India

After 7 years of travelling the world – 5 of those without a home or permanent address – I’ve written a book about my journey! My first book, The Shooting Star, charts my journey from the cubicle to the road and from small-town India to remote corners of the globe. Published by Penguin, the book is now available on Amazon and Flipkart.

How Responsible Tourism Can Challenge Patriarchy in India

5 Reasons Why Travelling Solo in India is Not So Scary

Mission 2012: Rediscovery of India

My 13 “Incredible India” Moments in 2013

My 14 “Incredible India” Moments in 2014

Solo Travel in India: 11 Tips from a Local (Guest Post for Solo Traveller)

ASSAM

In Photos: Majuli Island, Assam

AUROVILLE

Auroville: Utopia or Something Like It

A Guide to Auroville: Things to Know Before You Go

DARJEELING

In Photos: Hiking from Darjeeling to Sikkim

DELHI

5 unusual end-of-summer getaways from Delhi

5 best ‘work from home’ cafes in Delhi

6 Offbeat Monsoon Weekend Getaways From Delhi

5 Awesome New Cafes with Wifi in South Delhi

There’s Something About Taj

Is Delhi Safe For Women? My Take

A Taste of Italy in Delhi

DIU

Diu: India’s last beach paradise?

GOA

My Alternative Travel Guide to Goa

Wake Me Up When September Ends

7 Authentic Goan Restaurants in North Goa

In Photos: Goa in The Monsoons

Goa is A State of Mind

Alila Diwa: A Little Bit of Goa and A Whole Lot of Luxury

VIDEO: The Other Side of Goa

GUJARAT

A Traveller’s Guide to Gujarat’s Best Kept Secrets

HIMACHAL PRADESH

I Love Spiti: How Travellers Must Help Save India’s Surreal Himalayan Desert

Spiti valley: 10 experiences that’ll take your breath away.

Travel tales from Spiti: Once a nun.

Travel tales from Spiti: Entrepreneur at 12.

Travel tales from Spiti: Legend of the moving monasteries.

Kaza’s garden lady.

In transit at Kalpa.

Mcleodganj aka Little Tibet.

Of royalty in the Himalayas.

A Cup of Life Over Tea, in Darang Village.

In Photos: Sangla Valley, Kinnaur

Of Mountain Legends, Unknown Trails and Wild Beauty 

JAMMU & KASHMIR

Jullay from Leh!

From The Lens of Ladakhi Nuns

Heartwarming & Heartbreaking: Living With The Nuns of Ladakh

Simple Ways to Travel More Responsibly in Ladakh

KARNATAKA

Bangalore in 24 Hours!

Coffee and Conversations in Coorg

You Can Shake The Sand From Your Shoes But Not From Your Soul

In Photos: Life in Hampi

Living in the Wild at The Hermitage.

KERALA

Offbeat Kerala: 11 Travel Experiences to Inspire the Artist in You

Afloat in Allepey.

Unearthing Kerala’s Best Kept Secrets.

God’s Own “Island” by The Backwaters of Kerala

MADHYA PRADESH

Why Satpura National Park is the Most Unique in India

Pranpur: the India that rejoices in its crafts

The Silk Men & Women of India

Khajuraho: Love in The Time of Chandelas

Panna National Park: The Most Beautiful in India?

Wildlife Tourism: Are We Saving The Tiger?

Stories From The Wild: Kanha, Madhya Pradesh

MAHARASHTRA

Bombay to Barcelona: How Travelling Inspired an Indian Street Kid to Chase an Impossible Dream

Offbeat Getaways from Mumbai That’ll Inspire You to Rethink Life

Dehna: Slow Life, Starry Skies and Sahyadris… A Perfect Escape From Mumbai

24 Hours of Indulgence in Bombay

6 Ways to Pamper Yourself at JW Marriott, Bombay

In Photos: Road Tripping in Rural Maharashtra

Call of The Wild: Tadoba Tiger Reserve

ODISHA

Mangalajodi, Odisha: How an Entire Village Transformed from Poaching Birds to Protecting Them 

