The Scandinavian Outlier

Scandinavian countries search for simplicity

RAISING THE BAR: PURI'S GOLDEN BEACH IS BLUE FLAG CERTIFIED

A stretch of fine golden sand, choppy waters and a dose of mystical charm, Puri’s Golden Beach offers the thrill of nature as well as spiritual salvation

LOST SPRING, Autumn Sonata

A nip in the air, familiar scents and a walk through Delhi’s green lung was the much needed escape.

OLD WORLD, NEW CHARM

Hidden treasures, cultural richness, and numerous tribes, Chhattisgarh will leave you yearning for more

Awadhi SOJOURN

Going past the names, dates and battles, SIMRRAN GILL finds herself lost in the regal shades of Lucknow

What's Hot In The Food World?

Global Adventures For The Desi Palate

The Great Himalayan Recovery

Nestled comfortably in the lap of the Himalayas, Uttarakhand is where myth and history walk hand in hand. With rivers, ravines, and natural ecosystems, it ranks high on the mountainscapes list. Equal parts adventure and divinity, the state, less than two decades old, is heavily dependent on tourism, thanks to the favorable climate that it offers throughout the year.

Land of the Dawn-Lit Mountains

ON AN UNSEASONABLY WARM October morning in Delhi that made me pine for the jungle encrusted hills of the northeast, I received a Facebook message from a British journalist and travel writer, Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent. Antonia was planning to travel through Nagaland and wanted to make a stop at the Tzu Valley, where I worked with local communities on a conservation project. I was intrigued when she mentioned she had written a book on her motorbike journey through Arunachal Pradesh—a land lately forgotten by the outside world, still bewilderingly wild and peopled by tribes with fascinating cultural and folkloric traditions, beliefs, and practices. Whose origins remain shrouded in mystery.

RIDE THE WIND

The quiet of the road, the sheer peace of mind and some quality ‘me time’. Here’s why you'll crave that solo bike ride more and more

THE WOODS CAME CALLING

People spend a lifetime envisioning the wildlife they’ll see on a safari. ROSHNI SUBRAMANIAN with ‘no hopes attached’ recalls her maiden voyage into the wild

TRAILING Solo

I USED TO GO RUNNING EVERY evening at sunset from my lodge at Bandhavgarh to a village nearby. One evening, as I was walking back, I heard langur alarm calls. They were excited and frantic, and I knew what that meant—a big cat. After about 45 minutes, I saw something come out of the bushes, look at me, and charge. Almost instinctively, I jumped up and yelled back, and the leopard ran away. The female came out of the bushes next and simply walked away. I guess I won alpha-off.”

ON THE other SIDE

Mountains and valleys, pirs and pandits, turquoise lakes and the great Himalaya. The sounds of Kashmir have finally come to life.

WHERE THE WILDERNESS THRIVES

Answer the call of the wild as seasons transition and wildlife sanctuaries and national parks across the country open their gates for an escape in nature. Here is Team OT’s handy guide to spotting the rarest of the rare!

Eka Pada Galavasana: Flying Crow Pose

Also known as the Flying Pigeon Pose, this highly advanced asana is a part of ashtanga yoga in its third series. The idea isn’t to nail the pose as much as it is to enjoy the process. The sequence leads to the physical strengthening of the core, arms, and hips, along with an improvement in balance. The journey to the final asana sharpens mental focus and boosts confidence. If carpe diem was an asana, this would be it.

BOUNCING Back

Karan Kaushik interviewed Rajasthan Chief minister Ashok Gehlot about post-pandemic tourism guidelines in the state and the new tourism policy announced

What's Hot In The Food World?

Global adventures for the desi palate

The long JOURNEY

THE LIST OF BEST PLACES TO EXPLORE

The French Connection

THE INTERMINABLE LOCKDOWNS and work from homes have spawned myriad chefs all over the world.

THE FLYING tigress

On a trek in search of the hanging monastery, TRINETRA PAUL finds herself scaling a mountain, her fears, and getting a new perspective

The Danish Summer

THIS SUMMER HAS BEEN an exceptional one in Scandinavia.

ODE TO THE ruins

Happiness is found in the unlikeliest of places, and sometimes it’s found within. The ruins of Hampi were a catalyst to this introspection.

Mysuru - Meet The General manager

ROYAL ORCHID HOTELS MYSURU’S SUMAN NANAIAH

Gujarati Undhiyu

It is no surprise that Gujaratis are known for their love for travel and exceptional quest for food.

KERALA - Niraamaya

Luxury places

ALL-DAY DINING - A Desi Touch

COMORIN BRINGS TOGETHER a restaurant, bar, café and a curated market, all under one roof.

Book Reviews 76

Hidden places: an inspired traveller’s guide

WRITER'S BLOCK 78

Janaki Lenin brings us into the wild with her latest natural page-turner

In Own Your Backyard

We’re all up for experiencing new cultures. But you’d be surprised how much there is to see and how little you probably know about your own city. Here’s Team OT unlocking your hidden treasures

MEET THE GENERAL MANAGER

JW MARRIOTT JUHU’S SHARAD PURI

PORTRAIT OF A City

A unique mix of history, modern living and unending charm, Hyderabad is where the Irani chai is more of a legend than in Iran, says AROSHI HANDU