Celebrating their 10-year strong legacy in the fashion industry, ace designers and T+L A-list members Shivan & Narresh recently announced their new collection, SHIVAN & NARRESH #Wilding20s Series, in the national capital. With this collection, the fashion duo is taking us on a nation-wide and introspective journey, one seam at a time. By Bayar Jain

Replete with their signature spunk, luxury holiday brand SHIVAN & NARRESH recently unveiled their latest collection in celebration of their 10-year anniversary in New Delhi. Named #Wildings20s, with this collection the duo also factors in their love for all things travel and depicts the beauty of human, plant, and animal anatomy. 

The collection is inspired by evolution and includes five prints: Gardenia, Oriri, Nebulous, Dame, and Camo Heart. Moreover this series, in particular, aims to illustrate the beauty of nature, plant, and animal anatomy into five holiday lifestyles: swimwear (depicted by snails); resort wear (peacocks); cruise wear (dolphins); safari (elephants); and ski wear (reindeers). To heighten this analogy, the show was set amidst the rocky lakes of the legendary Aravalli mountains.

The first two prints, Nebulous and Oriri, explore the interplay of cells and veins in the human body, while Camo Heart seeks inspiration from animals’ bodies camouflaging with the environment. On the other hand, dame is an art-inspired Renaissance print, while Gardenia is all for swimwear.

Speaking about this multi-level inspiration, the brand’s creative director Narresh Kukreja says in a statement, “2020 has been a tough year for all and has made us introspect. There is a huge sentiment of escape in people—from isolation, from confinement, and from rules. Therein lies the euphoria of breaking old patterns of life. This mindful madness is what will define #Wilding20s of this century. It will be remembered with kindness, enlightenment, benevolence, and will set patterns and movements for decades to follow.”

Adding to this, head designer Shivan Bhatiya says, “With travel at the centre of our design universe, ‘wild’ refers to going back and connecting to nature. #Wilding20s has been envisioned to look inwards and celebrate the synergy of animalia and plantae kingdoms in their most natural dignity, illustrated through five prints and 55 styles.”

Related: T+L A-List Members Shivan & Narresh Reveal The Art Of Holidays In Style

With a rising influx of visitors to Goa, including celebrities like Deepika Padukone, you’d believe the seaside state is back to business. But COVID-19 numbers are on the rise here, and the picnic is not on. In fact, being a Goa resident, I urge restraint. This is a small state with fewer medical facilities compared to others. We’re reeling for a harsh, thoughtless lockdown over summer. A pandemic is not a sensitive time to go on that Goa break. By Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi

Having spent up to five months on the road each year, I’ve established a unique coping mechanism for the pandemic life in rural Goa. I discovered the finest energy healers in Goa. I meditated, chanted, and edited my new book, Loss — my first work of non-fiction. The book is a collection of essays on death and the ways out of grief.

What counters the privilege of treatment during the worst economic crisis India has ever known is the support for world-class local talent. Here are three healers in Goa who I’ve worked with closely.

1. Rufus Remedios

Rufus has the presence of a sage. You instantly feel reassured and consoled in his company. Trained in yoga, and formerly a therapist with the Taj Group, his reflexology and massage treatments restored my focus on writing. It was easy to slide into depression. I live alone, away from family, so my isolation was as instructive as it was unsettling. But Remedios’ therapies over months of lockdown were profound and invaluable. He calmed my anxieties, centred my thoughts, and restored me to balance. During the pandemic, Remedios was like a great shaman who appeared out of the forest to lead me from one place to the next. He is magical and matchless.

You can connect with him on +918390708906 

2. Josef Wirsching

A half-Indian and half-German therapist, he is an erudite healer. His treatments are casually broken up with astute digressions on Vedic texts. Other than being a walking library, Wirsching is trained in martial arts by martial arts teachers in rural Kerala and mentored by vaids. During one meditation class based on Japanese traditions, he drew my consciousness over every single source of sound around me. This reminded me that although I was alone, there was the rustle of breeze and birdsong with me. Everything in the universe connives to remind us we are not alone, and Wirsching’s treatments shifted my perspective from despair to gratitude. 

You can connect with him on +91 8007384275  

3. Alex Shantidas

As the monsoon began its retreat, I had a nasty bout of cold and instantly thought I had the dreaded bug. After getting tested at Ace Diagnostic Center by a wonderful and sensitive lab technician Shanth, my COVID-19 test result came out to be negative. Following this unnerving episode, I turned to Alex who practices Usui Shiki Ryoho reiki for which he trained in Dharamshala for two years. His powerful reiki is deepened with the use of Solfeggio tuning forks. According to me, sound frequencies heal but also reaffirm intention. A trained yoga teacher from the Sivananda school in Rishikesh, Shantidas’ calm, discreet manner helped me tune in to the energy source at the core of my being.

