Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2024 i Travel + Leisure India & South Asia

IN TIMES OF CHANGE, unity becomes our greatest strength. At Travel+Leisure India & South Asia, our team has embraced this ethos wholeheartedly. As we dive into the stories in our February issue, our passion for storytelling shines brighter than ever. And since it is the month of love, this storytelling is through our #LoveIsInTheSelf campaign. With the Discoveries list (p. 7), we hope to encourage you to recharge, reflect, and rediscover yourself in stunning destinations worldwide. Continuing this theme is our cover story with actor Bobby Deol (p. 50) who gets candid about his rise, downfall, resurgence, and the life lessons he learned along the way. In the People section, we celebrate changemakers such as dancer Jainil Mehta (p. 39) who is known for his #MenInSkirts movement, author and sexual…

A WHOLESOME WELLNESS experience awaits guests at Madinat Jumeirah, the Arabian mini-city in Dubai boasting five-star hotels, ornate souks, and beachfront hotspots. The Talise Spa stands as a serene sanctuary amid swaying palm trees, meandering waterways, and the lush tropical gardens of Madinat Jumeirah. Keeping in mind the revolutionary shift in the wellness industry post COVID, the spa offers experiences that go beyond mere relaxation, embracing rejuvenation of the mind, body, and soul. This holistic approach towards wellness is reinforced by addressing individual needs. The Talise Spa in Madinat Jumeirah works on a unique four-pillar approach. The first pillar is mental wellness, which encourages reflection and cultivates mental clarity through tailored practices and therapeutic sessions. The second pillar is mindful movements that merge exercise with mindfulness, providing an immersive experience…

How did you discover your passion for dancing? What inspired you to take it up professionally? Dance has been my close friend since childhood. I was shy, protected, and secluded as a kid. But performing on stage gave me confidence and security. My mother put me in all sorts of classes—from dance, music, art to elocution, poetry and sports. Dance was the only thing that stayed with me through school. I knew it was my calling since grade eight, so I decided to educate myself further in the form. I got my Bachelor in Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Southern California in 2021. After graduating, I moved to New York to live my Bollywood dream of dancing on the city’s streets. How has your perspective on body…

TRAVELLERS’ TALES, FROM NEAR + FAR THIS IS MY second visit to Coimbatore. Within a year. I check into the Isha Yoga Center (isha.sadhguru.org) located at the foothills of the Velliangiri Mountains to ring in the New Year. Not for spiritual enlightenment, but for some rejuvenation and relaxation after an excruciatingly busy year. Every pillar and nook of the retreat is imbued with the aura of its founder and visionary, Sadhguru. And although I am no spiritual seeker, I readily agree that this destination spanning over 200 acres is any wellness traveller’s haven. The nourishing sattvic rainbow food served two times a day (10 am and 7 pm) add to the overall experience. Swami Nadija, who oversees one of the programmes at Isha, puts it aptly, “When you travel the…

EVERY TIME I GO to the sand-coloured Al Fahidi Historical District, one of Dubai’s oldest neighbourhoods, I enter the heritage cluster from a different route. How I enter determines what I experience and that’s part of the fun. The usual places are hidden within the tangle of alleyways, and eventually, I stumble upon them—the eclectic XVA Art Hotel & Cafe, the well-curated coffee museum, and the ever-popular Arabian Tea House (arabianteahouse.com). I have come to realise that I take comfort in predictability and constants. Maybe that’s why in a city where one can experience the best that the world has to offer, I find myself drawn to a heritage precinct that lay in ruins and escaped being reduced to rubble by a whisker. The story goes that a British architect…

IT GIVES ME no pleasure to admit that I undertake a significant proportion of my travel out of sheer spite. I mean, not 100 per cent—I’m not an animal. I am theoretically capable of experiencing joy, wanderlust, and many other positive human emotions. I’m talking about the other part of me. The part that hears parents at my kids’ school talking about going on some fancy ski vacation and immediately feels a sense of resentment. A suspicion that everyone is in a club that I’m not a member of—the club where people talk about ski vacations in a jaunty shorthand: “Oh, yeah, we go to Jackson every year. It’s sort of our place.” For the past year, my family and I have been living in Madrid. When a school break comes…

