Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2025 i Travel + Leisure India & South Asia

AN ECO-CERTIFIED PROPERTY, Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre (NHCC) is strategically located in the heart of Hyderabad’s bustling IT hub, HITEC City. Despite its central location, the hotel feels worlds away from the urban clamour, thanks to the lush, verdant landscape that surrounds it. Combining the efficiency and expertise of a premium business hotel with the comfort and leisure of a resort, NHCC has grown into a leading MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) destination, especially with the Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) situated right next door. Spacious rooms with pleasant views, sprawling lawns, tranquil water features, and an array of wellness and recreational offerings all help to ease the stress of a hectic business schedule. During the cooler winter months, the hotel makes for an ideal staycation spot—think morning strolls…

Dichotomous. There is a light, persistent hum of the word in my ears. A clear chasm almost. I hear it in the grey of the sweatpants that are soon swapped by the opulence of ivory, new moon black, and ajrak in signature Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla pizzazz. It is in the ashen of the Asian Paints walls of the set that feel like they are ebbing in shades of cloudbursts and deluge until the light of the studio shines bright on them like the growing sun. Somber. Reflective. Content. Irreverent. Fragmented. A lesson in Kintsugi. All at once. It is in the man I stare at, a name synonymous with global cinema—in the slow, deliberate words he answers me with and in the confident strides that break the monotony of…

When Delhi-based media consultant Naina Sharma saw Zoya Akhtar’s Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara in 2011, she knew Spain would be her next holiday destination. “I was simply blown away by how the film showcased Barcelona, Costa Brava, Buñol, Seville, and Pamplona.” During her two-week-long trip, timed with the famed festival in Buñol, she even went skydiving in Seville. “It was a surreal trip that I have the fondest memories of,” she laughs, adding, “to think it was a movie that started it all.” Sharma is not alone. In fact, she is one of many people fuelling what known as ‘film tourism’. Wanderlust Calling With films investing heavily in visual appeal, locations are everything. A case in point is the recent series The Summer I Turned Pretty, shot in Paris. Travel…

travelandleisureasia.com/in The Healing Power Of Saunas From Finland to Kazakhstan, Joanna Lobo goes sauna-hopping across the globe, to discover that sometimes, all we need is a little silence—and sweat—to centre to ourselves. travelandleisureasia.com/in/people/how-sauna-hopping-across-the-world-became-my-therapy/ Gardens for the Mind Seek peace amidst seasonal bloom, a royal history and gilded afternoons, across India’s gardens, from Srinagar’s grand Shalimar Bagh to Kerala’s swoon-worthy tea gardens. travelandleisureasia.com/in/destinations/the-quiet-therapy-of-indias-gardens-healing-in-watershade-and-bloom/ Lessons of Freedom At Prisons Viren Naidu embarks on a journey through the world’s most infamous prisons in search of the true meaning of freedom, empathy, and the hope that sustains us. travelandleisureasia.com/in/people/culture/why-prison-tourism-is-on-the-rise-and-what-it-teaches-usabout-freedom/ PEOPLE Fitness trainer Sohrab Khushrushahi talks about how travelling to major cities around the world such—including New York, Vancouver and London—taught him how to maintain movement in madness, show up to your daily routine, and…

JUST A FEW HOURS FROM MUMBAI, Maharashtra’s coastal and hillside escapes are reshaping the way we experience luxury travel. From the breezy charm of Alibaug to the misty calm of Lonavala, the region is home to some of India’s most stylish private villas—designed not merely for relaxation, but for deeply personal experiences. Leading this trend is Lohono Stays by the Isprava Group, a luxury villa hospitality brand known for its curated homes and soulful service. Their portfolio in Maharashtra blends architectural finesse with warm hospitality, offering travellers the chance to slow down without compromising on comfort. In Alibaug, the rhythm of life softens as the days unfold, framed by sea breezes and sun-dappled courtyards. At Amber, a contemporary masterpiece, guests are invited to unwind on sprawling lawns—perfect for barefoot brunches…

AT OVER 60,000 SQUARE kilometres, Abu Dhabi is the largest emirate of the UAE. From the emerald heritage oasis of Al Ain to the white sands of Saadiyat Island, this cultural destination is one for the soul. My five-day solo trip had reminded me of what the Middle East has always been: cradle of civilisation, birthplace of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and crossroads of trade, philosophy, and art. To study this region is also, for a South Asian, to better understand our own roots. I regretted not choosing Middle Eastern Studies in college. At Qasr Al Hosn (qasralhosn.ae), Abu Dhabi’s oldest fort, I imagined pearl divers and fishermen shaping a settlement that would become a capital. Alone, I could linger, listening to silence, feeling the history etched in stone. My…

