India’s ultimate view: Through a train window

For Mumbai-based photographer Shanu Babar, the train window serves as his personal portal to explore India.

'The range of cultures, cuisines, landscapes, and even the smallest moments you can observe from this one extraordinary viewpoint is both enlightening and almost enchanting,' he tells Dinogo Travel.

Babar runs the Instagram account @windowseatproject, showcasing stunning photos of India captured from train windows.

'India’s vastness and diversity make it the perfect canvas for the Window Seat Project,' says Babar.

The photos on Babar’s account highlight India’s breathtaking destinations, landscapes, traditions, and culture, while also capturing intimate, everyday moments he observes between people on trains and at stations.

People and their stories

The Window Seat Project took shape when Babar traveled to southern India with his classmates for a journey during his university years.

India’s vast and diverse landscapes, along with its breathtaking views, make it an ideal country to explore by train.

'Since I was a child, I’ve been captivated by the window seat. I’d be amazed as big towns passed by,' says Babar.

'From the window, I could see so many different people, fascinating characters, and unique stories. It felt like watching a movie.'

Babar’s photos capture scenes like towering mountains above a speeding train in the Kangra Valley of the Western Himalayas and the panoramic view of Katra, a small town in Jammu and Kashmir.

He pairs these stunning landscapes with intimate, candid shots of people and passengers.

'Every face, with a bit of context or background, tells a story,' says Babar. 'I want to share stories from all across India.'

He also captures images of others gazing out of the window, highlighting their intrigued expressions.

He photographs families enjoying meals inside train carriages and passengers perched on the roof.

Each of Babar’s photos is paired with a detailed caption, sometimes explaining the story behind the image, and other times simply evoking the mood of the moment.

'I want each picture to tell a story, spark an imagination, convey a conflict, emotion, or anything that resonates with the viewer,' says Babar.

A global community

The Window Seat Project now boasts over 27,000 followers on Instagram, with Babar also managing contributors who share their own photographs.

'People use the hashtag #windowseatproject, and that’s how I come across their pictures,' he explains. 'I go through nearly 100 photos a day to choose the best ones.'

Babar selects his favorites for the account, focusing less on the technical quality of the photos and more on the emotions and stories they convey.

'The best photo isn't necessarily the most visually stunning, but the one that captures the true essence of train travel,' says Babar.

Babar has photographed some of India's most iconic trains, including the Shimla Kalka Express, a narrow-gauge railway built in 1898. 'Weed and moss cover its wrinkles,' Babar writes in his caption. '100 years old and still running.'

He also documents the daily commuter experience in his hometown of Mumbai.

Babar is a big fan of India’s railway system. 'The British built the railways here long ago, but managing such a vast, constantly growing network must be an even more daunting challenge,' he says.

Travel inspiration

The account continues to grow in both prestige and followers, and Babar is delighted by its success and the emotional connections it fosters.

'If these pictures can capture, through social media, the quirks, cultures, and unique personalities of different people and places, then the account has achieved its purpose,' says Babar.

He’s also contemplating expanding the Window Seat Project beyond India’s borders.

'In the future, I definitely want to go global and explore scenes I’ve never encountered before,' says Babar. 'The emotional connection to train travel is universal.'

However, Babar’s primary goal lies offline – he aims to inspire aspiring travelers to journey by train and discover the world.

'Ultimately, if I can get people to stop scrolling through Instagram and actually travel, that would be true success,' he says. 'It’s a curious paradox.'