A Table For Two

Enchanting views, carefully crafted meals and an intimate itinerary is the perfect recipe for a romantic getaway. A dessert in the desert or delving into haunting history— celebrate ‘time for two’ in your own way with finesse.

- Gustasp & Jeroo Irani

CHAMBA CAMP > THIKSEY > J&K

Local belles clad in colourful robes and turquoise-studded head-gear welcomed us to Chamba Camp Thiksey, a half-hour drive from Leh. Billed as The Ultimate Travel Camp (TUTC), the magical enclave commands a ringside view of Thiksey monastery which seems to artfully tumble down the mountainside. The monastery keeps spiritual vigil even as guests at the camp wallow in luxury—13 sumptuous tents kitted out in charming safari camp style with en suite facilities, one’s own butler plus a tented reception area studded with Ladakhi artefacts and a chandeliered restaurant tent…. All of it oozes romance and a rarefied tranquility. One afternoon, an intimate table for two was set up in a shady grove even as the camp flared around us on 23 acres! Stone-paved paths threaded with colourful blooms wove between the tents while, just an arm’s reach away, rose green swathes of alfalfa grass imparted a touch of wilderness to the scene. To liven the dining experience and to heighten romance, a candlelight dinner can be set up near a rock pool; or guests may even dine in cosy comfort on the patio of their tents, surrounded by Ladakh’s rugged landscape. The stirring highlight of our last evening at the camp was a table for two set up in the shadow of weathered chortens under a vast canopy of sky. Thiksey monastery glimmered white on the mountaintop like a spiritual beacon, reminding us that all earthly pleasures are transient! Contact www. chambacampthiksey.com

CHITTOOR KOTTARAM > KOCHI > KERALA