You can connect with him on +43 69918190700

Related: Author And T+L India’s A-List Member, Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi, Enjoys A Writer’s Retreat In Sri Lanka

The pandemic pause is slowly losing its grip on human activity. Posts about birdsongs and blue skies have dwindled. How then do we keep the conversation on sustainable tourism going? Founder of RARE India and our A-list member, Shoba Mohan, elucidates. By Shoba Mohan

It was nearly ten years ago when Sarai at Toria, a small retreat on the banks of River Ken, first vocalised its no-bottled-water policy. I remember the look of disbelief on the travel consultant’s face. We have come a long way since then, and the conversation around single-use plastic and other issues on the responsible tourism front has gained momentum. Now, the pandemic has given us an opportunity to reboot, to encompass all aspects of sustainable travel into a robust strategy, which puts the onus on everyone—from the government to the traveller.

The endeavour for responsible tourism has always been at odds with state tourism boards and the Ministry of Tourism. Few states can show a forceful strategy to work on a thorough policy for sustainability. The Ministry of Tourism, under the aegis of the Incredible India campaign, put out a 44-page document for Criteria and Indicators under STCI (Sustainable Tourism Criteria for India) back in 2010. Some interesting ideas like carrying capacity indicators, preserving intangible cultural heritage, polluter pays, social equity, and local prosperity were proposed. The implementation of these ideas, listed with the help of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), is yet to find enthusiastic support. But in the wake of the COVID-19 disruption, a series of webinars titled Dekho Apna Desh (literally, see our country) by the ministry has ensured that over-tourism is addressed by putting the spotlight on lesser-known Indian destinations.

SUCCESS STORIES

Speaking about robust strategies, there are successful models all over the globe. Small countries like Costa Rica, Slovenia, New Zealand, and closer home, Bhutan, are leading the charge. To preserve its extraordinary biodiversity, Costa Rica has protected almost 25 per cent of its national territory, comprising volcanoes, beaches, and rainforests. This has ensured pristine nature experiences for travellers while also educating them about the importance of preservation. With 93 per cent of its electricity production from renewable resources, the country has set a goal of being carbon-neutral by 2021, an attitude that reflects in its tourism policies.

Slovenia and New Zealand are close behind, building a strategy that takes advantage of their natural resources, protecting them and ensuring that every stakeholder is motivated to operate sustainably. Innovative strategies that include certifications like GSST (Green Scheme for Slovenian Tourism) aim to include service providers and destinations in their objectives for sustainable development that encompass social, economic, cultural, and environmental preservation.

New Zealand has a detailed plan to ensure that every tourism business is committed to sustainability by 2025. An agenda of 14 points covers economic sustainability, visitor experience, and sustainability of host communities and the environment. Their Qualmark symbol is an identification for service providers who have been assessed for best practices in tourism, while the Tiaki Promise seeks to educate visitors in preserving and protecting New Zealand. Bhutan’s simple strategy of promoting high-value and low-impact tourism, coupled with strict entry restrictions, has mitigated mass tourism while keeping the destination pristine.

THE INDIAN PLAYERS

In the Indian industry where entry barriers are vague, sustainability has largely come about due to initiatives based on individual exposure and personal inclination. Often, the move to sustainable operations is led by demand from the travellers or operators one works with—this is especially true for inbound operators who evolve based on the inflexibility of the queries they get.

In medium to large brands, there has been a considerable effort. In fact, it came as quite a surprise to me that some agencies have been on this path for over a decade and continue to fine-tune operations to include more areas that can be sustainably handled.

A brief chat with Dipak Deva, MD of SITA, a large corporate travel company with offices worldwide, was a revelation. “We have been working on responsible tourism initiatives for over 16 years now, introducing ideas like slow travel and real travel long before they became buzzwords.” Programmes are designed with experiences that highlight women empowerment and environment protection. Gender equality and a safe working environment for women are taken very seriously at SITA and enforced in their offices.

Quietly, several independent companies have been working to set an agenda that ropes in planet-and people-friendly initiatives. Mohan Narayanaswamy, MD of Travel Scope India Pvt Ltd, has made it his mission to cultivate a socially, environmentally, and economically aware policy for his company that organises bespoke programmes for world travellers from USA and Australia. According to him, “The last five years were important in taking small significant steps, such as offering alternatives to single-use plastic, eliminating activities that involved working animals, and supporting projects that focus on community development and sustainable living.”

Vish Gopalakrishnan, MD of Footprint Holidays, a Chennai-based luxury tour consultant, sums up the industry’s new outlook, “We directly influence all three stakeholders—the actual traveller, the supplier of various products and services, and the destinations itself. As influencers, we have a part to play in evangelising sustainability. We are aware that an intact destination is essential for long-term survival.”

