A Photographer Traversed India, Photographing Beautiful Women Across The Country

"Many women living in India face great challenges and discrimination, but they are also an extraordinary example of strength and beauty."

Romania-based photographer Mihaela Noroc was recently in India for her "Atlas Of Beauty" project, which captures beautiful women in countries around the world.

Via facebook.com

"Many women living in India face great challenges and discrimination, but they are also an extraordinary example of strength and beauty,” Noroc told BuzzFeed. “From slums to stars, from the dusty Thar Desert in Rajasthan, to the colonial alleyways of Mumbai, and the banks of the holy Ganges River, I met and photographed the remarkable women of India."

Here’s where she went.

Goa

Mihaela Noroc / Atlas Of Beauty

"A fashion designer from Chennai, visiting the beaches of Goa for vacation."

Mumbai

Mihaela Noroc / Atlas Of Beauty

"The Parsis have descended from Persian Zoroastrians who emigrated to India more than 1,000 years ago. Most of them, like this young woman, live in close-knit communities around beautiful Zoroastrian temples. They preserve their ancient beliefs, but are also very successful and integrated into modern society."

Rajasthan

Mihaela Noroc / Atlas Of Beauty

"Rajasthan, a magical part of India where almost every woman wears colourful traditional outfits and a multitude of jewelries."

Pushkar

Mihaela Noroc / Atlas Of Beauty

"It's very common to see policewomen on the streets of India."

Delhi

Mihaela Noroc / Atlas Of Beauty

"In a few months time she will give birth to her first baby. After marriage, most Indian women, move in to their in-laws house."

Mumbai

Mihaela Noroc / Atlas Of Beauty

"These days I explore the streets of Mumbai."

Pune

Mihaela Noroc / Atlas Of Beauty

"Urvashi Patole is empowering women to go on adventures and challenge stereotypes through The Bikerni, an all-women's motorcycle association in India that she started on Facebook."

Delhi

Mihaela Noroc / Atlas Of Beauty

"Traditional outfits are very popular in India, but there are also many women that dress modern, especially in the big cities."

Mumbai

Mihaela Noroc / Atlas Of Beauty

"Dharavi, on the outskirts of Mumbai, is the largest slum in the world. Along its narrow alleyways I met many warm-hearted people."

Pushkar

Mihaela Noroc / Atlas Of Beauty

"Kalbelia woman at the Pushkar Camel Fair. Until recently, the Kalbelias were known for catching snakes and trading venom. Their famous dance replicates the movements of a serpent."

Amritsar

Mihaela Noroc / Atlas Of Beauty

"A Sikh woman at the Golden Temple, in Amritsar. Many followers of Sikhism never cut their hair, covering it with a turban. They always wear the kirpan, which is a short dagger symbolising a Sikh's duty to come to the defence of those in peril."

Mumbai

Mihaela Noroc / Atlas Of Beauty

"On special occasions, the students will attend their college lessons dressed in traditional outfits."

Jodhpur

Mihaela Noroc / Atlas Of Beauty

"The picturesque trains of India transport around seven billion passengers around the country every year."

Nashik

Mihaela Noroc / Atlas Of Beauty

"India has more than two thousand ethnic groups. I met this young Marathi woman in Nashik."

Mumbai

Mihaela Noroc / Atlas Of Beauty

"Since her childhood, she has lived in a small tent in Mumbai. Her father died when she was young but her brave mother, who sells things at the market, has kept her in school through great effort. Even if her home is a sidewalk, I have rarely met such a warm and kind-hearted person with such a positive energy and good education."

Varanasi

Mihaela Noroc / Atlas Of Beauty

"A young Hindu pilgrim making an offering on the Ganges River, in Varanasi. The city is considered by many the spiritual capital of India."

Jodhpur

Mihaela Noroc / Atlas Of Beauty

"Rajasthani women are famous all over India for their amazing outfits."

Mumbai

Mihaela Noroc / Atlas Of Beauty

"A deaf-mute girl expressing the word "friendship" through sign language. I photographed her during a course organised by an NGO that helps women and children from slums by providing access to education."

Amritsar

Mihaela Noroc / Atlas Of Beauty

"This is the langar of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, India that serves food to about 100,000 people, in a normal day. While tasting the delicious food, a few days ago, I met this beautiful Sikh pilgrim."

Mumbai

Mihaela Noroc / Atlas Of Beauty

"Mumbai, the biggest city of India, hosts ethnic groups from all over the country. She is a Tamilian, at a celebration, after 40 days of fasting."

Goa

Mihaela Noroc / Atlas Of Beauty

"Goa, a small state of India, used to be a Portuguese colony and has a great number of churches. I photographed her during a Christian wedding."

Mumbai

Mihaela Noroc / Atlas Of Beauty

"This woman from Mumbai will turn 100 next year. Imagine, a century of Indian history seen through these beautiful eyes."

Pushkar

Mihaela Noroc / Atlas Of Beauty

"Islam has more than 170 million followers in India."

Varanasi

Mihaela Noroc / Atlas Of Beauty

"Each morning she comes from her small village to the city of Varanasi. She sells things at the market with her family."

Mumbai

Mihaela Noroc / Atlas Of Beauty

"Sonam Kapoor is one of the most successful Indian actresses. Bollywood movies have huge popularity and high budgets."