The Portuguese were amongst the earliest colonisers and their deep knowledge of astronomy gave them a major edge in navigating the seven seas when they set sail in the quest for trade and territorial expansion. In India, Goa became a very strong Portuguese stronghold and continued to be so even after the country attained independence in 1947. No wonder, Goa has inherited a remarkable Portuguese cultural legacy. Especially, Old Goa, the erstwhile capital of the Portuguese, still resonates with resounding echoes of the past.

During this walk down the memory lane of Old Goa, while passing by spectacular historical landmarks, you will see the tell-tale signs of Portuguese astronomical might, astounding sense of architecture and other interesting cultural aspects finding reflection in almost every nook and cranny – right from the city’s entrance and doorways of churches to museum galleries.

Good to Know

• The walk starts from Viceroy’s Arch in Old Goa
• Walk through the navigation gallery of ASI Museum
• See ruined old buildings

Commissioned in 1895, this erstwhile royal hunting lodge seamlessly blends modern interiors with the rich aesthetic sense of its highly illustrious past. Modern art works as well as ancient memorabilia, vintage furniture and photographs exude a subtle classy vibe, while unhindered views of the surrounding countryside, hills and jungles are a treat to the eye – the rooms, terraces and verandas, all command magnificent views.

There are 11 spacious suites, including, six with private balconies and four junior suites. There is one imperial suite, with its own separate entrance. Each room has its own unique character and while the old-world charm is intact, modern-day creature comforts have not been compromised. For food, they treat guests to authentic regional home-cooked meals and other delicacies served at numerous outdoor and indoor dining venues. Fresh produce is sourced from their private farms.

One may look forward to a galore of delightful activities. It’s also heartening to know that the Kathiwada family is actively spearheading social development through the Kathiwada Foundation.

Possible Experiences

• Go on a guided jungle trek and visit the Jholia Waterfall.
• Also visit Ratanmaal Plateau, a sanctuary for leopards and sloth bear.
• Learn hand-block printing and print your very own scarf.
• Visit the local potter’s studio and try your own hand.
• Join farmers in the fields.
• Experience a cultural walk through tribal settlements.
• Visit local rural houses and check out the wonders of mud architecture
• Learn yoga from renowned global masters
• Visit the huge polo ground turned world class cricket venue

Hyderabad’s cuisine is legendary and a gastronomical voyage of this erstwhile domain of Nizams is incomplete without anchoring at ZaiQa-e-Hyderabad. The phrase, ‘ZaiQa-e-Hyderabad’ means flavours of Hyderabad and the restaurant absolutely lives up to its, and even goes beyond – besides Hyderabad’s lip-smacking culinary indulgences, they also dish out some of the best of North Indian fare with equal aplomb.

While it’s almost a gross injustice to point out the best dishes as almost every preparation, leaves one craving for more, some of the all-time favourites are the Hyderabadi Biryanis, Mirch ka Saalan, Dal Tadka, Minty Lemonade, Haleem and different kebabs. In a nutshell, the food satiates the appetite but keeps fuelling the desire. The relaxing vibe is also perfect for relishing the various timeless treats at leisure.

The overall cosiness, rooftop ambience and stunning wall murals come together to create a highly memorable experience.

Good to know

• Located at Banjara Hills in Central Hyderabad.
• Open from 12:00 p.m. to 01:01 a.m. (Monday to Sunday)
• Khumani ka meetha is a popular dessert

The festival marks the coronation and divine wedding of Goddess Meenakshi (the presiding deity of Madurai) with Lord Sundareswarar (Lord Shiva). While the first 15 days are exclusively dedicated to these events, the following 15 days go into celebrating the journey of Lord Alagar (Goddess Meenakshi’s brother) from Kallazhagar temple in Alagar Koyil to Madurai.

The top highlights of the festival are Yetram, Pattabisekam, Dikvijayam, Meenakshi Tirukalyanam, Ther Thiruvizha, Etir Sevai and Alagar Vaigai Elenthuarulal.

On Yetram, a holy flag is hoisted by the chief priest of Meenakshi temple to declare the opening of this festival. Pattabisekam marks the coronation ceremony of Goddess Meenakshi as the queen of Madurai. Dikvijayam celebrates the event of Goddess Meenakshi’s departure for war and falling in love with Lord Shiva in the battlefield. Legend goes that she left with Lord Shiva for his abode in the Himalayas. Meenakshi Tirukalyanam is the traditional wedding of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Shiva – this celestial wedding is celebrated with great pomp and show.

