Category: Tours Travel

To drink a secret brewed in secret

Evening settles over Phobjikha Valley like a silk shawl, its rolling meadows bathed in the…

The stay is the trip

In an age of burnout, micro-itineraries, and “must-see” lists that feel like second jobs, the…

Old Monks

Beneath the ruins lie deeper stories—Roman and Satavahana coins, pieces of pottery, and religious relics…

Past, present, and the peculiar

The cobbled streets of Nuremberg in Germany are haunted by dark shadows. It's Nazi territory…

The season of seaside couture

Hospitality has long flirted with fashion, but this season, the affair has blossomed into full-blown…

From Cob to Concept is Rural Mod

Two kilometres beyond the last motorable road in the Garhwal Himalayas, a story unfolds that…

For the Sake of Good Times

Interestingly, the quality of sake is an expression of a region’s rice quality—with heavy polishing…

What lies beneath

A sleek, black leviathan rests silently on land, its massive form contrasting sharply with the…

Keeping it inn the family

Step off the train at Buñol and this Spanish town will snuggle you with its…

Izakaya nights in Mumbai

An informal, vibrant setting serving sakes and beers with an array of small, tapas-style dishes,…

Blues in the wind

With its white-washed houses and bright blue-hued doors, flower pots set on its crenelated walls,…

Into the green silence

The first thing you notice is the weight of the green. Not the polite emerald…

Saints and Spirits on the Black Sea

Forget beach bars and banana boats. Bulgaria’s Anastasia Island, a speck in the Black Sea…

Hitting the High Notes

As a group of five Indians enter the main auditorium of the Royal Opera House…

Nepal opens 97 remote peaks for free climbing to boost tourism

KATHMANDU: Nepal has opened nearly 100 peaks in its remote western region for free climbing…

Plating Yesterday Today

On a blistering July afternoon in Shantiniketan, guests gather beneath the terracotta eaves of a…

‘Meat’ing and greeting

From sourcing ingredients for that authentic mediterranean taste to a kitchen helmed by Afghani chef,…

A city of stone and solemnity

Tucked into the vast plains of northwest Spain, the city of León emerges like a…

Kitchens of memory and migration

Some places don’t shout for your attention. They simply linger like saffron on the tongue…

Yacht the talk in India

Yacht companies are also catering to specific needs of their Indian clientele. Whether it’s installing…

In the shadow of the serpent

Some 317 kilometers south of Darwin, the mirror-still waters of the Katherine River cut a…

The world is its oyster

Native Whitstable oysters—flat, earthy, and harvested by hand—enjoy protected status and are loved across Britain.…

Games people play

The noon heat clings to the cobblestones of Plaza Mayor as the ancient bells of…

Holidays in hell

Earlier this year, India unveiled Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan—a bold new initiative turning historic and active…

Ass you like it in Wesel

The donkey’s link to Wesel goes back to the 19th century, when the playful rhyme—“Wer…

Living legacy, one room at a time

The traditional Parsi house with European, Hindu and Islamic architectural features has an open courtyard…

Rock that became a temple

In Cave One, Devaraja Lena—the Cave of the Divine King—is a massive 14-metre reclining Buddha,…

The Karakol kaleidoscope

In the far north-eastern corner of Kyrgyzstan lies Karakol, the nation’s fourth-largest city. Founded some…

Wheels, meals and all in between

Bicycles glide past rows of colourful houses, bursts of bougainvillea, quaint cafes and elfin boutique…

Dubai’s booming restaurant scene is feeling the heat of high costs and high failure rates

Dubai has roughly nine expatriate residents for every Emirati citizen. Most of its private sector…

Bean There, Brew That

“Someone sipped a cup and said, ‘This reminds me of home,’” she says, recalling the…

A town for gold diggers

The discovery of the precious metal in New South Wales and spreading to other regions…

Having a whale of a time

Aboard the ship, you can’t help but wait with bated breath for a real-life Free…

Let’s get Personal

Nestled in the mist-shrouded hills of Coorg, Evolve Back Chikkana Halli Estate rises from the…

Flower that blooms in the desert

Part archaeological wonder and part landscaped public space, the Al Hili Archaeological Park showcases remnants…

