Christopher Halliday reveals a host of free or cut-price activities in India telling us his stories through these beautiful photos and how to travel in India alone.
Tuk Tuk Driver
I took this picture within the first few days of arriving in India. For a fixed fee, this tuk tuk driver took me around the local historical spots and then to a nice restaurant for a typical serving of Thali. At the end of the day, he agreed to have his picture taken. This composition highlights the driver without cutting out the vital details of the iconic taxi vehicle.
Family in Mumbai Slum
During a wander in the central Mumbai streets, I entered this single dead- end street, of a residential slum. At first I was slowly greeted by people in the street. Then I was taken to a courtyard and fed a three course meal. After, I was taken to visit the shrine of a young local boy to pay my respects. Over the next three days, I would return and photograph the residents.
In this, and many slums, the mothers and grandmothers sat in the street to watch over the children while the men worked. Here sits what may be three generations of family together, chatting and minding each other. A young boy shows his mother a funny video on the borrowed smartphone of a friend. A makeshift house stands behind them. My India travel advisory and activities with these lovely family.
Senior Motorcycle Mechanic
The man partially visible on the left led me around the slum to photograph several people of importance to him. This Mechanic was one such man and I believed him to be his father. This mechanic was unusually stoic for a city dweller. He waited patiently still, silently holding my gaze as I photographed him while the younger men in the background looked on, somewhat more perplexed and agitated.
Women walking through Hampi Ruins
The sun was setting over the ancient ruins of the kingdom of Hampi. At the top of a hill, I looked back and saw two women out on a social errand. I quickly prepared the camera as best I could and managed to take a single shot before I lost the two figures completely in the shadows. Months later when the picture was developed, I discovered that I had managed to take a wonderful picture. It is one of my favorites.
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I loved the photo of the family in Mumbai. The joys on the Mum’s face is wonderful to see as she watches the video her son is sharing. I am saddened however that there is still such poverty in India.
Thanks Allison for the feedback. Regardless of the poverty they are really happy and joyful people. Thanks.
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I love your voice in telling travel stories. Your focus on the community and culture of your hosts is evident front and center. The photography is on point and I enjoyed meeting the people of your tours.
Thanks Ed and Jenn Coleman for your response. I’m glad you enjoyed the stories behind them photos it was an amazing experience. Thanks
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Wow, I loved reading the stories behind these photos! It sounds like you really got to know the people you photographed on a deeper level. That’s great how the Mumbai families made you a meal and took you around the area – what an experience!
Thanks Courtney Jones for the feedback. Being with the families for two days was the best experience ever. Thanks
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That’s great you found an honest tuk tuk driver, well done, he looks a friendly guy too. Intereting story about the slum in Bombay, you don’t need to live in a mansion to be happy. I guess they love having their photo taken too!
Thanks Only By Land for the feedback. You are right, don’t have to live in a mansion to be happy, they all look happy.
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The portraits of these people show a different side to India. I’m so glad you didn’t go down the poverty porn way that so many people do when they go through the slums. You’ve managed to capture some wonderful images of people naturally being people
Thanks Jean for the feedback. Telling them stories through the photos is something with a different touch. Thanks.
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Beautiful pictures. So many emotions are being carried in each one of these. Being from India, can totally relate to these
Thanks Neha for the feedback. It is great that I can connect you to this post. Thanks for reading!
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Some great choices here that really highlight life in India. Your photos give an insight into the culture and people. I would love to visit and explore this area of the country.
Thanks Katie for the response and I’m glad that you can relate with it.
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Superb pictures and descriptions. I always like to get to know the locals when on my travels. The old motorbike mechanic looks like a cool dude! Great post!
Thanks Raymond Carroll for the feedback. It’s a different aspect of traveling when getting to meet the locals. Thanks.
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India is such a magical place with lots of historical sites to visit. But what I loved most about this post is the highlight on people. I love seeing portraits because they can tell so much story. And for India, with one of the largest population in the world, the people is definitely a huge part of the culture – both in the past and now.
