Sneha Chakraborty

Homegrown gin, with its freewheeling regional undertones, comes of age

We caught up with some industry experts, distillers, and businesses to understand the many trends that have started settling into the Indian zeitgeist.

Updated on Jun 25, 2024 02:49 PM IST

Where to eat in Delhi's Shaheen Bagh

How Shaheen Bagh became the new hop-skip neighbourhood for smokey kebab skewers, centuries-old Asian and Islamic recipes, and hole-in-the-wall diners.

Housed in a residential complex, Javed Famous Nahari is a cult favourite.

Travel

Published on Jun 10, 2024 03:25 PM IST

Exclusive: What's for dinner at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival?

The first event, a formal sit-down dinner for 30 guests on May 15, set the stage for an intimate exploration of regional Indian dishes.

Dinner on Day 1 commenced with a jícama and coconut malai momo for the vegetarians.

HTCity Foodies

Published on May 17, 2024 04:01 PM IST

Where to see the northern lights all over the world

As Ladakh, northern Europe and Australasia, witnessed unusual Aurora activity, social media lit up with magnificent snaps.

From Ladakh to northern Europe to Australasia, unusually-timed halos of Northern Lights recently surprised the world—courtesy of the biggest solar storm in more than 20 years.

Published on May 14, 2024 05:20 PM IST

The best cocktail is the one that tells a story

For World Cocktail Day, here's a roundup of storied concoctions from bars across the country.

From taking cues from their host city to paying tribute to India’s textile legacy or simply reminiscing about characters from classic literature, these bars don’t just pop up a coaster and serve up a drink.

Updated on May 13, 2024 01:31 AM IST

Where and how are people travelling this summer?

Tantra retreats, Southeast Asian destinations, and spiritual destination-hopping to beat the heat are taking summer tourism in India to the next level.

With countries like Thailand and Sri Lanka extending visa-free entry and more predicted to follow, cities across Southeast Asia are attracting the most number of Indian tourists.

Updated on May 11, 2024 12:29 PM IST

Regional fests to experience this summer

From an annual mask dance in Hemis to a sowing festival in Nagaland, here’s a selection of India’s coolest summer celebrations.

Published on Apr 24, 2024 05:55 PM IST

These are some of the must-visit global sporting destinations for 2024

With a rise in interest among travellers making elaborate trips to witness sporting events, we bring you a low-down on some popular annual spots and sports.

The Paris Olympics is one of the most sought-after events for those who absolutely cherish the live experience.

Published on Apr 24, 2024 02:20 AM IST

Old secrets and new surprises on a trip through Bulgaria and Romania

Rugged mountains, Black Sea resorts and a chance to come face to face with Dracula’s origins await you in two new entrants to the Schengen visa list.

Schengen visas issued by Romania and Bulgaria after March 31, 2024, allow travel within Schengen countries for up to 90 days in 180 days.

Published on Apr 10, 2024 04:12 PM IST

Things to do in host cities before and after the Indian Premier League (IPL)

Sports tourism is rising in popularity and these Indian Premier League (IPL) destinations have it all, on and off the pitch.

While the iconic Sawai Mansingh Stadium will be the target destination for visitors heading down to the city for upcoming matches from April 6, there’s much more to look forward to in the city, especially during the off-season.

Published on Apr 07, 2024 02:28 AM IST

A guide to planning a last-minute long weekend road trip

From a historical tour in Kurukshetra to clay therapy in a sleepy village in Rajasthan, explore these five destinations to escape the metropolitan hubbub.

Neemrana, located 116 km away from Jaipur, is renowned for its Neemrana Fort Palace, a heritage hotel.

Published on Apr 05, 2024 03:42 PM IST

Wait, ‘destination duping’ is trending but what does it actually mean?

With the oncoming summer season, ‘duping’ a favoured place for an underrated counterpart is gaining traction—a popularly predicted trend for 2024.

Khimsar or Khinvsar is a remote village off National Highway 62 in central Rajasthan.

Updated on May 07, 2024 01:10 PM IST

Best safari experiences in India, feat. UNESCO World Heritage national parks

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s inaugural visit to Kaziranga National Park is drawing people to explore domestic safari and wilderness experiences in Assam.

Indias' interest peaked after he posted a photo gallery on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting the diverse ecosystem and the one-horned rhinoceros.

Published on Mar 14, 2024 06:29 PM IST

Crowds, a new scuba diving hotspot and the 'PM Modi' effect

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent scuba-diving expedition is whetting travellers’ appetites for a boost in adventure travel that is already following suit.

Bathed by the sunny, humid subtropical climate, the crowd-free locale draws praise for spiritual tourism, snorkelling, and island touring activities.

Published on Mar 01, 2024 12:31 PM IST

India’s six best spring destinations

Mid-February to late April is the ideal time of year for mild-weather hikes through blooming fields, open-air festivals, tea picking and more.

From hiking routes, indigenous cultural programmes and views that make you want to spring into a spring mood, these destinations just might inspire you to take a spring break.