India on the high seas

The shift isn’t just a trend—it’s backed by numbers. As per the Tourism Ministry, in…

Making waves, hugging the shore

If you’ve been on the sea for much of your life, it is natural to…

Here it’s not silent as a grave

It starts with a soft crunch underfoot. Fallen leaves, gravel paths, or just the hush…

Chasing Rainbows in Taiwan

The sound of shutterbugs pepper the background as visitors literally hijack every inch of the…

The Glitz and Glamour of Brühl

Opulent, extravagant, over-the-top—even these adjectives can't quite describe the glory of this place: The 120-room,…

Farway Festival of Eclectic Esoterica

The road leading to the land of the Lisu tribe in Arunachal Pradesh is long…

An old city in the new world

As one moves deeper into the heart of the city, the architectural masterpiece and decaying…

The forest of enchantments

The biggest draw, however, is the big cats—the jungle has a good population of tigers…

These trees exist in only one place on Earth — Now climate change and goats threaten their survival

But it’s the dragon’s blood tree that has long captured imaginations, its otherworldly form seeming…

Beyond the beaches of Bali

Amid the sun-soaked beaches and bustling bars of Bali, where party-goers often lose sight of…

A blend of history and luxury

The stunning Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna Hotel has reopened its doors after a glamorous refresh,…

A peruvian bull run

The little bull has many stylised features that have their own symbolisms. For instance, the…

Getaways that give back

With its vast biodiversity, India is uniquely positioned to lead this change. From the icy…

A blend of the northeast

On a balmy summer evening, the promise of a great view leads you on a…

Here’s where Bengalureans are travelling this Summer

Evergreen Favourites - Thailand and BhutanBhutan and Thailand remain favoured due to their affordability and…

Do It like the Danes

Torvehallerne Market in Copenhagen, Denmark, is a great place to start a food tour, packed…

Aboard the Swedish Titanic

In the heart of Stockholm, where maritime history echoes through wooden beams and centuries-old nautical…

Where the wild things are

Some places seem untouched by time—where nature unfolds at its own rhythm, far removed from…

The mystique of the masons

A brooding, stone-clad structure looms tall along North Broad Street in downtown Philadelphia. The Masonic…

Stories etched in stone

Between the 6th and 3rd centuries BC, the capital city of Dadan rose to great…

Remains of the deadly day

Who would have thought that cycles could win wars? In 1942, during World War II,…

Footsteps in a tale of two Cities

Many Dickens-focused walking tours also take in Seven Dials, then a slum of “dirty men,…

The Ugly Indian Tourist

INDIAN SMALL TOWN MONEY POWER IS DRIVING TRAVELIn the late ‘90s and beginning of the…

A spouses and smugglers walkabout

Good Friday is a day of remembrance and reflection. But Mousehole, a picturesque fishing village…

The Sounds and Scents of Salalah

The thrill peaks further at Al Mughsail Beach, with its famed and ancient blowholes created…

Tell it to the birds

Spot the common pochard, black kite, white-throated kingfisher, and other waterbirds. Or, take a leisurely…

It’s shakalaka blue bloom @ ‘Kumbalangi Nights’

Need for a proper tourism planBut not everything is bright and blue here. Satheesan V…

Down the memory lane: Moscow, a winter wonderland

As the summer sun shines brighter every passing day, I am reminded of my winter…

Pitching luxury

I magine an Instagram-worthy sunset over tranquil backwaters, with a sky full of stars. As…

Silence of the lands

The Rise of Silent LuxuryTravel, once synonymous with indulgence—lavish hotels, fine dining, and adventurepacked itineraries—is…

Every Pet has Its Day

When Sajal Dubey, a 27-year-old Dubai based businessman, boarded an Air India flight with his…

Hitting Rock High in Goreme

Whimsical rock formations are the first thing that captivate visitors in Goreme, a quaint village…

On Stranger Tides

London has long been defined by the river that runs through it. In Victorian times,…

On stranger tides

London has long been defined by the river that runs through it. In Victorian times,…