Adapting the workspace to inspire change is something that Creative Travel, a midsized, multi-market, full-service organisation operating out of Gurugram, has done over the years. The joint managing director, Rohit Kohli, shares, “We have mandated local community engagement in all of our programmes. Especially with wildlife, we focus on using conservation-based lodges and have planned innovation sessions for our team members.”

Associations like The Responsible Tourism Society of India (RTSOI) and TOFTigers have long been advocating responsible travel and have now upped their game with engaging conversations on video conferencing. The lockdown has been a time to reinforce these ideals—RTSOI recently organised a webinar on the care of elephants in tourism.

RETHINKING TOURISM

The tourism sector grapples with a peculiar strategy that targets inbound numbers to showcase India and offers outbound aspirations to the Indian traveller. In the face of a disruption where air travel for leisure seems to be suspended for some time, we have no fall-back strategy to deliver Indian travellers to regional destinations at a value. Meanwhile, hundreds of quaint destinations lie waiting with countless retreats that have always boasted sustainability practices.

A good way to measure sustainability and its value in the industry is to study every stakeholder’s rebound strategy—if their health and safety protocols extoll use-and-throw masks and plastic bottles. The overzealous use of chemical sanitising is another indicator. This is the time to choose wisely and change for good. What rationale advocates that we save ourselves from a virus while setting up another crisis of waste and chemical pollution?

Related: Here’s How You Can Be A Conscious Traveller In Different Terrains

On the 10th anniversary of a unique jungle lodge, RARE India Founder and T+L India & South Asia A-List member Shoba Mohan celebrates its sustainability ethos by re-discovering the virgin beauty of Satpura’s forests. By Shoba Mohan

It was a sense of déjà vu each time our little ‘jungle party’ ventured into the forests of Satpura or sat by the fireplace in Reni Pani Jungle Lodge’s cosy library. Whether we were trampling though undergrowth—dense from a late monsoon spurt—or dodging overhanging webs of the golden orb-weaver, or trailing behind a line of excited tree lovers lugging the voluminous first edition of Jungle Trees of Central India, we were celebrating Satpura. It was Reni Pani’s 10th year of lodge operations in 2019, and it made me revisit lessons on what wildlife safaris should be like. We followed author Pradip Kishen around and tried to find a spot in the right jeep with an articulate and/or sighting-lucky naturalist.

It was the summer of 2008 when I first realised that a jungle safari was not just about chasing the big cats. A fairly new wildlife enthusiast then, I was quite convinced that if I did not see a tiger or two during the rather regulated morning and evening safaris, my expedition into the forest would amount to nothing. Evenings at the bar were dreaded when “Kuch dikha kya? (Did you see anything?)” led to competitive discussions on who spotted a tiger, how many of them, and for how long, and who got the best shot. Then, Satpura happened. Sometime during exploring the young forests with enthusiastic naturalists, who were still decoding the way to hold people’s interests in a landscape that yielded sightings of gaurs and flying squirrels, and discovering the jungle in ways other than on a 4X4, my perception of a wildlife safari changed forever.

Buffer-zone safaris in Satpura take you inside the forest at sunset and should be included in every safari itinerary. On my latest visit, in early December 2019, the highlight was beholding a handsome male leopard walking on the same track as us, as we trailed behind him at a discreet distance. For all my excitement—this was my first comprehensive sighting of the big cat—he didn’t seem to care much for the humans gaping at him from four jeeps. Looking into the wide amber eyes of a rusty-spotted cat, identifying several moths, and spotting a couple of barn owls made up the rest of the exploration of the Parsapani buffer forest.

Not many forests in India can boast of a park entry or exit that takes you on a boat over the tranquil waters of a brimming reservoir. At Satpura, this boat ride over Tawa is your window to stunning sunsets or iridescent dawns. Once across the river, the idyllic scene featuring a cavalcade of safari jeeps is almost always the same. The entry on misty winter mornings is almost like a photograph in my mind that I may or may not have captured. The fresh waterbody at the entrance, where a strip of mist hangs low, always has a few herons and, sometimes, a beady-eyed mugger. Once, a very alert sambhar with one hoof mid-air made for a picture-perfect moment. Another time, it was a bonanza of bambis in a meadow, when every second doe had a fawn beside her. What never changes, though, is the abundance of birds and grazers. It’s a very healthy forest.

