Assistant Editor, Lead for TimesTravel\n\nIf slow travelling is your way, Shikha Gautam is your person. Travelling, hitchhiking, camping, biking her way at a leisurely pace across India, specially the Himalayan regions, she takes readers on journeys through her words and photos.\n\nOther than TimesTravel, she blends travel and photography on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/shikhamgautam/
New year, new places. Make that your mantra for 2024 journeys, starting right from the New Year holidays. You can skip the regular for the new year break and head off to the Northeast India, one ... more
If you are searching for 2023's best Durga Puja pandals in Kolkata, we have you covered. From the famous Sreebhumi Pandal to Kumartuli and College Square Pandal to Sovabazar Rajbari Puja, these D... more
The alarming situation is a stark reminder of the 2013 devastation, when flashfloods and landslides wreaked havoc around Kedarnath. The official death toll from the disaster stands at more than 6... more
Besotted by Sironah, the location for Raveena Tandon's now blockbuster show, Aranyak? The series is set in a sleepy Himalayan town in India, a place covered in dark, deep pine forests, alluring a... more
Well, the country is still grappling with the pandemic, with a host of travel curbs in place. While there are bigger tragedies to come to terms with, the world of travel has stayed shut, leaving ... more
In most places across India, tipping the staff while at a restaurant or a hotel is is mostly welcome. If not, it is accepted with a polite smile at most places. In some place, it is not necessary... more
Flip through pages of any popular travel guide for Goa, and you will find yourself lost in a jamboree that suggests nightclubs, beach shacks, pubs, and the usual. Talk to a local, or pack your ba... more
As surprising as it may read, Goa, in spite of all its seafood attractions has been given the tag of India’s most vegan-friendly state by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). This ... more
Even as most of the world is still reeling under the effects of COVID-19 outbreak, especially nations with tourism at their core, China's Wuhan has come up as a surprise. This is the city where i... more
If you have been stuck in an apartment in one of the cities, working from home during the COVID lockdown, this is for you. With India entering Unlock 4.0 and most states lifting restrictions on i... more
It is that time of the year again, December, and the perfect time of the year to step out of the home. It is time to plan a trip for the New Year's and if you are in Delhi, we have lined up some ... more
As Italy recuperates from the hit it took from COVID-19, it is slowly opening its doors to travellers and going the whole hog to woo them back. In the pre-COVID world, Italy was one of the most l... more
This piece of news is just the thing for you if you have always been fascinated by the concept of sustainable societies and utopia, much like Auroville closer home. This one comes from Sweden, wh... more
While China’s Wuhan came under the spotlight as the place of origin of the Coronavirus, the pandemic which has swept the world off its feet, there is more to it, the hot dry noodles. The first ca... more
We have been all guilty, despising carpools, shrugging away from group tours, making customary annual trips when there was so much waiting to be explored in the neighbourhood, buying fast fashion... more
The planet is home to so many wonders that it will take us a lifetime to discover all of them. But thankfully, there is one Australian wonder that you can take delight in, albeit virtually. With ... more
Italy has been one of the worst-hit nations in the world as Coronavirus wreaked havoc around the country. The death toll in the country hovers at 3000 for now, with people under a strict lockdown... more
If you know Imtiaz Ali’s work well, you would also know that his films are larger than life, closely resembling a travel journal. Ali takes his audience to places that feel more like extensions o... more
Yes, you read that right. A sushi bar, aptly named as This Is Not A Sushi Bar, in Milan offers its visitors to pay for food with their Instagram followers. The sushi bar is set in Milan’s Porta V... more
It is time to rethink if you thought that climate change and global warming is not going to have a direct impact on India. While it is impacting us on an everyday basis if you factor in surprisin... more
If a book lover could choose an ideal country to spend their lives, it would be Iceland, a nation that publishes more books per capita than any other country. As per the records, there are five b... more
