A country of contrasts steeped with rich history, India is a land dotted with beautiful palaces, rugged forts, lakes and sprawling cities. From the iconic cities of Jaipur and Jodhpur, to the pilgrimage town of Pushkar, desert dunes of the Thar Desert and the spiritual city of Varanasi, the diversity comes in all forms – people, architecture, customs and music.
I landed in Jaipur and travelled across Rajasthan for two weeks before heading to New Delhi, Varanasi and ending my trip down south in the smallest state on the Western coast of India, Goa. Over my journey, I’ve come to realise there is no one word or feeling to capture what to expect. There’s the organised chaotic bustle of the streets, the beauty and grandeur of the ancient forts and monuments and the heartbreaking poverty which is prevalent in many places. A sensory overload of crowds, colours and smells that makes it impossible to absorb the experience in a single trip.
Every city was different and the contrast even more so between the north and south. I loved the spontaneous experiences and uncertainty of what to expect. In the same week I would be in a city of over 20 million people and then find myself in a wide-open quiet space at the foothills of the Aravalis. Amongst her quiet and chaos, I found the real beauty of India was its people.
These are my favourite portraits during my journey across India. My experience wouldn’t be complete without meeting these faces that have made a deep imprint in my heart.