A personal favourite is the alarm call, the tense ‘watch out’ moment when the jungle’s insistent morse code between the langur, peacock, and sambhar saves many gentle lives and costs irate predators their meal. I was quite lucky to have my first walking safari in Satpura. I approached the prospect with disbelief as a lanky naturalist and a lodge manager assured me that a wall of five people (two were guards with sticks) standing very close and hollering together with their hands high over their heads would dissuade a hungry leopard or tiger, or a protective mother bear. We must have walked a short distance when there was the unmistakable ‘tut’ and thump. My first alarm call on foot, and we seemed to be right in the sweet zone. Satpura is one of the few parks in the country that lets you explore the forest on foot, and with a well-trained naturalist, you can teach yourself to read the forest like a book. What did the jackal have for dinner? Is this tiger territory? Has the bear been digging or is that a porcupine dwelling? Who are the ‘little five’, those mighty restorers of the forest equilibrium? What remedies does the forest offer a sick macaque? Is that trail of a slug or a snake?

Satpura also allows you to skirt the forest while treading the reservoir in a hand-paddled boat or a canoe, and the reward for all the hard work—besides the obvious workout—may be several species of birds, wild boars, and muggers sunning themselves on the river bank. For this reason, Satpura National Park is as close to the perfect forest for tourists as possible. It also offers other wooded areas in the vicinity for better tourist distribution. Bori Wildlife Sanctuary in the Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve is one such forest, and Reni Pani’s new lodge here is set to create interesting new safari opportunities.

A result of unwavering dedication and the vision to take the long road to success via preservation and awareness, brothers Aly and Faiz created the idea of Reni Pani traversing many miles and spending hours in the forests sleeping under the stars. The lodge came up on either side of a seasonal stream, with a hilly forest on one side and a grassy meadow on the other. In its 10 years, Reni Pani has evolved and thrived just the way a vibrant ecosystem and a sincere sustainable lodge must. The cottages are spread over a wide area to afford privacy as well as views; they are spacious, warm, and well-lit. A short verandah on one side leads you to a spacious en suite bathroom, thoughtfully fitted for a safari couple: twin vanities with enough counter space, and indoor and outdoor shower area. Four safari tents have been added around a watering hole to mix it up. The central lodge was the happy space where we gathered every evening to share our safari moments over G&T and dinner. The library next door was a popular nook, not only because it connected us with the rest of the world and allowed us to post Instagram stories, but also because some of the best stories and initiatives in re-wilding, conservation, and Indian wildlife were shared here.

A lodge that has many legendary tales around its inception, naming, and conceptualisation, Reni Pani stands out for its location—a diverse ecosystem of its own. The villages around Satpura and the prime habitats in the forests have a charming logic to their names, denoted by a shrub, tree, or grass in the vicinity of a waterbody. Aampani near a mango tree, Babapani near a wild grass meadow, and of course, Reni Pani is spread in a 35-acre wild garden dominated by the reni shrub. In the days when hunting was a legitimate sport of royalty, the forests of Satpura were noted for the size of the sambhar and their heads. Inspired by the history, Reni Pani’s logo is a tribute to the elegant stags, whose population in the Satpura jungles today is a testimony to their revival. It also symbolises the needed shift of focus from the usual stripes and roars, a true commitment to conservation.

GETTING THERE

The nearest airport is Raja Bhoj Airport in Bhopal (144 km), Madhya Pradesh, and the nearest rail junction is the Sohagpur Railway Station (24 km).

STAY

Reni Pani Jungle Lodge is a conservation-focussed wildlife lodge that offers luxe cottages and tents near Satpura National Park. Apart from motorised safaris on jeep and boat, the lodge offers eco-friendly ways of exploring the wilderness including walking, canoeing, cycling, and camping safaris. From INR 22,000 per night.

In times of self-isolation, these books are sure to help you retreat to your #DreamEscapes. Besides, it’s also a great way to kill time while we wait to #LetItPass, isn’t it? T+L A-List member and author Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi recommends these travel books for some armchair escapism. 

1. Robert MacFarlane – The Wild Places

 

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MacFarlane is wise and compassionate. All his books discharge a powerful love for nature:  you hear crickets and otters in the stream and the abundance of life itself.

Available to buy here

2. Bruce Chatwin – What Am I Doing Here?

 

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Funny and as acutely observed as someone conducting an autopsy, this book has stories emergent from travel, whimsical and elusive. Add to cart: In Patagonia.

Available to buy here. 

3. Shirley Hazzard and Francis Steegmuller – The Ancient Shore: Dispatches from Naples

 

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Summons the charm and hysteria of Italy through the lens of Napoli, a town at once cunning, boisterous and artful.

Kindle edition available here.

4. Paul Bowles – The Sheltering Sky

 

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The Sheltering Sky remains a classic ode to a lost time, written with invaluable delicacy. When Paul Theroux – a writer one must read in entirety – asked Bowles for a message to readers he said: “Everything gets worse.” (To me, this means ‘it is just fine at the moment’).

Available to buy here. 

5. Pico Iyer – Tropical Classical

 

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The deepest kind of traveller, and an observer of the Buddhist tradition — which is to say he forgives every foible knowing he may be guilty of it himself — he voyages into the human spirit. His literary awareness of space and form arrives in a kind of a rarified light.

