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

HAPPINESS MEANS different things to different people. When we decided to dedicate an entire issue to happiness, the objective was to bring together as many perspectives of happiness as possible. So, in the People section, we speak to author Ruskin Bond whose books are known for the warm and fuzzy feeling it leaves in the readers (p. 36). Doodle artist Neha Sharma speaks about the calming and meditative effect of the art form (p. 38), and new-age musician, Mehtab Ali Niazi talks about carrying forward the legacy of his gharana and how he plans to take traditional Indian music to the global stage (p. 35). On the cover is actor Rashmika Mandanna who is on a journey to find joy in Western Australia (p. 48). The Intelligent Traveller is a…

Montblanc 1858 AUTOMATIC CHRONOGRAPH 0 OXYGEN The dial is inspired by the deep green colour of the emerald icebergs or “jade bergs”. There is a 42 mm stainless steel case, devoid of oxygen and the dial features a bi-compax chronograph configuration with a black small seconds display at 9 o’clock and a black 30-minute chronograph counter at 3 o’clock. ₹4,59,390 BREITLING ENDURANCE PRO X82310A51B1S1 The watch is made from an ultralight polymer that’s scratch and corrosion-resistant. It’s equipped with a well-balanced black dial and a bidirectional-rotating bezel and displays a minute track and luminous hour markers and numerals. The sporty rubber strap in a vivid orange is an add-on to the overall look. ₹3,11,600 Rolex OYSTER PERPETUAL DEEPSEA This new version of Deepsea is engineered to shine. This is…

What inspired you to become a happiness evangelist? While wrapping up my PhD, I stumbled upon the news of Ashok Soota starting Happiest Minds. Intrigued by the concept of a company focussed on happiness, I sent in my resumé and a paper I had written on leadership and happiness. Shortly after, I met him and we discussed the company’s focus on SMILES (Sharing, Mindful, Integrity, Learning, Excellence, and Social responsibility) as their core values and its mission: ‘Happiest People. Happiest Customers.’ He encouraged me to define a suitable title and role for myself. Advocating for happiness as a core value and differentiator, I took a week to craft the proposal. Drawing parallels with technology and learning evangelists, I chose the position of ‘Happiness Evangelist’, a first-of-its-kind title in the industry.…

“MADAM, THE CAR IS sliding on its own, there is hardly anything I can do,” said the driver. A confident 26-year-old, Jonathan is always on top of his job. Be it finding a snacking point in the middle of nowhere, playing a multilingual playlist, or sharing anecdotes to keep us entertained, he always has a trick or two up his sleeve. So, this statement from him was a shocker. My travel companion and I were driving from Aizawl to Champhai, located in the Northeastern side of Mizoram, not far from the border of India and Myanmar. It had rained the day before, and while the mountains were washed clean, the road was at its notorious best. Well, not throughout, but some stretches made Jonathan throw his hands up in exasperation.…

IN ARMENIA, where the air is perfumed with wild thyme, I discovered a culinary culture as refreshing as the mountain springs that bubble forth from its ubiquitous pulpulaks (water fountains). There’s a cheese for every palate here, from the crumbly chanakh, a close cousin of feta, to the creamy rich lori, reminiscent of mozzarella. The locals love to wrap these cheeses in a lavash flatbread, along with some refreshing salads for a scrumptious feast. But this is just a prelude to the symphony of flavours that awaits you. Armenian cuisine has been gracing tables for over two millennia, solidifying its position as the Caucasus region’s oldest heritage. As I embarked on a culinary odyssey across Armenia, savouring the legacy of its oldest and most celebrated dishes, I couldn’t help but…

In Hold On To Your Dreams, you talk about walking as the best means to explore a city. What’s been your most pleasant walk around Mussoorie? Whenever I used to walk a lot—I walk little now because at my age I can’t walk very far—my aim was to walk out of Mussoorie (laughs). Because then I could leave behind the bustle of tourists to see the open spaces in the mountains—recognising old friends like trees, wildflowers, and the occasional animal. I used to enjoy walking, but not with the intention of getting anywhere in particular. The thing is really to walk just for the sake of what you experience along the way. In other words, the journey rather than the destination. You speak directly to the readers through this book. How…

1 SINDHUDURG COCO SHAMBHALA Tucked away on the unspoilt and relatively unknown village of Bhogave, the luxurious and chic Coco Shambhala is Sindhudurg’s best-kept secret. Each two-bedroom villa is outfitted with a private plunge pool, has gorgeous sea views, and is hidden by splendid vegetation. The open-air living pavillions of the villas are perfect for dining, lounging with a book, or simply tuning in to the bird song. Meals celebrate the very best of fresh seafood and local produce from the Sindhudurg coast along with a carefully curated collection of wines, single malts, and craft beers. Dining venues can range from a romantic candlelit dinner by the pool, a beachside barbecue or a formal dinner under a cashew tree. If you can pull yourself away from the comfort of your villa,…

