Travel Blog by Kopal Jain
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How real is social media burnout? Well, after returning from Rishikesh, I realised that I wanted to pull away from Instagram a little bit and travel as if it almost didn’t matter to post everything, every time. And that’s exactly what I did in Varanasi. I don’t know if it was the city or the burnout, I ended up soaking myself in the winter sun a bit too long and spending hours on Assi Ghat, sitting quietly by a tea stall. I didn’t worry about the golden hours for photography, nor did I care about posting everything on my stories. And it felt damn good. I know, as someone who draws her bread and butter by creating travel content on social media, it was quite a rebellion. But do I regret it? Hell no! Do I recommend it? A definite YES. I know taking pictures for memories is important, but so is mental well-being and looking at travel as more than just an opportunity for content creation. . Now, that my self-proclaimed burnout is dealt with, I will soon start sharing stories with y’all! 😊 . . PC. @neelindra4 . . . . #traversedlands #travel #ganga #rishikesh . . . . #uttrakhand #traveldiaries #photooftheday #ootd #rishikeshdiaries #wanderlust #travelblogger #fashion #blogger #fashionblogger #hills #mountains #himalayas #love #travelcommunity #beautifuldestination #travellers #friends #summer #instatravel #teampixel #beautiful #tripotocommunity #delhiblogger #cntgiveitashot
Evenings at @gostops Varanasi 🌸 . #traversedlands . . . #photographersofindia #indianshutterbugs #hippieinhills #banaras #varanasi #dslrofficial #indiapictures #kashi #_soi #photographers_of_india #uttarpradeshtourism #everydayindia #natgeotravel #goproindia #coloursofindia #temple #himalayangeographic #indianblogger #ganga #tripoto #tripotocommunity #hostel #Gostops #hostellife #ganges #indiantravelblogger .
Echoes of the temple bells, faded sounds of ‘Har Har, Mahadev!’, men singing alaap on the ghat, a hundred chirping birds, the smell of brewing tea, ah! And a million drifting thoughts. Banaras, you are enchanting! ✨ . #traversedlands . . . . . #photographersofindia #indianshutterbugs #hippieinhills #banaras #varanasi #dslrofficial #indiapictures #kashi #_soi #photographers_of_india #uttarpradeshtourism #everydayindia #natgeotravel #goproindia #coloursofindia #temple #himalayangeographic #indianblogger #ganga #tripoto #tripotocommunity #IAMNikon #CNTgiveitashot #ganges #indiantravelblogger . @cntravellerindia @lonelyplanetindia @incredibleindia @jktourismofficial @hindustantimes @uttarpradeshtourism @himalayangeographic @natgeotravellerindia
Mood - Valentines Schmalentines 💁🏻‍♀️ . Don’t @ me for the random expression, that’s my ‘shit, what’s the next chord?’ face. . . . #traversedlands #travel . . . #liveauthentic #Kolkata #wanderlust #travelblogger #traveldiaries #WestBengal #VictoriaMemorial #photography #delhibloggers #travelgoals #IncredibleIndia #photooftheday #PrinsepGhat #pictureoftheday #Girl #Monuments #dakshineshwar #instatravel #indianblogger #exploremore #explore #beautifuldestinations #fashion #travelcommunity #love #travelresponsibly
कहानियाँ कुछ नयी कुछ पुरानी सी... कुछ मेरी कुछ तुम्हारी भी, ज़रा भीगे अल्फ़ाज़ों से थोड़ा तुम करो बयाँ, थोड़ा मैं समझ लूँगी बाक़ी रहा तुम बता देना ✨ . . . #traversedlands . #photographersofindia #indianshutterbugs #hippieinhills #leh #dallake #dslrofficial #indiapictures #srinagar #_soi #photographers_of_india #gulmarg #everydayindia #natgeotravel #goproindia #coloursofindia #kashmir #himalayangeographic #indianblogger #himalayas #tripoto #tripotocommunity #IAMNikon #CNTgiveitashot #jammuandkashmir #indiantravelblogger . @cntravellerindia @lonelyplanetindia @incredibleindia @jktourismofficial @hindustantimes @himalayangeographic @natgeotravellerindia
I am still searching for a reason that makes people believe in their gods. I haven’t found the answer yet, but the process of getting there is sure beautiful and remarkable. ✨ . From Rishikesh, with @hipostel . . #traversedlands . . . #photographersofindia #indianshutterbugs #hippieinhills #rishikesh #uttarakhand #dslrofficial #indiapictures #ganga #_soi #photographers_of_india #indianculture #everydayindia #natgeotravel #goproindia #coloursofindia #temple #himalayangeographic #indianblogger #himalayas #tripoto #tripotocommunity #IAMNikon #CNTgiveitashot #rishikeshdiaries #indiantravelblogger . @cntravellerindia @lonelyplanetindia @incredibleindia @jktourismofficial @hindustantimes @himalayangeographic @natgeotravellerindia
A lot of you asked for it during the AMA, so here goes. Lessons I’d like to share after travelling for almost 2 years - 1. Let go of your preconceived notions - 
When you step out and board your train/plain/bus, let go of your assumptions about a place, its people and its culture. It will help you set your expectation right. I-know-it-all attitude will either get you in trouble or will keep you from meaningful and interesting interactions. . 2. ‘Hello’ with a smile can take you places - 
That’s all it takes to let others know that you mean well. And if you say it in the local language, your efforts will be well received and appreciated.
