04/02/2026
Itās going to be a year soon since I visited to Indiaās one of the most beautiful place.
Travel is such a different kind of experience. You meet so many people along the way, almost as if they were always meant to cross your path.
Not everyone you meet leaves a footprint on your life during a journey. But sometimes, you come across a few souls who make you believe that the world isnāt such a bad place after all. It all depends on the connection you share with them.
Itās been a long time since I last traveled slowly. Kashmir was the last place where I truly did, and the people I met there were some of the most amazing souls. Whether it was the host of my stay in Srinagar, who made me feel as if we had known each other forever, or an old uncle in Pahalgam whose small hotel I visited every single day for meals. One day, he invited me to his home and served me traditional Kashmiri cuisine with so much warmth.
Then there was a shepherd I met during a short hike that unexpectedly turned into an evening of tea at his mud house. I also remember the long wait for an auto while returning from Hazratbal. It had become dark, and a kind stranger offered to drop me safely. Or the man I met at Lal Chowk; my friend and I had only asked him for directions, but he insisted on taking us personally to the exact location.
Oh⦠the list is long. My heart is full of such experiences, and I feel truly blessed to have come across such people.
Travel never really happens according to the plans we make. It moves with its own flow, and in that flow, you encounter all kinds of human beings. Not every experience is good but there are always a few people who restore your faith in humanity.
Today, as I write this, all those memories from Kashmir feel so fresh.
I experienced Kashmir like a wild child. The freedom I felt there was out of this world. And whenever I think of going back, it feels like the place would welcome me in the same warm way all over again.
[Kashmir Moments, Travel Diaries, Throwback Memories]