Conserving Crafts Meet the curator working towards the revival and conservation of India’s lesser-known regions and critically endangered arts and crafts. travelandleisureasia.com/in/people/interview-with-curator-katyayani-agarwal/ Art, Architecture, & Archaeology Immerse in the world of an art historian documenting the homes of Delhi post Independence. travelandleisureasia.com/in/people/interview-with-art-historian-and-archeologist-anica-mann/ Sarees to Stories Join a Kolkata-born gynaecologist on her textile trails across India. travelandleisureasia.com/in/people/interview-with-pritha-dasmahapatra-who-is-documenting-indian-textile-heritage/ DISCOVER Indulge in fiery Thai flavours at chef David Thompson’s latest outpost in Goa. travelandleisureasia.com/in/people/interview-with-chef-david-thompson-fireside-restaurant-goa/ PEOPLE Actor Smriti Kalra talks about her solo trip through Nagaland and Sikkim. travelandleisureasia.com/in/people/interview-with-actor-smriti-kalra/ TRAVEL UPDATES Stay tuned to our Instagram page for all the latest travel updates. Download Travel + Leisure India & South Asia digital editions, and follow us for the best in hotels, food, style, culture, and trends. travelandleisureindia tnlindia tnlindia traveleisurein NOTE: ALL PRICES MENTIONED…

THE INAUGURAL RIVAAYAT EVENT, a collaboration between Glenmorangie Single Malt Scotch Whisky and Travel+Leisure India & South Asia, took place in Kolkata on January 30, 2024. Hosted by Akshita and Mrinalika Bhanjdeo, the Maharajkumaris of Mayurbhanj in Odisha, the soirée redefined the art of hosting. The limited-edition Oakswirl couch created by designers Shivan & Narresh as a part of Glenmorangie’s Delicious Living project added contemporary elegance. The evening saw Bhanjdeo’s family friends, luxury connoisseurs, designers, and trendsetters raise a toast to Mayurbhanj and experience it through its food, music, and the royals’ insights into its rich past. This included HH Bibhu Kumari Devi, the Rajmata of Tripura; Neelu Singh from the royal family of Panchkote; Padma Bhushan-winning singer Usha Uthup; actor Anindita Bose; designers Dev and Anil, and Aku Zeliang;…

NESTLED IN A tranquil corner of the Maldives, You & Me Maldives is a secluded adults-only resort. Its 109 rooms—including 99 distinctive overwater bungalows—showcase a unique rustic style inspired by African traditions and handmade furnishings crafted from natural wood. For those who prefer peace, Manta Villa offers direct lagoon access on the sunrise side, and there is the Aqua Suite with Slide for adventure lovers. This adults-only resort is perfect for your romantic getaways. It is conveniently located and accessible via a 45-minute seaplane ride from the airport. For couples looking to unwind, wellness treatments await at the You & Me spa, which boasts overwater treatment rooms. And for adventure enthusiasts, there are water sports, such as snorkelling and jet-skiing, as well as a diving centre. Visitors can also witness…

NEARLY A DECADE AGO, when I got to the remote Changtang plateau in Ladakh, the mood in the local village was tense and somber. A few weeks prior, the region was inundated with unusually heavy snowfall, and the villagers lost over 20,000 livestock. Along with the pressures of the intense cold, there was a heaviness in the air. The temperature dropped a further 20 degrees than normal for that time of the year. The goats had died from the bitter cold and starvation. Nestled between the lofty Himalayan and Karakoram mountain ranges, the arid Changtang plateau is home to the Changpa tribe. Nomadic pastoralists, the Changpas traverse the region with their herds of yak, sheep, and goats looking for fresh pastures. Their prized Changra goats produce the world’s finest wool,…