Brahmaputra’s summer gift, Sandbar island in Guwahati

Local food makes the experience come alive on your taste buds, with aloo pitika packed…

Malaysian tourism department says over half of country’s tourists hail from South India

Wedding tourism is also a rapidly growing sector, with Indian couples increasingly choosing Malaysia for…

Spain’s Toledo, the city of three cultures

The best view of Spain’s ancient capital Toledo is from Mirador del Valle—a lookout point…

Hanging with the Irish by the sea

On the Whitsuntide weekend (a bank holiday in mid-June) of 1952, students Brian Varley and…

All that Jazz

In 2013, Zian Bhamgara, stage name Zian B, had just returned from studying jazz vocals…

Stepping up for the Punjab

In Pune, she trained under Yogini Gandhi of the Lucknow gharana for almost 17 years…

River sutra of hidden hierarchies

English philosopher Herbert Spencer’s theory of evolution, popularised by Charles Darwin argues survival of the…

Pack Your Bags

The creative directors at label Satya Paul have brought a travel-ready collection for those who…

Sax and the city

It’s three in the afternoon at the iconic French Quarter of New Orleans in the…

Denwa Backwater Escape: Wild and high

Tucked away from the well-worn tourist paths of Madhya Pradesh’s Kanha and Bandhavgarh lies Satpura’s…

Where myth meets reality

A little further on, Dhanushkodi, the ghost town, holds its own poignant allure to the…

Holding fort in the happiest country

Marc Dujardin, in his study, From Living to Propelling Monument, writes: “Contrary to most medieval…

A run of the salt desert

Imagine a stretch of road flanked on both sides by the waters of the Arabian…

Lucy in the sky with diamonds via night tourism

Traditionally, vacation itineraries were packed with daytime activities—visiting monuments, basking on sun-soaked beaches, exploring bustling…

A Bohemian rhapsody

As the setting sun glimmers on the baroque cathedral at the Old Town Square at…

Shimmering on the Silk Route

For travelphiles who grew up on a steady diet of Silk Route lore, perhaps the…

The Island that César built

A vast expanse of wasteland, rugged and hostile, filled with colours of the earth—black, grey,…

Fort runner

To grab a fantastic view, visitors have to climb up a cobblestone path made of…

All quiet in Clovelly

Charming historic houses cling to the wooded hillside, lining the steep cobbled street that snakes…

The tracks of wars past

The first official photograph ever of a tank in action is at the Battle of…

The ladle of the exile

India has few destination restaurants. Naar, a cozy, 16-cover one-of-a-kind restaurant in a tiny village…

Up above the world

Right at the start, a few guests want to give up. But instructor Adnan eggs…

Words worth

The Daunt bookstore almost diverts attention from the substantial collection of volumes it is stocked…

Guerrillas in the midst of Barcelona

Make no mistake, Barcelona is a walking city. And only by doing so do you…

On Picasso’s trail in Malaga

Walking the narrow cobblestone streets with houses with green shutters on either side, is the…

Watch and wait

Sleep early, wake up early” is the motto of the enthusiastic guides at the Satpura…

Going, going, gone

Garima Sinha, a 32-year-old marketing professional and avid traveller from Noida, made an unusual decision…

A tale between two countries

One of the oldest cities in Scandinavia and home to the world’s oldest amusement park,…

Sharp surge in Indians travelling abroad, UAE and Thailand remain top destinations

The report also stated that international travel search volumes remain relatively steady across all seasons,…

More Indians than ever are going on holiday abroad—so where are they heading and why?

The story is similar for British visas. Many people in India, as well as other applicants,…

Time stands still in Schiltach

A group of Spanish tourists is engrossed in admiring a timber-crafted house in the town…

Of Pinocchio and Holy Relics

Walking through the narrow alleys and cobblestoned lanes of the town, one comes across patrician…

Calling on Armenia’s Van Gogh

As you sit down with Armenian painter Lusik Aguletsi’s family—the artist was often called the…

Hospitably Ethnic by the Sea

In the scenic coastal village of Dombe near Karnataka’s Byndoor, a homestay comes alive in…

Malappuram to the Mountains: Afeedha’s fearless solo journey

When she received her acceptance letter and moved to Delhi for her studies, Afeedha took…

