CATEGORIES

The Big Blue

On Madeira, a lush dot of Portuguese land, the North Atlantic has shaped every aspect of life for centuries—the economy, the gastronomy, the infrastructure. Nina Caplan explores the cliff-top eyries and beachside towns of this gift from the sea. Photographs by Rodrigo Cardoso

THE IMPACT OF TRAVEL

As the Director of Sustainability at Booking.com, Marianne Gybels uses her knowledge of social sciences to effect real change. In a conversation with RASHIMA NAGPAL , she talks about some model destinations around the world and how the pandemic has affected travellers’ choices.

SKINCARE SECRETS

Spoil yourself silly with organic face oils, Ayurvedic hair cleansers, luxe sleeping masks, and more.

NEW GEAR INCOMING

Autumn brings with it a windfall of exciting launches in India. Add your favourite tech to cart and indulge in retail therapy.

THE ROAD TO MY ROOTS

A dysfunctional family finds harmony and plenty of nostalgia in the hilly forests of Ramgarh, Uttarakhand.

WHERE SIDDHA SERENADES

Offering a mix of stillness, spirituality, and Siddha, a trip to Svatma in Thanjavur promises to soothe the mind, body, and spirit.

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS OF ART

As the Kochi-Muziris Biennale—deferred to November this year due to the pandemic—dusts away the cobwebs at Aspinwall House, unspools the yarn at Cabral Yard, and contextualises the contemporary at Kashi Art Cafe, it is time to look back at some of the art extravaganza’s most thought-provoking narratives.

MASKS OF GLORY

Charida is not the most popular tourism spot in West Bengal. But its obscurity is one of the reasons that made UPASYA B choose to discover the undiscovered ‘mask village’ of India.

THE CROWN JEWEL OF UDAIPUR

Floating like a dream on Lake Udai Sagar, Raffles Udaipur— the brand’s maiden outpost in India—opened its doors last month. Travel + Leisure India & South Asia took off with Bollywood’s very own royalty, Aditi Rao Hydari, for an exclusive cover shoot.

BEAUTY BY DESIGN

After decades of war and political turmoil, Beirut’s artists and makers continue to produce boundary-pushing works as the city rebuilds. GISELA WILLIAMS visits Arthaus, an innovative hotel that offers guests access to Lebanon’s irrepressible creative scene.

BURNING BRIGHT

East Java is home to some of Indonesia’s most spectacular volcanoes, including one with blue fire. NIVEDANA JALAN embarks on a daring expedition.

An Endless Summer

The brand new Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa puts a refreshing European spin on the luxuries of the gorgeous archipelago.

ART FOR EVERYONE

Kiran Nadar’s delightful, diverse collection of 5,000 artworks represents all the major phases of modern and contemporary Indian art at the two venues of the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art. The iconic art connoisseur speaks with SUMEET KESWANI about the importance of accessibility, digital and immersive exhibits, and her favourite cities and museums.

A TRYST WITH THE PAST

The sleepy Malaysian city of Melaka charms visitors with its mishmash of cultures, ancient religious structures, and simple life.

Between The Pines And The Pacific

With its seaside enclaves and dramatic landscapes, the Oregon Coast is tailor-made for road-tripping. Johannes Lichtman takes the wheel for a week of beachgoing, beer tastings, and back-to-nature adventures.

FIT & SMART

Technology has a bad rap in the world of wellness. But if you use it the right way, it may just put you on the fastest path to a healthier, happier you.

Glow Up

Here is a curation of our favourite beauty buys that ensure a hassle-free wellness routine.

CALL TO ACTION

Gone are the days when wellness was a trend reserved for a select few. Now, it’s a life philosophy for most of us. Here are four smart timepieces that can help you stay fit.

Healing In The Middle East

Qatar is geared up to set new standards in Middle Eastern hospitality with world-class spa resorts and wellness retreats.

Camp Sarika, Where Social Distancing Comes Naturally.

Deep in the Utah desert, an otherworldly lodge sets a new standard for serenity. Travis Levius checks in at Camp Sarika, where social distancing comes naturally.

Deepanjali Kanoria ENTREPRENEUR SUSTAINABLE WELLNESS

Deepanjali Kanoria believes personal-care and environment-care should go hand in hand. It is this conviction that led her to launch Heyday: a personal hygiene brand of natural, organic, and biodegradable products. The entrepreneur speaks to ADILA MATRA about organic living, wellness destinations, and her future plans.

ARMY of ONE

We couldn’t have asked for a better star to grace the cover of our wellness edition than the bold and beautiful Huma Qureshi. Playing the perfect host was Hilton Shillim Estate Retreat & Spa, where the Western Ghats stand sentinel and the sun and clouds play a perpetual game of hide and seek.

ABSOLUTELY ILE DE RE

Nothing ever changes on this pristine, out-of-the-way island off the coast of northwestern France, and that’s precisely the point. THOMAS CHATTERTON WILLIAMS traverses the Île de Ré’s miles of bike paths, samples 22 flavours of ice cream, and meets a few donkeys wearing coloured pants.

Om Swami SPIRITUAL LEADER- THE GIFT OF WISDOM

An ardent advocate of kindness, Om Swami has founded a digital platform that seeks to help millions find peace and purpose, one click at a time.

In Nature's Lap

A short drive away from Mumbai and Pune, Hilton Shillim Estate Retreat & Spa—with Dharana at Shillim—is the ideal eco-friendly wellness getaway, finds out AINDRILA MITRA during the cover shoot.

Road to Bliss

The Ozen Collection in the Maldives takes its wellness offerings up a notch with a slew of visiting practitioners and a new spa brand.

STAY ACTIVE

A work-from-home lifestyle often means sluggish routines. RASHIMA NAGPAL speaks to fitness gurus to find out the keys to physical fitness and the many forms of workout that can be personalised.

Why We Love India

Just when we thought India had beaten the odds and overcome the pandemic, a deadly second wave hit the country in April 2021. Life came to a standstill again, the streets were stripped of their colours, the intricate social fabric of communities torn apart, and the international borders sealed. Now, coronavirus cases are on the decline again, the door is ajar, and hope peeks out. As India waits to welcome visitors to its shores, around the world people who share a special connection with the country recall their most cherished memories and express a yearning to come back—once travel is safe again.

HIGH ON HERITAGE

In the brief lull between two waves of the raging pandemic, a trip uncovered assorted treasures in Madhya Pradesh: from the ornate palaces of Orchha to the iconic temples of Khajuraho, and the wild denizens of Panna Tiger Reserve.

INTO THE UNKNOWN

On a 10-day road trip across eastern and central Arunachal Pradesh, RUTH DSOUZA PRABHU finds fresh perspective and a world that abounds in pristine beauty.