Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2021 i Travel + Leisure India & South Asia

WITH AN IMPRESSIVE portfolio of over 5,100 properties and 10,000 F&B venues spread across 110 countries, Accor is undoubtedly one of the world’s leading hospitality groups. It keeps its patrons happy with its dynamic lifestyle loyalty programme, ALL (acronym for Accor Live Limitless), which has been nominated for the Best Loyalty Programme (International) category at this magazine’s upcoming India’s Best Awards. The group has now announced new offers—in alignment with the hotel’s ALLSAFE programme, which extends the best of safety and hygiene standards—for its loyalty members. To begin with, the enticing offering allows members to collect redeemable loyalty points that can be used on stays in any of the 3,960 Accor hotels around the globe. They can be redeemed on upgrades, elite experiences, shopping, and more. Additionally, members of ALL…

THE UPCOMING FIFAWorld Cup 2022 has put the spotlight on Qatar, the first Middle-Eastern nation to host the tournament. With world-class luxury hotels, wellness resorts, and convention centres, the destination caters to business and leisure travellers alike. At its heart are cultural gems that showcase the traditional legacy of Qatar as well as its cutting-edge capabilities. The National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) is at the pinnacle of Qatar’s thriving art scene. Designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, the iconic museum stuns with its architecture inspired by the desert rose. It houses multiple gallery spaces, a 220-seat auditorium, two restaurants, a cafe, and a traditional food forum. For scholars and students, the museum offers a new research centre and laboratories with access to digital archives. The Park at NMoQ encourages…

Can you tell us about the inception of the brand, Tribe Amrapali? We opened an account on Facebook for Amrapali in 2013, and we received numerous requests from people all over the world who wanted to shop online. The price point was a challenge, as was shipping high-value jewellery. This is why the idea of starting a new brand, which caters to a younger online audience and is more affordable, came up, and Tribe Amrapali was born. Tribe essentially has the same DNA as Amrapali. It is for people who were intimidated or hesitant to visit an Amrapali store but are comfortable browsing and shopping online. Which are your favourite Tribe Amrapali pieces? One of them would be the Chandrika collection, which is also our bestseller. It’s so easy to…

FOR MANY YEARS travellers have been drawn to Nashik for its mushrooming wineries. While wine tasting remains a novel offering in India, there’s so much more to the city. And there’s a new luxury address in town to savour all of it: Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Nashik. Located less than 200 kilometres away from Mumbai and Pune, at the foothills of the Trirashmi Hills, this fivestar property ticks all the boxes for a premium getaway. It features 224 elegantly designed rooms, including 18 suites with private balconies. Its F&B outlets range from fine dining to a relaxed bistro and make for a delicious journey rife with progressive culinary concepts and immersive epicurean experiences—both indoor and al fresco. Not just a place to stay and dine, Radisson Blu Hotel &…

STEPPING OUT ONTO the terrace at Segera, a luxury lodge in Kenya’s Laikipia highlands, we spotted a trio of reticulated giraffes loping towards us as if beckoned by some invisible conductor. There was certainly music: a 19th-century gong was still reverberating in the room behind us. I was one of a group of 12 guests who had just finished a soundmeditation session in the second-floor lounge of Segera’s main lodge. When they caught sight of us, the giraffes lowered their necks like party crashers trying not to call too much attention to themselves. My group consisted of well-heeled travellers from Paris, Dubai, New York City, Cape Town, and Beirut, Lebanon. We were at Segera for a retreat hosted by Roar Africa CEO and founder Deborah Calmeyer, who was born and…

Although it is a hot summer’s day—27° Celsius, warm for London, even in July—the handsome wood-panelled dining room of the Bull & Last (doubles from `15,696; entrées `1,660–`3,547; thebullandlast.co.uk) is at full socially-distanced capacity. The pub’s Sunday roast is consistently voted one of the best in London, and weekends are booked out with neighbourhood families, diners from further afield, and even the odd celebrity (writer Julian Barnes and actors Damian Lewis and Juliet Stevenson are all regulars). Everyone seems to be drinking pints of India pale ale and ordering Gloucester Old Spots pork belly and sirloin of shorthorn beef accompanied by airy puffs of Yorkshire pudding. The pub, situated opposite the wild expanses of Hampstead Heath, has been one of north London’s prime culinary destinations ever since co-owners Joe Swiers and…