On Ther Thiruvizha, an enormous chariot procession is taken out. This stunningly made chariot symbolises the journey of Goddess Meenakshi and her husband to visit the subjects of the Pandya kingdom.

Etir Sevai and Alagar Vaigai Elenthuarulal reflect the festival’s Vaishnava traditions. On Etir Sevai, the people of Madurai welcome Lord Alagar (Lord Vishnu) to the city – yes, it’s an act of faith like the other events. He reaches the city to join his sister’s wedding celebrations. Finally, on Alagar Vaigai Elenthuarulal, Lord Alagar hands out wedding gifts to his sister and brother-in-law before returning. This elaborate ceremony is carried out at a special venue in the middle of River Vaigai.

Visiting Madurai amidst these festivities is an experience of a lifetime indeed.

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrive in Chennai - Mahabalipuram

Arrive in Chennai and drive to the seashore town of Mahabalipuram. Overnight stay in Mahabalipuram at Radisson Blu Resort Temple Bay.

Day 2 – Mahabalipuram

After breakfast at the hotel, proceed to Dakshinachitra, a unique heritage centre. Continue to visit the highlights of the famous seaport of the Pallavas in Mahabalipuram, which includes the famous rock-cut and the seashore temple. Overnight stay in Mahabalipuram.

Day 3 – Mahabalipuram – Pondicherry

Drive to Pondicherry in the morning after breakfast. (130

km / 3 hours approx.). On arrival, meet a specialist from INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage) & proceed to discover Pondicherry on a walking tour of the charming amalgam of French and Tamil culture and traditions on the east coast of India.

Overnight in Pondicherry at Palais de Mahe.

Day 4 – Pondicherry

After the buffet breakfast, proceed to Auroville, a concept town in the outskirts of Pondicherry, founded by Mirra Alfassa (also known as The Mother) as a tribute to Sri Aurobindo. Continue on a cultural sojourn to Mohanam Centre for Culture and Heritage, a rural village where you will gain an insight into the local heritage and traditions from Tamil Nadu. Overnight stay in Pondicherry.

Day 5 – Pondicherry – Kumbakonam

Drive to Kumbakonam en route stopping at Gangaikondacholapuram, famous for its Chola temple. Overnight in Kumbakonam at Mantra Koodam.

Day 6 – Kumbakonam

After breakfast, proceed on an excursion to the heritage town of Tanjore. Visit the Sri Brihadeeshwara Temple, a UNESCO listed heritage site. Later, continue to Darasuram, known for the Airavateshvara Temple built by Rajaraja Chola II in the 12th century. Visit the silk weavers to witness the intricate art on looms. Overnight stay in Kumbakonam.

Day 7 – Kumbakonam – Madurai

Proceed to Madurai via the heritage town of Chettinad. Take a walk around the heritage town. Enjoy a cooking demo session and lunch. Overnight stay in Madurai at Heritage Madurai.

Day 8 – Madurai

After breakfast at the hotel, set off to witness the celestial wedding of God and Goddess in a grandly decorated hall inside the temple. Later, enjoy the sightseeing of Madurai visiting the Palace of Tirumalai Nayak, an Indo-Saracenic building constructed in the 16th century.

Overnight in Madurai.

Day 9 – Depart from Madurai

Wake up early in the morning to witness the Car Festival (Ther Thiruvizha) where the newlywed deities are paraded through the streets in a decorated chariot. Later, drive to the airport to board your flight to your onward destination.

Kulthi bean or horse gram has many different names and also offers a plethora of healthful benefits. Both modern-day scientific studies and the timeless ancient wisdom of Ayurveda swear by the qualities of horse gram. Especially, during winters, a generous helping of horse gram fortifies the immune system against the common cold and many other ailments. It simply tastes delicious as hot soup for breakfast or during chilly evenings. Another popular Kulthi-based preparation is a highly appetizing gravy dish (or simply dal/lentil), made with well soaked and cooked horse gram – tastes divine with steamed rice.

In fact, the benefits of horse gram can be savoured in many ways – as whole seeds, sprouts, salads and whole meals. Kulthi bean is packed with proteins, vitamins, dietary fibre, iron and calcium. Naturally, it’s an excellent source of anti-oxidants. Certain studies suggest Kulthi bean for weight loss, iron deficiency, diabetes and quite a few other maladies. 

