Instagram is full of travel reels promising lists of "places you cannot miss" or "spots you must explore." But travel does not always have to mean rushing from one landmark to another, often on little sleep and armed with an endless camera roll. A viral video on Instagram is striking a chord for showing a very different approach - slow travel in Ladakh.
The clip was shared by digital creator Kanak Agrawal, who revealed that she has been living in Ladakh for the past three weeks. Yet, she has not been to the region's most sought-after destinations, such as Nubra, Pangong Lake, or Hanle. In fact, she has not even fully explored Leh, where she has been based all this time.
So, what has she been doing instead? Living like the locals. Kanak, who works remotely, shared that she decided to live in Ladakh the way locals do.
"I know where to find the best thukpa, coffee, and even chole kulche. I can find my way around the town without Google Maps now. Shopkeepers smile and greet me in a way like I belong here. Homestay wale bhaiya drops me on his bike just like a brother. I know at which cafe I am able to work the best. I even know the emergency spots to go when there is no internet connection anywhere," she explained in the video.
She added, "None of this would have happened if I had come to Ladakh to just see the beautiful spots. That's why I chose slow travel. I don't want just pretty pictures; I want stories and to become a part of them in every place that takes me in. One day, I hope to look back and say - I didn't just see the world, I lived 100 different lives within it."
The video has been widely shared and is sparking conversations about what travel should really mean.
One Instagram user commented: "Slow travel is a luxury not everyone can afford. Those who can are truly blessed."
Another person wrote: "I, too, love this kind of travel. Can you please share where you stayed and other options, if any?"
A user from Ladakh shared their own experience: "Awesome! I have lived there for three years and still haven't seen every part of Ladakh! I absolutely loved the slow life there and exploring places, people, culture, history and food! Way to go!"
Meanwhile, a fellow slow traveller added, "I chose to do the same, and I am never able to explore a state or a country in just a week. Leave alone a city, I need at least a week to live in a small village. Thank you so much for sharing this."