Thanks Global Girl Travels for the feedback. The Indians are loving people which made the photo soooo beautiful. Thanks.
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Gorgeous photographs of my country! Its always amusing when we travel across cultures!!! Things that I see as absolutely normal, and wouldn’t bother to take a second look, are such beautiful memories for you and vice versa!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Thanks Bhushavali for the response. You are absolutely right, the diverse in cultures really amuses us all. Thanks.
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You captured some very poignant images of India. They brought back memories of my time there in 2013. I particularly like the image of the women walking through the Hampi Ruins. Such lovely scenery.
Thanks Janine Good for the feedback. The photo of the women in the Hampi Ruins was the best shot ever! Thanks.
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What interesting photos. I see that you had to foster these relationships by visiting the same spot more than once and you can really tell the difference in your photos. Most travel photos are just quick snaps but yours have such soul to them. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Natalie for your response. They took me in for a host and showed me around. We shared a lot and spent so much lovely time together. Thanks.
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Such great photos. Intimate photos of people in their environments are my favourite. I love that the family took you in for dinner.
Thanks Riely for the feedback. The hospitality I received was more than I could ever imagine. Interesting people!
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I absolutely love India. I love the people, the culture and the colours. Your photos are absolutely amazing. You have really captured the true essence of India.
I remember Hampii. I really felt like I was in the Flintstones with the boulder hills. That is such a wonderful shot of the ladies walking by.
I am really looking forward to my fifth trip to India in a few weeks.
Thanks for the feedback Kathy. I can see you a really India lover going back for the fifth time in few weeks. I hope you’ve the most of this time and tell us all bout it. Have fun!
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Love the photos, it shows the highlights of what to expect in India. I’m curious though, why was there a shrine of a young local boy in the slum area? What was it for? Is he a hero?
Thanks Noemi for the feedback. The young local boy was part of the family and death took him untimely.
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I love your shots!!! They make me feel so many different moods! So interesting!
Keep it up 🙂
Thanks Maria Jesus for the feedback. The photos are true expressions! I’m glad you like them. Thanks.
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Some great pictures and off the cuff activities here. Our kids would love a tour on a Tuk Tuk we have been on a few in Portugal. They seem very popular in Portugal
Thanks Mark for the response. You guys should take a trip to India someday and hop on that Tuk Tuk with kids kids, I’m sure they will love it!
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I really like the way you shared the stories behind the pictures. Your images really capture the beauty of your subjects. We have never been on a Tuk Tuk before, but it sounds super fun 🙂
Thanks The Adventure Ahead for the response. I’m pleased to hear that you read and like the story. When you get the chance hop on one of them tuk tuk you’d love it!
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Photos from so many aspects of lives of people in India – so nicely depicted. Being an Indian, I experience all this in major walks of life and its nice to see others covering it so well. 🙂
Thanks Harsh Gupta for the response. This post attracted a lot of Indian commentaries with you being the forth and I’m glad I cant express a lot with the photos.
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I lived in India briefly so these pictures bring back a lot of memories… Especially the family in Mumbai. I taught English at a slum school briefly which showed me the very harsh reality of life for many people there
Thanks Sanne for the response. I love that photo with the family in Mumbai, it has a lot of reading to it. Thanks.
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The senior motorcycle mechanic looks like Henry Rollins!
Thanks Brian for the response.
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what a beautiful Gallery, I enjoyed so much the Tuk Tuk rides. I’ve never been to India I’m seeing amazing pictures of it and reading great posts about it, I hope I get a chance to go asap. Thank you for sharing it
Thank you Loudy for the response. India is a beautiful and you’d love the tuk tuk, make sure to plan and take a vacation one day!
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They do say that behind every great photo is a wonderful story and you have demonstrated that with your story telling.
Thank you Tamason Gamble for the response. I really do appreciate the feedback.
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Nice images 🙂 love the blog
Thanks Tom for your response. Much appreciated!
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Nice post about India! Would love to visit one day
Thanks Firdaus for the feedback. Mumbai is a good choice for vacation.
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