As the commercial capital of the country, the urban metropolis is often referred to as the City of Dreams due to its career opportunities in finance, media, tech and film (it’s the heart of the Bollywood film industry). For travelers, Mumbai offers the chance to experience the vast spectrum only India can provide.

Rohini Kejriwal is a freelance writer, illustrator and curator based in Bangalore. She is also the founder of The Alipore Post, a weekly newsletter on art, poetry and creativity, and recently co-produced an Indian food anthology titled Memories on a Plate.

India—with 22 official languages, 28 distinct states, and a population of over 1 billion people—is a captivating destination unlike any other. To truly encounter India is to travel through slowly, and allow yourself to take it all in, one bustling city at a time. With Jaipur, we begin.