Varanasi is the holiest of holy cities in Hinduism and Jainism. It is full of meaningful and powerful experiences if you know where to look. The Death and Rebirth Walk reveals the spiritual underpinnings of Varanasi. The walk is a simple concept: an expert, certified guide picks you up at your hotel in the evening and from there you venture into the depths of the city by foot.
Nestled in Jodhpur’s prominent north-eastern quarter, RAAS Jodhpur is an enclave of tranquillity amidst the bustle of the Blue City. With breathtaking views of the Mehrangarh, this magnificent boutique hotel sits in the shadow of the imposing fort. RAAS combines ancient architectural gems, such as a stepwell, with a modern approach.
Some two hundred years ago, Ladakhi craftsmen built Stok Palace high up in the mountains in northern India. Today, the Palace is a heritage hotel, managed by the very same royal family for whom it was built. Architectural brilliance and precious legacy are the tenets of this Himalayan gem, an immersive and privileged experience of Tibetan culture and traditions.
Nestled in the middle of the Himalayas, Mary Budden Estate is a tranquil retreat in the mountainous Kumaon region of northern India. The Estate lies within Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary and provides a welcome retreat from all the hassle in this off-the-beaten-track corner of India. A place with a rich history, it is lovingly maintained and a family-run 19th-century homestay.
I am on a safari at Pench National Park, in Central India, right in the geographical centre of the country. Pench is a forest of deciduous trees, mainly teak. It is home to tigers, leopards, wild dogs, jackals, deer and peacocks. It is very appealing to naturalists because it is practically unknown to tourists. There is an opportunity for more intimate encounters, especially with the tiger.
Amit Sankhala is one of the most renowned names in Tiger Conservation. Using travel as a powerful tool to aid India’s big cat, he has become an innovative force in luxury travel, shifting the focus from exploitation to deeply rewarding wildlife experiences. He is, by all rights, this generation’s Tiger Man of India.
To ride across Central Asia from Iran to Western China I had to traverse remote parts of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Along the way lay deserts and steppes, alpine valleys and high mountain passes. The weather varied from furnace-like heat to numbing cold and biting winds.
In the mountains of Japan, above mist-covered forest, there remain the echoes of powerful ascetics, in legend bestowed with supernatural powers and shrouded in mystery. Throughout history, some have been mountain guides, showing nobles around the sacred trails of the Kumano Kodo. Most have disappeared into myth, and their numbers have dwindled throughout history. Meet one of the Yamabushi.
Gili Lankanfushi is a resort north of Malé Atol in the Maldives. They have a strict no-shoes policy. It seems like a simple gesture, but it has a long reaching effect. As I walk barefoot to our villa, the weight of modern life seems to slip away. I sense it through my eyes, not just my feet: a light of sea and sky, conjured by Oceanic powers that, for now, remain a mystery.
I am travelling in Mustang, the ancient Himalayan Kingdom of Lo, on nothing but a mountain bike. I cycle through the Kali Gandaki and the feet of Annapurna. I am heading to Lo Matang, the capital, following the ancient road of caravans. As I go deeper into Mustang, I leave the main paths and enter a journey of self-discovery.