Angkor Wat, one of the world's most famous temple complex in Cambodia, has another claim to fame now. It is now the Eighth Wonder of the World, beating other major giants including Italy's famous... more
With the motto of Borrowing is the new buying, this is one of those not-so-famous attractions of London that you must definitely visit. The London Library of Things started as a public library in... more
You can start the year on a perfect Hollywood romcom like note with a trip to these winter wonderlands—places that see snowfall in January. While the winter babies would love one such trip, these... more
It’s snowing in the upper reaches of Uttarakhand, making them look beautiful than ever before. While heavy snowfall has brought life to a halt at a number of places in the state, travellers can f... more
The summer of 2020 will bring the city’s largest Frida Kahlo exhibition to Chicago. This exhibition at the Cleve Carney Museum of Art and the McAninch Arts Center will bring 26 original works of ... more
If you love all things Christmas, a stay in Club Wyndham Midtown 45’s Suite Magic in NYC is just the thing for you. A delight, this one-bedroom suite is inspired by the movie, Elf. This is where ... more
You would know Konsta Punkka if you are privy to the world of wildlife photography. But if you have not known him till now, we will soon have you hooked. A published photographer, Konsta Punkka h... more
The very stunning Faroe Islands have invited 100 volunteers on April 16 - 17, 2020, when it will be shut down for all other travellers. An increasingly popular destination in the North Atlantic O... more
December, perhaps, the happiest of all the months are here and we are definitely recommending a lot of outdoor time for this time of the year. We have you covered with some of the best places to ... more
If you are into selfies or are craving for self-shots for your social media channels, it is time to pack your bags for Dusseldorf, Germany. The city saw Germany’s first Instagram museum, which ha... more
You can book yourself a luxurious stay soon as plans for the world’s first space hotel are unveiled. The hotel facility has been already conceptualised and the foundation in charge has claimed th... more
We are not exaggerating when we call Kerala God's Own Country; these photos from the beautiful tropical getaway will drive home the joys of Kerala, exploring its more offbeat side as well. The wo... more
Step into a world of cartoon characters that has turned real at this really trippy cafe in Seoul. While the metropolis is much known for its rendezvous with K-pop, awe-inspiring skyscrapers, Budd... more
Yes, you read that right. You can now hop aboard the very special Jose Cuervo Express, often referred to as the Tequila Train, running between Guadalajara to Tequila in Mexico. As evident from it... more
Jodhpur RIFF (Rajasthan International Folk Festival), one of the most exciting, annual music events of the country kicked off in its quintessential aplomb on October 10, 2019. A five-day event, i... more
If there is one, undisputed good thing about Delhi, it has to be the food that can be found in the national capital. And writing of good food, cups of filter coffee can never be missed. While the... more
If the locals’ claims are anything to go by, Ravana was born in this otherwise unheard village in Noida. The village, Bisrakh, is in the public eye for this secret that the villagers claim to be ... more
Cafe Le Procope in Paris has seen it all, quite literally, for it is hailed as the oldest continuously-running cafe in Paris. Plus, the tag of being the oldest cafe in the world, a claim which ha... more
The Lalbaugcha Raja is one of the most revered Ganeshutsava pandals in Mumbai. Perhaps, the most revered of all, it is an icon of sorts. Grand in a way that might just redefine the word ‘grand’, ... more
One of planet Earth’s most densely-forested regions is on fire, as we sit and watch in muted horror. Here, in India, a debate has been raging as to how media influencers should care more about th... more
An island that is always marked in bold in every Greece itinerary, Mykonos will make you gape in awe and delight. Painted in stark blue and white, its Cycladic lanes invite everyone from backpack... more
As a generation that will never be over the first-time charm of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter, Hogwarts is very much a reality to us. A work of fiction that felt more real than reality, the School of... more
It's November, the most magical time of the year. There's a sudden nip in the air that has made the outdoors and trips all the more inviting too. This is also the time for some of the mega festiv... more
