Shaped With Love
India Outbound|July/August 2017

Warm and welcoming, Sri Lanka is all heart and no hype.

Benaifer J Mirza
Shaped With Love

Right from – “Oh, why didn’t you go along with some of your friends, or probably in a group?” – to my best friend’s mother-in-law telling me, “If you didn’t have any company, I would have come along with you,” – my trip to Sri Lanka was met with quite a few surprising and judgmental reactions. The reason being that I was heading for my first-ever solo trip!

A solo trip was always on my bucket list. While I had seen a number of places, including Paris and Singapore, on my own, I always had some uncle and aunty (read: stick to curfews), or friends (read: let’s all “chill” together) to go back to. Exactly why I wanted to do a trip where it was I, me and myself throughout the trip. And, there was no better, more peaceful, and, most importantly, safe place than Sri Lanka to venture out for a solo trip.

Coming from a buzzing city, such as Mumbai, the calm and peace of Sri Lanka is quite a welcoming respite. While most people have the typical itinerary of Colombo-Bentota-Kandy when they visit Sri Lanka, I included unheard destinations, such as Dambulla, Nuwara Eliya, Sigiriya and Galle, to my list, and that is what made the difference. My choicest takeaways

This story is from the July/August 2017 edition of India Outbound.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the July/August 2017 edition of India Outbound.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM INDIA OUTBOUNDView All
La Mamounia is an oasis for travellers
India Outbound

La Mamounia is an oasis for travellers

In order to cement its foothold in the Indian market, Moroccan luxury resort La Mamounia, located in the picturesque town of Marrakech, recently organised a visit to Mumbai and Delhi, engaging with top-tier travel industry partners from India. General Manager Pierre Jochem tells India Outbound that the resort, which recently completed 100 years, is targetting the Indian visitors seeking to explore Morrocan art, culture and heritage, besides its captivating beauty.

time-read
1 min  |
November - December 2024
Africa has come a long way as travel destination for Indians
India Outbound

Africa has come a long way as travel destination for Indians

The perception of Africa as a tourism destination has come a long way in India as travellers from India have gone beyond safaris to discover other elements that make travel to Africa attractive. The change is not just amongst Indian tourists, but destinations have also learnt more about their Indian clients and are taking steps to customise their offer to the Indian visitors, writes Alpa Jani, Founder, Ace Connect, a tourism marketing company.

time-read
4 mins  |
November - December 2024
ASCENIC RAIL TRIP ACROSS BALKANS
India Outbound

ASCENIC RAIL TRIP ACROSS BALKANS

A rail journey through the Western Balkans, from Serbia's vibrant capital Belgrade to the culturally rich Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is a more tranquil, scenic way to explore the region's breathtaking mountains, lakes and historical towns at a leisurely pace.

time-read
6 mins  |
November - December 2024
Shahnaz Husain's cool tips for skincare during travel
India Outbound

Shahnaz Husain's cool tips for skincare during travel

Celebrity beautician and hair care expert Shahnaz Husain tells India Outbound on her secrets for skin-care and hair-care while travelling.

time-read
3 mins  |
November - December 2024
Plovdiv: Timeless jewel in Bulgarian crown
India Outbound

Plovdiv: Timeless jewel in Bulgarian crown

With a history spanning over two millennia, Plovdiv is not only one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe, but also a vibrant conduit linking Bulgaria's past and its present.

time-read
4 mins  |
November - December 2024
Navigating Natural Wonders of UNESCO World Heritage Sites
India Outbound

Navigating Natural Wonders of UNESCO World Heritage Sites

For us city dwellers, even the sound of a cuckoo might seem exotic. So now imagine discovering a vastness filled with shifting dunes and interlaced emerald lagoons.

time-read
5 mins  |
November - December 2024
Explore the Jewel of Southern Spain, Seville
India Outbound

Explore the Jewel of Southern Spain, Seville

Home to one of the largest historic centres of Europe and three world heritage sites, the stunning city of Seville, located by the picturesque Guadalquivir River in southern Spain, offers tourists an experience rich in history, culture, art, gastronomy and much more.

time-read
5 mins  |
November - December 2024
UPI IN INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A GAME CHANGER FOR INDIAN TRAVELLERS
India Outbound

UPI IN INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A GAME CHANGER FOR INDIAN TRAVELLERS

Having revolutionised digital transactions in India, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is now expanding globally. After tepid beginnings in the immediate neighbourhood, UPI is gaining acceptance in many countries making a win-win for Indian tourists and businesses overseas that are increasingly eager to tap the burgeoning Indian outbound travel market.

time-read
7 mins  |
November - December 2024
Debuting at COP29, can tourism lead march towards curbing carbon emissions?
India Outbound

Debuting at COP29, can tourism lead march towards curbing carbon emissions?

Tourism will make its debut in global climate change negotiations in the next round of discussions, COP29, that opens in Baku later this month. So far, the discussions have spectacularly failed to produce any notable outcome, besides platitudes and numerous missed commitments. The global tourism industry has a golden opportunity to lead the way and show the world the true path to curbing carbon emissions. But the sector's own record in this aspect is hardly blemishless.

time-read
4 mins  |
November - December 2024
Bintan Island: SEESE
India Outbound

Bintan Island: SEESE

A haven of nature, with thriving flora and fauna, the Indonesian island of Bintan, that is barely an hour away from Singapore by ferry and comes with easy visa regimes, is an ideal extension for any Indian visitor to Singapore, looking to add a touch of wilderness to the experience.

time-read
8 mins  |
November - December 2024