Available to buy here.

New Delhi-born star restaurateur and T+L A-list member, Zorawar Kalra is the brain and heart behind the fine dining scene of the capital city. His brand, Massive Restaurants, has a slew of iconic restaurants like Masala Library, Farzi Café, Pa Pa Ya, Made in Punjab, etc. He talks to us about the cities that have inspired him to innovate, the challenges he has faced, and his new ventures. By Adila Matra

1- Massive Restaurants has changed the way we see Indian food. What is your global vision for the cuisine?

My vision for Indian food is to position it as one of the leading cuisines around the world, just like Italian, Chinese, and Japanese. I think Indian food is incredible, with an unmatched culinary philosophy, variety, and depth that is unparalleled, and a sophistication that is a class by itself.

2- What inspired you to get into the restaurant business, apart from your father’s legacy?

I have always been intrigued and infatuated by the restaurant industry, though I was exposed to it through my father [Jiggs Kalra]. What really drives me every day is my love for Indian food, and I believe it is our responsibility to showcase it in the best possible way.

3- From the time you began the company till now, how has Indian cuisine evolved?

The Indian foodie’s palate has become jaded. They are now exposed to great food from across the world. The adventure factor has exponentially increased. People have begun to move away from butter chicken and ‘Chinjabi’ food, to try authentic and new flavours

. The foodie is evolving so rapidly that what you think is ahead of the curve today becomes right on the ball in six months.

4- Which is your favourite restaurant in the world?

Paradise Pup in Chicago. It is several years old and serves the best burgers in America. They source their ingredients from specific vendors. Two brothers run it with a lot of passion, and that is what I love about it.

5- What role does travel play in your business?

Apart from Indian cuisine, I have restaurants serving other cuisines too, so it is very important to travel to the country of origin. For instance, when I was opening Pa Pa Ya, I went to Japan. For my recently opened restaurant, Hotel Shanghigh, I have been making multiple trips to China, Japan, and Dubai to study high-quality Chinese restaurants. Travel exposes your palate and inspires you, gives you access to great dishes and ingredients. The country that inspires me the most from the perspective of food is Japan—their culinary philosophy is incredible. They have huge respect for ingredients and a beautiful sense of simplicity.

6- You have introduced concepts such as molecular gastronomy in Indian food. You are also one of the pioneers of fusion food. What are the challenges you faced when you decided to bring these trends to India?

One of the biggest challenges was access to ingredients. Another one was to find qualified people. In 2019, you launched Farzi Cafe in London.

7- What’s next in the pipeline?

More expansion is on the cards, specifically in India. We are already in nine cities in India, and we expect to be in four more by the end of the year [2020].

8- Out of all the dishes in your restaurants, which ones are your favourite?

It is impossible to choose from. But when it comes to repeatability, two restaurants of mine that I go to are Made in Punjab for the butter chicken, paneer tikka, and biryani, and Hotel Shanghigh (opened in Mumbai in January 2020) for the spare ribs, prawn and chives Cheung fun.

9- Who are your favourite chefs in the world, and what aspects of their work impress you the most?

Chefs Sriram Aylur and Atul Kochhar are my favourite Indian chefs. When it comes to international chefs, I loved the work of the late Joël Robuchon, from whom I learned a lot.

Related: First Look At Zorawar Kalra’s New Freestyle Bar & Kitchen: KODE

Writer and Travel + Leisure India & South Asia’s A-List member Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi’s decade-long friendship with Rome’s Prince Jonathan Doria Pamphilj has served as a revelation in art, humanity, and charm. By Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi

One of Caravaggio’s most important works, Penitent Magdalene, is held in the Doria Pamphilj Gallery in Rome on Via del Corso. The painting is significant, and singular, for its depiction of Magdalene. Previously painted in sensual light, with voluptuous turn, here she is in a repose of terrific plainness. Without erotic charge, she appears either remorseful
or reflective: a woman on the brink of transformation. This is markedly different from her
other interpretations as a ‘fallen’ woman (there was some talk about her role as a prostitute who is reformed by Jesus although some historical accounts dispute that story). The magnificent painting has Caravaggio’s assurance of power concentrated in a single stroke, and is remarkable–as the rogue Italian painter is feted–for its use of light. Joining this landmark work at the Doria Pamphilj Gallery are hundreds of classic works such as Titan’s Judith, Velázquez’s Portrait of Innocent X, and Raphael’s Double Portrait.

