What if the most interesting thing about a Local Guide isn’t what she has contributed to Google Maps, but the extraordinary person she is beyond it?
Behind every photograph is a perspective. Behind every review is an experience. Behind every pin is a person with a story waiting to be discovered.
Women Local Guides are doing much more than adding photographs, writing reviews, correcting information and helping people navigate the world. They are documenting communities, discovering hidden gems, preserving memories, making places more accessible and helping millions of people make informed decisions.
But how much do we really know about the women behind these contributions?
What are their passions beyond Google Maps? What unusual talents or fascinating hobbies do they pursue? What adventures have they undertaken? What challenges have they overcome? What makes them tick? And what are the stories that their Google Maps profiles can never tell us?
With Beyond the Map: Women Who Make a Difference, I want to take a different route. This is not another leader board, a showcase of badges or a celebration of contribution statistics. It is an attempt to discover the personalities, passions, experiences, achievements and untold stories of women Local Guides from across the world.
Because every woman has a story. Every story has a perspective. And some of the most inspiring discoveries happen when we look beyond the map!
BEYOND THE MAP | EPISODE 1
Meet @ShreyaMusings : A Friend, A People Person, A Wonderful Local Guide!
Some people introduce you to a platform; others introduce you to an entire community. For me, Shreya did both!
My journey on Local Guides Connect began because of the mega meetup she organised. That one event brought me together with Local Guides from across India and made me realise what a wonderful community Connect could be. In many ways, I owe my introduction to this incredible platform to her.
Friendly, warm, multifaceted and always full of positive energy, Shreya is an absolute joy to know. She has been a regular presence at every meetup I have organised, and her enthusiasm for meeting people and building friendships makes her truly special.
Beyond her contributions as a Local Guide, it is her approachable personality, infectious enthusiasm and ability to connect with people that make her stand out.
For me, Shreya is not just a fellow Local Guide but a wonderful friend who has been part of my own journey in this community.
And what better way to begin Beyond the Map: Women Who Make a Difference than by introducing someone who, quite literally, helped me discover the world beyond Google Maps!
1. If someone were to look beyond your Google Maps profile, what are three interesting things about you that they would never guess? Tell us something unusual, surprising or perhaps even quirky about yourself.
Shreya: I am big foodie, I love to design tattoos as I am an artist and I am LEGO enthusiast.
2. We would love to know the person behind the Local Guide profile. Complete these five sentences:
I am passionate about… photography
Most people don’t know that… I have written in 160+ anthologies and have authored Silhouettes of Life, Stories of hidden minds, and Heartfelt Hues
My happiest travel memory is… my South India circuit covering each state from Delhi to Kanyakumari in 15 days by road with my family and exploring the beautiful landscapes, food and culture in the early 1996.
One thing I cannot live without is… my passion to explore the possibility to capture the beauty of life.
I want to be remembered for… my work in making a difference in someone’s life through my words and skills.
3. What is one passion, hobby, talent or interest outside Google Maps that defines you?
Shreya: I am a crystal healer and I love to study and collect crystals and gemstones that help in the betterment of my life and also to help others.
4. What brought you to the Local Guides community? Was there a particular incident, experience or discovery that made you realise that sharing your experiences could help millions of people?
Shreya: I used to love taking photos and uploading on Maps. When I first downloaded Google Maps and navigated to a location, I realised that the location was incorrect and I got lost. Finally, when I reached the correct destination, the first thing I did was to correct the location on Maps and attached a photo of the place to the review. It got approved, and Maps also showed me what else I can do on Maps.
5. Have you ever discovered a place, experience or hidden gem that left you completely fascinated? Tell us the story behind that discovery and why it remains special to you.
Shreya: Golu Devta Mandir, Ghorakhal, near Nainital. It is a tranquil, and very peaceful place. Weather changes here every few minutes and this temple is undisturbed by the crowd we usually see in Nainital. It reminds me of my last visit with my parents. Here is maps link: Google Maps
6. If you had to select five photographs from your personal collection (not necessarily uploaded on Google Maps) that best represent who you are, which five would you choose? Share the story behind each photograph and tell us why it holds a special place in your life.
I got my first award for publishing a anthology and also authoring and releasing my first book Silhouettes of Life. It has stories from my real life and it has inspired so many people to live a happy and prosperous life after all the tragedies as I am the person who never gives up on following the passion or my family. This award was given to me by my better half S. Siddharth and Kartik (Publisher of The world of hidden thoughts)
Award for Heartfelt Hues being the Best Seller on Amazon and got published and released in 80+ countries. This book was special because it was a combination of stories, poetries and the cover was designed by me.