EARPLUGS Constant noise exposure while travelling—on flights, trains, or in crowded cities—can wear you down. The Loop Switch 2 earplugs help reduce noise stress with three smart modes: up to 17 dB for everyday use, 21 dB for live events, and 25 dB for deep focus or relaxation. Whether you’re trying to nap on a train or take a breather from the chaos, they let you tune out just enough without shutting off completely. Price: ₹2,499; loopearplugs.com RFID WALLET Having your card details skimmed while travelling is a nightmare—especially in crowded markets or tourist hotspots. The Bellroy Flip Case offers peace of mind with a sleek hardshell design, RFID protection, and a clever divider that lets you access cash discreetly without pulling out all your cards. It holds up to…

“EVERYONE HAS TO get married here.” quips our guide Aibek Adigineev. We’re in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, standing in front of a quintessentially USSR relic—the Wedding Palace. It’s a hulking, modernist structure from the 1980s, with abundant marble and stained glass for illusions of grandeur. With religious expression frowned upon, the communist state created a secular version of a mosque or church to host weddings. Although elaborately decorated, no theological iconography is present. Instead, we’re surprised to spot the hammer-and-sickle motif in the ceremonial hall. Despite independence since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, many young couples still marry here. Perhaps it’s a sign of an enduring legacy, a love-hate relationship with the past, or only a matter of time before their parents’ and grandparents’ ways fade.…

OFFERING A WIDE ARRAY of considered amenities, Novotel & Ibis Bengaluru Outer Ring Road—a dual-brand complex by Accor—allows business travellers to blend comfort and leisure seamlessly into their work trips. Guests can unwind in style after a hectic day, spend the evening at the poolside bar and grill, or enjoy a spot of shopping. Centrally located in the heart of Bengaluru’s Information Technology (IT) corridor and in close proximity to major business and technology parks, the property offers ease of commuting. In-room smart workspaces and high-speed connectivity enable busy professionals to stay productive while enjoying the comfort of 526 elegantly designed rooms and suites—215 at Novotel and 315 at Ibis—fitted with modern conveniences. Dining at Novotel & Ibis is an experience in itself. Novotel Bengaluru Outer Ring Road features four…

AS SOMEONE WHO’S SEEN plenty of snowcovered peaks, I didn’t expect to be this awestruck. But nothing prepared me for my first real snowfall in Courchevel. Not the kind that lies in neat piles on rooftops or gets churned into slush by cars, but actual powder-soft flakes drifting from the sky in a silent, cinematic hush. I had landed in Courchevel in early April, right at the tail end of the ski season. Late enough for the sun to kiss your cheeks on the slopes, but snowy enough for the mountains to feel like scenes pulled straight out of The Grand Budapest Hotel, Inception or a James Bond movie. Set high in the French Alps, Courchevel isn’t just a ski resort, it’s a film set come to life. Season of Splendour…

How did filming in Delhi shape your vision forIn heritance, and what did the city bring to the narrative that no other location could? India, for me, in a word, is cinematic. The sights and sounds are epic. As a filmmaker, India also feels like a pure expression of humanity. And that’s what I’m interested in: people. Their behaviour, their actions, their inner and outer lives. That’s what’s cinematic—who we are now, who we’ve always been, where we’re headed. Those are my questions and my experiences when I’m in India. Delhi, of course, is a microcosm of that and a true urban experience. Everyone has their favourite city—I’m a New Yorker and I happen to love Delhi. Shooting with an iPhone allowed you to blend seamlessly into crowded streets. How…

Whether it’s the by-lanes of Ratlam or the cobbled streets of Corsica, what draws you to a particular destination as a storyteller and filmmaker? I’m fascinated by people in places. I find myself always talking about someone, somewhere—a girl at a railway station, for instance. So, somehow, the presence of a location is important to me because it sets the drama for how the person might behave. And places that I’ve seen, whether they are beautiful places or ordinary places, have always appealed to me. For instance, I’ve spent so much time travelling in trains and looking at houses as I cross them, and people inside those houses, wondering what kind of lives they lead that when I’m writing, inevitably those same images appear. On the other hand, with Corsica,…

“WHERE DO YOU THINK I should go this time? I don’t really want to do the touristy stuff,” I said to my friend as we devoured a delicious pizza. “Have you watched Letters to Juliet?” she asked. I was clueless, but intrigued. I’m a sucker for stories of long-lost love reuniting—and of course, a good rom-com to go with my pizza. An Invitation The 2010 film was an invitation to a secret, whimsical world in Verona (visitverona.it)—a world of handwritten letters and second chances. By the time Amanda Seyfried’s character discovered the wall of letters, my travel plans were made. Verona was now a non-negotiable part of my Italian odyssey. As I stepped off the train at Porta Nuova Station in Verona, it felt entirely different from the grand chaos of…