Soles of a Nomad

It’s easy to copy a classic photo—but harder, and more fun, to find your own take. Here’s how I approached three of the world’s most photographed landmarks with fresh eyes.

The center of every India city is packed with energy . . . and people Introduction: A Hard Truth on the Road   Before we came to India,...

A series of diary entries from the final days of a six-month journey through India. Fatigued, overheated, and dreaming of bacon, our narrator chronicles the end of the road with dry wit and a heart still full of love for India.

At the India–Pakistan border near Amritsar, soldiers strut, flags fall, and the crowd roars. The Wagah border ceremony is part dance-off, part military ritual, and all surreal. What’s meant to stir national pride left me more contemplative than triumphant—because travel sometimes shows us how borders divide as much as they define.

Visiting Amritsar is not for the faint of heart—but it is unforgettable. From searing heat to spiritual depth, here are the practical (and personal) tips we wish we’d known before arriving in Punjab’s most intense city.

Looking for the most beautiful village in the Himalayas? Turtuk, India is a remote, green oasis in the Karakoram Mountains—equal parts paradise and mystery. Read about our unforgettable journey to one of the last open villages near the India–Pakistan border.

We were hours into the remote drive from Pangong Lake to Turtuk when traffic just… stopped. A landslide had blocked the Shyok River road—possibly for hours, maybe overnight. But what started as frustration quickly turned into one of those surreal, unforgettable travel moments: glacial rivers, bubbling tea fires, and two dozen strangers riding our van like a mountain parade float. Because sometimes, the delay is the story.

Want to find your zen? Try riding shotgun on a Himalayan cliff road to Pangong Lake. You’ll breathe deeply, pray loudly, and maybe meet a herd of baby goats. This is travel in Ladakh at its wildest.

We followed the Indus River northwest, stopping at silent gompas and sleeping in a homestay beneath jagged peaks. Because travel—and also Pink Floyd.

Before we hit the high-altitude passes, we took a one-day road trip south of Leh to get a taste of Ladakh’s monasteries, scenery, and surprisingly flaky snow.

Before you visit Ladakh’s monasteries, take a moment to understand the spiritual roots, the political borders, and the people who live between them.

Leh might sit at the top of the world, but visiting it doesn’t have to leave you gasping. Here’s how we did it—cold nights, fixed taxi rates, and all.

I dreamed of staying in a houseboat on Dal Lake for years. It delivered everything I imagined—plus one of the worst meals I’ve ever had. Totally worth it.

When we traveled to Kashmir, tensions were high and headlines were grim. What we found was kindness, beauty, and a deeper understanding of what “safe” really means.

Shooting in Varanasi is like trying to compose a symphony in the middle of a parade. This Through the Lens post shows how five photos—each zoomed, framed, and simplified—capture quiet power in India’s loudest city.

A guide to Varanasi, India’s sacred and chaotic masterpiece—complete with a sunrise boat ride, cremation ghats, lassi breaks, and one heavy-hitting river.

In a morally questionable sprint through the gates of the Taj Mahal, I left my family behind to chase the holy grail of travel photography: a crowd-free shot of India’s most iconic monument. This is my confession. And yes, the photos were worth it.

Rishikesh turned out to be the perfect place for a family-friendly Holi: yoga, river sunsets, Beatles nostalgia, and a whole lot of color. Here’s how it went.

We spent a month traveling in Rajasthan, India, with our family—visiting Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, and Jaipur. No scams. No disasters. Just camels, forts, thalis, and rooftop dinners under the desert stars. A journey that was almost suspiciously smooth.

Ellora isn’t just a collection of ancient caves—it’s a monument to human ambition, religious diversity, and spiritual artistry. In this post, we visit the Ellora Caves in India, where staggering beauty and harsh realities meet. Come for the hand-carved temples, stay for the existential whiplash.