Some dreams are your own, and some dreams the universe sends your way. Each has its own distinct flavour. Travel had never been a plan, just a career opportunity that came my way to teach me about the depth of life, the beauty of places and the uniqueness of the nation we call home.
Photography again wasn’t a choice, it was the dream the universe sent my way. It happened because I was on my own and needed personalised visuals. A lot of hard work to learn a new skill, but I fell in love with it.
Along the way, I learned that people in India like being photographed. But we must honour their smiles and do something in return. We could offer them cash, which is always welcome, or some gift. And if you plan to sell them, then you definitely have to get a ‘no objection’ form signed, matching the requirements of the platform.
All the travel experiences shaped my understanding of India, and I’ve captured some of those defining moments in the following photographs. The collection includes images that remind me that there’s more to the nation than the four walls of my city home.
Sarchi, a small village where no one closes their door, was a surprise. Nestled in the mountains of Himachal Pradesh, this old lady carrying fodder and wood with a smile stunned me. Their wooden homes, made the traditional way, and their beautiful children, it was another world altogether.
Like all of us, Tibet and the exodus of the Dalai Lama along with his people had struck a chord with me. When I finally reached McLeodganj and Dharamshala, I saw a world where people are keeping their culture alive. And in return, we have so much to appreciate by learning from the peace loving Tibetans, monks and their rituals. The diyas brighten up the Dalai Lama Temple in Dharamshala, and monks walk without fear on the streets.
I wasn’t even aware of a small town named Raigarh in Chhattisgarh. When they invited influencers for a Chakradhar Festival (right), it was a revelation for me. The little town is keeping alive the classical legacy of India. Before reaching the place, I enjoyed the clean platform at Raipur, and watched the vendor selling bananas. This reminded me of train journeys of my childhood.
Another small tribal town, Nandurbar, in Maharashtra, was also a surprise. The women wore such colourful saris (left above) and covered their head. They probably found my Arabian trousers and small kurti odd, but I never saw them utter a single smirk.
Khajuraho is a well known temple town in Central India, a legacy that India thrives on. I was invited for the Mahashivrati celebrations by a leading hotel chain. And the performance floored the visitors along with the natives. This is Lord Ganesha in the picture.
While selling garlands of fresh flowers, the vendors outside Padmavati temple, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, wear saris as colourful as the flowers that lie in their baskets. Their foreheads have red and sandalwood tilaks for protecting them from evil eye.
You can’t be in India and not find these plaster of Paris idols of Hindu gods and goddesses near every water body and peepal tree. I found this basket in the small man-made waterbody in Noida Biodiversity Park. People bring the gods home on important festivals and then they are supposed to sent away in water. However, this water body, which is just an ornamental one in the park, is also subject to these not-needed influences. Eventually, after two months, I saw that they had cleaned this up and the basket was nowhere to be seen.
I have thousands of photographs with me, but then I would have to buy a lot of server space to put them up, till then, this is it. I would be happy to know what you have collected from your trips.
I’m participating in #BlogchatterA2Z
You may like to read:
Travel Etiquette Guide for South Korea
Guwahati Travel Guide: Unveiling the City’s Bustle, Beauty & Hidden Gems
The Thailand Holiday
A Family Backpacks Across Central America
My Train Journeys Through India
Scenic Road Trip: East Coast Odyssey, Tamil Nadu
Kashmir’s Must-Eat Dishes: A Taste of Paradise
This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla in collaboration with Ratna Prabha.
Queen of Treasures 
I absolutely loved reading this! The way you’ve described each place with such warmth and detail feels so personal.
The vibrant and lively people you’ve captured truly showcase the essence of culture, heritage, and camaraderie.
I also admire your perspective on ethical photography; it’s such an important and thoughtful approach. Thanks for sharing this, it’s such an inspiring read!
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The way you intertwine your personal experiences with such vivid photography gives a heartfelt glimpse into India’s soul. Your journey—from the open-hearted villagers of Sarchi to the serene monasteries of Dharamshala—captures the country’s essence so beautifully. Each photo feels like a story waiting to be told, not just of landscapes, but of real people and emotions. I loved how you brought out the vibrancy of Raigarh’s Chakradhar Festival and the raw charm of tribal life in Nandurbar. What truly stood out was your thoughtful take on ethical photography—it’s such a refreshing and respectful perspective. You’ve shown India not just as a destination, but as a living, breathing mosaic of culture. Your lens has so much warmth, and it makes me want to pack my bags and go exploring too! Thank you for sharing such a soulful collection.
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Thanks. That’s high praise ..mosaic of culture! I have fallen in love with photography and videos which I still need to master. Till then, this is it.
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The respect you show for people’s stories and ethics shines through, making the collection more than just photos—but heartfelt connections. It feels like you’ve bottled the spirit of travel and culture in every frame—truly captivating!
#BlogaberryDazzle
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Such a heartfelt journey through your lens, Ambica. Loved how you embraced unexpected paths…both travel and photography, with so much grace and openness.It’s always a joy to travel with you through your words and images…there’s something deeply grounding and real in every post you share.
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thank you Anjali for the appreciation.
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It was a joy to go through your adventures and discoveries during your travel through the heartland of India. Pictures are a great way to keep the memories and knowledge alive for a long time but I agree you need a lot of digital space to store the innumerous images now that we do not need camera rolls for clicking .
