*“It Is Important to Conserve, Preserve and Celebrate Our Cultural Heritage,” says Kaynat Kazi*

*“Travelogues and Memoirs by Indian Travellers Inspire and Educate the Younger Generation,” says Shikha Varshney*

Raipur/ On the third and concluding day of the Raipur Sahitya Utsav, a panel discussion titled “Travel Blog: Paryatan Ke Prerak” was held as the first session at the Lala Jagdalpuri Mandap. The session featured renowned travel journalist, blogger and solo traveller Ms Kaynat Kazi, and author of “Desi Chashme Se London Diary”, Ms Shikha Varshney. The discussion was moderated by Shri Rahul Choudhary.

Speaking on the role of Hindi literature in shaping her journey, Ms Kaynat Kazi said that literature had inspired her to travel, while her travels across different parts of India, in turn, motivated her to blog and document her experiences. Sharing her perspective as a traveller, she noted that she travels primarily for the love of exploration and learning, while blogging, journaling and popularity are merely by-products of that pursuit. Emphasising the importance of conscious travel, she urged travellers to immerse themselves fully in the experience. Travel blogging, she added, offers a valuable opportunity to document first-hand experiences of tourist destinations, cultures and events.

Responding to a question about her journey, Ms Shikha Varshney said that curiosity had been the driving force behind her travels and storytelling. She shared that her education in a government school introduced her to Hindi literature, equipping her with the vocabulary and expression needed to articulate her experiences. Although she lived in India for only 14–15 years, she said that extensive travel across the country with her father exposed her to the diverse shades of Indian culture.

“After travelling across the world, I have realised that we often underestimate the tourism potential of our own country. India has a rich historical lineage and a vibrant cultural heritage reflected in its customs, traditions, monuments and archaeological sites. As Indians, we must not only take pride in this legacy but also make sincere efforts to experience it first-hand,” she said.

While moderating the session, Shri Rahul Choudhary also shared insights from his own travel experiences and highlighted the importance of observation in travel writing. He remarked that Chhattisgarh, particularly the Bastar region, deserves a place on every traveller’s must-visit list, given its exceptional natural beauty, rich folk culture and lush greenery.

Offering advice to the younger generation, the panelists observed that declining reading habits have led to a limited vocabulary among youth. They stressed the need for young readers to engage more deeply with literature, while also urging writers to make their language and writing styles more accessible and youth-friendly.