You’ve just arrived — welcome
So, you’re new here.
Let me show you around.
I’m Amit. I left a 22-year corporate career in Pune to move to Dehradun and live life on my own terms — slowly, intentionally, and with a lot of road trips in between.
This blog is my journal. It’s for people who feel that restless pull — the one that whispers “there has to be more than this.” Whether you’re a weekend trekker, a road trip dreamer, or someone who simply wants to slow down and breathe — you’re in the right place.
Amit Chilka
Slow Traveller · Storyteller · Dehradun
Curated for You
Where should you begin?
Pick the type of traveller you are and I’ll point you to the best place to start.
Pune to Dehradun: 3 Days, 4 States, a New Life
1,900 km from my old life in Pune to a new beginning in Dehradun. A farewell to fast lanes and a hello to slow mornings in the hills.
Read the Story →Life Reset: Free from Pune, Embracing Doon’s Calm
What it feels like to finally exhale after 22 years.
Read →Khatu Shyam Miracle: Faith Rewarded with VIP Darshan
The pauses you take on a road trip leave stories you carry forever.
Read →Trek Collection: Uttarakhand, Himalayas & Western Ghats
Beginner hikes near Dehradun to multi-day Himalayan treks — the complete collection of route guides and trail notes.
Browse All Treks →Short Hikes Near Dehradun & Mussoorie
Best half-day and full-day hikes within 2 hours of Dehradun.
Explore →National Parks of India: Amit’s Field Notes
Beyond the trail — encounters with India’s incredible wildlife.
Explore →“Life is an Endless Vacation” Mindset: How to Embrace It?
The philosophy behind choosing slow mornings, intentional travel, and daily wonder over the autopilot rush. If you read one post, make it this one.
Read the Manifesto →Endless Vacation Mindset: Living Slow in a Fast World
How to actually slow down — even if you’re still working.
Read →Life Reset: Why I Left Pune for the Quiet Hills
In Pune, I was merely surviving. I wanted to get a life.
Read →Mahakaleshwar Temple: A Powerful Pause on Life’s Road
Standing before the jyotirlinga, something in me went quiet. The good kind of quiet.
Read the Story →Khatu Shyam Miracle: Faith Rewarded with VIP Darshan
A spontaneous stop that became one of the most memorable moments of my life.
Read →Sacred India: All Temple & Pilgrimage Stories
The complete spiritual travel collection from across India.
Browse All →Camping in India: Your Ultimate Guide to Great Experiences
Best sites, gear, safety, and how to make a campfire night truly unforgettable.
Read the Full Guide →Family Camping: The Ultimate Guide to Camp with Kids
Makes your first camping trip with children genuinely magical.
Read →Join a Campfire Convos Night
Small group campfire evenings — stories, stars, and real connection.
See Events →
“In Pune, I was merely surviving. I wanted to get a life. Dehradun gave it back to me.”
Why this blog exists
This isn’t just a travel blog.
It’s a philosophy.
Most travel content tells you where to go. This blog tells you how to see — and how to slow down enough to notice what’s around you.
After 22 years in corporate India, I realised I was living someone else’s idea of success. The journey from Pune to Dehradun was a declaration. This blog is the journal of everything that followed.
- ✓Honest road trip stories with real distances, costs & detours
- ✓Trek guides written by someone who’s actually done them
- ✓Slow living ideas you can apply from wherever you are today
- ✓Spiritual travel treated with depth, not Instagram aesthetics
- ✓No fluff. No fake hotel reviews. Just real stories from the road.
Free Download
7 Rituals for
Slowing Down
+ Mindful Mornings Playlist
Your Welcome Gift
Before you go anywhere,
start right here.
You don’t need to quit your job or move cities. It starts with 7 small daily rituals — and it starts today.
- 7 simple slow-living rituals you can do tomorrow morning
- A curated Mindful Mornings playlist (Spotify-ready)
- Weekly travel stories & slow living inspiration
- Early access to camping events & group trek announcements
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Loved by 3,000+ slow travellers.
The Man Behind the Blog
22 years of corporate.
One decision that
changed everything.
I’m Amit Chilka. I spent over two decades in corporate Pune — a good career, a packed calendar, and a creeping feeling that I was missing my own life.
In 2024, I packed my car and drove 1,900 km to Dehradun. No job waiting. No plan. Just the road and the mountains.
Today I write, trek, run campfire evenings, and help others find their own version of the endless vacation.
Read My Full Story →Where to Next?
You know where to start.
Now explore.
Four best places to go from here.
Read the Blog
Road trips, treks, temples, camping and slow living — the full archive.
Browse All Posts →Stories from the Road
Amit’s most personal narratives — beyond guides, into real lived experience.
Read Stories →Join a Camping Event
Campfire evenings and stargazing nights in Uttarakhand. Small groups, real connection.
See Events →Deeper Retreats?
Ready for a full transformation retreat? Visit our sister brand Pause and Arrive.
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