I first saw the Caravaggio painting 10 years ago, when I lived in Rome. The painting moved me; the power of transformation through reflection, and prayer, was a private unassailable truth. As I had turned a corner in this exquisite hallway, I heard music—a concert in one of the rooms. But I did not track the source of the music, the exact chamber from which violin notes echoed. As I stood beside a white marble bust, I was caught in the enchantment of the evening: all these great works in a raiment of music, form, and vibration holding hands at dusk. By then I had spent a few months in Rome, and bored of its indolent pace, the tedious parties in Parioli, egoistic outbursts among Monti’s rich, the leftleaning intellectuals whose mainstay was arguing at bars in Trastevere. Proust, at the end of his life, excited
himself in Parisian bordellos, where he watched bandicoots fi ght and bleed to death. I understood his impulse when I had lived on Via Giulia; unremitting boredom overcomes you when everything around you is flawless.

But I also believed that more profound than the jolt of perversion is the solace of beauty, its scholarship, its motives, how it comes into being and why it endures. Over the next few years, I moved in and out of Rome, where the Doria Pamphilj Gallery became one of my refuges.

Social acquaintance with Prince Jonathan Doria Pamphilj, whose palazzo neighbours the gallery and its art, graduated to friendship over the years. In his palace of over 1,000 rooms, you are met in a honey-hued salon; a butler arrives with a silver salver bearing prosecco and aperitif. A reception with Jonathan is memorable for its grace: driven by a sympathy for great ideas, his wit is sparring but always kind, bordering the fabulous; his
manner is correct, yet he warmly welcomes you into a private fold of beauty, as if you had always belonged there. You imagine other guests in this august, rarefi ed salon, including Madonna. More recently, the palace hosted a much-discussed fashion show from Giambattista Valli for H&M (front row: Kendall Jenner, Chris Lee).

Jonathan can talk high art or a new restaurant on Via Catalana, where fried artichoke leaves are on point. He is passionate about restoration, and was one of the first members of Italian nobility to open his palace, and a part of its formidable collection housed in the Doria Pamphilj Gallery, to public. Dinner is always with his family, his partner Elson Braga, who radiates kindness, intelligence, equanimity; and their children, Emily and Filippo, raised with fiery wonder for the world, humility for providence in it, a love for travel,
a peripatetic, dusty life that prized experience over symbol. The family’s motto is optima pades, which translates to ‘show your best’. Taking this advisory to heart, Jonathan has invested his entire life in the pursuit of rare ideas and difficult truths, including a political
conviction in our fundamental equality. He publicly supports many causes, including equal rights for all, irrespective of gender, race, or sexual orientation.

I met Jonathan at the end of a month-long stay in Italy last year. A bleak April in Rome, it had rained every day; at a trattoria, my favourite sunglasses got nicked. I arrived at his
palace in a strop. But the surfeit of fine things on the piano nobile—frescos, marble busts, paintings —quietened that tetchy hum in my head. I could do the only reasonable thing: submit to collective splendour. Much later, as I was leaving, I stood alone in his courtyard. I imagined Handel, who had performed pieces here, entering the palace in the days of yore. I also imagined Velázquez at work, when he had been commissioned to document one of Jonathan’s forebears, a Pope whose unflattering portrayal prompted a scandal. But an exultation in greatness can only be measured by how one feels leaving it behind. As the wet cobbled streets of Rome led me back to my flat, I recognised that I had been profoundly comforted; and April, which thus far had felt misspent, now had its crown.

Related: Rome’s Dan Brown Tour Is a Must For Every Bookworm

Filmmaker, explorer, and Travel + Leisure India & South Asia A-List member, Imtiaz Ali likes to be spontaneous in his travels. From exploring offbeat destinations to interacting with locals, Ali’s personal expeditions often find themselves woven into his inspiring film plots. By Priyanka Chakrabarti

What role does travel play in your creativity?

I discover a different personality of mine each time I travel. And that new persona looks at stories and people in a new way. Many of my stories have come to me while I’ve been on a journey. In fact, that’s why my films always have an underlying element of travel in them. It’s not a coincidence.

Tell us about your most memorable travel experience.

It was a trip that I took when I was in the seventh or eighth grade. I had to take my grandmother from Kolkata to Jamshedpur. It was the simplest of trips, but we got on the wrong train, which was going only till Kharagpur. It was the middle of the night when we realised this blunder. My poor grandma! I got her out of the train on the tracks because the Steel Express, which went till Kolkata, had incidentally stopped next to our stationary train in the middle of nowhere, and I thought it was a good chance for us to switch trains. The moment I got her onboard the right train, it started moving and she started screaming— all our luggage was still on the tracks. I somehow put everything up and jumped onboard. As I say this, I realise there are so many shots in my films that have been inspired by that moment.

Were there any other personal travel encounters that made it into your films?

