India, Aug. 9 -- I reached Nako after a long, winding drive from Kalpa, a journey that felt like moving through shifting postcards of the Kinnaur Himalayas. From pine-fringed valleys to stark, barren hills, the landscape grew quieter, rougher, and more profound. By the time I pulled into the little village of Nako, perched at 3,600 metres, fatigue had caught up with me. The four-hour high mountain journey under the scorching June sun had completely sapped my energy.

As I got out of the car, slightly nauseated from the relentless curves of Kinnaur's road, my host in Nako greeted me with a tall glass of chilled nimbu pani. Sweet, salty, tangy, it felt like an absolute lifesaver.

Before hitting Kinnaur, I recommend pausing at the timeless ...