The best of Express India travel photography in 2015

The Juhu beach in Mumbai is a popular jaunt for most travellers. (Source: Express Photo by Amit Chakravarty)

The Kuthachal Village in Himachal Pradesh is one of the many villages in the state that seem to be more popular with foreign tourists than those from within the country. Maybe 2016 is a year to change that? (Source: Express Photo by Cheena Kapoor)

A saint sits on the stairs of the Ganga ghat in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. Allahabd is one of the four places in India where the Kumbh mela is held. Every time, people from around the world gather to offer their prayers at these holy ghats. (Source: Express Photo by Anand Singh)

A woman performs Chakra-asan at Lakagot, Himachal Pradesh. This year saw a rise in numbers for health and medical tourism, which included people travelling to the mountains and states like Kerala to pursue yoga courses, etc. (Source: Express Photo by Cheena Kapoor)

A child acrobat walks on a tightrope during a street show. These shows — which were once a common sight across the country — are slowly giving way to the more modern and commercial stage shows. Now mostly in B-towns and tier-2/3 cities, child performers and street artistes represent a dying breed in a country that once was known for them. (Source: Express Photo by Neeraj Priyadarshi)

Part of the wonders of travelling to the hills of India is the conversations with the locals. This smiling local woman at a village in Himachal Pradesh represents the open hearts with which they welcome tourists into their homes and lives, if only one cared to explore. (Source: Express Photo by Neeraj Priyadarshi)

Think Srinagar, and the next thought is that of Dal Lake. Here we capture the many moods of an iconic lake that is s destination by itself. (Source: Express Photo by Tashi Tobgyal)

One of the lesser-known lakes of Himachal Pradesh, Prashar Lake is slowly picking up pace among Indian and foreign travellers. There are those who come visiting the 13th century temple, and others who simply come for the serenity of the locale. (Source: Express Photo by Cheena Kapoor)

Naga tribesmen sit with their weapons at the annual Hornbill festival in Nagaland. The festival is celebrated every year in the first week of December. It's a unique festival of the military tribes from the North-eastern region, and is also called the 'festival of festivals'. (Source: Express Photo by Deepak Shijagurumayum)

One of the key characteristics of a seasoned traveller is the ability to look at the same places with a new perspective. Or even go in searcg of alternative points of view. When you think Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho comes to mind, but how many really know about the secrets of Orchha? (Source: Express Photo by Cheena Kapoor)

Festivals — national or local — are a great way for tourists to experience the pulse of a place in a single capsule. In this evocative photo, a reveller enjoys during the procession for the celestial marriage of Lord Balaji in Mumbai. (Source: Express Photo by Amit Chakravarty)

As travellers, you will always notice symbols of a culture or an era that defines a place. For Kolkata, the hand-pulled rickshaw is one such representative of the Calcutta that once was — a mark of how the old survives amid the new. (Source: Express Photo by Tashi Tobgyal)

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, also known as Victoria Terminus, Mumbai, is illuminated in tri-coloured lights as part of the Independence Day celebration. Most government buildings are illuminated in the national colours for Independence Day each year. (Source: Express Photo by Prashant Nadkar)

The trek to Triund in Himachal Pradesh is one of the most popular ones among travellers. And it doesn't take a lot of guessing to know why. From scenic walks, the majestic view of the Dhauladhars to quirky stops on the way, there is much to delight even the most seasoned tourist. (Source: Express Photo by Cheena Kapoor)

A group of friends take an elephant ride at the Kaziranga National Park in Assam. India's national parks draw thousands of tourists from across the world. Some like the Sunderbans and Gir boast of animals such as the Royal Bengal Tiger and Gir lion, respectively, that cannot be spotted anywhere else. 2015 also saw a rise in tourists to the North-eastern part of India. (Source: Express Photo by Neeraj Priyadarshi)

The shadow of a hot-air balloon can be seen on the Rann of Kuchh in Gujarat. The Rann is a popular destination for most tourists, and more so on a full moon night, when the white salty sands glisten in the moonlight. December-January also marks the famous Rann Utsav, that provides local artists and craftsmen to display their works to a wider audience. (Source: Express Photo by Javed Raja)

Jibhi Village in Himachal Pradesh's Tirthan Valley is just off the Chandigarh-Manali highway, and is a scenic destination for anyone who wants to take the offbeat path, away from the urban jungles that we all live in. (Source: Express Photo by Cheena Kapoor)

The Khajuraho temples in Madhya Pradesh has long captured the interest of travellers across the world, mainly because of the stunning erotic carving on the temples' outer walls. (Source: Express Photo by Cheena Kapoor)

At times, being on the move is also about being static, letting your mind soak in the vistas around — and India has many locations to offer just that. Do you have a favourite? (Source: Express Photo by Cheena Kapoor)