Swachh Sikkim Village

Cleanliness begins at home. In 2017, Dawa Choden Bhutia, the panchayat president of Phadamchen village…

Inside outside in Spain’s Cordoba

Geraniums, roses, palm trees, azahar (orange blossom) and bright bougainvillea bob their heads in terracotta…

A house for Ms Pearl S Buck

Manicured gardens and green lawns, historic stone archways, and a rustic greenhouse spread across 68…

Haunting tales on historic streets of Georgetown in Washington DC

The US is gearing up to get a new President. Anticipation and anxiety is building…

Pride and patrimony

Is coexistence of man and animal possible when there is a deep-rooted respect for nature?…

One man is an Island

Majuli has been screaming for attention. It is the world’s largest inhabited river island and…

Where conservation meets culinary delight at PCF

Imagine waking up to the cacophony of peacocks and the faint sound of waves crashing…

Crouching tiger at hidden Rukhad

A jungle hare caught in the headlight of safari jeeps stops momentarily to rear up…

Heeding the call of Shiva

“Har har Mahadev...Har Har Mahadev...”Each time you feel it is impossible to take another step…

Awaiting a golden moment

In 1765, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia defeated Afghan invader Ahmad Shah Abdali in the Battle of…

The other side of Nepal

A striking pagoda with cantilevered wooden roofs, towers above Bhaktapur, a royal city in the…

From forts to culinary delights in Sri Lanka’s coastal town

Building it up: Galle’s British and Dutch colonial architecture exhibit similar order and symmetry. The…

Payana Museum showcases 50 years of vintage car collection

A drive to Srirangapatna that sits along the Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway is a car metaphor. You…

Moda Goa Museum: House of memories

I’m a big dreamer who made most of my dreams come true. One dream was…

The Jeju rock show

A teenager wearing black shorts and a pink T-shirt is about to start hiking to…

The French silk route

Travelling to Lyon from Paris is taking a two-hour train ride to the Medieval Ages.…

Unfazed by tourists, masters of the jungle

Tiger lore at the reserve includes stories about how Maya, the current queen of Tadoba,…

A modern haven with a nostalgic railway twist

The hotel is designed by Singaporean DP Architects, who strove to highlight the brand’s history…

The Two Moors Way: Coast-to-coast

Steep craggy cliffs climb skyward, puffed-up clouds scatter through the sky, and the wind thrusts…

Dune by the yurt

Back at the camp, a leisurely camel safari awaits. At a giant communal yurt made…

Restoration of Fort Barwara: Past forward

In early spring when the sun peeks out from behind the Aravalli range looming over…

A Ruinous Good Time

Interestingly, ruin pubs have a short history—they are only two decades old. In the 20th…

The Temple Scientists

Back to the roots’ is the ethos of Ezha, which in Malayalam means ‘thread’. Three…

Travellers without borders

The Northeast of India, and its neighbour Myanmar aka Burma is knitted with secret forest…

Realm of thrones

Egypt’s illustrious history is the protagonist in a one-of-a-kind drama that unfolds within the thick…

Up above the world so high

Taking a walk means diffrent things in different places. Insta Reels show off the thrill…

Village of healing

A sunflower field catches your eye as you drive towards Shilimb village in Maharashtra. The…

Hyderabad’s ‘Palash ki Talaash’ walk celebrates nature’s wonders

She adds, “Its unique keel petal requires birds to make an effort to reach the…

Discover Japan’s serene cherry blossom havens

As winter fades away and spring approaches, Japan eagerly awaits the annual delight of cherry…

Pangot in Uttarakhand haven for birdwatchers and nature lovers

A little detour from the main Ramnagar-Nainital road changes the perspective completely. The drive to…

Bean there, brewed that

Did you know that Coorg is regarded as the coffee cup of India?” naturalist Bindu…

Discover motoring nirvana while drifting across the great Scandinavian freeze

The Art of DriftingDrifting may have been popularised in mainstream media by neon-bathed visions of…

Castle Royale

During the Mughal Empire and British colonial period, Gujarat’s Saurashtra region was divided into about…

Eat your way through Mussoorie and Landour!

