India, Aug. 21 -- Kalpa was etched in my memory from a visit of yore. Back in 2007, I discovered the 'cute-as-a-button' Himalayan hamlet and was completely besotted by its paradisical beauty. So when I returned this summer after 18 years, I knew I wouldn't just pass through. I arrived in Kalpa on a glaring summer afternoon, the kind where the mountain sun feels close enough to touch. It's fascinating how this place has chosen to remain timeless. Dotted with apple orchards and framed by Kinnaur's snow-draped peaks, Kalpa never believed in to-do lists, and I was determined to follow its lead.

The cultural and historical significance of Kalpa, Kinnaur Narayan-Nagini Temple, Roghi, Kinnaur | Image credit: Rubi Borgohain Kalpa is more than ju...