In my previous film (Jab Harry Met Sejal), I shot in Portugal a lot, and many of those places were ones that I had visited as a tourist. I had gone there for the first time with a group of friends—to a small village near Sintra. Similarly, before I was to start shooting Rockstar, I visited Kashmir with family. I had originally planned Heer’s wedding shoot in Rajasthan. But after going to Kashmir, I realised that I had the unique opportunity of showing the wedding in Kashmir, so I made Heer a Kashmiri girl. I changed the storyline so that Kashmir could come into the frame, and I’m very glad I did it.

Destinations on your bucket list?

I want to go to Samarkand, Tashkent, and Bukhara in Uzbekistan. I also want to explore different parts of Turkey, because I’ve been to just Istanbul and Cappadocia. Apart from these, I feel a certain calling from the desert. An interesting desert that I’ve seen apart from Rajasthan is Wadi Rum in Jordan. I also want to travel from Northern Africa to Andalusia.

What are your favourite destinations?

Kashmir, Jerusalem, Czech Republic, and Russia.

Do you remember your first holiday?

I don’t really remember it, but my parents have told me about it. I was a baby, and we had gone to Gopalpur in Odisha. My family has a house there, and I remember being very fascinated by the vastness of the ocean.

How do you like to spend your time on tour?

I don’t really refer to any guide or itinerary. I like to stay as unplanned as possible. Of course, there’s always something to do on my list, but I opt for freewheeling; sometimes I end up seeing so much in just one day, and at times, I see nothing for many days. Sometimes, I end up going to the same cafe every day, and that’s just the end of it.

Any memorable impromptu holiday?

Many of my travels have been impromptu. Back in the day, my family used to go only on spontaneous trips. When we first went to Kashmir, I was in the ninth grade and my father had taken us there without any reservations. Many years later, I did the same with my daughter in Scotland. We were in London, and we just went to Scotland without any bookings whatsoever. We hired a car, drove around, and discovered new places.

Any particular book that you love re-reading while travelling?

I like re-reading A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway.

Your favourite movie?

It’s a Russian film called Prisoner of the Mountains.

What are the five things you never travel without?

A journal, a pen, my passport (of course), good walking shoes, and some Darjeeling tea.

The woman behind the successes of many Bollywood celebrities, Travel+Leisure India & South Asia’s A-list member, and founder of Raindrop Group of Companies, Rohini Iyer is a force to reckon with. This celebrity publicist not only has bagfuls of the film industry’s crème de la crème in her kitty but also many travel stories to share. By Bayar Jain

1. You recently stayed at Pullman Maldives. What was your experience like?

It was a beautiful experience. I’ve been to Maldives multiple times and have stayed in a lot of resorts across the country. However, Pullman Maldives has a very original concept. They follow the concept of being all-inclusive, which means they have a lot of amenities within the property itself. Everything is original and outstanding there. Their restaurant was so good. A French chef has set up a vegan restaurant there. He makes vegan desserts without using even a drop of sugar! The French are known for their meats and dairy, but this Parisian chef created one of the best foods I’ve tasted in a long time. It was pure gourmet! They even grow their own organic plants outside the vegan restaurant. All the food is garden-to-table. I think it’s one of the coolest things I saw at The Pullman, and I highly recommend it to everyone. I even recommend their other restaurants, including the Sunrise and the Sunset. While in these bars, you can see the sunrise from one, and the sunset from the other. Seeing that every day was one of my favourite things. Even the hospitality of the resort is lovely!

2. While in the Maldives, what were some of the most memorable moments from your trip?

Memorable, of course, is the Pullman team’s hospitality. They had a person who would serve as your house manager and look after you. Everyone there, from basic managers to restaurant staff, was very informative. I’ve not seen hospitality of such kind. It’s been really nice.

3. If someone was planning a vacation to this island nation, what would you suggest they include in their bucket list?

Stay at the Pullman, for sure! When in the Maldives, leave all the cares of the world behind and come to recharge. Become an islander. I think the best thing to do in the Maldives is to just look at the sea; that itself is therapeutic and should be the only thing to include in your bucket list.

4. You once said, ‘Paris is your go-to place’. What do you think is one of the most underrated, and oft-forgotten aspects of this city?

For me, Paris is the best place in the world! I know Paris inside out. If I get even a day off, I take a ticket to Paris. I don’t know if it is underrated, but Montmartre is my favourite place there. It has an old-world Parisian charm to it. It has many by-lanes, an artists’ corner, really old houses and lovely hotels. There’s this hotel called Maison Souquet, right opposite the Moulin Rouge. It is an old bordello converted into a modern-day hotel. It’s one of the most luxurious places I’ve stayed in. Hôtel Particulier in Montmartre, too, is a hidden treasure with a romantic garden of its own. And of course, the Sunday flea markets! They sell old antiques, which date back to the 1940s and 50s. Here, you can find things that are not available in any other part of the world.

