Tabla de contenidos para April - May 2024 en Outlook Traveller

PLANNING FOR A FAMILY VACATION CAN BE AN onerous task. There are a hundred and one individual preferences and quirks to be taken care of, and after running through hundreds of destination, flight, and stay options, you realise that no travel plan fits all. But, perhaps we are trying too hard to “plan” our vacations. We’re so used to our creature comforts and our need to be meaningfully occupied that we forget holidays are meant to loosen up, let go and allow ourselves to just be. Why does travel need to be planned to the last detail? Why does everything have to be perfect? What is the point of escaping from our mundane lives if we want everything to be as it always is, albeit in fancier digs and a…

WHEELING SOLO → COMPASS I'VE SPENT THE LAST SIX weeks upside down. Well, that's only if you believe that the world is indeed spherical. A few months ago, it struck me that most of my travel has been restricted to the Northern Hemisphere. This was neither intentional nor surprising, given the lay of the land in the world as we know it. But, having realised this somewhat random fact, I had two options—either shrug it off as nothing more than interesting or, well… New Zealand, they say, is the last landmass that has been significantly inhabited in the Southern Hemisphere. If the infotainment screens on my flight to Auckland had been working, I might have been able to tell you how I spent hours staring at the blip on the…

THE LIST → EXPLORE BARI Kothi There are few places that have the uncanny ability to sweep you off your feet and plop you into the past. Bari Kothi in Azimganj, West Bengal, aces that. Located four hours from Kolkata, the property stands as the symbol of a unique period in Bengal's history, when Murshidabad used to serve as a global trade centre in the 1700s. During this period, many business families from Rajasthan migrated to Murshidabad, adopting the name "Sheherwalis," meaning "city dwellers." The Dudhorias, who built the Bari Kothi in 1774, were one of them. Even then, the Kothi was a structure of remarkable beauty, finding mentions in seminal works, such as the "Musnud of Murshidabad" (1704-1904) and the famous "Cyclopedia of India" (1908). However, after the British took…

COLUMN → COMPASS THE INVIGORATING SCENT OF the spices still wafts through the air, mingling with the earthy aroma of rain-soaked soil and the sweet fragrance of blossoming coffee blooms. The smell of coffee blooms can rival jasmines or honey locks. This quaint hill station is unusually hot. Temperatures are touching 28 degrees in summer, something unheard of in these parts. I am on my usual sojourn to Wayanad. I set my eyes on this beautiful slice of earth for the first time as a boy of ten. I still remember my first visit with my sister. I was accompanying her to her husband's home. My brother-in-law's family had dwelled in this place for three centuries. They lived amid a coffee plantation, and for a person born and raised in…

Following Fish by SAMANTH SUBRAMANIAN In his journey around the Indian coast, Samanth Subramanian looks at the lives of fishing communities and the "leaping wealth of the tide" that breathes life into local sea cuisine. If you're interested in lores of the sea, this book will not leave you disappointed. Additionally, Subramanian's prose is littered with amusing characters encountered while traversing the Indian peninsula. From West Bengal's hilsa to the world's fastest fish near Goa, the travelogue brings considerable insights into what makes Indian seafood. The author also raises critical ecological questions around overfishing and degradation of water brought on by conglomerates. Penguin Random House India Hungry by JEFF GORDINIER Noma in Copenhagen, was arguably the "best restaurant in the world" until a bad batch of oysters shook chef René…

MAHARASHTRA → EXPLORE A WHITE-THROATED KINGFISHER FLEW over my head as I attempted to take in the spread of the forest resort from my perch on the buggy leading me to my room. A 2.5-hour drive from Nagpur would land you at Tipai Wildlife Luxuries, a wildlife resort smack in the middle of a forest and only a kilometre away from Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary. A narrow dirt path veers off the main road and leads you to the resort. Dotted with towering neem, mulberry and bamboo trees, the property unfurls in forks of slim paths leading towards different sections. "I wanted to create an experience that embodies the joys of the jungle beyond wildlife sightings," says Keyur Joshi, the founder of Tipai, which is the inaugural project of the bigger…

EXPLORE INDIA BOASTS SEVERAL BREATHTAKING PLACES THAT ARE COMMITTED TO promoting conservation while nurturing local communities through tourism. These amazing ecostays offer guests the opportunity to experience wildlife up close while striving to protect the animals and their habitat. Visitors can take guided tours led by knowledgeable local guides, get involved in community-based conservation projects, minimise their environmental impact, and actively participate in initiatives that protect delicate ecosystems and diverse wildlife. Here is our pick of five stays where you know that your visit is contributing to the conservation of the environment and the protection of local communities. BERA SAFARI LODGE Wildlife conservationist, naturalist and sommelier Shatrunjay Pratap Singh was on a visit to his ancestral farm in the Jawai region when he heard a loud blast. Upon enquiring, locals…

