As I write this piece a family friend is doing a WFA (work-from-anywhere) in a city in Maharashtra called Shrivardhan. Amongst a variety of beach destinations in Maharashtra and located in the Raigad district of the state, Shrivardhan is a standout. Against a backdrop of steep limestone cliffs, simple and elegant bungalow resorts dot crescents of palm-shaded, bleached-white sand. I can imagine him taking a leisurely walk on the pristine beaches under the early morning sun and cycling through a vast, yet somewhat empty countryside, slowing down to let cattle cross the two-lane road and stopping to order lunch from a local eatery. He is sending me emails and posting Facebook updates and I can feel his excitement and sense of wonder.
Yes the world has changed beyond recognition. And for most people any travel plans in the future remain uncertain with a majority of them living in countries with travel restrictions amid COVID-19. However, people still want an escape from the mundane. And there still is really no downside to taking a holiday, except for maybe fatigued driving, a little jet lag and a dented bank account. Now isn’t that a small price to pay for a multi-sensory experience even in these troubled times? And most importantly does this give us the opportunity to cultivate a slightly out of the box approach to travel that probably defies convention? Especially since travel remains a mix of the unfamiliar and the predictable—a sort of a reminder that even in this global age of a Homogenising COVID-19 world there are still remarkable and wonderful things to behold—some that I hope still imbue that same simple sense of wonder.
So here goes, a few aspects that one needs to keep in mind in 2021. After all travel is also about opening up your mind and probably this is the best time to push boundaries as well.
Denne historien er fra January 2021-utgaven av Outlook Traveller.
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Denne historien er fra January 2021-utgaven av Outlook Traveller.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Chutneys For Every Season
GROWING UP IN JHARKHAND, I've always been enchanted by the state's culinary landscape. Here, the local cuisine never fails to surprise with its depth and variety.
BADGE OF HONOUR
IN THE DYNAMIC LANDSCAPE of tourism, where greenwashing often taints sustainability, certifications can help distinguish between genuine efforts and marketing gimmicks. Green certification systems encourage businesses to enhance their environmental credentials.
WHEELS OF TIME
IN 1947, TRAINS CARRYING REFUGEES ACROSS THE BORDER WERE SYMBOLIC OF THE TUMULT OF THE PARTITION.
RAILS OF THE Raj
FROM ITS CONCEPTION TO ITS ROLE IN THE NATION'S HISTORY, THE BRITISH INDIAN RAILWAYS IS A PHENOMENON MARKED AS MUCH BY MARVEL AS AVARICE
THE RHYTHM OF BOLLYWOOD
FROM THE RAILROAD THRILLER MISS FRONTIER MAIL 1936) TO SHAH RUKH KHAN DANCING ON A TRAIN IN DIL SE' 1998), TRAINS HAVE GIVEN UNFORGETTABLE SONG SEQUENCES TO MANY HINDI FILMS
MEMORY'S OASIS
REMEMBRANCES OF GROWING UP IN SEALDAH RAILWAY OFFICERS COLONY IN KOLKATA
A FAREWELL × TO FLAVOURS
FROM CUTLETS AND RAILWAY MUTTON CURRY IN DINING CARS TO THE UNREMARKABLE FARE AVAILABLE TODAY, THE JOURNEY OF FOOD ON THE INDIAN RAILWAY IS FASCINATING
HERITAGE ON THE TRACKS
THE ICONIC DARJEELING HIMALAYAN RAILWAY, FONDLY CALLED THE TOY TRAIN,' HAS HELD ITS UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE STATUS SINCE 1999
HIDDEN LIVES
SPANNING 65,000 KILOMETRES THROUGH DENSELY POPULATED INDIA, THE RAILWAYS ARE A BACKDROP TO COUNTLESS STORIES. 'THE UNRESERVED' BY FILMMAKER SAMARTH MAHAJAN CAPTURES A FEW
JOURNEYS WITHIN AND WITHOUT
FOR IMTIAZ ALI, TRAIN JOURNEYS ARE TRANSFORMATIVE, OFFERING GLIMPSES OF INDIA'S DIVERSE SOCIETY AND ITS MANY CULTURES AND RELIGIONS
