Hy Local Guides,
Photo Walk meet-up was conducted on February 3rd, 2025. From my experience, the meet-up was kind - off good. Rather than telling you guys from starting point to end, I will separate it into different sections like Accessibility, editing, store front photo, tea spots, support local businesses, etc… I started the walk from Kanakakunnu Palace to Kowdiar.
First participant for Love is in the Air Challenge. “I love museum garden” sign situated in Napier Museum. #loveisintheair
Accessibility
For accessibility, I can say Trivandrum city has been converted to Accessible city as part of Smart City program from the Government.
A recent installation (last week or so) of Wheelchair Accessible pathway in Kanakakunnu Palace.
There’s a differently abled friendly park situated inside Napier Museum which only permits persons with disabilities.
Most of shops (supreme gourmet shown above) found near kowdiar or Kanakakunnu palace is wheelchair accessible 
.
Store front photos
From @TusharSuradkar’s Reviving the Art of Storefront Photo walk Solo Meetups , I also have started photo walks to support small businesses with store front photos.
Store front taken by me features in Natural Fresh Ice Cream.
What I experienced:
- If a business doesn’t have a store-front photo, your photo automatically gets featured in their profile at the spot. (More contribution views)
- Even if they have a store-front photo which is in a different angle, try to take a landscape whole view of that business’s shop. In that way, your photo might be in the first 10 photos in their profile. (I suggest not to look for store front photos in Maps, rather than take every store front photos)
- Describe Accessibility seen in that store-front photo through captions ( more points).
- If a store front view or sign board is changed, you can upload your store front photos to the “updates” section in the business profile. If you add captions like Accessibility features, you will be granted 10 points per caption (only through the update section). So basically it’s 15 points per uploading photo and adding a caption.
Editing
New installments like Smart toilets, Smart Bins, Mobile recharging Stations, New local businesses have been added to Google Maps.
Tea spots
Even though I couldn’t find any tea spots opened at that time. But I added this tea spot called Chaya ( means Tea) which is situated inside Kanakakunnu Palace. Right after the edit got accepted, I talked with the owner about this edit and how to claim the business.
It was a fun meetup which turns into a solo-photo walk with ice cream (found a lot of ice cream shops in the walk)
Ice cream from i sandy natural ice cream.
I hope you liked the recap and share your thoughts and views!
Love sign - great spotting.