Welcoming 2026 feels a little unreal, if I’m being honest.
If you had told me sometime in mid-2024, when this blog was just an idea and a half-finished WordPress setup, that I’d be sitting here today, writing a reflective post to welcome a brand-new year, I’d have smiled politely… and gone back to fixing a theme issue or chasing down a missing plugin.
Back then, tariqsp.com was nothing more than a simple Bangalore-based blog idea.
No grand roadmap. No aggressive growth plan.
Just a clear intention to write honest, first-hand content about the city I live in and love, Bengaluru, without sounding like a brochure or a travel portal on autopilot.
Welcoming 2026 isn’t about turning a calendar page — it’s about turning a corner, one honest Bengaluru story at a time.
Fast-forward to today, as I’m welcoming 2026, the numbers finally tell a story of their own.
114 blog posts published.
Close to 17 clients registered.
And most importantly, a steady rise in traffic that tells me people are actually reading, bookmarking, and coming back.
This post isn’t about bragging (there’s really nothing brag-worthy about debugging WordPress at midnight).
It’s about pausing for a moment, looking back at how far this little blog has come, and sharing where it’s headed next.
Think of this as a:
- Year-end roundup
- A small reality check
- A peek into what 2026 looks like for tariqsp.com
- And, of course, a warm New Year wish to everyone who’s been part of this journey
So yes, welcoming 2026 feels less like turning a calendar page and more like turning a meaningful corner.
And honestly? I’m excited.
Quick Information: Welcoming 2026. The “Wait… This Actually Happened?” Snapshot
In a hurry? No judgment. This table is the TL;DR of my 2025.
If you’ve got a few minutes, scroll on. The real story lives below.
| Category | A Quick Reality Check |
| Blog Concept | Started Mid 2024 |
| Serious Publishing Began | June–July 2025 |
| Total Blog Posts | 114 (and counting) |
| Clients Registered | Close to 17 |
| Traffic Trend | Slow, steady, encouraging |
| City Covered | Bengaluru |
| Mood Entering 2026 | Optimistic (fuelled by coffee ☕) |
How This Blog Really Started (No Grand Master Plan, Honestly)
When I started tariqsp.com, there was no vision board, no 50-slide roadmap, and definitely no “In five years, this will be a media empire” moment.
In fact, the idea was embarrassingly simple.
I live in Bengaluru. I move around the city. I explore places. I meet people. I work in real estate.
And like most Bengalureans, I have opinions about traffic, cafés, neighbourhoods, weekend plans, and why Google Maps lies with so much confidence.
At some point, it hit me:
“Why not put all this down in one place?”
Not as a news portal.
Not as a generic “Top 10 Things To Do” site.
But as a first-person city journal, written the way I’d explain Bengaluru to a friend visiting from out of town.
If I visited a café, I wrote about what I actually felt, what worked, what didn’t, and whether I’d go back with my own money.
If I explored a space, I shared what stood out instead of rewriting the brand’s About Us page.
If a real estate topic confused people (and let’s be honest, most of them do), I broke it down in plain English, minus the brochure language and fine print gymnastics.
There were no assumptions that every post would “rank.”
No pressure to chase trends.
Just a simple rule: write only what I’ve experienced or genuinely understand.
Some posts immediately found their audience.
Some took their own sweet time.
And a few quietly reminded me that consistency beats cleverness every single time.
Looking back, I’m glad there was no grand master plan.
Because what this blog gained instead was something far more valuable: authenticity, clarity, and a voice that actually sounds human.
And honestly, that’s what I intend carrying forward while welcoming 2026 and beyond.
Looking Back at 2025: What Worked (And What Taught Me Lessons)
What Worked Better Than Expected
- First-person experiences (cafés, spaces, city spots)
- Real estate content without brochure language
- “Is it actually worth visiting?” style articles
- Writing in my natural, conversational voice
Turns out people don’t want perfection. They want honesty.
What Didn’t (And That’s Okay)
- Overthinking SEO before writing
- Waiting for the “right time” to publish
- Spreading myself too thin across too many ideas early on
The growth didn’t come from viral spikes.
It came from showing up consistently.
What’s Coming in 2026: The Bigger Vision
This is where things get exciting.
The long-term goal is clear:
To turn tariqsp.com into the most comprehensive, honest, and human-written Bengaluru blog.
