Avinash Bhardwaj

Mountain and Trail Running

Being in nature provides a sense of tranquility to me and adding to that the challenge of climbing hills makes it all the more attractive. I love venturing out on trail whenever I can and have been a long-distance trail running enthusiast. My most recent trail running expedition was a 100k in the heart of French, Italian and Swiss Alps around the Mont Blanc Massif as a part of Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc 2016 in Chamonix, France. Running in the mountains is a meditative experience for me and I like running and racing short (5k) and long distances (100+ miles) alike. For me, it is a pursuit of perseverance and it combines two of my biggest non academic interests - travelling and nature. Additionally, it motivates me to stay fit and make healthy choices, while making many other athletic activities accessible.

Digital Photography

Coming from a country that is ordained with a billion different personalities and exuberating a riot of colors it's hard to not develop an interest to express what the surroundings have to offer. My first real interaction with photography was when I saw a film develop in a dark room. This particular experience left me fascinated to learn more about the art that is photography and the science behind it. I have since been learning more and more about this vivid way of expression, and the curiosity keeps increasing with every photograph I take. You can visit my photography gallery here.

Charcoal Painting

I have always been fascinated by the range of emotions human face is capable of and capturing it in a primitive form is something that appeals to me. Like most of my interests I have never learnt charcoal painting in a formal setting and have explored it on my own. What inspires me is the contrast different shades of black and whites can bring on a sheet of paper and with every sketch I have drawn I have learnt a lot about both the technical and creative side of fine arts. You can visit my gallery of skectches here.

Traveling

It is not as often however whenever I can I like to travel to unknown lands and meeting new people and learning about their cultures, languages and cuisines. So far I have been blessed to have come across some of the most amazing people who have taken on some really interesting adventures with me. On my top of my list to explore are the northern landscapes of Iceland, the European countryside, New Zealand lakes and the Amazon. Traveling helps me stay curious, and the curiosity always makes me wanting to travel more, because learning should never stop.