5. Out of the many B-town stars you manage, who would you pick to travel around the world alone with, and why?

I would travel with all of them! They’re all so much fun. But honestly, when I travel, I like to travel alone. In my profession, I’m always surrounded by people, so travelling is the only ‘me-time’ I get.

6. Managing celebrities is no cakewalk and can get very stressful. Where do you head to break free from the madness, and what do you do while you’re there?

I have a few favourite places that I keep visiting and re-visiting. In India, I love the SUJÁN Rajmahal Palace in Jaipur and Ananda In The Himalayas in Uttarakhand. I keep running off to both these places every chance I get. Ahilya by the Sea in Goa is another place I love. Abroad, it’s always Paris for me. I must see the Eiffel Tower and its lights. Over there, I go to Shakespeare and Company. It’s a must-visit for me.

I usually use Paris as my starting point and then travel to the rest of Europe. I can travel to any place in Europe; it’s just that comfortable. Another place I really love is the streets of New York. I have a few vintage stores and bookstores that I like to visit. These experiences are very special and sacred to me.

7. Having started out your career at a very young age, what were some of the challenges you faced then, and how did you power through it?

I actually started working early because I hated going to school and college, and hated being bound by time. I can’t do Monday morning meetings or wake up at 9 am. I’m an insomniac that way. I feel timings and schedules creates a rigidity which doesn’t allow for one to do great things in life. That is why I started my own company where people can come and go as they please. Everyone asks me about the challenges I faced, but I don’t see them as a hurdle or challenge. I get bored if there are no challenges for me. If everything is going smooth, I get very hyper. Since childhood, I’ve liked solving problems, puzzles, and taking up projects. I feel the more challenges there are, the better it is for me.

8. Keeping Paris aside, what is your dream destination, and why?

I’ve never visited the Amalfi Coast in Italy, and I’ve heard lovely stories about it. I’ve wanted to visit Le Sirenuse, a heritage hotel there which I’ve been told is outstanding. I even want to travel to this island in Italy called Ischia. A lot of my friends have been there and they’ve told me its beautiful. Maybe from there, I would go on to Portofino, and so on and so forth. I also want to visit New Orleans and listen to some jazz. I am fascinated by the culture there. The third place I really want to go to is this little town called Trancoso in Bahia, Brazil. It is a beach town with very cool clubs.

9. Being a woman, have you faced any hardships while travelling?

Not at all! That way, I’m very careful. I don’t roam the streets very late in the night. I make sure I stay in good hotels, which have gotten good reviews. I always ensure I have a good concierge looking after me, and a good travel system in place. My travel agents are very good, so I’ve never faced any issue.

10. What would you say to girls out there who wish to travel solo, but are afraid to do so?

I would tell every girl to just pack her bags and explore the world because there is so much to see. If you don’t travel, and you don’t explore, you don’t find yourself. Enjoy that!

Related: The A-List 2019 Member And Celebrity Publicist Rohini Iyer Believes Travelling Is The Biggest Luxury

Travel Bucket List 2020 with SHIVAN & NARRESH. By Shivan & Narresh

1. For Its Rhythmic Culture And Diverse Ecosystem: Brazil 

Brazil has been on our list for long! A heaven for holidaymakers and nature enthusiasts alike, the tropical country entices with its wide white sand beaches, lush rainforests and jubilant carnivals. There is so much to get inspired from its diverse ecosystem — its toucans, macaws, capybaras and pink dolphins. The calendar lined with its hip-shaking carnivals and festas are another major elements of attraction.

2. To Catch The Aurora Borealis: Northern Lights Cruise 

An Arctic expedition to catch one of the most beautiful and ephemeral wonders of the world: the Northern Lights. Exploring the Norwegian fjords and northernmost points of Europe, while taking in the expansive white and grey beauty of the state — not to miss the midnight sun!

3. Expansive New Zealand For Its Landscape And Adventure Sports

Although we have been to the island state before for its easily accessible national parks and clear water lakes, but, we want to go to Queenstown for its adventure sports — tramping, alpine heliskiing, zip-lining and bungee jumping. The dramatic play of sunlight on the Remarkables and Lake Wakatipu is another item on our bucket list that we want to strike off.

4. Athens

For its mix of ancient architecture and contemporary culture, Athens is on our list for its glorious Acropolis, the Byzantine and Ottoman ruins scattered across the town — churches, mosaics, and street art — all speaking of a bygone era of its rich history.

5. Vivid Art And Culture Of Mexico

The Spanish colonial state with its rich display of art in its museums and galleries, the likes of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, capturing its charming history and cultural exuberance. The breathtaking landscape, the palatable cuisine and hospitable people — all call out to us to plan a Mexican getaway at the earliest!

Related: Learn How To Travel In Style With Designer Duo Shivan & Narresh