. 3. Adjustment is the key -
Step out of your comfort zone and take a state roadways bus instead of a deluxe Volvo for a change (of course, prioritising your safety first). You may end up talking to a 70 year old lady about how she lost her husband to a war that did no good to the world. . 4. There is good in the world - 
You just need to start seeing it. A negative attitude will only ruin your experience. Be more patient and what I recently learnt as ‘street smart’. . 5. Be respectful
For the love of whatever you believe in, please be respectful of a place, its culture and people. For example, a lot places in India lack waste disposal system. Do your research and prepare for your travel accordingly. . . These are just a few, I am hoping to write more about it soon. If you have anything to add to the list, feel free to drop it in a comment below. 🤗 . #traversedlands 📷 @kamakshi.pal Let’s meet? ♥️ . . #photographersofindia #indianshutterbugs #hippieinhills #indianphotography #dametraveler #dslrofficial #indiapictures #desi_diaries #_soi #photographers_of_india #incredibleindia #everydayindia #natgeotravel #goproindia #coloursofindia #jammu #i_hobbygraphy #himalayangeographic #iiframe #indianblogger #himalayas #tripoto #tripotocommunity #jammuandkashmir #indiantravelblogger
Drifting lives on Dal ♥️ . #traversedlands . . . . #photographersofindia #indianshutterbugs #hippieinhills #leh #dallake #dslrofficial #indiapictures #srinagar #_soi #photographers_of_india #gulmarg #everydayindia #natgeotravel #goproindia #coloursofindia #kashmir #himalayangeographic #indianblogger #himalayas #tripoto #tripotocommunity #IAMNikon #CNTgiveitashot #jammuandkashmir #indiantravelblogger . @cntravellerindia @lonelyplanetindia @incredibleindia @jktourismofficial @hindustantimes @himalayangeographic @natgeotravellerindia
It was early in the morning when I walked into the mosque, barefoot, of course. It snowed the night before so the farsh (floor) was cold, so cold that it almost stung. I hopped on the Kaleen (carpet/rug) spread across the prayer hall, till the centre of the quadrangle that opened up to the courtyard. As I walked, I reached the end of the carpet, stood on its edge with my hands on the camera. I wanted to wait for the right moment to step on the cold farsh to take a picture from the centre of the courtyard. While I waited, an old man (probably in his 70s) came and stood next to me with his hands held at the back. “These walls have seen it all. Blood and tears. Debates and discourses. Growth and havocs. Dua and daga (prayers and betrayals). A lot of people tried shattering it to pieces, shutting it down, even burning it, but someone always came back, to open its doors... and to hold it together.” I looked at his face and smiled. He then pointed his finger towards the courtyard, now filled with a flock of chirping birds. It was my cue to step on the farsh and take that picture. . While floating on Dal that evening, I wondered if that man knew what I was waiting for. ✨ . . . #traversedlands . . . #photographersofindia #indianshutterbugs #hippieinhills #leh #dallake #dslrofficial #indiapictures #srinagar #_soi #photographers_of_india #gulmarg #everydayindia #natgeotravel #goproindia #coloursofindia #kashmir #himalayangeographic #indianblogger #himalayas #tripoto #tripotocommunity #IAMNikon #CNTgiveitashot #jammuandkashmir #indiantravelblogger . @cntravellerindia @lonelyplanetindia @incredibleindia @jktourismofficial @hindustantimes @himalayangeographic @natgeotravellerindia
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