Abhishek Rai
Founder & Lead Author · Hill Journey
📍 Siliguri, West Bengal, India
From the Gateway of the Northeast — a Hill Obsession Born
I grew up watching the blue-grey outline of the Himalayas from the rooftops of Siliguri. While other kids chased cricket balls, I chased those distant peaks. By eighteen, I had already made my first solo trip to Darjeeling — and I've never looked back.
Hill Journey started as a travel diary in 2020, born out of frustration with generic, copy-pasted travel articles that gave vague advice and incorrect prices. I wanted to create a resource that felt like a letter from a knowledgeable friend — honest, specific, and genuinely useful.
Every guide on this site comes from personal trips. The roads I describe, I've driven. The homestays I recommend, I've slept in. The chai shops I mention, I've shivered in during monsoon evenings. That is my promise to you.
Journeys That Built This Site
Spent 3 weeks documenting tea gardens, monasteries, and the Singalila ridge trek. This formed the foundation of Hill Journey.
Solo road trip covering Shimla, Manali, Spiti Valley, and Kasol. Researched snow-season travel safety and budget hostels.
Explored the Western Ghats, documenting coffee estates, tribal culture homestays, and monsoon trekking routes.
Permit-required travel research, living root bridges, and high-altitude village communities of the Northeast.
Covered Nainital, Munsiyari, Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Char Dham foothill towns. Ongoing field research.
Every Word is Earned in the Field
My guides are built on first-hand research, local community connections, and a genuine respect for the hills I write about.
I've Been There
Every destination I write about, I've visited in person. No AI-generated content or second-hand information.
5+ Years Specialising
Deep focus on Indian hill stations — not generic travel. I know permit rules, seasonal roads, and hidden gems.
Trusted Resource
Hill Journey serves 10,000+ monthly readers who rely on accurate, up-to-date guides for their travel planning.
Transparent & Honest
Clear authorship, real contact details, no sponsored recommendations without disclosure. Your safety, my priority.
The Hills I Know
Inside Out
📋 My Editorial Standards
Have a travel question or want to collaborate? I personally respond to every message within 24 hours.
Send Me a Message