You ought to have this on your itinerary as well as your kids’ if you seek a truly wild experience. The forest here tells the story of nature running its own course, for young trees are slowly ta... more
In a first of its kind, Chattisgarh in India is now home to the country’s first garbage cafe. A new initiative, this is where visitors can bring in plastic trash and get a free meal in return. Th... more
If you profess to be a pizza-lover, this place needs to be on your bucket list. Yes, we are talking about Antica Pizzeria Port'Alba, the world’s first pizzeria. This place has its roots tracing b... more
The first thing we do while on a beach vacation is to dab sunscreen, and make ample use of it while outdoors. Well, as the beauty experts suggest, it is the first, basic, yet most critical thing ... more
Come monsoons and Jaipur starts seeing travellers again, for it signals an end to the scorching summers that the state of Rajasthan sees. The Pink City turns all the more alluring when it rains, ... more
If you have landed in the state with a journal and a camera perhaps, trying to chase its stories, I have yet another recommendation. While there is no dearth of supposedly haunted places in Rajas... more
This one is for all those, who have been stoked by travelling and reading in equal measure. A place so perfect that you would love travelling to, and a chance so perfect that you will end up read... more
Sanya is just the place for you if you are keen for a destination wedding at a beach location; a place that is different from the usual Goa, the more familiar Bali, or the oh-so-costly Hawaii. Sa... more
Haus Hiltl, the oldest continuously running vegetarian restaurant in the world, is a Zurich attraction that no vegetarian should miss. It has been recognised by the Guinness World Records for the... more
The next time you think of a beach holiday, think beyond Goa, Bali or Thailand, for there is a new place on the block. A destination that is an apt answer to the madding crowd of the more popular... more
Here, a look at countries other than India that celebrate Ramayana with much aplomb and fervour. If you are planning an international trip at this time of the year, but do not want to miss the gr... more
The International Day of Yoga is here; celebrated on June 21 every year, it is commonly known as the Yoga Day. It was in 2015 that the United Nations General Assembly recognised it as an annual e... more
While Delhi has the dil of many, Mumbai still clutches its position as the jaan. If you think you know all about what makes the city our heartbeat, here is more of our love for the city maximum. ... more
Antarctica, the ever-elusive fantasy for travellers came true over some years with a few luxury cruises opening it up for the tourists. A destination that stayed off the tourists’ bucket list for... more
Manali is, perhaps, one of the most loved mountains getaways in north India. Most of us have been here some multiple times and wondering if it calls for yet another visit this summer. Well, it do... more
Omar Z Robles, a photographer based in NYC, will take you out from the cafes, malls, attractions, beaches, treks and get you back on the streets for your next trip. A Puerto Rican, Robles has bee... more
While there is no getting over our love for the ancient in Bali, the new-age of Europe, the charm of Sri Lanka and the mystique of Cambodia, it is time to explore. It is time to get that backpack... more
Uttarakhand is one of the most abundant states in India when it comes to its natural resources. Yet, it is laden with ghost villages in its upper reaches; the Himalayan land has been seeing mass ... more
If you can imagine having a hot cup of coffee at 15400 ft, a trip to Nepal should be on your bucket list. The cafe goes by the name of, well, the World’s Highest Bakery Cafe, and is at Lobuche in... more
If you think of Leh, Hunder, Nubra, Khardung La, Pangong Tso, Lamayuru and one of these big names while planning a trip to Ladakh, it is time to think further. A hitherto untouched side of Ladakh... more
Yesterday, as the Indian Army posted photos of what it believes to be Yeti footprints, the internet broke for all good reason. One of the most popular and mystifying lores of the world, the searc... more
October is hailed as the start of the great Indian festival time, with Navratra, Durga Puja, Eid, Diwali, Christmas, New Year's and more, the celebratory mood kickstarting this month. Add more re... more
Gujarat is perhaps one of the richest states when it comes to architecture. It is home to some of the most ancient and prominent architectural wonders that one must visit while on a trip to the s... more