TO MARK UAE’S golden jubilee, Yas Island has introduced 50 days of revelry. Until December 2, over 400 individual prizes and offers are up for grabs at the leading lifestyle and entertainment destination. From special discounts on dining, retail, and entertainment to prizes on staycations, annual passes, and tickets to the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2021, there is a lot to look forward to. Keep an eye on the ‘Yas for 50’ calendar on the destination’s website to participate in the competitions. The exciting prizes include a 2D/1N holiday package at Yas Island Rotana Abu Dhabi; tickets to Yas Island’s leading theme parks, including Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi; three Yas Theme Parks Gold Annual Passes; two DriveYas powered by ADNOC…

1. PERFUME Clinique Happy for Men, Clinique, `7,500 (100 ml); clinique.in 2. KEYCHAIN Greca Key Chain, Versace, `18,600; versace.com 3. WATCH Spirit of Big Bang Gold Crystal, Hublot, price on request; hublot.com 4. WRISTWEAR Elan Bracelet, Daniel Wellington, `5,499; danielwellington.com 5. SKINCARE Hydro Boost Water Gel, Neutrogena, `1,000 (50 g); nykaaman.com 6. WALLET Navy Textured Wallet, Ted Baker, `8,500; thecollective.in 7. SHOES Burnished Double Monk Shoes, Magnanni; `33,879; harrods.com 8. HAIRCARE Hair Management Thickening Shampoo for Men, Truefitt & Hill, `2,700 (365 ml); luxury.tatacliq.com 9. CLOTHES Malvin – Double-breasted twill blazer (aubergine), Nanushka, `66,783; nanushka.com…

LAPTOP MacBook Pro 14 / 16 If you thought last year’s M1 MacBooks were fast, wait till you check out the newest bunch. Power users will love the new M1 Max / Pro processors, but it’s not just about raw speed. The new Pros also come with a new design, and bigger, sharper Mini-LED displays. Meanwhile, the oft-criticised Touch Bar is gone, while the crowd-favourite MagSafe charging is back! From `1,94,900; apple.com/in 2. SMARTPHONE Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 If you feel that a phone and a tablet in one device seems like a great idea, check out the new Fold3. It has a 6.2in main display, and tucked away inside is a 7.6in tablet-style screen for when it’s time to kick back and read your favourite graphic novels. The rest…

THE HILLY KINGDOM of Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu has reopened, and all of humanity has descended upon it, clogging its serpentine roads. There are crowds, noise, chaos. We hope things will be more civilised at the heritage property The Tamara Kodai. Here, entire families bolt out of BMWs, if not coaches. DAY 1 The general manager of the property, Dhrubo Ghosh, ushers us into his “best cottage.” He beams, “It’s the one Tamil Nadu CM Stalin occupied recently!” Guest relations executive Reena warns us never to leave the terrace unlocked—hooligan monkeys invade, leaving you a thumping mini-bar bill! Unique guest experience manager Sayed Mehaboob and the inimitable Ravi, whose father was a tracker during the Raj, explain that tourists are flouting COVID protocol, so the top sites and wildlife reserves…

SITTING AT THE CORNICHE in Alexandria, the clear blue of the Mediterranean Sea sprawled in front and the entire hinterland of Nile Valley at your back, the vagaries of history and geography become at once clear. Here is this land that has connected the East and the West since the most ancient of times. Named by Alexander the Great, its famous library destroyed by Caesar, frequented by tradesmen, peopled by Egyptians, Arabs, French, English and many more, this may as well be the centre of the universe—crisscrossed by currents of trade, politics, wars, love affairs, decadence and more. In fact, Alexandria is not just a city, it is a metaphor—for the entire Middle East, of which it is a part. Some of the best cuisines of the world come about…

During my time as editor in chief of Elle Decor, my colleagues and I talked a lot about the future. Conversations about everything from architecture and building materials to inclusive, universal design would make us consider how these elements might influence our collective tomorrow. And, inevitably, these conversations would focus on the trajectory of cities. What would they look like? How sustainable would they be? Would there still be cars? Would humans figure out a way to coexist more harmoniously? Today, these questions are more pressing than ever as the effect of the pandemic on our urban centres is furiously analysed. In the COVID-19 age, it seems everything about the way our cities were created needs re-examining—and even, in some cases, reimagining. As we ask ourselves what cities of the…

Sudarshan Ruikar was an entrant in our ongoing ‘Your Best Shot’ contest. Submit your best shots at tplusl@burda.in, or use the hashtag #telltnlindia and tag @travelandleisureindia on Instagram, to stand a chance to get featured on this page.…

