Ask Maps Gave Me a Surprisingly Creative Idea! 🤔📍

[SharmaK]

Today I had a really interesting (and honestly fun) experience with Ask Maps, so thought of sharing it with all of you.

Recently, I visited Singapore for Connect Live, and before the trip, there was some discussion happening in our unofficial Telegram group about something called “stamping.” At first, I only understood that it’s about collecting special stamps from places like airports and tourist spots—something like travel souvenirs.

Interestingly, places like Singapore Airport even offer free souvenir-style stamps for travelers to collect in their notebooks, making it a fun and memorable activity during travel.

During my visit, I explored a few such locations and collected some stamps in my travel diary. It was a simple activity, but surprisingly enjoyable—and it instantly felt like I was creating a visual memory of my journey. (I’ve already written a post about stamping separately!)

After coming back to India, I wanted to continue this habit because I genuinely found it interesting. So, I asked Maps using Ask Maps Places which provide stamping near me

And guess what happened?
The first results were all about shops that make rubber stamps!

So I clarified my question and explained that I’m talking about tourist stamping like the ones available at Singapore Airport and other attractions.

Now here comes the best part

Instead of just saying “this doesn’t exist in my area,” Ask Maps actually gave me some really cool ideas:

Create your own personalized stamp
To collect postal stamps as an alternative
And the idea I loved the most — make a custom travel stamp with date and location.

Honestly, that moment felt like—
I wasn’t just searching anymore… I was getting inspired to create something new!

This was my first experience where even without a desired result, I still came away with something more valuable.

Now I’m seriously thinking of making my own personal travel stamp kit and using it during my journeys.

Sharing the screenshot of the Ask Maps response that sparked this idea.

Would love to know—
Have you ever received suggestions like this from Ask Maps? Or do you know of any places in India where stamping is available?

Let’s explore together!

#LocalGuides #AskMaps #TravelStories #Stamping #ConnectLive

[shaileno]

@SharmaK

Would love to know—
Have you ever received suggestions like this from Ask Maps?

I have always been keen on adopting new technology and understanding it in depth. When the ‘Ask Maps’ feature was introduced in Google Maps, I didn’t just use it; I also conducted quite a bit of research and analysis on it. Since then, whenever I visit a new place, I make it a point to use Ask Maps. I pay close attention to the suggestions it offers, the information it displays, and how well its recommendations align with the actual location. Upon reaching a destination, I personally compare my own assessment with the information provided by Maps to gauge the accuracy of both. That is why this feature continues to prove incredibly useful to me when exploring new places.

@SharmaK

Or do you know of any places in India where stamping is available?

As for your curiosity regarding stamping, you might be interested to know that certain museums in Delhi offer this facility. For instance, the Department of Posts’ Philatelic Museum allows visitors to experience commemorative stamping. However, I have never actually had anything stamped there myself. My interest has always been in philately—the collection of postage stamps—so I have only ever collected stamps from there.

Hopefully, this has answered both your questions. @SharmaK ji If you still have any queries, feel free to ask.

[SharmaK]

Thank you @shaileno for taking the time to respond to my questions in such detail. I truly appreciate your effort.

From your response, it is clear that you have extensively used Ask Maps. However, I would like to draw your attention once again to my original question. I was specifically asking whether you have ever received suggestions from Ask Maps — not just the required results, but additional recommendations or insights, as I described in my post. I would really appreciate it if you could share a specific example, including what your query was and what suggestions you received.

@shaileno

certain museums in Delhi offer this facility. For instance, the Department of Posts’ Philatelic Museum allows visitors to experience commemorative stamping

Regarding stamping, I would like to clarify that, as of now, this facility is not available in museums in India. Also, the cancellation stamp provided by the postal department is limited to postal stationery and is only available on specific days when a stamp is released. The type of stamping I mentioned is different — it refers to a year-round facility where any visitor can get stamping on travel diary.

Once again, I kindly request you to go through my post. If you come across any place in India that offers stamping as described, please do let me know. It would be of great help.

Thank you once again for your time and support.

[shaileno]

@SharmaK

However, I would like to draw your attention once again to my original question. I was specifically asking whether you have ever received suggestions from Ask Maps — not just the required results, but additional recommendations or insights, as I described in my post

Thank you for clarifying your question.

Yes, I have received additional suggestions from Ask Maps beyond the direct answer.

By the way, I’d like to share a recent example. Within the last week, I was on my morning walk and searched for a tea stall early in the morning. Instead of only showing nearby tea shops, Ask Maps recommended a restaurant that I hadn’t considered before. I decided to visit it, enjoyed a delicious kulhad chai, and it turned out to be a great experience.

Later, while exploring Ask Maps further, I also discovered the new Regional AI Hub feature. I have already written a Post about it, and I’m sharing the link with you. It explains how this new feature works, especially for the NCR region, and you may find it interesting.

This is the kind of additional insight I was referring to in my post—Ask Maps not only answered my query but also helped me discover a new place and introduced me to a feature that I might not have noticed otherwise.

@SharmaK

I kindly request you to go through my post. If you come across any place in India that offers stamping as described, please do let me know. It would be of great help.

Thank you @SharmaK

At the moment, I can’t confidently point to any place in India that I have personally verified as still offering this type of visitor stamping.

However, based on my knowledge, there are two possible places in Karnataka where this facility may still be available. I haven’t personally verified them, so I don’t want to present them as confirmed examples.

I really appreciate this kind of conversation. This is exactly how discussions should be—if anyone has a doubt, they should feel free to ask. It makes the conversation meaningful, helps us learn from each other, and also benefits everyone who follows or reads the discussion later, even if they don’t actively participate.

[TusharSuradkar]

We have been using ASK Maps as a meetup theme for the past4 in Pune and the next upcoming Ask Maps is scheduled on 9 Aug, Sunday @SharmaK

Though in your case, there seems no such monument in India that offers tourist stamps, that I know.

I encountered this the first time in 2025 in Japan, where the stamps are virtually everywhere, from museum and monuments, to mountains and metro stations.

I collected a lot and published them time to time on Connevt.

I also made my own

This one read in Japanese
Tushar Suradkar - Local Guide from Pune.

I used a website to design it for free

[AjitThite]

This is a perfect idea, I loved it, @SharmaK ji.

This also reminded me that, on a similar note about creating stamps, I had created a few stamps in the name of “Chai Pe Charcha” tag, long time back, when we used to celebrate the personal meetups sharing the stickers.
Here are some samples:

I guess, @TusharSuradkar and @MerlinThomas had also tried a few in the same style. It was fun that time but considering your suggestion, we can make it again for each personal meet-up location and topic as a souvenir. What say sir ji?

Cheers!

[TusharSuradkar]

Yes, I have these designs @AjitThite

Me and @NERKARAMIT also tried cutting them like perforated edges.

Amit also got a stamp cutter, which we tried.