Situated amidst the lush hills of Uttarakhand, Mussoorie and Landour stand as quintessential hill stations,…

Rail travel at bullet speeds

High-speed trains have revolutionised surface transportation, let alone railways around the world. A high-speed rail…

Words’ worth in Wales

Hay-on-Wye wasn’t always known as the ‘town of books’. Bookseller Richard Booth, the self-proclaimed ‘King…

Shikar Royale

The thrill of chancing on a wild cat from the open jeep keeps one alert…

Kingdom of Quiet 

Blue should be the national colour of Bhutan. The clear skies in the backdrop of…

Jungle nook at Estate Plavu in Kerala’s Wayanad district

Green trees as far as the eye can see. Blue skies an expansive canopy above.…

Taking a walk in the woods at Spain

How do you spend an afternoon in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain? You could grab your…

Warrior deluxe: A set-up straight out of the 17th-century Maratha era

At The Chavni, the soft golden hue of the setting sun welcomes guests to the…

Exotic sights, good food & slew of activities

Enter the Food Court, the barbecued smell of kebabs, aromatics, and other dishes will make…

Three wellness spots to rejuvenate mind, body and soul

Hua Hin - Rewire your system in Hua Hin, Thailand’s wellness epicentre. Hua Hin, which…

Radisson hotel group expands its presence in Jammu & Kashmir

The location is easily accessible by road from the Mandi Bus Station and Srinagar International…

Tips to make your concert experience worth it

Concerts have always been big business, but with people traversing oceans for their favourite artistes,…

The Monks who embalmed themselves

No meat. No alcohol. Also forbidden were ‘Ten Cereals,’ consisting of rice, wheat, soybeans, adzuki beans,…

The going gets greener in Sri Lanka

For a country roughly the size of Tasmania in Australia, Sri Lanka has a surprising…

The Swiss life; a journey into the Ballenberg Swiss Open-Air Museum

Where did old farmhouses, stables, bakehouses or barns in Switzerland, which were replaced by modern…

Of Potters and Tigers; explore Saj in the Forest 

The property also arranges for drives around the picturesque Kohka Lake and backwater safaris, besides…

Here’s what to do and where to go in the city of lights 

Then there are over a century-old luxury department stores such as Galeries Lafayette and Printemps that have…

Dagshai Jail Museum tells stories of confinement and solitude

Following the latter, the jail was visited by its most famous resident, Mahatma Gandhi, who…

Magic Mushrooms

But the high price of the product inhibits a scale-up. “The cost is five times…

Emerging from the Shadows

Technological innovations and modern entertainment in the 20th century, however, ushered in profound changes, making…

Nupur Tron: Forging an East-West connect

Exiles can be long if they have a cause. Nupur Tron, founder and director of…

Filling in on art in Philly

“One of the things that makes the art and culture scene in Philadelphia so wonderful…

Journey to Turkestan- the second Mecca of the East

It is a scenic drive to Turkestan from Shymkent in Southern Kazakhstan, about 680 km…

Starting at the Finnish line    

Watching the northern lights is like seeing a miracle unfold. It’s as if the cosmos is…

A Bonn sonata: A collection of crippled villages in West Germany

B for Bonn. B for Boring. So it has been said of West Germany’s former…

Dive deep into churches and churchkhela at Kutaisi in Georgia

Kutaisi is surrounded by UNESCO sites, monasteries and caves. Gelati monastery, founded in 1106, used…

Travelling in the magical land

Straight out of our mindscape of fairyland. Live in a mushroom shaped cave, shop for…

Nurla: A stopover in no man’s land

Alongside a murmuring brook, a gentle uphill trail dissolves from a brown, muddy one to a…

Notes from Ground Ziro

The last decade has seen some talented global artists play at the festival such as…

Rising like a Phoenix

About 10 km away from the memorial is Nyamirambo, one of Kigali’s oldest neighbourhoods, dominated…

The ways of water in Switzerland

Sitting on the northern tip of Lake Zurich and bound by the River Limmat, the…

Prussian pomp and splendour in Germany's Potsdam

Famous as the site of the Potsdam Conference in 1945, when the UK, US and…

Call of the Wild

Tipai has an osmotic relationship with nature, and at times the guest can be forgiven…