STANDING TALL IN the Puzhakkal neighbourhood, Hyatt Regency Thrissur makes for a luxurious base for your exploration of the city. The contemporary hotel offers 77 well-appointed rooms, including eight suites. The Presidential Suite is the most premium of these offerings and comes with a bedroom, living room, kitchenette, modern amenities, and scenic views. Scrumptious Western, Asian, Indian, and local fare is served at Regency Café, the hotel’s all-day dining venue. It is perfect for a casual get-together with friends and family, or a working lunch. Nougat, a vibrant lounge adjacent to the hotel lobby, is the place to unwind with your favourite dessert and beverage. For a relaxing end to an eventful day, squeeze in a workout at the hotel’s state-of-the-art 24-hour fitness centre, or book yourself a massage at…

GOURMANDS CAN ONCE again feast at Pickwick, the all-day restaurant at The Claridges New Delhi. Inspired by Charles Dickens’ novel The Pickwick Papers, the dining venue features illustrations from the classic. A beautiful world map from the 18th century graces the ceiling of the restaurant. Painted in earthy tones of beige, brown, and blue, the restaurant opens to a tranquil garden, which is the perfect setting for a brunch under the sun. The food menu at Pickwick is a mix of contemporary British, American, European, Indian, and Japanese. The extensive menu has been revised to include British classics such as bangers & mash, Jamaican jerk chicken, oven-baked sea bass, and more. But you can still find the signature dishes such as Norwegian salmon, bluefin tuna, scallop carpaccio, home-baked yoghurt with…

1. BAG Lee Radziwill Double Bag, Tory Burch, price on request; available at DLF Emporio, New Delhi 2. NECKPIECE Summer Charms Necklace, Summer Somewhere X Kira, `6,600; kirathelabel.com 3. EARRINGS Doorva (Nabah collection), Divas Mantra, `31,080; divasmantra.com 4. PRIMER Ultime Pro Perfecting Primer, Faces Canada, `899 (30 ml); facescanada.com 5. SERUM Vitamin C Brightening Serum, MyGlamm, `799 (30 ml); myglamm.com 6. CONTOUR Contour & Highlight Pro Palette, Kay Beauty, `1,099 (15 g); nykaa.com 7. WATCH Lady-Datejust, Rolex, price on request; rolex.com 8. RING Regal Lustrous Ring, Umrao Collection, Talisman, `3,000; talismanworld.com 9. CLOTHES Clara Sage Green Throw In Chanderi (Raas Collection), AMPM, `14,950; ampm.in…

Location Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Nashik ON HER: Rani pink Navras power suit, `38,500, Label Anushree; rings, price on request, Abhilasha Silver Jewellery. ON HER: Hand woven silk jumpsuit, `29,800, Payal Khandwala; Aiko heels, `5,799, LYN; silver painted necklace, `19,450, Stylori Silver; silver square kemp choker, `8,700, Stylori Silver. What’s your first impression of Nashik? Nashik is so stunning! I spotted many beautiful hilltops while coming from the airport to the hotel. My driver engaged me in quick trivia on Nashik’s hidden gems; he spoke about lesser-known caves and trekking trails. And I duly made mental notes. Define an ideal weekend getaway from Mumbai. I’m a water baby; I love to dive and snorkel. That’s why, whenever I plan a quick getaway from Mumbai, I always seek the ocean,…

WITH ITS LOCATION on the bank of River Nile, this hotel’s serene vibe is no surprise. Its four room types and six suite variations provide just the right ambience for peace of mind, while its nine dining venues serve flavours of Egypt, Italy, China, the Mediterranean, etc. The spa only heightens your feeling of bliss. Apart from the expected spa and beauty treatments, it offers bespoke relaxation experiences, such as the Journey to Bridal Bliss (to help you shed pre-wedding jitters), the Royal Couple Package (a three-hour-long couple’s treatment at the Spa Royal Suite, inclusive of a bento box and river views), the Nile Journey package (a 90-minute-long experience, with a choice of body scrub and hour-long massage), and the Chocolate Delight (coffee scrub and chocolate oil massage). Inspired by…

Getting There Air India (airindia.com) flies non-stop from Delhi to Doha. Stay Banyan Tree Doha Parisian designer Jacques Garcia created the interiors of this property in Mushaireb—including Vertigo, a 28th-floor bar overlooking the city. Doubles from `24,681; banyantree.com Mandarin Oriental Located in Msheireb Downtown Doha, this David Collins Studio–designed hotel is within walking distance of both MIA and NMoQ. Doubles from `47,119; mandarinoriental.com See Culture Pass Club A members-only arts club and collaborative space that will have houses available to the public for short-term stays. culturepassclub.com East-West/West-East In the middle of the desert, two hours west of Doha, a series of four steel monoliths created by American sculptor Richard Serra stretches over three kilometres. qm.org.qa Education City Designed by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki, this city-within-a-city is home to multiple cultural…