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Have you ever experienced the thrill of touching the clouds because you’re so near the sky or sharing a table with nomads who have no idea where they’re headed next? Or maybe, cooking your favourite dish amidst the Himalayan foothills or sipping the local red wine while stargazing? Although your brain cells are making you recollect that I’m describing a scene from an Imtiaz Ali or Ayan Mukerji movie, allow me to dishearten you! This is something greater, a core memory that no director could recreate.

Let me begin my story here! When I visited Kalga, a small village nestled in Himachal Pradesh, what began as another casual ‘ticking off destination’ kind of trip turned out to be something far more meaningful. The Kalga trip was more about feeling the calmness of losing myself and then slowly finding parts of me again.

This trip redefined my idea of travel, making me realise that it is not about breathlessly rushing from one destination to another, but slowing down and absorbing what the moment has to offer. If I had to sum it up, my Kalga experience was pure SLOW TRAVEL.

What Is Slow Travel?

There is a Japanese concept called Yutori, which means the art of slowing down for success, creating intentional space and time for relaxation and appreciating the present moment without feeling overwhelmed. Slow travel is somewhat inspired by that.

Slow travel literally means travelling at a relaxed pace with a focus on creating mindful experiences, immersing in culture and sustainability. I did not understand it until I immersed myself in the rhythm of the Parvati Valley.

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In my everyday metro-city life, all I see are concrete walls and people running like robots from Monday to Friday. Amidst the Parvati Valley, it was different. The unhurried life of the locals, the view of the Lesser Himalayas from Premu bhai’s homestay and the simple joy of staying digitally disconnected gave slow travel its real meaning.

I further explored what slow travelling really meant when Amrita Mukherjee (27), Counselling Psychologist and Artist and a slow traveller herself, described it in the most poetic way. She said, “It’s about walking through streets with no agenda, talking to strangers, eating local food, enhancing my creativity through painting landscapes and just being present.” Well, I connected to that.

Locals Of Mountains

The People Of Mountains Live An Unhurried Lifestyle And Are Self-Independent (Image Credits: Sanchita Paul)

Embracing Slow Travel: A Journey Of Discovery

Since my Kalga trip was in July, the monsoon showers were my constant companion. After one such drizzle, I planned to wander along the misty trails, only to find myself exhausted and drained, forcing me to pause. I sat on a large rock nearby and allowed my body to slow down. I watched the leaves look fresh after the immediate drizzle, especially when the sunlight passed through cotton-like clouds and fell upon them. Wooden huts were scattered against the backdrop of gigantic mountains, which had snow-filled crowns, standing as patient witnesses to Kalga’s existence for thousands of years.

Kalga In Himachal Pradesh

Kalga In Himachal Pradesh (Image Credits: Bornika Das)

I realised that there was something very alluring and powerful about time-travelling slowly. Oftentimes, going with the flow is easy, but standing tall and firm is the real strength. The stillness and simplicity of the mountains made them strong and patient, despite Kalga’s constant change. I discovered that the real beauty is not about chasing what the world runs after, but staying grounded to your originality and values.

Thus, I could relate to Sanchita Paul (27), a Marketing Communication Specialist and Independent Social Science Researcher and an avid slow traveller, when she said that slow travel, “is empowering. It is about knowing the soul of a palace, in its raw form.”

The Benefits Of Slow Travel: Beyond The Tourist Traps

Slow travel in the Kalga village was all about soaking in the atmosphere and simply being present. There was no rush to tick off destinations for that one Instagrammable picture; rather, I enjoyed being a part of the local people - some running homestays, some making wines, others guiding treks across terrain.

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They live by cooking Siddu without a YouTube recipe video or finding their way home when lost in the terrains with the help of dogs instead of Google Maps. I understood that slow travel is about sustainability and living in harmony, rather than luxury. So here are the benefits I felt of slow travel-

Financial Sustainability: Staying at a local homestay during slow travel is financially sustainable. At Premu bhai’s homestay, I saved money with his long-stay deals. Likewise, another slow traveller, Joydeep Phukan (28), who is a travel writer at The Gypsy Chiring, believed that “Slow travel is emotionally and financially more sustainable. It is the most rewarding, as it encourages us to contribute directly to the local economy.”

Mental And Emotional Sustainability: Slow travel helped me heal the burn of the mental and emotional baggage that I carried all along before the Kalga trip. Learning about Premu bhai’s struggle to turn his ancestral home into a source of income was a story of emotional and mental strength. Just as Amrita said, “Slow travel makes it nourishing for the heart, you carry the place with you in a much gentler, deeper way.”

Bundle Of Memories: Slow travel etches memories more deeply and meaningfully. Recalling her memories, Sanchita mentioned, “I’ve been gifted things along the way, a bottle of wine, a jar of pickles, a packet of tea. This is something you get to experience only with true connection.”

In a world where we are all rushing for survival, slow travel feels like a pause, giving a chance to reflect and reconnect. It helps you discover yourself, bond with the community you stayed with and remember where we truly belong - Mother Earth.