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Morning on Kotwali Bazar Road, Dharamshala

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Kotwali Bazar Road, Dharamshala.

This painting is based on a quiet morning along Kotwali Bazar Road in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh. The town was already awake, but there was no rush. A few pedestrians walked at their own pace, a small vehicle rolled through the middle of the road, and the shops were slowly beginning another day.

What caught my attention was the simplicity of the scene. The wide road created a sense of calm, while the web of electric wires overhead and the hillside buildings on either side gave the street its unmistakable character. Nothing dramatic was happening, yet it felt like one of those moments that deserved to be remembered.

While painting this, I intentionally left much of the foreground untouched. The open space gives the eye room to travel into the painting, making the quiet rhythm of the street the real subject rather than any single building or person.

Travel has taught me that the places I remember most are often the ordinary ones. A familiar road, a cool mountain morning, and the simple act of walking through a town can stay with you long after the journey ends.

“Some roads are remembered not for where they lead, but for the feeling they leave behind.”

Day 20 of my July Watercolor Month.

#travelwatercolor #watercolorpainting #cityscapepainting #landscapepainting #VijaykumarKakade

December Rain in Delhi

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December Rain, Delhi.

This painting was inspired by a drizzly afternoon in Chandni Chowk, Delhi, on 27 December. It wasn’t heavy rain, just a light winter drizzle that softened the scene without slowing the city down. People continued weaving through the streets, bicycles rolled past, and the market carried on with its usual energy.

What stayed with me was the striking contrast between the rain-darkened surroundings and the red road cutting through the heart of the scene. The drizzle deepened the colors, softened the edges, and wrapped the busy street in a quiet atmosphere that lasted only for a few moments.

While painting this, I wasn’t trying to capture every building or every passerby. I wanted to hold onto that feeling of standing in the middle of Chandni Chowk, watching the city move through the rain with effortless rhythm.

Travel often reminds me that memorable moments rarely announce themselves. Sometimes they arrive as nothing more than a light drizzle on an ordinary December afternoon.

Day 19 of my July Watercolor Month.

#Watercolor #Delhi #ChandniChowk #TravelArt #UrbanSketch

Morning Rush, Thamel

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Jyatha Marg, Thamel.

This scene comes from Jyatha Marg in Thamel, Kathmandu. I wasn’t searching for a famous viewpoint. I was simply walking, watching the city wake up around me. Morning light was slipping between the buildings, tangled electric wires stitched the sky together, and the steady movement of people and motorcycles gave the street its own rhythm.

What drew me most was the contrast. Deep shadows framed the warm sunlight falling across the road, turning an ordinary street into something quietly dramatic. Those fleeting moments are often the ones I remember long after a journey ends.

While painting this, I tried to keep the energy loose and expressive instead of describing every detail. The architecture, the crowd, and the light all became part of a single impression rather than separate subjects.

Travel constantly reminds me that memorable photographs and paintings are rarely about famous places. More often, they come from ordinary streets that ask you to slow down and simply look.

“Cities often reveal themselves in their side streets rather than their landmarks.”

Day 18 of my July Watercolor Month.

#Watercolor #Kathmandu #Nepal #cityscapes #aquarelle_daily

North Bay, Andaman and Nicobar

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North Bay, Andaman.

Not every memory from the Andaman Islands comes from beaches or coral reefs. Sometimes it is a quiet shoreline, a few weathered houses, swaying palms, and the gentle sound of the sea.

This watercolor is inspired by a peaceful corner of North Bay near Port Blair. I was drawn to the simplicity of the scene, the cool tropical greens and blues. Rather than painting every detail, I tried to preserve the calm feeling that made me stop and look.

One of the joys of travel is discovering places that are beautiful not because they are famous, but because they feel authentic. North Bay offered exactly that.

“Some places stay with us not because of what we did there, but because of how peaceful they made us feel.”

Day 17 of my July Watercolor Month.

#JulyWatercolorMonth #Watercolor #NorthBay #AndamanIslands #travellovers🌍✈️

Into the Green, Andaman and Nicobar

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Swaraj Deep, Andaman and Nicobar.

Some roads don’t lead to famous landmarks. They simply invite you to slow down.

This watercolor is inspired by a quiet road on Swaraj Dweep in the Andaman Islands. Surrounded by dense tropical vegetation, the road gently curves toward a small settlement, where a few people and vehicles quietly go about their day. It is the kind of scene that many travelers might pass without a second glance, yet it perfectly captures the calm rhythm of island life.

What drew me to this composition was the contrast between the cool shadows on the road and the warm sunlight filtering through the trees. Rather than painting every leaf, I focused on suggesting the richness of the landscape with loose washes, layered greens, and a few expressive brushstrokes. The empty stretch of road becomes just as important as the trees themselves, inviting the viewer to imagine walking into the scene.

This is my Day 16 painting for July Watercolor Month. Sometimes the most memorable travel moments are not found at destinations, but on the roads that quietly connect them.

“The best roads are often the ones that ask nothing of you except to keep going.”

#JulyWatercolorMonth #Watercolor #SwarajDweep #AndamanIslands #traveldreams

Waiting at Saharanpur Junction, UP

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Saharanpur Junction, Uttar Pradesh.