The late American author, Peter Matthiessen’s book, ‘The Snow Leopard’ tickled the fancy of many, when it came out around four decades back. The book beautifully narrates the author’s journey to Shey Gompa in Nepal’s inner Dolpo region in 1973 and his quest to spot a snow leopard during this journey. The route took him to one of the remotest corners of Nepal, and even today, trekking on this route remains an unforgettable experience. The very remoteness of the place has ensured that it still survives with its authentic character – this rugged character has not fallen prey to the ravages of commercialisation.

The author’s frequent allusion to his late wife, also makes it seem that this was not merely an adventurous journey, but also a meditative foray and possibly, a healing experience. Today, only bold souls with a true love for nature go on this memorable trek. Of course, the hope of catching a glimpse of the graceful snow leopard in its natural habitat is also a highly tempting incentive.

Eating with hands is the norm rather than the exception in India and a few other parts of the world. In India, this practice has been followed since times immemorial and even has spiritual connotations. Sounds outlandish, but true. After all, Vedas and Vedic studies, including Ayurveda are almost deemed sacred. As per Ayurveda, the five fingers represent the five elements of the universe – fire, air, space, earth and water, and while eating with hands, all these fingers come in contact with food. This creates a connection with the cosmos and energises the food.

At a simpler level, eating with hands brings the sense of touch in the very act of eating, besides stimulating the sense of sight, smell and taste. As a matter of fact, many Indian restaurants in the Western world request patrons to use their hands, instead of cutlery – the result is noticeably different as eating with the hands makes for a much more deeply gratifying culinary experience.

The fingertips also have millions of nerve endings and it’s believed that these nerve endings send certain signals to the body, while eating. This aids digestion.  Therapies such as acupressure and acupuncture also rely upon pressure points and nerve endings. There are lots of more fascinating thought-provoking facts about the tradition of eating with hands.

Vistara announced that it will operate flights on the Mumbai-London route, thrice a week from 16 January, 2021 onwards. The airline will use its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft fleet to serve this route on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. All the UK flights are being operated under the bilateral air bubble arrangement between India and the UK.

Alliance Air, the fully owned subsidiary of Air India, launched its maiden flight on the Mangaluru-Mysuru route. The new flight will depart from Mysuru at 11:20 hours and arrive at Mangaluru at 12:30 hours, while the return flight will depart from Mangaluru at 12:55 hours, and reach Mysuru at 13:55 hours.

In a boost to domestic aviation in India, three new flights have been added to the schedule of Jaipur airport and some of the suspended flights are also being restored. As per latest reports, the new services include flights from Jaipur to Goa, Jaipur to Indore and Jaipur to Chandigarh. With this development, travellers can now directly fly from Jaipur to Goa, instead of flying through Delhi.

From 25th December 2020, IndiGo will start direct flights on the Gaya-Mumbai route. These flights will be operated on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The first flight will take off from Mumbai at 08:30 hours and land at Gaya at 11:00 hours, on 25th December. The return flight from Gaya will take off at 12:00 hours and reach Mumbai by 14:05 hours on the same day.  

Marriott International debuts in Nashik

Marriott International announced the opening of its new property, Courtyard by Marriott Nashik in the city of Nashik, Maharashtra. This new 113-room property has lavish classy rooms, along with a 24-hour restaurant offering the best of authentic local and global culinary preparations. For drinks and snacks, the Escape Lounge offers a wide array of choice. The property also has an outdoor swimming pool and 24-hour fitness centre.

Taj Group Forays into Darjeeling, West Bengal

The Taj Group has opened a luxury Tea Estate resort named Taj Chia Kutir Resort & Spa in West Bengal’s famous hill station, Darjeeling. This 72-room resort is situated in the Makaibari Tea Estate – home to one of the earliest tea factories, dating back to 1859. The resort commands fabulous views of the surrounding hills and cloud-kissed landscapes, while harmoniously blending in with the natural ambience of the place.

Dining options include ‘The Chia Veranda’ – an all-day diner, Sonargaon – a fine-dining restaurant for Bengali, North West Frontier and Punjabi cuisine. A classy all-glass bar offers fine views of the verdant tea gardens.

There are quite a few signature experiences to look forward to, including tea plucking and tasting, and following nature trails with naturalists. The resort also boasts the famous JIVA spa, which offers a wide range of proven wellness therapies.

Vistara announced that it will operate flights on the Mumbai-London route, thrice a week from 16 January, 2021 onwards. The airline will use its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft fleet to serve this route on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. All the UK flights are being operated under the bilateral air bubble arrangement between India and the UK.

Alliance Air, the fully owned subsidiary of Air India, launched its maiden flight on the Mangaluru-Mysuru route. The new flight will depart from Mysuru at 11:20 hours and arrive at Mangaluru at 12:30 hours, while the return flight will depart from Mangaluru at 12:55 hours, and reach Mysuru at 13:55 hours.