Updated on Feb 28, 2024 02:54 PM IST

The 25 best things to do in Vietnam

With Vietnam claiming the “World's Leading Heritage Destination 2023”, here are 25 bucket-list experiences you can try in the land of the “Ascending Dragon.”

Budget Friendly: Vietnam is a great international trip for anyone on a budget. It is a backpacker-friendly destination with several hostels at affordable prices.

Published on Feb 25, 2024 05:52 PM IST

What will be the biggest cocktail trends of 2024?

You might not be able to ignore the rise of coffee cocktails, a resurgence of homegrown brands and a big return to no and low-alcohol drinks.

We are taking the opportunity to peer into the crystal ball through the lens of experts to establish 25 drink trends that you can expect to be hearing about in 2024.

Updated on Feb 25, 2024 08:23 PM IST

This homegrown Indian single-malt has been named the Best ‘New World’ Whiskey

VinePair selected one bottle based on hundreds of consumer-oriented tastings from every category of whisky alongside flavour, balance, depth, and complexity.

The name “Trini” pays homage to the trio of three coveted casks that the whisky is matured in—ex-Bourbon, ex-French wine, and PX Sherry.

Published on Feb 20, 2024 09:36 PM IST

Trips every traveler should take at least once

Here’s a #5Before25 guide to bucket list activities perfect for any 20-something’s next trip.

Located in Townsville, within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, these installations by Jason deCaires Taylor featuring the Ocean Siren on The Strand and the Coral Greenhouse at John Brewer Reef are the perfect examples of immobile art that’s emotionally moving.

Published on Feb 06, 2024 04:39 PM IST

Saudi Arabia’s first luxury train service will launch by the end of 2025

Titled ‘Dream of the Desert’, the 40-cabin train is being developed in collaboration with Italy's Arsenale Group.

Rendering of ‘Dream of the Desert’, scheduled to launch in Saudi Arabia in 2025.

Published on Feb 02, 2024 04:17 PM IST

Thai Airways unveils new luxury flight service from Kochi

Beginning March 31st, this new addition will add up to a total of 10 flights a week between the two cities.

These three weekly flights are offered by Thai Airways and will depart from Bangkok at 21:40 on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, arriving in Kochi at 00:30 the next day.

Published on Jan 27, 2024 01:10 AM IST

All you need to know about Thailand’s annual national park closures

TAT has announced their National Park closing schedule, informing visitors of the dates on which entry restrictions will apply in 134 out of the 156 parks.

Published on Jan 27, 2024 12:31 AM IST

The Stanley Cup trend enters the Indian drinkware market

With the original cup being priced starting at Rs. 7,000 in India on Amazon, demand for lookalikes has soared.

Chances are you may have seen the cup making headlines or watching singer Adele sip from it during The Late Late Show with James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke.

Decor

Published on Jan 26, 2024 12:07 AM IST

Travel to Hawaii? Tourists may soon have to pay a tourist tax

The proposal is one of the many ways Hawaii is planning to combat overtourism.

“A Climate Impact Fee on visitors would provide the needed resources to protect our environment and increase awareness of the impacts of climate change,” said Gov. Green.

Updated on Jan 26, 2024 12:07 AM IST

New high-speed rail services will soon connect the Scottish and English capitals

A new high-speed rail service is setting its sights on connecting the two major capitals in the UK by the end of 2024.

The new, revamped hourly service will reduce the time by 30 or more minutes, putting the average at just over four hours.

Published on Jan 13, 2024 06:31 PM IST

All you need to know about the re-opening of Iceland’s Blue Lagoon

In a recent announcement, the spa, restaurant, and hotel have announced that the lagoon will be reopening for visitors from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day.

The Lava restaurant will start operation on the 13th of January followed by the Silica Hotel and Retreat Hotel on the 16th, and the Michelin-starred Moss restaurant on the 17th of January.

Updated on Jan 13, 2024 06:31 PM IST

The 6 best places to see the Northern Lights

An experienced chaser looking to appreciate the nuances or a first-timer in search of an ideal experience? Here’s an all-inclusive guide to plan your trip.

The northern lights, or the aurora borealis can be technically described as a light display resulting from charged particles (electrons and protons) colliding with different gases.

Published on Jan 10, 2024 05:46 PM IST

This country is officially the ‘safest place to travel in 2024’

Canada, Switzerland and Norway came out on top of the index’s annual ranking.

The country also claimed the 1st position for safety in transportation, health measures, lack of violent criminal offences, women and LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities.

Published on Jan 09, 2024 03:32 PM IST

Brazil pushes its new visa processing system for American tourists

With a rise in footfall for the upcoming Rio de Janeiro Carnival 2024, Brazil has pushed back the requirement of entry visas to a new date in April.

Before 2019, citizens from the U.S., Canada and Australia citizens travelling to the country had to apply for a travel visa.

Updated on Jan 09, 2024 03:34 PM IST