WESTERN AUSTRALIA is a treasure trove for travellers. Split into five regions—Perth, South West, North West, Coral Coast, and Golden Outback—it is the largest state in Australia and promises unlimited exhilarating adventures for all age groups. Moreover, the capital city of Perth is a comfortable hop away from India. So, start planning your trip down under, now. EAT & DRINK Follow Wine, Food, and Art Trails in Swan Valley Just 25 minutes northeast of Perth, Swan Valley is a haven for wine and food. Home to some of the oldest wineries in Western Australia, the region offers a variety of experiences such as wine and art trail, cider and ale trail, fine wine trail, and a fortified wine trail. While here, artisanal stores such as House of Honey, Morish Nuts,…

OVER THE LAST couple of decades, David Abraham and Rakesh Thakore, the creative forces behind the luxury label Abraham & Thakore (A&T), have had a front-row seat to India’s ever-evolving fashion landscape. Known for reimagining Indian textiles and heritage weaves with a contemporary lens, their creations feature a blend of Indian artistry and modern aesthetics with their signature dose of minimalism. Combined with their sartorial sensibilities, they’ve created a powerhouse fashion brand that extends beyond couture and apparel to include home and décor as well. We chat with the duo on their journey in Indian fashion, travel must-haves, and favourite holidays. Excerpts from the conversation: How do you think India’s textile narrative has evolved over the years? And how has your label evolved in this context? The country’s textile narrative…

You’ve obtained a degree in Chartered Accountancy. What motivated you to switch? I’ve been doodling for as long as I can remember—at the back of notebooks, on walls, and newspapers. I took up accountancy since I liked the subject, but when I started studying it, it wasn’t what I envisioned. [During this period], I started posting my doodles on social media, started following artists from other countries and [noticed they were] more well versed with digital art. [Seeing that] I became a self-taught artist while pursuing CA. I got my first commissioned artwork through the internet, and realised I could make money by doodling. An observation that compelled me to switch was that I noticed I would look at the time every five minutes during my CA internship. While doodling…

Destination Partner: Tourism Western Australia SWEEPING STRETCHES OF shimmering water and white sand juxtaposed perfectly with clear blue skies in front of me could easily be a painting. I am at Pinky Beach in Rottnest Island, miles away from everyday life but only 30 minutes by ferry from Perth’s Fremantle port. It has aways been a dream of mine to vacation on a pristine island. And here I am, living that dream, soaking in the spectacular sights of Rottnest Island on the edge of the Indian Ocean in Western Australia. Due to the friendly and welcoming population, great climate, and open spaces, life here is relaxed and happy. Add to this the joy of being amid unspoilt nature, and you have a heady concoction! However, I am not alone here. I…

WHEN MY NEPHEW Caleb was five, I promised to take him anywhere he wanted when he turned 13. My childhood travels, particularly a trip to Paris with a generous aunt and uncle, sparked my lifelong wanderlust and curiosity about the world. I hoped to give him that same gift. “I want to go see cheetahs,” Caleb said. And every time I’ve asked in the years since, he has repeated: “I want to go see cheetahs.” He’s 15 now. The pandemic postponed our trip, but last summer, we finally made it to southern Africa. As every safari-goer knows, spotting big game is never a sure thing. But this uncle wasn’t taking any chances, especially with a creature as endangered—and elusive—as the cheetah. So after landing in Johannesburg, we drove an hour…

RIGHT AWAY, I NOTICE THE SMELLS. Jackfruit in the sun. The woody spice of cloves. Star anise in a pot of steaming pho. It’s springtime in Hanoi, and the flame trees are in fragrant, coral bloom. Vendors pile bushels of lotus flowers onto their three-wheeled rickshaws and motorcycles. I get a blast of cherry blossom, rice wine, and incense at the entrance to a temple. From a nearby food stall, the lurid tang of fish sauce and grilled, sweet-glazed meat hits me like a psychedelic. It feels like the dawn of a hallucination—complete with the thrill of not knowing quite how the experience will end. I am back in Vietnam, 15 years after I first came: up to my eyes in the country’s sensory carnival, immersed in a flood of…

I CAPTURED THIS PHOTOGRAPH in a village in Nadia district, West Bengal. This photo, a testament to my perseverance, is a glimpse of the twilight hour. Capturing this perfect moment took significant effort, but the wait was entirely worthwhile. I wanted to show the beautiful scenery of the village, and preserve it in this frame. It’s my hope that this image allows you to experience the serenity and beauty of the Nadia village at twilight, just as I did. —ARUP SARKAR ON HIS PHOTOGRAPH, TAKEN WITH A NIKON D5600 ON NOVEMBER 18, 2023.…