- 6
- 512 words
As a community, Blogchatter has been an integral part of my blogging journey. Its weekly chats on Twitter (now X), fun activities, blogging, and reel-making challenges, have motivated many bloggers like me to become consistent and create unique content. Especially after I got my self-hosted blog, it has helped to gain traffic with its campaigns and challenges. Even though I’ve mainly interacted with their A team virtually, they feel like family. Little wonder then that when they announced their first-ever offline retreat in Varanasi, I jumped at the idea! It was going to be my first solo trip and I immediately registered.
It has been roughly a year since, and Blogchatter is all set to host another retreat in Kolkata. The idea got me into reminiscing mode and reliving those two magical days we spent together in Varanasi. The midnight Aarti at Kashi Vishwanathji, the beautiful Guleria Kothi, endless cups of chai, amazing food, crazy night-time laughing attacks, shopping, ghaat darshan and so much more are a mere glimpse of what this timeless city has to offer. Perfect for a solo trip even if soul-searching isn’t on your mind.
We had a wonderful discussion about spirituality with Umesh Kabir, attended an art workshop with Scrapshala, performed early morning Yoga, and were part of the Book Launch of Blogchatter’s anthology, Book of Thrillers. Yours truly got to share some gyaan about the need for self-love in women. If this wasn’t fun enough, we were subjected to a thoroughly incredible story originating from Richa’s mind and got into serious chats about our lives. Am I missing something? Oh yes, pictures! Lots and lots of them! Can there be a more remarkable background than the beautiful Ganga?
This was the first solo trip for many of us and will remain special in every way. My Instagram was flooded with Varanasi stories and reels but this is my first post about it. Better late than never, yes? I’m going to miss the retreat this time but am so glad to have met and made blogger-turned-real friends. Who said all things we see on the internet aren’t believable? I beg to differ.
This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon 2024
© This site A Vibrant Palette is the property of Varsha Bagadia. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Varsha Bagadia and A Vibrant Palette with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Blogger. Author. Editor. Content creator. Mom.
6 comments
Appreciate your feedback!
Author
varsha.bagadia@gmail.com
Oh, yes, I endorse solo trips too!
Good to see entire blogchatter family at one place . Looks like Modi ji’s constituency is now getting the right kind of travellers .
I remember how animatedly you all spoke about this, especially Richa’s story during our Bombay meet-up. I missed Varanasi and will be missing Kolkata one too, but I’m glad I was able to meet you and the A-team for a few hours at least. Here’s hoping that we’ll get to go to a retreat with the community next year!
This looks like a wonderful trip together. Have never been to Varanasi or meet the Blogchatter A-Team and community members. But some solace in meeting Anshu, Aesha and you in Mumbai last year. 🙂
This is so amazing to read. I couldn’t make it to the retreat last time or this time either and I know I’m missing out. But I just hope to be in a better place so I can enjoy myself when I finally do. Blogchatter has brought a lot of good things for me too~
One of my sister’s wanted to visit Varanasi as a solo trip. Butn she was confused regarding the same. But, after reading your post, I am sure to recommend her now to be carefree.