Chasing serenity in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg

One of the best things to do in Sindhudurg is to go fort-hopping—the Nivati fort,…

Hurrah to Hygge in Denmark’s Aarhus

Are the Danes happier than the rest of the world? Perhaps; Denmark consistently ranks among…

A walk in wonderland 

Long walks along winding roads, gabled colonial bungalows and magnificent churches, quaint cafés and bakeries…

Divinity’s new dimension

A temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in Siddipet, 100 km from Hyderabad, is teeming with crowds,…

Pride and patrimony

Uttarakhand’s most revered city—Haridwar—is surprisingly a case study in art and architecture. Aside from the temples…

Taking stock of Stockholm

When in Stockholm, set stock by Swedish design. It pervades everything and every place—the cafes and…

Phu Quoc Island: Isle be there

At Ham Ninh fishing village, you can watch locals go about their sepia-tinted lives. Enjoy…

Souq it up in Cairo

Fabric stores have a whimsical marketing strategy; their owners will always be found outside, calling…

Dharamkot diaries

With peaceful mountains around, fast Internet and restaurants serving multi-cuisine food, there are many who…

Been here, dune that

The 6,000-plus crowd which thronged the confluence of music, art and wellness over the course…

Toasty Warm in Tbilisi

Don’t miss the Orbeliani Baths, the iconic blue-tiled bathhouse, which is known for its stunning…

Toasty Warm in Tbilisi- The New Indian Express

Express News Service In Abanotubani, the old Bath District of Tbilisi under the imposing Narikala…

Finding Method in Madness- The New Indian Express

Express News Service People were last seen as subjects in artist Sameer Kulavoor’s works in…

The King of Queens- The New Indian Express

Express News Service A high-speed chase is underway in a lush green field as eight uniformed…

Ode to Oraon- The New Indian Express

Express News Service As the setting sun paints the sky in swathes of orange on a…

Field Day in Finland- The New Indian Express

Express News Service Holding hand-made paper baskets in one hand and a farming tool called cultivator…

Camping with the Changpas- The New Indian Express

Express News Service As soon as the clock strikes 5.30 in the evening, the scenic…

Been here, dune that- The New Indian Express

Express News Service The walls of the battle-hardened 17th-century Alsisar Mahal in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, came…

Dharamkot diaries- The New Indian Express

Express News Service As the winter fog descends on the north Indian plains, it’s time…

Kingdom of Quiet- The New Indian Express

Express News Service Blue should be the national colour of Bhutan. The clear skies in…

A set-up straight out of the 17th-century Maratha era- The New Indian Express

Express News Service At The Chavni, the soft golden hue of the setting sun welcomes…

Jungle nook at Estate Plavu in Kerala’s Wayanad district- The New Indian Express

Express News Service Green trees as far as the eye can see. Blue skies an…

Taking a walk in the woods at Spain- The New Indian Express

Express News Service How do you spend an afternoon in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain? You…

Exotic sights, good food & slew of activities- The New Indian Express

Express News Service Admirers of the ocean and avid travellers alike, we bring you good…

Three wellness spots to rejuvenate mind, body and soul- The New Indian Express

By Express News Service What exactly does a wellness trip involve? Is it going to…

Radisson hotel group expands its presence in Jammu & Kashmir- The New Indian Express

By Express News Service Visitors to Jammu and Kashmir have more luxury options now. The…

The Monks who embalmed themselves- The New Indian Express

Express News Service Sokushinbutsu shrines of Buddhist monks who transformed themselves into mummies while alive…

Tips to make your concert experience worth it- The New Indian Express

Express News Service Concerts have always been big business, but with people traversing oceans for…

The Swiss life; a journey into the Ballenberg Swiss Open-Air Museum- The New Indian Express

Express News Service Where did old farmhouses, stables, bakehouses or barns in Switzerland, which were…

Of Potters and Tigers; explore Saj in the Forest – The New Indian Express

Express News Service The fresh jungle air in Pench National Park carries with it the…