What You’ll See More of in 2026
Bengaluru, Properly Explored
- Things to do in Bangalore (beyond the obvious)
- Cafés, new spaces, hidden gems & repeat-worthy spots
- Weekend getaways from Bengaluru
- Cultural spaces, bookstores, art, and experiences
Real Estate (Without the Sales Pitch)
- Area deep-dives
- Investment insights
- Rental trends
- Projects that deserve attention, and some honest reality checks
Living in the City
- Schools and education spaces
- Residential neighbourhoods explained
- “Is this area actually livable?” kind of content
Practical City Guides
- Civic processes
- Documentation and licenses
- Everyday Bengaluru problems people actually Google at odd hours
More Than Just a Blog
Over time, I want this platform to become:
- A trusted reference point
- A discovery guide for the city
- A place where people instinctively think,
- “Let me check tariqsp.com once before deciding.”
That also means:
- More meaningful collaborations
- Thoughtful brand partnerships
- City-focused services that genuinely help Bengalureans
A Genuine Thank You 🙂
If there’s one thing this journey has reinforced for me, it’s this.
Blogs don’t grow because of algorithms alone. They grow because real people choose to spend their time reading something a stranger wrote on the internet.
And that’s not something I take lightly.
If you’ve read even one article on tariqsp.com, thank you.
If you’ve shared a link with a friend, thank you.
If you’ve replied to a newsletter, left a comment, or messaged me saying, “Hey, this actually helped”, a big thank you.
Some of you have gone a step further and trusted me as clients.
That kind of trust doesn’t come easy, and I’m genuinely grateful for it.
Every project, every collaboration, and every conversation has helped shape what this platform is becoming.
What really keeps this blog going, though, are the small, quiet moments.
Seeing returning visitors in analytics, getting a message from someone who discovered a place through an article, or hearing that a post helped someone make a better decision about the city.
So as I’m welcoming 2026, I want you to know this:
This blog exists because you showed up. And that means everything.
FAQs (The Stuff People Usually Want to Know)
What exactly is tariqsp.com?
At its core, it’s a Bengaluru-focused blog, covering the city through first-hand experiences, honest opinions, and practical insights. Think of it as a city journal rather than a generic information portal.
Is this a personal blog or a city guide?
A bit of both. It’s written in the first person, but with city-wide relevance. My experiences are the lens; Bengaluru is the subject.
What kind of topics can readers expect?
Cafés, places to visit, neighbourhoods, real estate insights, schools, weekend getaways, and practical city guides. Basically, things Bengalureans actually care about and search for.
Will you publish sponsored or paid content?
Yes, selectively. Only when it aligns with the blog’s values and adds genuine value to readers. No forced promotions or copy-paste brand stories.
Can businesses or brands collaborate in 2026?
Absolutely. Collaborations, features, and partnerships are very much open. As long as they make sense for the city and the audience.
How often is new content published?
Consistency is the goal. New articles are published regularly, with more structured content plans rolling out through 2026.
How can readers stay updated?
Subscribing to the newsletter is the best way. It’s where new posts, city insights, and occasional behind-the-scenes thoughts show up first.
Stick Around, It Gets Better
If you haven’t already:
- Bookmark tariqsp.com
- Subscribe to the newsletter
- Follow along as Bengaluru unfolds, one honest post at a time
- Follow me on Instagram and LinkedIn
2026 is going to be busy. And fun.
Signing Off: Here’s to 2026 🥂
As I’m welcoming 2026, I realise this blog has slowly become more than just a website with articles on it.
It’s become a habit. A routine.
A reason to step out, explore the city a little more intentionally, and look at Bengaluru through a more curious lens.
It’s made me pause at places I’d otherwise rush past.
It’s made me ask better questions.
And yes, it’s also made me consume more coffee than any doctor would comfortably approve of.
2026, for me, is about going deeper, not wider.
Writing better, not just more. Exploring the city beyond the obvious.
And continuing to keep this space honest, useful, and human.
Here’s to:
- More long walks around familiar neighbourhoods
- More stories hiding in plain sight
- More clarity in content (and fewer browser tabs open at once)
- And fewer lies we tell ourselves about “just one last coffee”
To everyone reading this, thank you for being here, for supporting independent writing, and for letting this blog grow at its own pace.
Happy New Year.
Happy Welcoming 2026.
And here’s to discovering Bengaluru, one honest post at a time.
— Tarriq Salaam
Follow me on Instagram @iamtariqsp
Need Help in Bangalore?
Whether you’re looking to buy, sell, or rent property in Bangalore, need assistance with property documentation or liaison work, or just need help getting something, rather, ANYTHING done in the city, I’m here to help.
And if you’d like to get featured or want an article written about you, your business, or your brand, feel free to reach out.
Just drop me a line at hello@tariqsp.com or ping me on WhatsApp (bottom right of the screen).
I’m always happy to connect! 🙂
Tarriq Salaam
