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Top 10 Hotels in GOA

Goa may be India’s smallest state, but it is also the most happening—with beautiful beaches and wild nightlife. The tropical paradise houses some of the country’s finest hotels and resorts. For those who fancy luxury, here is a curated collection of the top-notch stays in the state.

Safe HAVEN

Zone Palace by The Park Jaipur is a potpourri of tradition, modernity, and high standards of hygiene, making it the perfect stopover in the city.

Gangtok

Sikkim’s capital is a small hill town with a big heart. Perched on a mountain ridge, it is sprawled out in tiers—each of which provides delightful discoveries. One of Northeast India’s quintessential family holiday destinations, Gangtok also serves as the perfect base for intrepid travellers who wish to scale the surrounding mountains. It woos travellers with its luxurious experiences, natural beauty, spirituality, serene sites, and lively cafes. Above all, Gangtok indulges its visitors with views of the mystical and majestic Mount Kanchenjunga, the third-highest peak in the world. All you have to do is pray for a clear day.

GHANA on the GO

His Excellency Mike Gabo Oquaye, the Ambassador of Ghana to India, talks to SUSH CLAYS about his favourite Indian holiday experiences—from adventuring in Shimla to romancing in Udaipur.

Fit For A Queen

Maheshwar in Madhya Pradesh is a hidden gem for conscious travellers. Visit this small town for its handlooms, royal heritage, and languid pace of life.

Adventures of a LIFETIME

Paola Crevatini Rebsamen founded The MissAdventure to connect with women who share her yearning to see the world. In one of their adventures, Rebsamen and three of her travel companions landed in India and was smitten by the colourful land and its people. We caught up with the travel enthusiast and entrepreneur who has visited 46 countries, to know more about her trip to India earlier this year.

24 Hours In Kozhikode

Envisage virginal shores abuzz with spice merchants, the smell of cardamom and pepper lingering in the air—the coastal city of Kozhikode (earlier known as Calicut) in Kerala was the major trading point of Eastern spices in the 15th century. Today, the city has metamorphosed into a cultural hub—where traditional restaurants vie with chic cafes, and literature, art, and cinema thrive. Here’s how you can explore the best of it in a day’s time.

The Sands of Time

The world's largest river island, Majuli, located on the River Brahmaputra in Assam, is a magical world grappling with the threats of erosion.

Silence In The WOODS

Teeming with fl ora and fauna, the Silent Valley National Park in Kerala is an untouched rainforest that allures with adventure and quietude.

HERE COMES The SUN

WE HANDPICK FIVE ITINERARIES— FROM GLAMPING IN THE HILLS TO CRUISING ALONG THE COAST—TO SORT OUT YOUR NEXT SUMMER HOLIDAY IN INDIA.

The KONGUNADU CHRONICLES

Markets here teem with fresh spices and local ingredients, while tigers and elephants roam the jungles. Away from the madding crowds, Kongunadu, the northwestern region of Tamil Nadu, is a delightful find.

Strawberry Fields Forever

Fringed by the Western Ghats, Panchgani in Maharashtra welcomes you with strawberry farms, glowing sunsets, and gushing waterfalls.

GOLDEN CHARMS

The ethereal sand dunes of Jaisalmer, in Rajasthan, came alive with music concerts and art workshops at the Reth Festival held earlier this year.

LIVING THE Zamindari Life

From renovated homestays to inspired luxury resorts and hipster B&Bs, the rajbaris in and around Kolkata transport you to the golden age of Bengali culture, art, and aesthetics.

Cool Tools

Hit the pool or stay indoors with this list of stylish and handy gadgets that will get you summer-ready.

A HIMALAYAN ODYSSEY

A trek to the highest peak in West Bengal, Sandakphu, rewards you with incredible views of Mount Everest and oodles of adventure.

IDYLL Worship

Soak up the simplicity of village life, challenge yourself to steep hikes, or find serenity in remoteness—there are many ways to be actively passive in Himachal Pradesh’s Barot.

24 Hours In Guwahati

Guwahati, the gateway to Northeast India, boasts an eclectic charm that is rare to cities. A bustling cosmopolitan in the making, the city is a sweet symphony of delectable cuisine, natural marvels, and spirituality. Here’s how you can explore the best of it in 24 hours.

The Life & Times Of Maharajas

Let’s go tale-hunting on a cultural and heritage trail around Mysuru.

White Winter Wonderland

A winter vacation in Ladakh is not for the faint-hearted, but the rewards for answering the siren call of the extreme landscape are many.

Small-Town Wonders

From a floating church to temples that tell stories, the district of Hassan in Karnataka harbours in its hinterland relics of contrasting pasts.

Top 10 Hotels in MUMBAI

Mumbai boasts a wide range of properties, from classic to contemporary, that are perfect for business and leisure trips. Here is a handpicked collection of 10 hotels in the city that encapsulate its upscale vibe.

Craft Stories

Next time you are in Jaipur, spend a day with the craftswomen of the Princess Diya Kumari Foundation, learning their arts, culture, and life stories, at Badal Mahal in City Palace Jaipur complex.

Into the UNKNOWN

India is a land of surprises. And that is why, it is imperative to move away from buttoned-down destinations like the Taj Mahal and the forts of Rajasthan. This year, tread off the beaten path and pick one of these 20 off-beat experiences—hunting for dinosaur fossils in Gujarat, visiting a goat village in Uttarakhand, and many more.

Beyond The Sea In Goa

Situated on the whimsical Divar Island in Goa, Mercure Goa Devaaya Retreat is a stellar example of the state’s growing popularity as a wellness destination.

A Blend Of Old And New

With an interesting play of traditional and contemporary designs, attention to detail, and newly added facilities, the recently relaunched ibis Jaipur Civil Lines stands out from the crowd in the Pink City.

Kolkata

On the eastern bank of River Hooghly in West Bengal sits the mega city of Kolkata—home to roughly 15 million people, including diverse communities such as Chinese, Jewish, and Armenian, besides the indigenous Bengalis. Kolkata came into existence in the late 17th century when the British East India Company arrived at its shores, established a trading post, and christened the area as Calcutta. Until then, there stood only three villages, ruled by the Nawabs of Bengal under Mughal suzerainty. Calcutta became the capital of British India in 1772, and remained so until 1911. The city prospered, and numerous palaces and mansions were built by the British as well as Bengali aristocrats, lending it the epithet of ‘City of Palaces’. The Bengal Renaissance further established Calcutta as the cultural capital of India, where art, film, theatre, drama, and literature flourished alongside modern liberal thinking. Officially renamed as Kolkata in 2001, the city is shaped by its history and heritage, vibrant mix of cultures, lip-smacking food, and bustling markets.

Once Upon A Time

Intriguing tales of heroism from times long gone lurk within the forts, shrines, and battle tanks of Ahmednagar, a secluded town tucked deep inside Maharashtra. Explore its chequered history.

Feels Like Home

They say a place is only as good as its people. The warm hospitality of Jaypee Residency Manor, a celebrated property in Mussoorie, reasserts this notion.

Eat Your Way Through India

India is not only home to diverse cultures and contrasting topography. It is also where long-lost recipes meet fusion food, and fine dining experiences go hand in hand with street-side stalls. Indulge in familiar dishes like butter chicken or discover lesser-known gems like the blue cheese naan on these 10 food trails.