Hi there! Local Guides,
Namste !!
I am Ghanshyam Agarwal from Rajasthan state of India.
I am now a level 7 active local guide.
Here today I want to share that how I became a local guide.
Well, I have started to use Google map from my desktop in year 2008. Generally at that time I used to search a shortest route from my living place to my further destination. My home town Sadulpur district Churu (Rajasthan) is just 200 km away from my living place by shortest route but around 300 km on regular route. I always visit there with my family so I always hire a taxi, it really cost me much. So I started on Google map using my desktop computer to find shortest route. Surprisingly I found a route which was of 200 km only. It saved my money and time. Thanks to Google. But as I remember in those days smart phone was not popular in India preferably in remote places where I am living, so I always take a printout of map and use it to drive in correct directions. Now it is much easier with Google map App.
So from year 2008 to 2010, I always check Google map on my PC before I proceed to somewhere out of station and I always noted the directions, time taken etc.
Fewer reviews were posted on Google map at that time so I had to use Wikipedia for more information about my destination place. I am also very keen to know about history of the place so I always checked Wikipedia to know more about history of that place.
So from year 2008 to 2010, I always check Google map on my PC before I proceed to somewhere out of station and I always noted the directions, time taken etc.
Fewer reviews were posted on Google map at that time so I had to use Wikipedia for more information about my destination place. I am also very keen to know about history of the place so I always checked Wikipedia to know more about history of that place.
In 2010 I got my first smart phone Samsung Ace Duos GT-S6802 and I was on tour to Mumbai. In Mumbai first time I have installed Google map app as my cousin told me about this App. In Mumbai I used the App to find some places like hotel, restaurant and bus stops. I found that Google App map is really helping me but I was not aware about reviews, rating etc, therefore I have also not posted any review or rating.
I have posted my first review and I became level 1 local guide, but as I was not much aware of Google local guide program.
But I started to read reviews on Google map and my interest was developed, I found it very informative and easy.
I found that people are getting help for hotels, restaurants and places of their interest as I was also getting help from Google map.
I just started to add reviews and rating wherever I visit. So many places I have added which were not even on Google map including commercial places like hotels and public places like parks, gardens etc.
I observed that Google in enhancing my level and even I got a small perk in form of discount from Redbus. I used it and I was very happy that Google also appreciated my contributions.
I am living in remote place of Rajasthan and I found that there are so many places which are to be uncovered for Google map. Once I visited a hotel “Hotel Surya & AC Restaurant” which was situated on Highway but the owner was not getting much business as he told me. I thought I should help him, so I have added the hotel on Google map with photograph and reviews. My these photographs were viewed for thousand times. When I next time visited the hotel, owner was very happy because he was getting good business due to my additions on Google map. He was highly obliged with me and offered me tea and snacks. I was very happy as it was my real perk.
After that I became passionate and keen to add more reviews and places. I started to add reviews and ratings regularly wherever I go.
When I visited Kota city for getting admission of my daughter, Google helped me to decide a good hostel to meet my requirement. I have created a story of my Kota visit on localguidesconnect.com, which is as below:-
My Kota trip
Now Google offered me total four perks even send me an invitation to join Connect Live 2019 at Google in San Jose, California.
I have also submitted my application for this and I hope I will join Connect Live 2019 at Google in San Jose, California.
Hence my journey started as Google local guide is not end up but it is now on full pace.
Thanks.