Sarchi, the Himachali Village and its warm hearted , honest inhabitants was a revelation. Thanks for sharing Ambica.
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The world is full of joyful surprises.
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This is how we create memories from our travels. Your pictures are captivating. I am just an amateur but I keep clicking all the time. From the north to the south, you have clicked the culture changes as well. I wish I could click like you. I am struggling with my mental health most of the time and right now my camera is still!
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Camera is the best way to change your mood. Step out and click, better still click your home. See it in different ways.
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This was such an honest and vivid journey, I loved how your experiences unfolded without a plan but found meaning anyway. That bit about the basket of idols in Noida really stayed with me. It’s a gentle reminder of how beauty and neglect can sit side by side in this country. I’ve never documented my own travels this deeply, but this definitely nudged me to pay more attention.
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I like the way you have written about each place and pictures. I have never been into travelling. But I wish to explore. handling motherhood and work now… but once kids are little grown up I want to travel and explore
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What a beautifully curated visual journey! From the tender portrait of folk life in Sarchi to the luminous diyas in Dharamshala, you’ve captured emotion and culture in every frame . Truly inspiring!!
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That’s lovely to read this blog. It holds the essence of people and culture. It reminded me of my experience at Dharamshala
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What a stunning collection! You’ve captured the soul of India so beautifully — each photo tells a story 🇮🇳📸✨
Btw, a village like Sarchi where no one closes their doors exists in Maharashtra too (Shani Shingnapur). But I’m sure you already know that 🙂
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Yes, been to shani shingnapur as well, but shortly for an hour only. And to the temple
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Each photograph carries a story of its own. Those dance pictures are simply mind-blowing. I enjoyed how you wrote about how the colour of the saree matches the brightness of the flowers that the vendors sell. It shows in the picture, too.
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You have an eye to capture moments, Ambica. Loved all the photos. The diyas, the fruitwallah, the lady with the flowers and the statues in the basket are my favorite ones.
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THANK YOU MAYURI.
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Till date I was of the impression that you are excellent with nature photography and I loved the way you captured them but after reading this post I am altogether in a Aweeee wala state of mind. You are not such a nature photographer but an equally good Travel and Street Photographer who tells story with photographs. There is something unique in your gene that made you so talented and immensely humble lady. Besides being a wonderful blogger, storyteller you are an outstanding photographer. You are stupendously Fantastic …….. Love you
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Thank you for your kind words, Samata. Am glad you enjoyed the pieces of travel from varied parts of the country.
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What a lovely way to create memories. I have bookmarked your article on Himachal Pradesh for that is next on my list. I liked your photograph of people particularly the flower seller. Fabulous post
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THANKS. HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR TRIP.
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It was lovely to read the story behind each photo. It felt as if I was right there. Your photos are so beautifully captured. It shows that you take the pain to tell the story and not just click a photo. That is a mark of a good photographer.
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THANK YOU.
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Your captures are fantastic! I find people observing the best part of my travels. You need to get a book printed Ambica!
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thank you for those kind words. I feel I need more practice in being artistic.
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Your post has once again fueled my urge to pack my bags and head out to any direction within large span of India to find such beautiful experiences. I am soon starting to act on this!
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Go for it, take train journeys, more time to see and enjoy, besides being easy on the pocket.
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Thank you for sharing some lovely portraits from across the country!! They are amazing.
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Lovely collection! And I feel so envious! In the early part of my career, I travelled to a lot of internal rural villages and towns! Was reminded of those days! Have lots of memories and pictures – unfortunately not in digital form though.
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Well, nothing like NOW to begin your capture the moment journey.
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Unfortunately now that I don’t live in India – our India trips are limited to Delhi Bombay etc. but now we are exploring other parts of the world 🙂
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Beautiful collections, and you remember the story behind each pic! Do you write it down to remember? I remember that my sister had misplaced my album, which had pics from my first international travel; to this day I cannot forgive her for that. Pictures are memories that bring a smile to our face even when we look at them a decade later. They are precious.
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Actually, I haven’t written any memory down, the picture becomes my reminder. But maybe now, I should, ageing does the brain slower. This is why I am arranging my pictures now, to remind myself of the good times. 😛
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i love how you’ve captured people and the story behind them. Photographs really do take you back in Time. Loving the natural clicks
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I love the personal touch alongside beautiful pictures. Each picture is a story in itself and you have brilliantly captured it!
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There’s something magical about stumbling upon places that aren’t on every tourist map—where time moves slower and hearts feel lighter. Sarchi, a quiet Himachali village tucked away in the folds of the mountains, was one such gem. Its people, with their open smiles and unspoken wisdom, left a mark deeper than any landmark could. These are the places that remind you why we travel—not just to see, but to feel.
And yes, in this digital age, we may not carry camera rolls anymore, but we carry something far bigger—thousands of memories captured in pixels. While space runs out, the stories never do.
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Your photos celebrate unseen villages, vibrant festivals, and human warmth. It reminded me that true travel isn’t just places, but the humble connections and ethical storytelling we carry in our hearts. Great job!
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Such a lovely post! I enjoyed seeing India through your eyes.
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