Travel has a way of bringing strangers into our lives, especially when we least expect them but at just the right time. During my travel journeys in the last few years, I met women who left an imprint on my heart and helped shift my perspective about a lot of things in life. These are women I had never expected to meet. 

They belong to the local community of the places I visited and I must say that they were all full of love and light. These women became storytellers, teachers and my travel companions in unexpected ways. Let me give you a glimpse of my encounters with some of these inspiring women on my travel journeys.

In a remote Himalayan village in Himachal Pradesh, I found myself sipping butter tea with an elderly woman who radiated warmth just like my grandmother did. She shared stories of her youth through gestures and laughter. Her freckles and fine lines reflected her experience and learning about life. Sitting with her, I learned that strength is about quiet endurance and that the best stories are often the ones that are told by the locals. She even invited me to her home the next time I visit the village. Isn’t her simplicity heart-warming? 

In 2021, I visited the Araku Tribal Museum in Andhra Pradesh and experienced a world that was so different from mine. Being a North Indian and belonging to a different culture, I knew I had lots to see and learn. When I reached the dance venue, I smiled at the women who were getting ready for the dance performance. I walked up to them and asked if I could take a picture with them. They agreed and invited me to join their dance performance. 

Their confidence and the intention to showcase their culture to the visitors was inspiring. Being a travel storyteller, I strongly believe that travel is an excellent medium to explore diverse cultures and showcase our own cultural heritage to others. 

In 2019, during the Pride Parade in Brighton, England, I met a group of young women who agreed to have a friendly arm wrestling game with me. They were jolly and fun to be with. At one point, I realized that the game was no more about winning or losing, but about all the smiles and cheerful conversations we had in the middle of the game. 

I don’t even know their names but all I have with me is their photograph and some incredible learnings for life! Winning is not always about making someone lose but it’s also about pushing yourself, celebrating your strength and having fun during the process.

In the Kullu Valley in Himachal Pradesh, I met a woman running a home along with her family. Her children helped her with organizing village tours and adventure activities in the mountains for their guests. She told me how she learned to open and operate a homestay with the help of young travellers who visited the village some time back. Inspired by their enthusiasm, she decided to run her own homestay.

She is a true example of defying societal norms and educating herself to build a wonderful life for not just herself but for the people around her. Her courage was contagious, reminding me that no dream is too big when pursued with determination.

Volunteering at RISE charity in Brighton, UK helped me connect with strong and determined women in the most profound ways. RISE, a charity dedicated to supporting those affected by domestic abuse, became a space where I witnessed the quiet strength of those rebuilding their lives and the unwavering dedication of those helping them do so. 

At first, I wondered how much of a difference I could make. But as I spent time working on community initiatives, fundraising events and awareness campaigns with other women, I realized that being one for a cause is all about showing up and offering whatever support is needed.

What struck me most was the sense of solidarity among volunteers and survivors alike. We came from different backgrounds, yet we were bound by a shared belief that everyone deserves safety and dignity. 

During the Jagannath Rath Yatra (the largest and oldest chariot festival in the world) in 2024 in the city of Puri in India, I met a woman selling vermilion. She had travelled to Puri to meet her Mahaprabhu, Lord Jagannath during the festival. While she was in Puri, she set up her small stall on the street to sell vermilion and make some living. According to her, it was the Lord who had called her to the city of Puri because he takes care of all his children.

Our brief chat turned into deep conversations about life, love and the struggles we face as women trying to carve our own paths. Even today, her words echo in my mind, reminding me that we need to look within before we look outside. 

I love animals, but since childhood, I used to feel that I might drop an animal or a pet if I held them in my hands. This was possibly because animals are quite squish. In 2021, when I visited Himachal Pradesh, I held a rabbit in my hands for the very first time in my life. I must admit that I was scared to hold it but it was fun, too. 

She told me that when we reach out to someone with love, be it a human or an animal, we often receive their warmth in return. This experience taught me to spread more love and light to the world around me, and interestingly, it has filled me with more love in everything I do. The more I give, the more I get!

These encounters during my travel journeys are beautiful lessons that I’ve learnt in life. They taught me resilience, kindness and the unspoken bond that exists between women worldwide. They reminded me that while I might travel solo, I am never truly alone. Women’s stories carry the wisdom of the world, whether shared in a chai shop in a remote village or shared over a cup of coffee in a sophisticated cafe.

Travel has given me many gifts, but the most profound has been these encounters with extraordinary women. Strangers who, for a moment or a lifetime, became guides, friends and reminders of the limitless strength within all of us. 

Have you met such women on your travel journeys? If not, I hope you meet them very soon! Until then, cheers to us!

About the author:

Deeksha Sharma is a travel enthusiast, a passionate writer and a storyteller who loves sharing local stories about conscious travel, communities and culture. She’s a senior storyteller and editorial co-lead at Postcard Travel Club, a global media company fostering a community of conscious travellers. She was also recently nominated for the Regenerative Travel Impact Awards – Storyteller of the Year 2024 by Regenerative Travel.

With her new book launched at the New Delhi World Book Fair in 2025 by the National Book Trust of India (Ministry of Education), Deeksha is helping shape the narrative around tourism’s role in cultural preservation and sustainable development. In her award-winning blog, Story Happens (earlier known as YouInVerse – youinverse.org) – she aims to bring underrepresented voices and traditions to mainstream audiences. In addition, she loves to practice mindfulness, read and write poems, go for long walks, especially in the evenings and enjoy sunsets.