A Pakistani travel vlogger living in Germany has been getting a lot of love from Indian social media lately after opening up about something she’s wanted to do for years: visit India.Muskaan, who documents her trips on Instagram at @muskaan.travels, has already stamped her passport in more than 20 countries. Even so, India is still sitting right at the very top of her travel bucket list.And she has a pretty personal reason behind it.In a recent Instagram Reel, Muskaan opened up about her dream trip, promising that India will be the very first place she flies to the moment she gets her German passport.“While I’m Pakistani, my heart belongs to Delhi,” she said in another reel, sharing just how much affection she holds for the Indian capital and the country itself.
From Bollywood memories to a long-awaited India trip
For Muskaan, wanting to see India isn’t just some random impulse. A lot of the spots on her list have been stuck in her head since she was a kid, watching Bollywood movies and imagining what it would be like to stand in those places in real life.In her video, she walked through all the experiences she’s hoping to check off during that first visit.She isn’t just looking to snap photos at famous tourist traps, either. She genuinely wants to soak in the culture, the spirituality, the festivals, and the natural landscapes.
The places Muskaan wants to visit in India
Her bucket list stretches across different corners of the country, with each stop bringing a completely different vibe.1. Taj Mahal, AgraCatching the sunrise at the Taj Mahal is right near the top. Seeing that iconic white marble up close in the early morning light is something she’s been hoping to experience in person for a long time.2. Lotus Temple, DelhiThis stop means something much deeper to her. Because Muskaan follows the Bahá’í faith, the Lotus Temple holds a really special place in her heart, and she hopes to spend some quiet, reflective time there. For her, this isn’t just another sightseeing stop – it’s a deeply personal dream.3. Ganga Aarti, VaranasiShe’s also eager to watch the famous evening Ganga Aarti in Varanasi, ideally from a boat out on the water. Between the glowing lamps, the chanting, and the sound of temple bells echoing across the ghats, it’s the kind of evening that sticks with people long after they leave.4. Yoga in RishikeshRishikesh made the cut, too. Famous for its yoga retreats, meditation, and calm atmosphere right along the Ganga, it offers the exact kind of peaceful reset she’s looking forward to.5. Celebrating HoliMuskaan wants to dive right into Holi – all the flying colors, loud music, and chaotic joy included. Watching it happen on a screen is one thing, sure, but actually being in the middle of the celebration is something she really wants to feel for herself.6. Hornbill Festival, NagalandHer list also takes her northeast to Nagaland’s Hornbill Festival. This annual gathering celebrates the state’s tribal heritage through traditional music, dancing, local food, and crafts, offering a look at a side of India that plenty of foreign travelers end up missing.7. Living root bridges, MeghalayaOne spot that completely fascinated her was Meghalaya’s living root bridges. Grown over decades by carefully guiding the roots of rubber fig trees across rivers and streams, these natural bridges had Muskaan genuinely amazed – she even wondered out loud how something like that could actually exist.8. A night under the stars in JaisalmerShe also dreams of camping out in the Thar Desert near Jaisalmer. Sleeping under an open, starry sky surrounded by endless sand dunes sounds like her ideal way to take in Rajasthan.
Indian social media users have a message for her
Once the Reel started making the rounds, Indian viewers flooded her comments with warmth and excitement. People welcomed her enthusiasm to explore the country, while plenty of others jumped in to drop recommendations for spots she should add to her itinerary.The video also sparked a lot of wholesome conversations in the comments about the shared cultural roots connecting people on both sides of the border.Muskaan wrapped up her video by asking viewers to suggest even more places worth seeing. And let’s be honest – in a country as massive and varied as India, eight spots barely even scratch the surface.
“India is the first country I’m going to”
The line that stuck with everyone most was her promise to make India her very first stop as soon as that German passport comes through.After traveling across more than 20 countries, Muskaan has already seen a huge chunk of the world. Still, it’s clear that India is the one place she wants to experience with her own eyes, instead of just through old movies, photos, and stories.For now, it’s a dream she’s patiently holding onto.And going by the reaction to her post, there’s a whole crowd of people in India ready to welcome her when she finally lands.