Award for graduating Reiki Level 2 Distance Healing. It was special to me because I was healing myself during this learning process and came out of depression. My life became better in different walks of life.
I made my first Resin Table Top and it sold for more than the expected price. It was memorable because it made me feel more confident and focused.
Connect Live 2025 was an exceptional experience for me as I had never imagined me being part of something like this. I had the opportunity to meet some of the faces who has helped me long way since I joined connect platform. I was feeling vulnerable, yet enjoying every moment I spent there making new friends.
7. What is the most unusual, challenging or adventurous thing you have done while creating content for Google Maps? Perhaps an unexpected encounter, a difficult journey or an experience that turned into a memorable story.
Shreya: Not exactly for Google Maps, but during one of the meet-ups hosted by me, visited Neeli Jheel. It’s Delhi’s hidden and serene manmade lakes. However, to visit it we had to reach the spot at 4:30 AM, wait in the queue to get tickets (first come first serve basis) for a ride to the lake on Golf carts which starts at exactly 6 am. What made the meet-up even more unique was that I did a reccee the previous day, talked to the admin to see if tickets could be purchased in advance (which he bluntly refused) and even mapped out the route the participants can take to reach the spot. The best part was majority of the LGs turned up for event at 5 Am and we had an amazing time exploring Neeli Jheel.
8. Among all your Google Maps contributions, is there one review, photograph, video or edit that holds a special place in your heart? What makes it meaningful to you? It need not be your most viewed contribution.
Shreya: National handicrafts and hastkala museum in Delhi. The amount of joy I experienced while writing reviews and adding photos of this place is next to none. I have been visiting this museum since I was studying and it was my happy place since childhood. I wanted to share this experience with my local guides family and even organised a meet-up here.
9. As a woman Local Guide, have you ever faced a situation where you had to overcome a social, cultural, personal or practical barrier while exploring places or contributing to Google Maps? How did you deal with it?
Shreya: I was constantly asked why I was roaming alone. - This happened during my visit to Bir Billing a few years ago. As my husband was working from home (working from mountains in this case) I decided to travel solo and explore the nearby areas of Bir, like Sherbaling monastery and the nearby areas of snowfall. During the entire excursion people asked me why am I travelling alone in such remote location and at one point I felt even unsafe. I dealt with it by being confident and made some friends along the journey. Google Maps helped me a lot to find eateries and even a small police outpost which reassured me that help is always around
10. What is one surprising fact about you that would make fellow Local Guides say, “We never knew that!”? It could be an achievement, a hidden talent, an unusual collection, an adventurous experience or an interesting personal milestone.
Shreya: An adventurous and terrifying experience I lived through was trekking down from yamnotri after midnight and saving my mom from slipping into Alaknanda river at the age of 14 years.
11. Imagine Google Maps could create a personalised map of your life. Which five places would you pin on it, and what would each place represent? They could be places connected with childhood, family, friendships, travel, career or defining moments.
Lucknow - Childhood home memories of my hometown;
Delhi - Family and Friendship
Hyderabad - Career
Shimla - First surprise vacation with my best friend (now husband)
Pushkar - 1st surprise birthday celebration of mine
12. What is one piece of advice you would give to aspiring women Local Guides? And what is one thing you wish the wider Local Guides community understood better about the contribution of women?
Shreya: Trust the power of your unique lens. Don’t hesitate to detail practical safety and comfort elements—like well-lit entrances, clean rest stops, and accessible spaces—that transform a map from merely informative to truly reassuring for female travellers. Women don’t just log reviews; we map peace of mind. Our contributions frequently highlight subtle accessibility and safety details that dictate whether someone feels secure visiting a place.
13. If you could nominate another woman Local Guide whose story deserves to be told through this series, who would she be and why? Also, what is one interesting or unusual question you would like us to ask her?
@SonamW. She has travelled all over the world
As a local guide which is her least favourite place and why?
And Shreya is just the beginning! There are many more remarkable women, fascinating personalities and inspiring stories waiting to be discovered. In the next episode, we will meet another woman whose story goes far beyond her Google Maps contributions. So stay curious, because the most interesting discoveries aren’t always found on a map. Sometimes, they are found in people!
on coming up with the wonderful idea of highlighting women Local Guides and showcasing their perspectives and contributions beyond the map. It is indeed a great initiative 
You were impressive, and you truly deserved to be featured 
. The way you have presented her journey is truly commendable and impressive.
to you, dear friend.
