There was a time when summer wasn’t just a pause — it was a ritual. Slow trains, sweet mangoes, dripping kulfis, Kishore Kumar’s songs echoing in the backdrop through sleepy afternoons. The air was thick with the tang of raw fruit & the promise of nani’s courtyard.. And at the center of this season was Maa’s baksa — the humble metal trunk that bore our entire summer with grace. One by one, she’d fold in summer: crisp cotton kurtas, baba’s vests, our floral dresses, new sarees for nani. Her hands moved like they were threading stories into folds. My sister & I would hover, sneak in our rubber slippers & paperbacks, only to be handed thinly sliced kachi kairi slices instead, sprinkled generously with red chilli, salt & sugar. The flavour? A lasting memory. That khatta-meetha-teeka punch that woke up the senses & whispered, vacation has begun. 

Those days may not return, but the feeling — it forever lingers like a favorite old song. Even now, as I pack for a summer getaway, I find myself retracing those familiar rhythms, taking me back to that same love. Breezy cottons, smell of kachi kaeri, soft linens that wrap around like nani’s arms. Each piece I choose carries not just comfort, but memory — a wardrobe woven with sentiment. While the destinations today have changed — from Nani’s garden to Himalayan hill stations & salt-swept beaches — the soul of summer remains unchanged. Here’s a summer travel edit inspired not just by fashion trends, but by memories, textures & the essence of a truly Indian summer. 

Mountain Escapes in Handcrafted Ease 

Look 1: Manali Summer Trails in Sun-Washed Hues 

Where deodar trees form archways & laughter echoes off red tin roofs, flared, hand-printed cotton kurta paints a perfect picture of soft floral reverie. This breathable piece, stitched in earthy block motifs, paired effortlessly with loose matching palazzos — a silhouette made for long uphill walks & idle café pauses. The flare dances as one strolls down Mall Road & the cotton whispers ease with every step. 

A dupatta in earthy contrast tone is a perfect way to add a touch of modest charm with some color play — practical for spontaneous temple visits or shielding against the sun’s high-noon wrath. Choose a fabric that’s featherlight yet protective, that drapes beautifully over your shoulder & moves like breeze-kissed leaves. 

Complete the look with oxidised silver jhumkas that nod gently against your ears while a stack of rustic bangles clinks with each reach for kesar kulfi. Kolhapuri are an effortless way to ground the look in tradition, comfortably hugging feet through cobbled paths. A tan leather sling bag carries essentials with understated elegance. 

Travel Tip: Morning in the mountains can start warm & end in a surprise drizzle. Keep a foldable umbrella in your bag— not just for rain but also to shade you during open-air rides. 

Look 2: Dharamshala’s Breezy Afternoons in Rooted Linen 

Nestled in Tibetan calm amidst Himalayan whispers, Dharamshala calls for something mindful yet mellow. A kalamkari-printed linen shirt in shades of rust & dusk paired beautifully with matching or olive wide-leg linen pants would be a timeless ode for such a place. The shirt’s hand-stamped motifs carry stories of old looms & the hard work of karigars — echoing the spiritual rhythm of the hills. 

A soft, pink chanderi silk stole draped lightly around the neck with subtle layering is ideal for late afternoon winds rolling down from the peaks. This entire ensemble breathes with you, letting you sit under pine trees or sip butter tea at monastery cafés without fuss or crease. 

Choose accessories that lean into soulfulness — like a minimal silver tribal necklace & eaarings that oozes quiet power, while an oxidised bracelet add a textured charm. Top-it-up with open-toe tan leather sandals that offer both style & slip-proof comfort on uphill monastery walks. And a leather crossbody bag completes the look with a wink of boho flair. 

Travel Tip: Dharamshala’s altitudes & winding streets demand hydration. Carry a copper water bottle which is not only sustainable, but it also keeps your water cool & tastes earthy, just like the mountains. 

Beach Diaries in Breezy Elegance 

Look 3: Pondicherry’s Coastal Charm in Jamdani Dreams 

Where French windows open into bougainvillea-laced lanes & the scent of sea salt mingles with filter coffee, a white & pink pastel Jamdani dress becomes the morning breeze itself. Woven by master hands, its translucent, airy weave lets sunlight flirt with skin, while tiny Jamdani butis shimmer like sand-specks under golden light. The dress flows, not clings — a must-have dance partner for Pondy’s cycle rides & beachside brunches. 

Delicate hand-painted earrings & pendant sways with the tides of movement. A stack of hand-beaded pearl bracelets in white hue adorns the wrist with soft, coastal poetry. A pair of brown flats will add a gentle essence, while a jute tote bag holds onto all things spontaneous — sketch pads, sunscreens, books yet unread. 

A sunhat, wide-brimmed & woven with cane-like finesse is one way to crown this entire look — shielding not just skin, but capturing that old-summer, old-soul vibe we often forget. 

Travel Tip: Carry a scarf or stole even on beach days — not just for style, but to wrap around your shoulders when stepping into churches, museums, or quaint little cafés surrounded by gusty wind. 

Look 4: Goa’s Sunset Glow in Breezy Kaftan Ease 

As the waves hum secrets to the shores & the sky turns into a marvellous canvas of ripe mango-orange, Goa asks for something fluid, fearless & joyfully unfiltered. What could be better than a handwoven cotton kaftan — the kind that billows with the wind, catching golden hour light like a story waiting to be told. 

Its gentle weave lets the sea breeze pass through like a soft secret. Choose a silhouette with multiple motifs or delicate thread or mirror accents that glimmer like seashells in retreating tides. A kaftan like this woill move like poetry in motion — swaying, flowing, surrendering to the rhythm of the coast. 

This isn’t just a look — it’s a slow dance with freedom, stitched in sunlit ease. 

Artful earrings & bangles will add a whimsy appeal, while a brown bucket bag carries your sunblock & polaroids in progress. Slip into relaxed thong flats that hug your feet & the sand just right. Hair tied up in a printed bandana or let loose in sea-salt waves — either way, the look breathes joy. 

Travel Tip: Always pack a quick-dry, microfiber beach towel — it’s light, takes up no space & doubles up as a picnic mat, travel pillow, or beach wrap. 

And Just Like That… Summer Lives On 

Maa’s baksa held more than just clothes — it carried stories, smells & sounds of a summer well-lived — our travel wardrobes today should carry whispers of that very nostalgia. 

Summer, after all, isn’t just a season — it’s a feeling. 

And while destinations may have changed from Nani’s verandah to Goa’s coasts or Manali’s meadows, the soul remains the same — rooted, playful, handcrafted. 

So this summer, pack light. But pack stories. Wear ease. But wear it with meaning. 
And let every thread you carry remind you — of love, of India & of a childhood summer that never truly left.