Photo-feature: Pakistan and India through the eyes of a tourist

Travelling to Pakistan and India was a life changing experience, says the photographer

Traveler and photographer Lukas Szolc-Nartowski termed his trip to the Subcontinent a 'life changing experience,' claiming that the camera lens he bought from Lahore for $10 changed the way he photographed.

During his trip, Nartowski took some beautiful shots of people on the streets of India and Pakistan.

Read: Armchair adventurers: A virtual tour of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s history

Before photographing any person, Nartowski says he always takes their permission as he spends time getting to know them better, in an attempt to "capture a fraction of their soul".

For Nartowski, waiting for the perfect shot, is like meditation.

Here are some shots from his collection:

Sufi, Lahore

In Lahore, the existence of shrines of great saints like Data Ganj Baksh Hajveri, Hazrat Mian Mir and Baba Shah Jamal add to the piousness of the great city.

People from all over the country, belonging from all sects of society come to Lahore to pay respect to these great saints.

PHOTO: LUKAS SZOLC-NARTOWSKI

Kalasha in Bromboret Valley, Chitral

The Kalasha are indigenous people who live in the Chitral District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a popular site for tourists.

They speak the Kalasha language and practice polytheistic religion.

PHOTO: LUKAS SZOLC-NARTOWSKI

PHOTO: LUKAS SZOLC-NARTOWSKI

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Sadhu, Hampi, Karnataka, India

In Hinduism, Sadhu is a common term for a religious person who has given up trying to achieve the first three Hindu goals of life: kama (enjoyment), artha (practical objectives) and dharma (duty).

PHOTO: LUKAS SZOLC-NARTOWSKI

PHOTO: LUKAS SZOLC-NARTOWSKI

Taj Mahal at sunrise, Agra, India

Agra is the city of Taj Mahal, which makes it the most popular city of India. It is located near the River Yamuna on the northern state Uttah Pradesh of India.

Shahjahan ordered the Taj Mahal to be constructed in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.

PHOTO: LUKAS SZOLC-NARTOWSKI

Rumbur Valley, Chitral District

One of the three Kalasha valleys situated in Chitral District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

PHOTO: LUKAS SZOLC-NARTOWSKI

Ship Breakers in Gadani, Balochistan 

Gadani ship-breaking yard is the world's third largest ship breaking yard. In the 1980s, Gadani was the largest ship-breaking yard in the world, with more than 30,000 direct employees.

The yard consists of 132 ship-breaking plots located across a 10 km long beachfront at Gadani.

PHOTO: LUKAS SZOLC-NARTOWSKI

A man on his way to Nanga Parbat in Pakistan

Nanga Parbat is the ninth highest mountain in the world at 8,126 metres above sea level. Locally known as 'Deo Mir,' it is a notoriously difficult climb.

Numerous mountaineering deaths in the mid and early 20th century lent it the nickname "killer mountain". Along with K2, it has never been climbed in winter.

PHOTO: LUKAS SZOLC-NARTOWSKI

Hussaini Bridge, Pakistan

Known as the most dangerous bridge in the world, the Hussaini Hanging Bridge is only one of many precarious rope bridges in Northern Pakistan.

This rope bridge is both long and poorly maintained. Many planks are missing, and strong winds shake the bridge as you cross it.

Despite its dangerous looks, however, the Hussaini is a relatively safe bridge and has become something of a tourist draw, with hikers testing their nerves as they carefully work their way across.

PHOTO: LUKAS SZOLC-NARTOWSKI

Thar Desert, Rajasthan

Thar Desert of Rajasthan is situated partly in India and partly in Pakistan.

Thar Desert is also known as the "Great Indian Desert."

PHOTO: LUKAS SZOLC-NARTOWSKI

PHOTO: LUKAS SZOLC-NARTOWSKI

Pushkar, Rajasthan 

Pushkar is a prominent Hindu pilgrimage town, which devout Hindus try to visit at least once in their lifetime.

The town curls around a holy lake with of the world’s few Brahma temples.

With 52 bathing ghats and 400 milky-blue temples, the town often hums with prayers generating an episodic soundtrack of chanting, drums,gongs, and devotional songs.

PHOTO: LUKAS SZOLC-NARTOWSKI

PHOTO: LUKAS SZOLC-NARTOWSKI

Ajmer, Rajasthan

Ajmer is the 5th largest city in Rajasthan.

It is a pilgrimage centre for the shrine of the Sufi Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti and is also the base for visiting Pushkar, an ancient Hindu pilgrimage city, famous for the temple of Brahma.

PHOTO: LUKAS SZOLC-NARTOWSKI

This article originally appeared on Bored Panda