Independence Day 2026: A hidden lake of lotuses, and the India I keep seeking

The author reflects on the importance of authentic travel experiences within India, contrasting them with the trend of visiting popular international tourist destinations. The piece highlights how personal travel experiences have shaped the author's professional life in the craft and design sector.
My 8-year-old thinks I have no chill. Her friends go to South Korea and come back with those plastic anime toys. They go to Paris and eat croissants at a café that is famous on Instagram. They go to a Scandinavian country for a white Christmas. And here I am, telling her that our next vacation is a trip to Hazaribagh in Jharkhand to visit artisans who paint cave painting-inspired murals on the walls of their homes during the harvest season. No wonder she believes I am the root of all her woes!
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