Some places feel like home. Some people make them feel that way. And then there are WordCamps, which somehow manage to do both.
WordCamp Rajasthan in Jaipur brought together WordPress communities from across the state to organise a state-level WordCamp. The venue was grand, the architecture was immense, and the people carried a certain royal outlook. A little Rajasthani royalty, if you will.
And me? I was in my element.
I don’t know what it is about WordCamps, but my energy is always on another level. I find myself talking more, laughing louder, meeting everyone I possibly can, and generally going gaga over the whole experience. It feels like family. It feels like home.
Sometimes, I talk so much that people probably want to tell me, “Astha, calm down.”
Would that stop me? You’ll have to guess.
The people, the talks, and everything in between
One of the best parts of WordCamps is meeting community veterans and finally putting faces to names you’ve known for a while. This time, I got to meet several people for the first time, reconnect with others, and open the stage for some genuinely cool folks.
Like Ashutosh. His session, ASAP: As Simple As Pitching, was aptly named because he embodied the very thing he was talking about. The coolest part? Watching someone practise what they preach, effortlessly.
Kuldeep Sharma spoke about marketing tactics, the Jharokha version. He was sweet, poised, and such a pleasure to listen to.
Dr. Niha spoke about AI-Powered WordPress, from Content Creation to Conversion. I’m so glad we found each other at the after-party!
Aashish is SO COOL. And his doppleganger, Kripesh, as always, is the OG fun teacher. Both influencers, talking AI. You know those people who make learning feel less like learning and more like hanging out with someone who knows their stuff? That’s Kripesh.
And then there was Kotaro, coming all the way from Japan. He spoke about how profound human connections be, in today’s age of AI.
It was lovely to finally meet him. He was incredibly sweet. I have this habit of talking to people at 1.5x speed when I’m overstimulated, and somewhere in the middle of our conversation, I realised I might actually have been making him nervous.
He was kind enough to entertain my suggestions anyway.
Indira Biswas spoke about accessibility, and I particularly appreciate sessions like hers when you know the speaker is personally invested in the subject. That personal connection adds a different kind of depth to a conversation.
There were so many people, so many conversations, and so many names I could keep adding to this list. Parth sir, Vachan, Anand, Pooja, Prathamesh bhaiya, Krupa, Abhishek, Tabassum ma’am, Davinder, the OG Chetan — ahhh, the list is LONG.
And that’s the thing about community events. You go in expecting a conference and come back with a hundred little moments that stay with you.
A saree, a sore throat, and an overenthusiastic emcee
I spoke so much before the presentation day that my voice almost gave up on me. Sore throat, strained voice, the whole package.
But then, I had a stage to open and some very cool people to introduce.
Priorities.
I had also thought of wearing a saree, and apparently, people had anticipated it. How obvious.
Unfortunately, being on stage for most of the post-lunch hours meant I couldn’t meet as many people as I wanted to. I couldn’t even properly explore the sponsor area or collect swags. Imagine being at a WordCamp and missing the sponsor booths!
Thankfully, Shoeb, as always, was thoughtful enough to get me a little something. These little gestures are precisely why I love this community.
The Elicus team put up a banger of a sponsor area, too. The canvas painting activity was such a lovely idea. We liked it so much that we ended up repurposing the concept for another, smaller event of ours, that I’d talk about in the next post. When an idea travels beyond the event it was created for, you know it worked.
The community doesn’t begin and end with the sessions
The event began with an organiser-volunteer dinner hosted by Prathamesh da and Abhishek da on behalf of WPMU DEV. It was a genuinely sweet gesture, and a lovely way to bring the people working behind the scenes together before the big day.
The next morning, Rohan and Mridul led the history walk. Fun guys, both of them, and full of recommendations for places to visit.
We explored the Jharokha shehar, visited the City Palace, Hawa Mahal and adjacent places, and eventually wrapped up the walk with kachoris at Samrat.
Now that’s a pretty good way to experience Jaipur.
Coordinating with Nirbhay was an experience in itself. He was so kind and patient — thank you for keeping up with me! Nidhi and her energy deserve a mention of their own, and Pooja was just so cordial.
A huge shout-out to the entire WordCamp Rajasthan team — Anand, Pooja, Shoeb, Sunil, Rohan, Nidhi, Mridul, Nirbhay, and everyone else on the organising and volunteer teams.
Putting together an event of this scale takes an incredible amount of work, much of which attendees never get to see. Thank you for making it happen.
Bharat Darshan, but make it WordPress
The geographical spread of the community was something else.
The Maharashtra folks showed up — Kolhapur, Pune, Mumbai, Thane. We were there from Madhya Pradesh. Gujarat— Ahmedabad, Surat had representatives, as did Chandigarh, Punjab, and so many other places.
Bharat Darshan hi ho gaya.
And beyond India, too. Kotaro came from Osaka, Jamie from America, and Rajasthan brought everyone together.
There’s something special about watching people from different cities, backgrounds, and walks of life find common ground in a shared community. Different accents, different experiences, different stories — yet everyone somehow belongs.
That’s the magic of WordPress communities. It refuels me every single time.
This WordCamp felt a little different
Usually, I come back from WordCamps with a head full of conversations, photographs, inside jokes, and a slightly unreasonable amount of energy.
This time, I came back with something more.
The stay felt different. The conversations felt different. The learning was more professionally oriented, and I found myself thinking beyond the community itself — about businesses, marketing, and how people build what they do.
We went beyond the usual conference conversations and explored the city, too. Kripesh was kind enough to take us to a friends’ meetup where people got into the nitty-gritty of business, advertising, marketing, SEO, and a whole lot more. Thanks for hosting me, Kushagra!
I came away with real insights and some valuable advice.
