People I Met in Nepal:
A Photographer’s Journey of Slow Travel & Serendipity
There’s a certain magic in wandering without a plan. No itinerary, no checklist—just a camera in hand and an openness to whatever the day brings. That’s how I found myself in Nepal, two weeks of unscripted exploration, where every alleyway, every smile, every fleeting moment became a story waiting to be framed.
For me, travel has always been about flow—that state of effortless immersion Mihály Csíkszentmihályi described, where time dissolves and all that exists is the act of creation.
Nepal, with its chaotic charm and boundless warmth, pulled me into that flow like nowhere else.
The Dancers of Bandipur
In the quiet hillside town of Bandipur, where time moves at the pace of footsteps on cobblestone, I met three young dancers celebrating the Nepali New Year. Their laughter was contagious, their movements fluid—a spontaneous performance under the golden light of late afternoon. They didn’t pause when they saw my camera; instead, they pulled me into their joy.
"Take our picture!" one of them grinned, twirling in her vibrant traditional dress.
And just like that, I wasn’t just an observer. I was part of the moment.
Ashwin: The Man Who Wanted to Show Nepal Through Local Eyes
In Kathmandu, I crossed paths with Ashwin, a young entrepreneur whose passion for his country was electric. He runs Nepal As A Local, an experiential tourism company built on the idea that the best way to see a place is through the people who call it home.
"Most travelers see the mountains, the temples," he told me over steaming cups of chiya (Nepali tea). "But Nepal’s soul is in its people. I want them to leave with more than photos—I want them to leave with friends."
Ashwin became my unofficial guide, leading me to hidden courtyards, street food stalls where locals ate, and conversations that lasted well into the night. He reminded me that the heart of travel isn’t just in seeing—it’s in connecting.
The Graduating Students of Dunbar Square
On my last afternoon in Kathmandu, I stumbled upon a group of high school students celebrating their graduation near the ancient temples of Durbar Square. Dressed in crisp uniforms, they laughed, took selfies, and scribbled heartfelt messages on each other’s shirts with colored pens—inside jokes, well-wishes, promises to stay in touch. When they noticed me watching, they waved me over.
"Sir, take our photo!" one of them said, pulling her friends into a rowdy, grinning lineup.
I obliged, of course. But what stayed with me wasn’t just the image—it was their energy, their pride, their unguarded excitement for the future.
Why Nepal Stays With You
I’ve been to over 40 countries, and nowhere have I encountered kindness as effortless as in Nepal. Strangers offered directions before I could ask. Shopkeepers invited me in for tea. Every interaction felt genuine, unburdened by the transactional nature of tourism.
This trip reinforced what I’ve always believed: The best photographs aren’t just about light and composition—they’re about the people who give a place its soul. Nepal gave me that in abundance.
So here’s to slow travel, to wandering without a plan, and to the strangers who become stories.