When Pratishtha Singh, an architecture student, recently visited Spiti Valley, she sent postcards to her family and close friends from the world’s highest post office in Hikkim. This, she believes, is a souvenir that will bring back the memories of the place and create hope for visiting it together. “Apart from family and friends, I sent one postcard to myself also. Later, when I go through these mementos, I’ll catch a glimpse of my older self and all the experiences I had on this trip,” she states.

Singh is not alone in collecting souvenirs, or mementos, as a traveller. This tradition has been at the heart of travel for thousands of years. It initially started with pilgrims bringing back the soil or water from the land they considered holy. It expanded to collecting antique objects and in today’s world, there is no mould in which one can put souvenir collecting. Travellers bring back what sparks joy in them. While some opt for the regular fridge magnet and T-shirt souvenirs from every place they have been to, others opt for things that are unique to them or don’t need to be bought such as rocks and pebbles.