You may be ready with the camera equipment and travel gear, but what if the first sight of your destination doesn't appeal to you? That happened to me when I reached Haridwar. The dirt and grime appalled me, and I wasn't up for an "exotic India" photo op. Worse, the manager of an ashram refused to provide accommodation because I was a single male. The other lodging house guy I spoke to over the phone was equally reluctant and for the same reason.
Walking past the innumerable beggars and the drying Ganga river, I found a spot where a man was resting under a tree.
Disgruntled, I hopped into the next autorickshaw and reached Rishikesh, about 20 kilometres from Haridwar. The view cheered me up.
This little girl below either was studying or writing something while selling flowers by the river. She gave me a curious look.
In India, people often ask photographers to pay for getting clicked. Don't worry, these people modelled for free.
