Highlights of 2024, a Dilemma, and a Blogging Resolution.

I’ve been in a weird state of flux the last few months.

Every time I travel away from our current base in Himachal Pradesh, I miss it, sometimes terribly. I miss sitting at my writing desk, staring out at the ever-changing agricultural landscapes and the mountains beyond. I miss going on long walks through the fields and villages, greeting people with a familiarity that only comes from living here long enough. I miss hanging out with a cup of tea (and the same old boring menu) at my favorite cafe.

But every time I come back, I wonder why. As I fall into a familiar routine, the sameness of life begins to feel unbearable. The landscapes gradually lose their magic, and the smallest of irritants feel like major inconveniences. A familiar itch to be elsewhere grips me.

That sweet spot of time, between wanting to get home and wanting to stay home, has diminished rapidly in the last few months. Is it because all those years of travelling have rewired my brain? Am I just not cut out to accept the drudgery of everyday living? Is it time to focus on my inner world?

Also read: We Travel in Search of What we Need, and Return “Home” to Find it

In the midst of grappling with these questions, I began to look back at 2024, and felt surprised to find much to be proud of and grateful for:

Highlights of 2024

Slow living in Himachal

Despite the diminishing charm of returning ‘home’ to Himachal, slow living in these mountains for nearly two years has brought so many joys. Witnessing the snowy magic of winter, screening films (like Laapatha Ladies!) for local women in our village in a cozy mud room, watching the landscape transform into wild pink cherry blossom in autumn, floating in hot springs on a wintry day, lazy spring picnics, chulha-cooked saag and makki ki roti, misty monsoon days, kombucha from our neighborhood kombuchery, hiking to old and abandoned villages, dhaba brunches… and so much more. As long as we continue to live here, I’ll continue to cherish them.

From my monthly newsletter: Snow and Self-Preservation

Earning my Master’s in Sustainability

It feels surreal that I now hold a Master’s in Sustainability and Environmental Management from Harvard University, with a place on the coveted Dean’s List! The degree was mostly virtual, but in 2024, I spent a month at the legendary Harvard campus in Boston – attending lectures at Harvard Yard, working on my research at the iconic Widener Library, attending book launches, philosophy discussions and poetry events at Harvard Square, connecting with climate scientists, grassroots leaders and tourism professionals to get perspective on my capstone on climate adaptation in tourism, and treading the thin line between scholarly research and imposter syndrome.

After the on-campus stint, I had two months for the final submission, and ended up writing my capstone report from a stunning abode in Cusco – which is a line I never thought I’d write!

On Instagram: My Summer at Harvard

Slow travel in Peru

Since I had to fly halfway across the world to finish my studies anyway, I decided to celebrate it with two months of slow travelling across Peru, partly solo and partly with my partner. I plan to write in detail about that time, but highlights included living with Indigenous Quechua families, meeting possibly the last generation of people to live on floating islands on the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca, hiking in the insanely beautiful Andes, and eating a LOT of potatoes from among the 1300+ varieties they grow!

On Youtube: Community Tourism Initiatives in Peru’s Sacred Valley

Global recognition as a sustainable travel advocate

Despite all my frustrations with social media and how it is ruining both travel and storytelling, I refuse to give up using it as a force for good. In the past few years, my focus has been entirely on sustainable travel, community impact and climate action, alongside my personal journey towards slow and conscious living.

In 2024, I was pleasantly surprised to be awarded ‘Blog of the Year’ at the Inspire Global Media Awards in London, for The Shooting Star. If you’ve been reading my blog posts on email, check out the new look of my blog – which I primarily redesigned to lower its carbon footprint (73% lower than the average website).

Last month, I was also humbled to be named ‘Champion of Responsible Travel 2024’ by Travel + Leisure at India’s Best Awards in Delhi.

Also read: Why Long Term Travel is More Like Real Life and Less Like Instagram

E-biking across Morocco

I haven’t stopped dreaming of a cross-country cycling adventure since my partner and I spent a week doing a self-guided e-biking trip across the Swiss Alps. So when the opportunity arose to experience Morocco on two wheels with Intrepid Travel, it was a hell yes!

Over two weeks, we cycled 40-60 km daily, along the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, across the Rif Mountains, the Middle Atlas, the Sahara Desert and the High Atlas – crossing sun-drenched valleys, desert oases, dramatic canyons, and steep switchbacks. The incredible and ever-changing landscapes took my breath away, literally and figuratively.

Also read: What it Was Like to E-Bike Across Morocco – From the High Atlas to the Sahara Desert

Launching my first travel documentary series, Routes of Resilience

I guess I’ve come a long way since refusing to post reels on Instagram because video wasn’t my thing, to challenging myself to make 10 short documentary films on my travels. In 2024, I launched Routes of Resilience, a series of short docufilms that highlight gender-responsive, community-centric climate resilience solutions from the lens of travel.