In a boost to domestic aviation in India, three new flights have been added to the schedule of Jaipur airport and some of the suspended flights are also being restored. As per latest reports, the new services include flights from Jaipur to Goa, Jaipur to Indore and Jaipur to Chandigarh. With this development, travellers can now directly fly from Jaipur to Goa, instead of flying through Delhi.

From 25th December 2020, IndiGo will start direct flights on the Gaya-Mumbai route. These flights will be operated on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The first flight will take off from Mumbai at 08:30 hours and land at Gaya at 11:00 hours, on 25th December. The return flight from Gaya will take off at 12:00 hours and reach Mumbai by 14:05 hours on the same day.  

Marriott International debuts in Nashik

Marriott International announced the opening of its new property, Courtyard by Marriott Nashik in the city of Nashik, Maharashtra. This new 113-room property has lavish classy rooms, along with a 24-hour restaurant offering the best of authentic local and global culinary preparations. For drinks and snacks, the Escape Lounge offers a wide array of choice. The property also has an outdoor swimming pool and 24-hour fitness centre.

Taj Group Forays into Darjeeling, West Bengal

The Taj Group has opened a luxury Tea Estate resort named Taj Chia Kutir Resort & Spa in West Bengal’s famous hill station, Darjeeling. This 72-room resort is situated in the Makaibari Tea Estate – home to one of the earliest tea factories, dating back to 1859. The resort commands fabulous views of the surrounding hills and cloud-kissed landscapes, while harmoniously blending in with the natural ambience of the place.

Dining options include ‘The Chia Veranda’ – an all-day diner, Sonargaon – a fine-dining restaurant for Bengali, North West Frontier and Punjabi cuisine. A classy all-glass bar offers fine views of the verdant tea gardens.

There are quite a few signature experiences to look forward to, including tea plucking and tasting, and following nature trails with naturalists. The resort also boasts the famous JIVA spa, which offers a wide range of proven wellness therapies.

Vistara announced that it will operate flights on the Mumbai-London route, thrice a week from 16 January, 2021 onwards. The airline will use its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft fleet to serve this route on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. All the UK flights are being operated under the bilateral air bubble arrangement between India and the UK.

Alliance Air, the fully owned subsidiary of Air India, launched its maiden flight on the Mangaluru-Mysuru route. The new flight will depart from Mysuru at 11:20 hours and arrive at Mangaluru at 12:30 hours, while the return flight will depart from Mangaluru at 12:55 hours, and reach Mysuru at 13:55 hours.

In a boost to domestic aviation in India, three new flights have been added to the schedule of Jaipur airport and some of the suspended flights are also being restored. As per latest reports, the new services include flights from Jaipur to Goa, Jaipur to Indore and Jaipur to Chandigarh. With this development, travellers can now directly fly from Jaipur to Goa, instead of flying through Delhi.

From 25th December 2020, IndiGo will start direct flights on the Gaya-Mumbai route. These flights will be operated on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The first flight will take off from Mumbai at 08:30 hours and land at Gaya at 11:00 hours, on 25th December. The return flight from Gaya will take off at 12:00 hours and reach Mumbai by 14:05 hours on the same day.  

Marriott International debuts in Nashik

Marriott International announced the opening of its new property, Courtyard by Marriott Nashik in the city of Nashik, Maharashtra. This new 113-room property has lavish classy rooms, along with a 24-hour restaurant offering the best of authentic local and global culinary preparations. For drinks and snacks, the Escape Lounge offers a wide array of choice. The property also has an outdoor swimming pool and 24-hour fitness centre.

Taj Group Forays into Darjeeling, West Bengal

The Taj Group has opened a luxury Tea Estate resort named Taj Chia Kutir Resort & Spa in West Bengal’s famous hill station, Darjeeling. This 72-room resort is situated in the Makaibari Tea Estate – home to one of the earliest tea factories, dating back to 1859. The resort commands fabulous views of the surrounding hills and cloud-kissed landscapes, while harmoniously blending in with the natural ambience of the place.

Dining options include ‘The Chia Veranda’ – an all-day diner, Sonargaon – a fine-dining restaurant for Bengali, North West Frontier and Punjabi cuisine. A classy all-glass bar offers fine views of the verdant tea gardens.

There are quite a few signature experiences to look forward to, including tea plucking and tasting, and following nature trails with naturalists. The resort also boasts the famous JIVA spa, which offers a wide range of proven wellness therapies.