THE ICE BENEATH my feet was crystal clear, a window into the depths of Lake Mälaren, about 48 kilometres west of Stockholm. To my untrained eye, the frozen surface looked like a thin pane of glass, on the verge of cracking under the razor-sharp blades of my ice skates. But one of my guides, Titouan Ayroulet, a lean Frenchman in a bright blue jacket, estimated it was about 2¾ inches deep—thin enough to see through, but strong enough to hold us securely. “It’s super-safe,” he had said earlier, jumping up and down to make his point. Reassured, I put one skate in front of the other, and soon I was soaring past a 16th-century red-brick castle. The only sound I heard was the whistling of my blades as they glided…

LOCATED ON THE east coast of Africa, Mauritius boasts an idyllic tropical setting and dreamy landscapes perfect for those looking to tie the knot. While the country itself is postcard-perfect, the trio of Marriott International’s luxury resorts takes the celebrations a notch higher. Think dreamy backdrops, promising views, exclusive packages, and personalised attention. At JW Marriott Mauritius Resort, weddings are bespoke and elegant and can be an intimate affair or an extravagant celebration depending upon your choice. Nestled in a coastal enclave surrounded by the blue horizon and coral pink sunsets, the luxurious resort offers three incredible venues—a lush garden, a jetty, and the beach—to host your big day. The venue options coupled with luxurious accommodation and gourmet food make the property a trusty aid for your D-day. The Le…

Travel+Leisure India & South Asia organised its first Masterclass of the year at Andaz Delhi. The affair, titled La Dolce Vita, took place by the pool at Andaz Delhi on January 31. The culinary masterclass was spearheaded by chef Matteo Fracalossi, executive chef of Andaz Delhi. The afternoon began on a high note with welcome drinks and canapés including de-structured bruschetta and Sciatt, a buckwheat fritter filled with soft and flavourful Valtellina cheese. The guests then enjoyed a live cooking demonstration by chef Fracalossi, where he walked the guests through the cooking process of Tortelli Di Ricotta. “I have come to India for the first time, after a long time around the world. People always think about Italian food as pizza and pasta. I believe there is much more to…

MIRRORLESS CAMERA Nikon Zf Nikon just might have achieved peak camera with the new Zf. It’s got a full-frame sensor, Nikon’s Expeed 7 processor, twin SD card slots, and everything else you’d expect from a top-of-the-line camera. The icing on the cake? That’s gotta be the retro looks inspired by the legendary FM2. ₹1,76,995 (body); nikon.co.in APP Rewind: Music Time Travel Party like it’s 1999 or tune out like you’re back in ‘65 with this music discovery app! Rewind is a pretty cool little app for anyone who loves music. Dive into what was big this week the year you were born, celebrate the anniversary of your favourite album’s release, or just take a walk down memory lane. SMARTPHONE vivo x100 Pro The x100 Pro might just tempt you into…

A few weeks ago, while hosting a girls’ night, blasting ‘90s music in the speakers, the living room conversation turned to Bobby Deol. We reminisced about his journey in Bollywood—from playing a heartthrob to morally ambiguous characters—and had spirited discussions about his versatility. Cut to the present, I land in Mumbai for a cover shoot with Deol. The temperature is soaring. I look over to my party-loving colleague, who tells me of her upcoming Sri Lankan sojourn and about the wild days in Goa last month. The crew recounts their recent gatherings at some of the city’s poshest nightclubs. As for me, my party is right here on set—in the company of cover star Bobby Deol, and the limited-edition couch and other artistic merchandise brought to life by Delicious Design Project…

A CHEERY BARTENDER wearing a tropical Madras kerchief made a passion-fruit cocktail with Mutiny Island, a local vodka distilled from breadfruit. A couple of booths away, a chef struggled to keep his toque in place as he leaned over a steaming cauldron filled with a pork-and-pumpkin stew made with ingredients sold at the nearby farmers’ market. Under a white tent, another chef served a hearty birria, a stew made with the meat of Boer goats, like the ones eating hay just a few yards away. This was Bush Cook, a three-day community fair held last October at Sejah Farm, a 15-acre livestock and agricultural centre in the jungly heart of St. Croix. Under a sweltering sun, two dozen people competed for bragging rights while offering visitors a chance to sample…