We partnered with Rajasthan Tourism for the second consecutive year to host the Indian Responsible Tourism State Summit & Awards 2023 — Rajasthan. Our aim is to not only discover and celebrate a Rajasthan of havelis, forts, hills, lakes, wildlife, textiles, music, crafts, fairs, and festivals, but also a Rajasthan of incredible stories, of incredible people! We look forward to sharing these stories, and putting the spotlight on those who are quietly carrying the torch of sustainable and responsible tourism in the state… Come join us on this beautiful journey! THE WINNERS Overall Winner Castle Mandawa, Mandawa Sustainable Leadership - Homestays Gold Little Bus Homestay, Jaipur Gold The Bhagwanpura Homestead, Jaipur Silver Jorbeer Inn, Bikaner One to Watch Ratlam House, Jaipur One to Watch Jai Villa Homestay, Udaipur One to Watch Friends & Family Homestay,…

MAN IN EUROPE → COMPASS THE TREES ARE STILL leafless, the air arid and cold, the skies grey. Sweden is still waiting for spring to arrive. I have often been asked what my favourite season is. Invariably, I have answered it to be autumn. They look at me surprised. Who in their right mind likes the impending dullness that autumn hints towards? Well, I do. Apart from the rusty colours of fallen leaves, I prefer the softness that autumn leads to. Streets start becoming empty; the summer cheeriness begins to melt into a gentle quietude, and senses fold inward from the outward summer onslaught. This time, though, having enjoyed the autumn, I had enough of the dark winter that followed. There was little snow on the streets, even less of…

INDONESIA → OT JOURNEYS TIRED AFTER HIS STRENUOUS journey along the south coast of Bali, Dang Hyang Nirartha spotted a rock a little away from the shore. He lay down to rest. Lulled by the breeze and the lapping of the waves, he fell asleep. In his dream, Nirartha, the revered 16th-century Shaivite priest, saw a temple on the rock. The local fishermen who had turned up in the morning with refreshments dutifully followed instructions and translated his epiphany into reality. We walk from the car park to the cliff facing Pura Tanah Lot. The top of the pelinggih meru, a pagoda-like tiered structure emblematic of Balinese Hindu temples, is visible above the foliage on the rock. It is high tide, and the temple seems to be floating on the…

COLUMN → GREEN LIVING PRADEEP SANGWAN WITH ITS RICH CULTURAL heritage, diverse landscapes and vibrant communities, India has become a soughtafter destination for domestic and international travellers. However, as tourism flourishes, there is a need to embrace sustainability practices to ensure the long-term well-being of the environment and local communities. The United Nations World Tourism Organisation defines sustainable tourism as an approach that considers the economic, social and environmental impacts of tourism activities while also addressing the needs of visitors, the travel and tourism industry, the environment and host communities. In essence, it seeks to balance the benefits of tourism with the preservation of natural resources and cultural heritage. India's tourism potential is immense, but so are the challenges it faces in ensuring that growth is sustainable and inclusive. Recognising…

READ GREEN LIVING IMAGINE A CHILDHOOD FUELLED BY a deep love for the wild, nurtured in the American countryside and blossoming into a lifelong dedication to India's incredible wildlife, particularly its most misunderstood creatures—snakes. This is the world of herpetologist Romulus Whitaker, the "Snakeman of India," whose recently released memoir, "Snakes, Drugs And Rock 'N' Roll," co-authored by journalist and writer Janaki Lenin, offers a glimpse into his journey. "I didn't give myself the nickname 'Snakeman of India.' However, having established India's first Snake Park over five decades ago and dedicating years to documenting and studying the reptiles through writing and filming, the title naturally stuck to me," said the American-born Indian wildlife conservationist while speaking to OT. Whitaker attributes his fascination with the natural world to a healthy dose…

FINAL SHOT RAMIRO TORRENTS Lake Laguna Sucia captured amidst the vibrant colours of autumn in El Chaltén (Patagonia, Argentina) in April 2021 @RAMIROTORRENTS; ramirotorrents.com SOUGATA SINHA A shot of the majestic Mount Kanchenjunga as seen from Sandakphu, the highest point of Singalila National Park, West Bengal @SINHASOUGATA ANUP GANDHE A view of the Badami Fort, in Badami, Karnataka, with the azure sky reflected on Agastya Lake @ANUPGANDHE Scan to follow us on Instagram…