PUNJAB

On the Countryside of Punjab

From Punjab, with love

“Life on the Farm” at Prakriti Farms

RAJASTHAN

A Flavor of Rural Rajasthan

In Photos: Jaisalmer in The Monsoons

In Photos: Bhap Village, Rajasthan

Suryagarh: A Splash of Royalty in The Desert

Lakshman Sagar: Add it To Your Bucket List

Offbeat Rajasthan: 11 Awe-Inspiring Experiences

SIKKIM

Eat, Pray, Love in Gangtok

Sikkim: The Lost Kingdom

UTTARAKHAND

Sarmoli, Uttarakhand: A Himalayan Village Where Locals Run Marathons and Their Own Instagram Channel!

Awe-Inspiring Hideouts to Tune Out of Life and Tune Into the Mountains

A Love Hate Relationship With The Ganga.

Tales From a Kumaoni Village.

Dehradun: A charming valley at the Himalayan foothills & my hometown.

Corbett: We came, we saw, we conquered. Well, almost.

Corbett: Secrets of the Jungle.

A night in the jungles of Uttarakhand.

Te Aroha: Under The Yellow Rooftops

Bhimtal: Forests, Farms and False Impressions

In Photos: The Garhwal Himalayas a Year After The Uttarakhand Floods

*****

39 Comments

  1. Pingback: 5 unusual end-of-summer getaways from Delhi. | The Shooting Star

  2. Pingback: Mcleodganj aka Little Tibet. | The Shooting Star

  3. Just happened to stumble across ur travelogue! Interesting I must say! 🙂 Wish the star to shoot south soon!!
    Bon Voyage! 🙂

  4. Ankush. says

    Hi.My name is Ankush ,and I am 19. A few days back,I myself was wondering how it must like to travel India alone !It’s something on my to-do list in the next 2 years. I just searched through Google and found this blog.And it really fascinates me that a 23 year old girl like yourself is doing so much travelling ! Because I know how Indian parents are like.This is really amazing. I was just curious,though.Isn’t it costly ? I mean ,the travelling,the hotel,the food ?

    • Welcome to The Shooting Star, Ankush 🙂 It is costly, and I try to save every bit of money I possibly can to afford it. All other expenses just bring guilt. If you travel & stay cheap, it’s not all that hard to do.

  5. bravo Shivya

    your story reminds me a bit of Lonely Planet Story. Met Tony and Maureen Wheeler a while back, who mentioned how they ended up saving bit of money to take a trip from London to Australia. Rest as you know is legendary .

    cheers

    • That’s too much of a compliment! Thanks 🙂 I have a long way to go before I can reach Tony / Maureen’s level. And lucky you to have met them.

  6. happy camera club says

    the seeds are sown at the start . it’s a good beginning 🙂 let me know if you would like to listen to their interview. i might have audio recording somewhere . i can dig it out and pass it over ( based in Delhi). Also you can check their book The Lonely Planet Story .cheers

    • That would be great, I’d love to see it. And off to check out their story now! Thanks for the inspiration.

  7. Pingback: How Travelling is Breaking My Heart. | The Shooting Star

  8. Sameena says

    Shivya – you have me totally inspired – I know we have spoken before, but i discovered your blog only today 🙂 you are a great inspiration! Keep writing!

  9. Pingback: Confession: I’m Not a Backpacker. | The Shooting Star

  10. I stumpled upon your blog while I was looking out for a blogging website to publish my travelogue.You have an enviable life, I also love travelling but cant even imagine quitting my job and taking travelling as a profession. Thats a brave step and you seem to be njoing it. Love the way you write blogs and feedbacks on the posts of people.Could not find a blog of Maharashtra, suggest you to travel interiors of Maharashra, especially the coastal and sahyadri ranges.

