CATEGORIES

Princess Diaries

Princess Rajyashree Kumari of the royal family of Bikaner is a multi-faceted woman. She won the Arjuna Award for shooting at 16, has authored a coffee-table book on their home—the Lallgarh Palace—and is now actively involved in its preservation and restoration.

Princely Airs

Patiala may be justifiably popular for its infamously large peg, but it retains vestiges of the opulence and fl amboyance of its maharajas and their lust for life.

Bengali Beauty

Kalimpong may lack the glam, the bustle and the crowds of its more famous cousin, Darjeeling. But this sleepy little hill town has its own history, a unique loveliness and a truly soothing charm.

Igatpuri Monsoon Meditation

The monsoon turns Igatpuri into a gorgeous expanse of green.

Mirik Charmed By The Lake

Mirik, nestled in the foothills of the majestic ranges of the Himalaya in Darjeeling district, is far from the madding crowd and less touristy than popular Darjeeling, which can get overcrowded, particularly in season.

A Real Work Of Art

Grand Mercure Surya Palace, Vadodara

Life Is A Beach

Come December, it’s time to head to the beach. Every coastal destination, from the more popular ones of the west to the scenic beaches of the east, has a distinct identity, and while all offer you sun, surf and sand, each one has its own kind of magic.

The Island Of Masks

A pink cycle may be an unusual mode of transport. But, boy, it can take you places—to lovely villages on India’s largest river island, to a rice beer quaffing session, to historical centres of tradition and art.

Malabar Magic

Tucked away in the verdant environs of North Malabar lies beautiful Vatakara, a cradle of Keralan tradition and culture, with no end of lovely sights and experiences to assimilate and carry home.

Hill Retreat

Expansive vistas of the Himalaya, shaded wooded glens and quaint colonial bungalows have made it a writers’ getaway for ages. Away from the bustle of adjacent Mussoorie, explore the charm that is Landour.

Easy Like A Sunday Morning

Udvada is a quaint little town—a village, really—with a rich past and a lazy present, nestled comfortably by the sea in south Gujarat. Time moves slowly here, but it does not really matter for no one seems to be going anywhere.

The Big Apple

Surrounded by the snow-tipped Himalaya, with the Sutlej river flowing rapidly below, Thanedar’s orchard-studded valley is a peaceful sliver of Himachal, where time is not of the essence.

Here Lived A Queen

Once the capital of Maratha queen Ahilyabai Holkar, Maheshwar looms above the languid waters of the holy Narmada, enfolding within itself history, heritage and fascinating mythologies.

North By Northeast

Nature in North Sikkim is raw and rugged. Each bend of the treacherously narrow and winding roads here presents stunning views of the towering Himalaya unlike anywhere else.

Home Is Where The Heritage Is

Behind the veil of modernity and assimilation, lie remnants of Goa’s Portuguese heritage—in the large, once opulent mansions of some of the most illustrious families of the sunshine state.

View From The Top

Ajeet Bajaj, an adventure enthusiast and 25-year-old Deeya have become the first ever Indian father-daughter team to summit Mount Everest. After almost a year of planning and preparation, the two embarked on the journey to scale the towering mountain on April 19 from base camp. Exactly 28 days later, they were unfurling the Indian tricolour at the peak. It was an emotional moment, as they tell Discover India.

10 Cleanest Destinations In India To Breathe Fresh This April

There’s magic in the night, a sweet smell in the air, the eyes rest on pleasant sights—this April, we take you to the cleanest destinations in the country. As they say, take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but footprints.

Mansions In The Mountains

Gabled roofs, Gothic windows and English weathervanes make Garli in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, a truly surreal heritage village.

10 Most Fascinating Train Journeys In India

There is no other journey like the Great Bharatiya Rail Yatra on the planet. Satyajit Ray knew it, Paul Theroux appreciated it, and Wes Anderson is in on it too. “In other countries, a long wait at a train station is a dull thing and tedious, but one has no right to have that feeling in India,” Mark Twain wrote in his travelogue, Following the Equator. “You have the monster crowd of bejewelled natives, the stir, the bustle, the confusion, the shifting splendors of the costumes—dear me, the delight of it, the charm of it are beyond speech!” The romance of train travel in India is legendary, taken to epic proportions by Bollywood. Remember Rajesh Khanna serenading Sharmila Tagore as the Darjeeling toy train snaked its way up the hills? Or Shah Rukh Khan getting jiggy with Malaika Arora atop the Ooty mountain train? It’s difficult to find a symbol which is as practical and mass-friendly as it is romantic. After all, Indian Railways transports almost 2.5 crore travellers every day, and runs almost 11,000 trains on a daily basis. Here, we list 10 of the most fascinating train journeys in India, from heritage to scenic to uber luxury.

​​​​​​​Far Pavilions

Pining for the mellifluous voice of Rani Roopmati and the soft strains of music that once reverberated in its corridors, sits forlorn the citadel of Mandu, atop the hill watching the revered Narmada gently flow by.

Of Caves Deep & Waterfalls High

The densest forest outside of the Amazon is found in the state of Chhattisgarh. This bountiful landscape boasts of ancient caves, stunning stalactites and stalagmites, and thundering waterfalls that are a study in magnificence.

Ziro Tribal Beats

The heat of summer dissolves by June and Ziro, situated 100 km from Itanagar, beckons with its unspoilt natural beauty, its intriguing tribal culture and its passion for music.

Shaken & Stirred

Winner of the India finals of the international bartending competition, World Class 2018, Gaurav Dhyani tells DI that he loves to travel to explore the local flavours of a place and infuse them in his liquid creations.

Blow Hot Blow Cold

You’re either a mountain person or a water person, they say. India’s winters offer you both, in every possible way—whether it’s skiing in Gulmarg, trekking in McLeodganj, sunning on the beaches of Goa or soaking in the spiritual environs of Pondy.

A Different Beat

The sound of music was at its best, the artistes in their element and the setting was enchanting no less—this was the Rajasthan International Folk Festival held in Jodhpur.

Tale Of Four Cities

The state of Gujarat has been highly inventive when it comes to promoting itself in the field of tourism, often bringing forward new, exciting experiences for the discerning traveller. Though my stay in Gujarat was brief, I made the most of it, starting from the epicentre of culture, Ahmedabad, to the historical city of Champaner. I went on to explore some great cities, revealing a Gujarat I had not experienced before. The land of the Mahatma, this time, was wrapped in the colours of Navaratri and a vibe of celebrations was evident everywhere.

What's Cooking?

Even after scaling the base of the highest peak, Chef Sanjay Thakur loves to stay close to his Indian roots. Having his name added in the Guinness World Records recently, he talks to DI about the record, his love for Himalayan food and more, at the World Heritage Cuisine Summit & Food Festival 2018 held in Amritsar this October.

Coonoor A Lot Like Home

There’s an inimitable joy in visiting a town where unassuming but historic establishments—schools, parks, old shops—and the people are bound by an affable and strong camaraderie.

Between Two Worlds

The noise of the city or the poetry in the forest—the second edition of the IN THE WOODS festival throws up some interesting existential questions.

The Pilgrim's Progress

For centuries, the devout of every faith have stepped out to seek God—as a ritual obligation, to perform an act of devotion, to atone for sins, implore a grace, or seek a miracle. The reasons for pilgrimages could be as varied as the pilgrims themselves, but every religion has places of religious-spiritual importance that draw the pious.