Railway stations are places of constant movement, yet they are also where countless quiet moments unfold. Between arriving and departing trains, people wait, watch, talk, and simply let time pass.

This watercolor is inspired by Saharanpur Junction in Uttar Pradesh. What caught my attention was not the trains, but the rhythm of the station itself. The series of old arches, scattered passengers on the platform, and the railway tracks in the foreground created a composition that felt both calm and full of anticipation.

Rather than filling the scene with detail, I focused on the atmosphere. Loose brushstrokes suggest the architecture, while small figures add life and scale without becoming the centre of attention. The repeating arches naturally draw the eye across the platform, and the tracks remind us that every station is a place where journeys begin, end, and briefly pause.

This is my Day 15 painting for July Watercolor Month. Painting railway stations has always fascinated me because they are more than transport hubs. They are places where thousands of individual stories quietly cross paths every day.

“Every platform holds a thousand journeys, even when no train is in sight.”

#JulyWatercolorMonth #Watercolor #RailwayStation #aquarelle #saharanpur

The Kathmandu Zilla Football Sangh Building

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Kathmandu Zilla Football Sangh Building

Travel isn’t always about famous landmarks. Sometimes it’s a building on an ordinary street that quietly asks you to stop and take a closer look.

This watercolor is inspired by a street in Kathmandu, Nepal, where I came across the Kathmandu District Football Association (Kathmandu Jilla Football Sangh) building. Its striking red color immediately stood out against the muted tones of the surrounding neighbourhood. The web of overhead utility wires, the scooter, and the old buildings all came together to create a scene that felt unmistakably Kathmandu.

Rather than painting every architectural detail, I focused on the relationship between light, colour, and shape. The bold red building naturally became the centre of the composition, while loose washes and expressive brushwork allowed the surrounding streetscape to remain suggestive rather than literal. I wanted the painting to capture the atmosphere of a city that reveals its character one street at a time.

This is my Day 14 painting for July Watercolor Month. One of the greatest joys of travelling with a sketchbook is discovering that memorable subjects often appear where you least expect them.

“The best travel memories aren’t always found at famous landmarks. Sometimes they’re waiting at the next street corner.”

#JulyWatercolorMonth #Watercolor #Kathmandu #football #népal

A Bend in Banikhet, Himachal Pradesh

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A bend in Banikhet, Himachal Pradesh.

Some of the most memorable travel moments happen when you stop at places that were never part of the itinerary.

This watercolor is inspired by a quiet roadside corner in Banikhet, Himachal Pradesh. As we rounded a bend, a small house caught my attention. In front of it, a modest shop displayed fresh vegetables and fruits, while a roadside vendor had clothes hanging nearby. It was an ordinary scene, yet it reflected the simple rhythm of life in the hills.

I wanted to preserve that feeling of discovery rather than paint every detail. The sweeping curve of the road leads the eye through the composition, while loose washes and soft greens help convey the freshness of the mountain landscape. Small touches of colour bring life to the shop and the people without taking away from the peaceful atmosphere.

This is my Day 13 painting for July Watercolor Month. Painting scenes like this reminds me that the best travel memories are often found between destinations, where everyday life quietly unfolds.

“Sometimes the road itself offers the most rewarding stop.”

#JulyWatercolorMonth #Watercolor #HimachalPradesh #banikhet_dalhousie #incredibleindia🇮🇳

 

The Swadeshi Market Building, Mumbai

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The Swadeshi Market Building, Mumbai

Some buildings tell stories not through monuments or museums, but through the lives that pass by them every day.

This watercolor is inspired by the Swadeshi Market Building in Mumbai. With its weathered façade, elegant arches, and bustling street below, the building reflects the city’s layered history. A passing cyclist, the familiar black-and-yellow taxi, and the colourful shopfronts bring a sense of everyday life to this heritage streetscape.

For this painting, I focused on suggesting the character of the architecture rather than painting every detail. Loose washes, broken brushstrokes, and a restrained palette allowed the old building to emerge naturally, while small touches of colour helped bring the street to life. My aim was to capture the atmosphere of a place where history and daily life continue to coexist.

This is my Day 12 painting for July Watercolor Month. One of the things I enjoy most about urban sketching is discovering how ordinary streets can reveal the identity of a city.

“Every old building carries a story. The people passing by add a new chapter every day.”

Good Morning, Pune

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Karve Road

Every city has a morning rhythm of its own. This is the Pune I enjoy most, when the streets are filled with soft light and the day is only just beginning.

This watercolor is inspired by the junction near the Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve Statue in Kothrud, where three roads meet and Karve Road begins. The steady movement of vehicles, the canopy of trees, and the familiar skyline make this a place I’ve passed many times. On this particular morning, the light transformed an ordinary intersection into a scene worth painting.

I kept the brushwork loose and the palette restrained, allowing the light and atmosphere to take center stage. Rather than focusing on every building or vehicle, I wanted to capture the feeling of a peaceful Pune morning before the city settles into its daily routine.

This is my Day 11 painting for July Watercolor Month. One of the joys of this challenge has been discovering that inspiration isn’t limited to distant destinations. Sometimes it can be found on roads we travel every day.

“Every morning is a chance to see a familiar place with fresh eyes.”

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