  11. Shivya, I just love what you do, your blog “The Shooting Star”. Actually you’re a real Shooting Star, I also want to travel and experience this world on my own like you are doing. You’re my Inspiration these days!

  12. Hi

    Its great to meet an inspired traveler like you.
    I’ve been travelling around India whenever i get time, and I must say, I’m kinda obsessed with India. I decided not to go international till I’ve covered most parts of India.
    My pending (India) list is still long, but hopefully, in a year I’ll be able to cover it.

    All the best wishes with your future trip.

    Cheers
    Jibu
    http://jibutomjose.wordpress.com/

  13. kavya says

    I totally loved your passion about travelling. Your travelling blogs are inspiration to people like us. Cheer!!!!.Good luck.

  14. Sumi says

    HI Shivya,

    You’re such an inspiration.. I love to travel and I have started out in India. But what I cannot bring myself to face is travelling alone. How do you manage it?
    Sometimes When I wish to travel, my friends will be unavailable or vice-versa. I’d love to go places but at least one person with me is all I need..

    • krishna kiran annamaneni says

      hey…even am in that glance…! I love travelling and may be I will start my journey with my wife 🙂 hope you too find a partner very soon…Best wishes 🙂

  15. Pingback: The best blogs out there on Lahaul & Spiti | The Blueberry Trails

  16. Ankita Dash says

    Hello Shivya
    Ever thought of visiting Odisha?
    It has many places which you’d love.

  17. What I found is traveling is easy, blogging about it is hard work. But you have to do your bit. Earning your travel is a fun process.

  18. Panchami says

    Hi there,
    Your blog is wonderful !!Loved the articles.
    Go girl, More power to you!!

  19. Hi Shivya
    i am some what of a newbie to internet marketing and blogging.So with that being said. i am very glad that i found this blog post. i’ve heared talk of “flavor of rural rajasthan” but never really new what it was all about. however i can say that i understand a lot better now.i plan to stay connected to your blog can’t wait to see what you’re going to write a next .Thanks. for more information you can visit

  20. Jaswant P R says

    Hi Shivya,
    I would like you to explore Tamil Nadu and write some posts about our state.

  21. Ramakant says

    I cant believe ….
    An Indian girl at 23 … breaking all so called traditions and roaming alone to fullfill her dreams ..
    BRAVO … No words to convey my feelings.

    Do keep posting .. Your words of wisdom are lot for all of us ..

    Best wished ahead

  22. Sanidhya Shankhdhar says

    Im not much of a “blog-reader” myself. But i saw ur name inscripted on one of the travel portals, after going through “the shooting star” i must say- ‘you’ve nailed it’… Although i have hell lot of questions to ask you!!

  23. DDayDreamer says

    Hi Shivya, I am a big fan of the work you do. The way you are actually following your heart, no matter wherever it takes you.
    I love the idea of Solotrips, though I have been to just one solo trip, and that was to Pondicherry. Hope to take up more in future. Please write about your solotrips taken in India.

  24. Keerthika says

    Hi Shivya, thanks for sharing your travelogues and for letting us know about your experiences. I loved reading your blog and have just placed an order for your book. I am looking forward to reading it soon!
    When you are in India, I would suggest you to head to the Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh. They are such a delight. In one of these districts of Andhra Pradesh lie the picturesque hills of Papikondalu. You would be intrigued to know that there is no electricity in the tribal hamlets of this area and the only mode of travel is through boats. I was surprised to see that there is no dearth of alcohol at the place :P.

    Keep inspiring us! Cheers to wonderful trips and to heartful experiences!

    Love,
    Keerthika

  25. snehal shinde says

    Hello shivya , really no words for you…ur just amazing n such a inspirational girl for us. I was watching video the best blogger of India on youtube n ur name comes, quickly I searched ur blogg n follow too n order your book from amazon.As I love traveling , for me ur icon know.Thanks alot for sharing such a great experince with us. & ALL THE BEST for ur future plans.lots of love

    Snehal

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