So, this August I went to WordCamp Bengaluru 2025 — not just as an attendee, but as a speaker and a representative of WordCamp Asia 2026, where I’m part of the organizing team. I was also there to connect with sponsors and contributors for our upcoming WordCamp Kolhapur 2026, where I’m serving as Lead Organizer.
This trip turned out to be one of the most memorable experiences of my life. Why? Because for the first time, I drove all the way in my Tata Punch — from Sankeshwar to Bengaluru — along with my friend Suhas.
This journey of 1200+ kilometers in 3 days is not just about a WordCamp, it’s also the beginning of my obsession: 👉 attending WordCamps by driving my car.
I even mentioned this in our WordCamp Asia team meeting — that I want to drive to every possible WordCamp in the future.. 🚙✨
🚘 Hitting the Road
We started in the afternoon, full tank ready. I took the wheel first and covered about 300 km in 4 hours. The roads of Karnataka were smooth, and my Tata Punch cruised happily at 90–100 kmph.
Then Suhas took over. Let me say this once (and once is enough 😅): he’s a flawless driver. Non-stop four hours, steady hands, no signs of fatigue. Thanks to him, we reached Bengaluru past midnight (around 3 a.m.).
No hotel booked, just a car and two tired travelers. With the Lalbagh morning walk at 7 a.m., we thought: why waste money for three hours of sleep? So we found a safe spot, leaned back, and slept in the car.
🌳 Morning at Lalbagh
Freshened up in a mall, then straight to Lalbagh. Parking was a comedy — wrong gate, one-way loops, driving 2 km just to return half a km. Bengaluru parking teaches patience. 😂
By the time we reached, the pre-event was closing. Still, we joined everyone for a solid South Indian breakfast: dosa, idli, vada, Mysore Pak, and endless chutneys. The best fuel before a WordCamp day.
Later, Suhas, Sahil, and I strolled through Lalbagh. The place is magical — old trees, colorful flowers, birds chirping, and peaceful vibes. We clicked photos, laughed, and finally felt the “we’ve arrived” moment.
👔 A Nostalgic Visit to Intellipaat
After Lalbagh, I visited Intellipaat, one of my oldest clients. In 2015, they were a small startup with maybe 20 people. Today? 1000+ employees on the same floor!
The CEO, Diwakar Chittora, welcomed us warmly. What touched me most? The software I coded 10 years back is still in use — of course, with heavy modifications. They’re now even integrating AI, building an AI tutor for students. Seeing their journey from Jaipur beginnings to a huge Bengaluru office was inspiring.
🏨 Stay at Local Central
For our stay, we chose Local Central Hostel, the same place I stayed last year. Bright colors, clean, hygienic, and full of energy — perfect for travelers. After 24 hours inside the car, finally lying on a bed was pure bliss. 😴
🍲 Social Dinner & Pre-Camp Buzz
The evening was all about the Social Dinner at Chutney Chaang — filled with food, laughter, and great conversations. I met new speakers, sponsors, and organizers while representing WordCamp Asia 2026 (as one of the organizers) and promoting WordCamp Kolhapur 2026, which I’m leading.
It turned into a perfect chance to connect with sponsors, invite potential speakers, and share how our Kolhapur community is growing and nurturing new contributors. Many were excited to hear our story.
Meanwhile, Suhas — despite being as tired as me — helped me finish my PPT. I just gave him content and pointers, he built the whole deck in WordCamp Bengaluru theme. This man deserves a special thanks. 🙌
🎤 My Lightning Talk at WordCamp Bengaluru
After breakfast, my session was ready to go. Rama helped me by recording my talk (since this year, there were no official recordings).
My topic: Automate Your Accounting — aimed at freelancers and small agencies still stuck on Excel sheets and Google Docs. I wanted to show how easy it is to use tools like Zoho Books and save hours of work.
- Audience: ~50 people
- Reactions: 5–8 came to me personally later, said they loved it 💬
- Message: Build a system that pays you on time.
It felt amazing to share something different from the regular dev/design talks.
🎉 Event Highlights & Networking
Collected cool swags — thanks to Bluehost, MiniOrange, WordPress.com, Urumi.AI.
🚗 The Return Journey
We started early at 5 a.m. Suhas drove first, I drove later. Just one petrol stop, no breakfast, straight driving. By 2 p.m. we were home — 575 km in 8.5 hours.
The Karnataka highways are a blessing — smooth, wide, and absolutely cruise-friendly. My Tata Punch delivered a solid 21 kmpl mileage throughout. This drive — 1200+ km in 3 days — is one of my proud milestones.
🌟 Closing Thoughts
WordCamp Bengaluru 2025 gave me:
- A memorable 1200 km road trip,
- A chance to reconnect with an old client,
- The joy of delivering my talk,
- And the company of a great co-traveler, Suhas.
Every WordCamp teaches something new — but this one also taught me how journeys, friendships, and open roads can shape the best ideas. WordCamp Bengaluru 2025 was special — I got to speak, represent WordCamp Asia, and share the Kolhapur community story with so many people. Each of these experiences added a new dimension to my journey as both a contributor and community builder.
This was the first chapter in my WordCamp Car Journey obsession. And yes, many more WordCamps are waiting ahead… 🚙💙
🔗 Useful Links
- 🎥 My Session Video URL: https://wordpress.tv/2025/09/20/no-more-pending-payments-how-small-wordpress-agencies-can-automate-accounting/
- 💼 WordCamp Kolhapur : https://kolhapur.wordcamp.org/2026/
- 💼 WordCamp Asia : https://asia.wordcamp.org/2026/
