurants in Auroville - including the best restaurants...

by The Shooting Star
Comments 10
how to turn vegan, how to transition into veganism
February 9, 2020

11 Tips to Ease Your Transition Into a Vegan Lifestyle.

How to transition into veganism, stay motivated, mentally prepare to deal with family and friends, eat healthy, travel and...

by Shivya Nath
Comments 16
vegan Japan the shooting star
July 13, 2019

The Ultimate Vegan (and Vegetarian) Survival Guide for Japan.

Mission frickin impossible. That’s how someone described my quest to spend a month exploring Japan as a vegan.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 8

"To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries."

Aldous Huxley

Plan your travels

why visit iran, iran travel blogs, iran travel 2019, the shooting star, shivya nath
August 8, 2019

Travelling to Iran? Things to Know Before You Go.

If there's one country in the world that's worth the pre-trip hassle, it's Iran.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 39
alternative copenhagen | copenhagen like a local | copenhagen sightseeing tips
May 19, 2018

Fun and Alternative Things to do in Copenhagen – Perhaps Europe’s Coolest...

Travelling to Denmark & looking for alternative things to do in Copenhagen? Take my list of fun, offbeat things...

by Shivya Nath
Comments 25
airbnb advice | Airbnb reviews | how to find a good airbnb
December 9, 2017

How to Find the Perfect Airbnb and Make the Most of Your Travel Experience.

About this post: How to find a good Airbnb? Is Airbnb safe? Is Airbnb reliable? After several years of...

by Shivya Nath
Comments 33
best ways to travel the world | cheap ways to travel | how to travel young
June 21, 2017

Advice for the Young and Penniless Who Want to Travel.

This is all the advice I wish someone had given me when I was sixteen.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 58

"We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly."

Anne Marie Bonneau

Sustainable living

August 21, 2021

Shop at These Zero Waste Stores in India to Cut Your Plastic Footprint.

Zero waste stores in India - from Dehradun to Chennai - can help us ditch single-use plastic in everyday...

by The Shooting Star
Comments 15
silhouette of woman holding hat in blue and gray nebula
August 26, 2020

The Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Fashion in India.

Sustainable fashion in India is on the rise with homegrown, upcycled, fair-trade, organic, ethical and eco-friendly brands. Now that's...

by The Shooting Star
Comments 22
plastic pandemic, reduce single use plastic
July 5, 2020

Can We Stay Safe Yet Reduce Single Use Plastic During the Pandemic?

As we gear up to face the pandemic for the long haul, another catastrophe might silently be brewing.

by Shivya Nath
Comments 20
May 17, 2020

Sustainable Living Ideas to Embrace as we Emerge Into a New “Normal”.

In the midst of a pandemic linked to biodiversity loss, all roads seem to point towards a life that...

by Shivya Nath
Comments 28

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

HJackson Brown (no, not Mark Twain)
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