The first of these films, on the journey of Tirthan Valley’s first female guides, is now being screened at film festivals nationally and globally, including the Swedish International Film Festival. The film on Female Waste Warriors premiered at the Mussoorie International Film Festival.

It’s a reminder to keep pushing myself out of my creativity comfort zone, for that’s where the magic happens.

Contributing to my second Lonely Planet book

2024 was a reminder that the joy of seeing your work in print never goes away, especially when it is for Lonely Planet. After contributing an essay to the Lonely Planet Chile book in 2023, I was thrilled to be commissioned to write for the sustainable travel section in Lonely Planet’s ‘Best in Travel 2024‘ book!

Also read: Tajikistan: A Country That’s Not on Your Travel Radar But Should Be

Spending time with local communities across India

Travelling in India never stops surprising me, and so it was in 2024. This year, I consciously spent more time seeking community tourism initiatives – led by, owned by or primarily benefiting local communities.

In Himachal Pradesh, I spent time in an ancient Gaddi (shepherd) village with restored mud homes dating back over a 100 years, and went on a trek with the first collective of female mountain guides in the Great Himalayan National Park. In the heart of Mumbai, I learnt about the Indigenous way of life with a Warli guide and eco-activist in the Aarey Forest. Near Pune, I felt incredibly inspired to meet a rural women’s group weaving single-use plastic waste on traditional handlooms, into stunning everyday products like diary covers and lamp shades. In Karnataka, I foraged in the wild while living with the Siddi community – believed to have arrived in India some 400-600 years ago from Africa.

Also read: Everything You Need to Know About Community-Based Tourism

Speaking at high profile sustainable tourism summits

I must confess I still find it hard to straddle my traveller persona with my professional profile as a speaker and consultant. But I’m certainly grateful for the opportunities to speak at tourism stages that matter.

The biggest of these landed in my email in 2024, as an invitation to speak at a UN Tourism (previously called UNWTO) conference in Indonesia, on the role of women in driving sustainable tourism. Sharing the panel with tourism ministers and industry professionals, I highlighted women-led travel initiatives from across Asia, and how tourism policies and business models need to change to centre women.

Later in the year, I was invited to speak on a panel at the World Community Tourism Summit by Planeterra and G Adventures, where I highlighted the need to centre local communities, along with stories of impactful community tourism initiatives from my travels.

Also read: Responsible Travel Tips for Meaningful Experiences on the Road

Witnessing the evolution of students in my course for travel creators

Despite coming from a family of teachers, I didn’t think I had it in me to teach anything. When I felt the calling to share all that I’ve learnt over the years about impactful storytelling, building a strong personal brand, attracting the right audience, and working with purpose-driven brands, I decided to create the self-paced course, Get Paid to Travel the World With Purpose.

I’ve felt nothing but joy witnessing the growth of course participants, from developing confidence in their abilities as creators, to evolving their storytelling, to collaborating with brands (even at follower counts of less than 1000), to scoring paid speaking gigs, to becoming advocates of conscious travel, to having their first by-lines published in national and international publications, to being featured by travel media in their niche. The course’s thriving Whatsapp community gives me hope for the future of travel storytelling!

Also read: Insider Tips: How to Get Paid to Travel the World in 2025

A Dilemma

The balance between slow living and professional ambitions

As much as I love the slowness of my rural mountain life in Himachal, I’ve struggled to balance it with all the professional goals I’ve dreamed up for myself. While travel writing will always remain my first love, I’ve dabbled in consulting, climate fellowships, research projects and many passion projects over the last two years. I also have to balance the work I do for personal fulfilment versus filling my bank account – the two don’t always coincide.

When I first moved to Himachal in early 2023, I was so knee deep in work + my Master’s studies that I could barely make the time for wintry afternoon naps on the grass. It eventually taught me to say no more often, and I’ve definitely struck a better balance in 2024. But I still find my heart and mind constantly pulled in opposite directions. One wants more slowness, one wants more ambition. The dilemma is real.

On Instagram: Building a Slow Life

A Blogging Resolution

I began this blog 14+ years ago, first as a space to write existential rants into the void, then as a way to document my travel adventures. Along the way, it became a way of life and a source of income. During the pandemic, I tried to make ends meet by focusing on a paid newsletter instead. And post that, I lost my blogging steam to the lure of Instagram, and all the other professional hats I started to wear. Long story short, I feel terrible that my blog has been on the backburner for the last few years – despite the joy writing here always brings me.

In 2025, I’ve set myself the ambitious goal of publishing new blog posts atleast twice a month – a mix of personal reflections, conscious travel recommendations, slow travel itineraries, and longish travel stories. Coming your way soon is my precious 10-day slow travel itinerary for one of the most unique places in the world, Japan!

What were your highlights and dilemmas of 2024? What would you like to read on my blog in 2025?