I sincerely express my gratitude as I continue my Local Guides journey, which began nine years ago. Celebrating #LGC10, I initiated my first quarterly reflection (January–March 2026) in April. Building upon that foundation, I am delighted to present the second edition of my Quarterly Connect series—capturing my journey from April to June 2026.
This series is a humble effort to reflect on my journey, appreciate the support and opportunities I have received, celebrate my contributions, and stay inspired to create a positive impact on Google Maps and beyond.
1. Overview
Similar to the previous quarter, this period was filled with many happy and fulfilling moments on Google Maps and Local Guides Connect. From leveling up on Maps—from Level 8 to Level 9—and earning new badges to participating in insightful meetups, the journey has been both enriching and impactful.
A major highlight of this quarter was the introduction of an Unofficial Connector Community aimed at fostering stronger community building. I firmly believe this initiative will create a positive and lasting impact in the years to come.
2. Badges & Recognition
This quarter brought several special moments of recognition—reflecting not only individual effort but also the power of community collaboration and global engagement.
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On June 19, I received a badge for achieving 10,000 likes. To date, only 102 Local Guides have received this badge on Connect, and I am happy to be one of them. -
On June 11, I earned the badge for giving 10,000 likes. So far, 125 Local Guides have achieved this milestone, and I am proud to be among them. -
On June 1, I received the Influential Writer badge for creating 250 topics on Connect. This badge has been awarded to only 48 Local Guides, making it a truly special achievement for me. -
I also received the unofficial Novice TRAC Badge for achieving 1,000 approved roads on Google Maps, marking an important milestone in my mapping journey. -
My post Budget Travel in Delhi: My Go-To Sightseeing Options was pinned on June 30, which was another proud and encouraging moment.
3. Contributions on Google Maps
This quarter marked an important milestone in my mapping journey:
- On May 31, I reached Level 9 on Google Maps by earning 50,000 points.
- Earlier in the same month, on May 9, I celebrated 9 years of my Local Guides journey and received a congratulatory email from the Local Guides team.
Achieving both these milestones in the same month was a truly pleasant surprise and made it even more special for me.
- More than 500 roads added by me were approved on Google Maps during this quarter.
These achievements reflect my continued commitment to improving map accuracy and helping users navigate better.
4. Meetups & Community Engagement
This quarter was equally enriching in terms of community engagement. I had the opportunity to attend several inspiring meetups, including:
- Video Walk to The Kunj - Delhi’s Handicrafts Mall hosted by @delhifundos
- LGBTQ+ Friendly Visit to Jugmug Thela hosted by @Manishhh
- Ghumakkad Gossip meetups hosted by @Kumaarsantosh
- Map Masters meetups hosted/co-hosted by @TusharSuradkar
- Community First Meetup hosted by @AjitThite
- and several other meetups
In addition, I also hosted three meetups, creating spaces for meaningful discussions and collaboration.
On April 19 and June 21, I had the wonderful opportunity to meet @deepakjhic and @AmbrishVarshney as part of 
Namaste India Summit 2026 preparations 
, contributing to responsibilities assigned by the Joint Organising Committee—@NareshDarji ji, @deepakjhic ji, @AmbrishVarshney ji, @Tejal ji, @AjitThite ji, @Kumaarsantosh ji, and myself.
During my visit to Delhi on June 21, I also had the pleasure of engaging in a meaningful discussion with @Hemendu ji, @ShreyaMusings ji, @Ssiddharth2000 ji, and @Nomad_Enkay ji. It was a truly enriching interaction filled with insightful conversations and a shared enthusiasm for the community.
Each interaction—whether through individual unofficial community meetups, as a participant in official community-led meetups, or as a host of community-led meetups—offered valuable insights, strengthened connections with fellow Local Guides, and reinforced the true spirit of community that makes this journey so special.