I also met people at The Hosteller who were working on similar businesses and navigating similar questions. Those unexpected conversations can sometimes be just as valuable as the sessions you deliberately attend.
It reminded me that community is not only about finding people who share your interests. Sometimes, it is about finding people who understand the things you’re trying to build.
And that was a lovely change.
Jaipur: Grand, gorgeous, chaotic
Jaipur was lovely. Minus the traffic. And the scorching heat.
The architecture is grand in a way that makes you pause before you process. The scale, the detailing, the colours, the history — there is so much to take in that you almost wish you had more time, better weather, and considerably less traffic.
The Jantar Mantar is immense, there are valleys, there are elephants!
But I also learnt a few things the hard way.
1. Choose your stay wisely
We stayed at The Hosteller BAM, Hawa Mahal. Beautiful property. Has a swimming pool. Since it was my first time staying at a Hosteller, I went in with an open mind. I’m generally accommodating, and I understand that hostels are shared spaces.
However, we ended up sharing with people who had been staying there for months. Naturally, the place had become their home, and the cleanliness and available space became a concern. I eventually had to change my accommodation.
The bigger learning, though, was about the location.
We hadn’t fully realised that Hawa Mahal was right in the heart of the Old City. And like most old cities, Jaipur’s Old City is incredibly congested.
During working hours and well into the evening, sometimes until around 10 PM, moving around can become an exercise in patience. There is traffic, there are crowds, there are tourists, and there are auto-rickshaws navigating what sometimes feels like an impossible amount of space.
At one point, I felt almost claustrophobic. Discovering the newer parts of Jaipur was a relief I hadn’t anticipated.
My recommendation: stay outside the Old City if you prefer space, easier transport, and a calmer experience. You’ll feel the difference.
2. Plan your days around the heat
We visited in early October, and the sun was still very much ahead of us.
Jaipur has beautiful open spaces, palaces, courtyards, and viewpoints, but the heat can make it difficult to enjoy them at your own pace.
Start early, preferably before 9 AM, and keep the hotter hours for indoor activities or a break. If you’re planning to visit a fort for sunset, factor in enough time to explore the place before finding your viewing spot. Or make it post 10 PM altogether, for the old city at least.
Nahargarh, for instance, is often recommended for sunset. I’d suggest reaching around 5 PM, depending on the season and closing times, so you have time to explore rather than rushing straight to the viewpoint.
3. Give yourself enough time for the forts
Amer Fort, Jaigarh Fort, and Panna Meena ka Kund can be covered together, with Jal Mahal on your way back.
I’d recommend arranging your transport in advance, particularly if you’re planning to stay until the evening. Some of these routes can be secluded, and finding a ride back may not always be easy. Avoid exploring isolated stretches alone after dark.
Also, check the current opening hours before you go. Jaigarh Fort, in particular, has an afternoon closing time, so don’t leave it too late.
And one more thing: if you’re getting lac bangles made, budget at least 30 minutes. These things take time, and you don’t want to rush the experience.
4. Be mindful of local transport
Auto-rickshaw fares can be unpredictable, so agree on the fare and destination before starting your journey. We had one ride where we were dropped at the exact place we’d booked from and were still charged the agreed ₹100.
There are local transport practices and unions to navigate, so it’s worth comparing options and confirming the fare upfront. You can also choose the metro as per convenience.
Most importantly, leave at least an hour of extra buffer when travelling to the railway station. Jaipur traffic can be unpredictable, and you really don’t want your trip ending with a sprint to the platform.
5. Choose your food stops carefully
A few places stood out.
For Rajasthani thali, try The Thaali.
For Jain-friendly food, Jaypore Restaurant was pretty good. Madhuram, near Jal Mahal, was another nice little find.
The area around Jal Mahal also has options like Burger Stop and Nothing Before Coffee, which can be handy if you’re looking for something familiar.
One place I personally wouldn’t recommend based on my experience was Padao Restaurant near Nahargarh Fort.
I’d heard a lot about it, but the service and food were disappointing. There was an entry charge, redeemable for quick snacks. So that ways, we pay 100 for a tea that costs 60, if taken separately and not in the cover. We found our order unpleasant and when we mentioned this, the response was essentially that this was what they had. They didn’t even hear us, let alone address the concern.
Not exactly the experience you’d hope for, as a guest.
Of course, experiences can vary, but that’s how it went for us.
6. Dress for the place, the weather, and your comfort
Jaipur has its own cultural context, and people have different attitudes towards clothing.
My personal advice is to dress in whatever makes you comfortable while keeping the weather, the places you’re visiting, and your own comfort in mind. You shouldn’t have to spend your holiday worrying about how others perceive you.
7. Leave room for the unexpected
This might be the most important recommendation of all.
We wanted to visit the Elephant Village. We couldn’t make it happen this time.
So, next time.
There’s always something left to explore on a trip, and perhaps that’s part of the charm.
Until the next WordCamp
Looking back, this trip was a mix of community, learning, new friendships, history, professional insights, and a generous amount of going gaga over everything.
Shubham was incredibly kind and fun. Aashish was fun, again. Shoeb was thoughtful, as always. And everyone who tolerated my overenthusiastic, possibly overstimulated, occasionally 1.5x-speed self deserves a special mention.
Thank you for making the experience what it was.
And to everyone I met, spoke to, or somehow missed despite being in the same room: hopefully, we get another chance soon.
WordCamp Rajasthan was a feat worth celebrating. Bringing so many communities together, creating a space for learning and connection, and making it all feel so wonderfully familiar is no small achievement.
I left with new friends, fresh ideas, a few lessons for my next trip, and the same feeling I get after every good WordCamp:
This is home. And I’ll be back.
Yet again, to the people!