Meet Apoorva Rao, a Travel blogger from Hyderabad who loves weaving stories of places she has visited!

Apoorva Rao was nailing the ramp with her perfect cat walk, but her inner wanderlust wanted to explore the world. So, she left Modelling, packed her bags and became a travel blogger!

From the very beginning, Apoorva wanted to pursue Travel Journalism, but her fate took her into modelling. Even after becoming a successful model, she couldn't let go of her love for travelling. This passion for travelling led to the creation of her blog ApyTravelStories, where she recounts her experiences and learning from each adventure. She's been to many places like Bali, Hampi, Turkey, Italy, and Thailand, including most of the Indian cities.

Local Samosa was in a conversation with Apoorva Rao, exploring her journey of being a travel blogger!

Tell us when and how did your love for travelling begin?

My love for travelling definitely comes from my dad. He loves road trips. Growing up, we have pretty much covered most of South India, driving down to different destinations. I remember making multiple trips to Chennai, Mumbai, Mahabaleshwar, Lonavala, Ooty, Yelgiri, and Goa.

What does travel mean to Apoorva Rao? Are you a full-time traveller?

Travel is everything for me. My passion lies in travelling. I knew at a pretty young age, travelling and exploring the world, is something that is meant for me. I spend the majority part of the year travelling.

Which Indian city that you travelled do you love the most and why?

Jaisalmer has to be my favourite city by far. It is also known as the heart of the Thar Desert. It looks pretty exotic because the fort and every structure in the vicinity of the fort is made of yellow sandstone. The fort is one of the only living forts in India, housing at least 40% of the total population. Apart from exploring the fort, camping under the stars is a very special experience.

How do you take time out for travelling and fund your trips?

Travel has always been my passion, so I’ve made sure that I make enough time for travelling. I work, save up, and travel throughout the year whenever I get a chance to.

Three lessons you learned while travelling

1) Time management

2) Importance of living in the moment

3) Becoming more aware of the environment and sustainability.

Any travel tips you would like to give to your fellow travellers?

India has a lot of unexplored beauty. Exploring hidden gems in India and bringing more awareness about them on blogs would be a great way to go ahead.

Tell us some lesser-known things to do or visit in India.

Odisha is one of the most beautiful states with a rich history and some iconic structures. The temples in Bhubaneswar dating back to the 9th century are absolutely beautiful!

According to you, the top 5 Places in India one should travel to at least once?

1. Varkala
2. Jaisalmer
3. Gulmarg
4. Bhubaneswar
5. Hampi

Quick Five:

1) Favourite Homestay or Hotel?

Cabo Serai in Goa is my favourite!

2) Beach Person or a Mountain Person?

Mountain Person.

3) Preferred mode of Transport?

I love road trips, they’re the best!

4) Three Must Travel Accessory?

Power Bank, Sunglasses, A good bag to keep wallet and passport.

5) Three Indian cities on your bucket list?

Kolkata, Srinagar, and Varanasi.

Also Read: Thinking of travel in 2021? Keep in mind these long weekends in 2021, and plan your vacations.

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