There are places we discover because they're famous. And then there are places we discover because someone tells us about them.
A quiet street in an old city.
A little restaurant serving food you can't stop thinking about.
A village that doesn't appear on most travel itineraries.
A forgotten monument with a story hiding in plain sight.
A trail, a market, a festival, a neighbourhood, a landscape; or simply a place that means something to you.
We want to hear about those places.
In the spirit of World Tourism Day, Jaano Junction's Citizen Junction invites you to take part in #IKnowAPlace, a travel writing contest celebrating the places we know, love, remember and believe deserve to be discovered.
“I know a place…”
We've all said it.
When a friend visits our city.
When someone asks where they should eat.
When we're planning a trip.
When we stumble upon somewhere unexpectedly beautiful.
There's always that one place you want to tell someone about.
This contest is about that place.
We want you to tell us about one place you know; and the story that makes it worth knowing.
You don't have to be a travel writer to participate. You don't need to have travelled across the world. And your place doesn't have to be a conventional tourist destination.
You just need a story worth telling.
You can use these prompts as a starting point if you want. You don't need to answer them all, or any at all, and you're welcome to take the theme in a completely different direction. If you know a place with a story worth telling, we want to hear it.
Tell us about a place you discovered by accident. What took you there, and what made you want to remember it?
What's one place in your city or hometown that you think outsiders often overlook? What makes it special?
Tell us about a place you would take someone visiting your city for the first time. Why this place?
What's the most underrated place you've ever visited? What did you discover there that you didn't expect?
Is there a place that has changed the way you see your city, hometown or country? Tell us what happened.
Tell us about a place that is deeply connected to your childhood, family or memories. What makes it impossible to forget?
Have you ever travelled somewhere because someone simply told you, “I know a place”? What did you find when you got there?
What's a place where the people are as memorable as the place itself? Tell us about them and what they add to the experience.
Tell us about a place whose history isn't immediately visible. What did you discover when you looked beyond what was on the surface?
Is there a street, market, neighbourhood, village or local hangout that tells you something about the character of a place? What does it tell you?
What's one food experience you associate inseparably with a particular place? Tell us the story behind it.
What is one place you keep returning to? What keeps bringing you back?
If you could introduce a stranger to one place in India, without taking them to the usual tourist attractions, where would you take them, and why?
If a place you love could tell its own story, what would it want people to know?
There are no fixed destinations or categories.
Don't just give us directions. Take us there.
Tell us what it feels like to stand there. Tell us what you noticed. Tell us what you ate, heard, saw or discovered. Tell us about the people, history or memories that make the place what it is. Tell us how you felt.
Own your story. Own your experience.
Most importantly, tell us why this place matters to you.
A great #IKnowAPlace entry could make someone who has never heard of your place think: “I want to go there.”
Write an original story about one place you know and submit it through Citizen Junction.
Your entry should be approximately 600–1,500 words. (recommended, but no upper limit)
You may also include photographs or other supporting material with your submission, wherever relevant; and must either be created by you or submitted with the necessary permission from the copyright holder.
Title: Give your story a powerful title in the 'Story Title' section, ending with " - #IKnowAPlace".
Example: "The Little Railway Station Where Everyone Knows Your Name - #IKnowAPlace"
Content: Enter your write-up in the 'Story Content' section. Feel free to include links, images, or videos to enhance your submission.
Personal Details: Fill in your Name, Email, and Phone Number (only your name will be visible when your submission is published).
Profile Section: Write a brief bio about yourself in the 'Profile' section. This will be visible in your author profile once your article is published. You can also mention your Instagram profile here.
Submit your story.
Please note: Once submitted, you cannot edit your entry.
Also, Must FOLLOW @JAANOJUNCTION on INSTAGRAM
Apart from seeing your story published on Jaano Junction, the best entry will win an exciting prize from Jaano Junction.
Selected entries will be reviewed by the Jaano Junction editorial team and published on Citizen Junction, our platform for stories, ideas and perspectives from citizens.
From the published entries, the winner will be evaluated by our Jury, a guest travel writer/storyteller, alongside the Jaano Junction editorial team.
The winner will be announced after the jury process is complete.
The jury will be looking for stories that demonstrate:
Great storytelling - Does the writing bring the place alive?
Originality - Does the story offer a fresh perspective?
Sense of place - Can we understand what makes this place unique?
The ability to inspire - Does the story make us want to discover the place ourselves?
Contest opens: 26 September 2026
World Tourism Day: 27 September 2026
Last date to submit: 19 October 2026
The winner will be announced after the jury process is complete.
The contest is open to all residents of India aged 16 years and above, irrespective of nationality. (Participants below 18 years of age may be required to provide parental or legal guardian consent for participation, and/or acceptance of any prize, where applicable.)
You don't have to be a professional writer, journalist, travel blogger or content creator to participate. Anyone with a place and a story to tell can enter. You can even use this opportunity to start your writer journey.
Your entry must be your original, unpublished work and should not have been previously published in print or digital media, including personal blogs or social media.
Entries must be substantially written by the participant.
Participants may submit multiple entries, provided that each entry tells a distinct story and is not substantially similar to any of their other submissions.
By participating, you confirm that the work submitted is your own and that you have the necessary rights and permissions for any photographs or other material included with your entry.
By submitting your story, you agree to allow Jaano Junction to review and, if approved, publish your submission on its digital platforms. Minor editorial changes may be made to selected submissions for clarity, grammar, formatting and house style.
Jaano Junction reserves the right to modify, amend, extend, suspend or withdraw any aspect of the contest, including its timeline, eligibility criteria, submission guidelines, judging process, prize or other terms, at any point during the campaign, where necessary. Any such changes will be communicated through the official contest page or Jaano Junction's official communication channels.