World in your Hands

01 Spice Village, Thekkady Stretched across a misty hilly ridge,  Spice Village  is only a short distance away from the Periyar Tiger Reserve. There are over 140 varieties of trees spread across its 14 acres, along with a spice garden and organic vegetable farm. All the food cooked in its kitchen is sourced within a 50 mile radius, Guests can go on nature walks and night treks, take a day trip to the neighbouring pepper plantation, learn traditional recipes, go bird watching or fishing. The entire estate is chemical-free—natural oils, plants and camphor are used pesticides and insecticides. Everyday, waste is segregated and recycled in the in-house vermicompost plant to make organic manure for the vegetable and herbal gardens. 02 Khem Villas, Ranthambore Situated on the edge of the Ranthambore National Park, this tiger camp is surrounded by 12 acres of forests dotted with lakes, open grasslands and trees. Guests can take jungle expedi

The route that connects  Leh  and  Manali  offers the ultimate mountain-driving expedition. And the ultimate Buddhist pilgrimage too. The route starts in  Solang  Valley and winds up through the Rohtang Pass along the enchanting River Chandra with wonderful glacier and  mountain  views, Buddha statues and ‘Free Tibet’ signs everywhere. The highway to Baralacha-La provides the most breathtaking landscapes of the Himalayas with meadows set amongst the snow-capped peaks. The route navigates along the Lachung-La Pass and its stunning canyon. Stop by the Thasang Tso—a turqiose lake labelled ‘emerald of a queen’s necklace’ and the medicinal hot springs at Chuma-Thang.

The Muraka is here Finally! Yes, you read that right. While we are already head over heels with the stunner that the  Maldives  is, the place is set to bowl us over with this one. The Murakaa in Maldives, the first underwater villa of the  world  is open for booking now for travellers. This underwater villa named as The Muraka (meaning coral in Dhivehi), is the brainchild of the Conrad Maldives Rangali; it has started welcoming visitors now. The media release has taken the tourism world by storm with, wooing water babies from all over the world. This ‘Into the Blue’ experience will have travellers staying at 16 ft 4 inches below the ocean surface, and you can very well imagine the lure of these crystal-clear waters. The Muraka is a two-storey structure, one over the water and one underwater. A staircase will lead you to the underwater high-end suite that will have a plush, king-size bed, a washroom as well as a living area. The Muraka’s upper floor is also planned to be an

The  Sikkim  Government has announced to close the trade route between  India  and  China , i.e., the Nathu La pass and the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via the pass this year, in a move to stop the spread of COVID-19. This was announced by Sikkim Tourism Minister BS Panth. The border trade via Nathu La Pass was scheduled to start from May, whereas the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via the said route was supposed to begin in June. Kailash Mansarovar is in  Tibet , and the Ministry of External Affairs organises the Mansarovar Yatra from the month of June till September every year, via two different routes, i.e., the Nathu La Pass in Sikkim and Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand. This yatra, reportedly, sees tons of pilgrims from across the country every year. Sikkim’s Tourism Minister, referring to this development, told the media personnel that the state government has also communicated this decision to the centre. The Nathu La trade route between India and China reopened in 2006, after a h

From Munnar’s expansive tea gardens to Vagamon’s unspoilt meadows, there are plenty of places to visit in  Kerala  that are far removed from urban chaos. Home to dense forests which are marked by walking trails and scenic verdant valleys, these hill stations have spectacular landscapes and a salubrious climate throughout the year. If you’ve had your fill of the snow-clad Himalayas, then head down south to  explore  the hills in God’s own country—Kerala. 1. MUNNAR Pluck tea leaves while you  explore  Munnar’s dense tea plantations; prance about in gurgling brooks while hiking on cloud-covered slopes; or wander through the hill town’s winding lanes—Munnar is an idyllic escape into the natural wonders of God’s own country, Kerala. Perched at the confluence of three  mountain  streams—Madhurapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundaly—the charming hill town lies about 130 km east of  Kochi  and 100 km north of the Periyar  Wildlife  Sanctuary in