The most famous personality to come out of the small country of Georgia in the Caucasus was Joseph Stalin who ruled the Soviet Union with an iron fist for thirty years from the death of his predecessor Vladimir Lenin as General Secretary in 1924 to his own death in 1953. As first-time visitors to Georgia,…
Fire, as an element, runs right through the heart of Azerbaijan’s very being. The name itself comes from the Persian words, azer, which means “fire” and baygan, which means “protector’’ and tongues of flame in the form of a shield are prominently displayed at the centre of the national emblem. How did fire come to be so…
For the last two years, COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on the travel and hospitality industry. And travel writers like I have been on the thinnest end of the wedge. So, when I got an invite to travel to Thailand in February, it was like a lifebuoy being thrown to a drowning man and I grabbed…
As Indians look at international holidays once again, Thailand beckons with its pristine, accessible shores. We spoke to Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) deputy governor for international marketing (Asia and South-Pacific), Tanes Petsuwan, about Thailand’s sustainability initiatives, health safety protocols, and plans for the Metaverse. By Ranjan Pal Thailand has always been a popular tourism destination…
This article was originally published in the “National Geographic Traveller India” in February 2021 edition. You can check the original article here. For many Indians, a trip to Sri Lanka can be an eye-opener as a cleaner, less crowded and more compact version of their own country awaits them. This sun-soaked neighbour boasts the charming…
The Speyside Malt Whisky Trail Distillery tours rank very high on the list of Scottish tourist attractions, attracting a total of two million visitors last year. Significant investments by major players in building and upgrading their visitor centres in Scotland have had a big role in driving spending by visitors up by 154 per cent…
What is Scotch whisky? You just can’t think of Scotland without thinking of Scotch whisky. Whisky is Scotland’s beloved national drink and its single biggest export, amounting to a record £4.70bn in 2018, up 7.8 per cent over the previous year. While Europe and the United States remain the biggest markets, with over 50 per…
Dedicated to the memory of the friend who brought us together, Akshay Kumar. I first met the inimitable Huw Kingston when I was invited to attend the 14th Adventure Tour Operator Association of India (ATOAI) annual convention in the Araku Valley in February 2019 where he was delivering the keynote presentation. Now it is impossible…
It may not enjoy the popularity of Bali but Canggu has the perfect waves for the novice surfer. The writer signed up for a lesson in its waters and found her bohemian self on its sands. Read the complete article on Travel+Leisure here. Canggu is also dotted with a number of boutique stores that sell reasonably priced beachwear. Blood…
If you love enjoying your single malts in these days of self-isolation, follow this virtual trail of distilleries in Speyside. Check out the full article on Travel+Leisure here.
