Conde Nast Traveller India February - March - April 2021
CNT India's Summer Family Travel Issue will focus on Summer Vacations, and provide not just inspiration but specific information on 'How to Make the Most of This Summer'. As more and more people are looking at travel as a way to reunite and spend time with their loved ones, this issue will help covert all that pent-up demand into real, concrete plans and bookings. Look out for 50 Best Villas across India curated for the very first time by CNT, 50 Amazing Family Experiences in India, CNT’s Annual Hotlist of the Best New Hotels in India and Around the World and Features and essays on key Destinations in India abroad, including road trips and culinary expeditions. PLUS Readers’ Travel Awards 2021 are here! All the details on how to vote--and the grand prizes you can win by voting!
in this issue
editor’s letter
“When the idea of your wedding is turned upside down, you start from scratch. What would truly bring you joy on such a special day?” Truth be told, I have never been more excited about Indian weddings than I am now, in this insane, maddening, mid-Covid environment. Who would imagine that it would take a pandemic for so many couples across the country to essentially say, ‘Now I can do exactly what I want!’ For brides like Sanjana Rishi and Karishma Sakhrani, this meant getting married in pant suits. For Dia Mirza, it meant setting up a sustainable mandap in her own garden, doing away with a kanyadaan, and engaging a woman priestess. When the idea of your wedding is turned upside down, when you suddenly realise you’re not performing for 600 guests…
the condé nast traveller guide to bridal jewellery trends 2021
Our lifestyles have changed over the past year, so it only makes sense that our fashion styles do too. As Indian weddings become more intimate and personalised, the bride’s choice takes centre stage, especially when it comes to jewellery. They are no longer just traditional templates. Today, what the bride chooses to adorn herself with is an extension of her distinctive style. She chooses to wear her personality on her neck, her ears, around her wrists and fingers. These pieces pay homage to our cultural traditions, but are decidedly forward looking; investments for the future, planned well in advance. While every bride wants to sparkle on her big day, choosing the perfect jewels to complement the look is not a one-size-fits-all approach. That’s why the perfect choice is natural diamonds—they…
the timeless bride
NDC Trend: The New Heirloom With conscious consumption being the mantra of the moment, brides will strongly consider investing in classic natural diamond jewellery that they can wear for years to come, and even pass down. After all, every heirloom started out as a shiny new piece, didn’t it? The key is to make it your own, put your stamp on it. How-to: Re-think or revamp traditional pieces. Pair antique heirlooms with unusual natural diamonds. Layer or style them differently. “For the Hindu wedding, Tarun Tahiliani customdesigned a beautiful sari and the traditional Maharashtrian Mundavalya. My father’s family deity is Ganesha, so I wore a Ganesha pendant around my neck, with a ruby-diamond choker. We wanted everything to be understated, classic and timeless. My mother designed much of my jewellery. We complemented…
conscious coupling
FROM A HIGH SCHOOL romance to a modern Indian wedding, branding strategist DIVYA KHANDELWAL, and hotelier and software engineer AMAN KAPUR have a rom-com-worthy love story. Their wedding at Alila Fort Bishangarh, co-owned by Kapur’s family, was not just a mega celebration but a mindful one too. “The hotel is home for us. We wanted our wedding to give back to the Jaipur and the Bishangarh community,” Divya said. “Ensuring a zero-waste wedding and moving away from traditions that did not apply to us were the key goals.” The couple shares all the details from their green wedding, designed by Atelier X, Mela by Surabhi Bhowmick and Devika Narain & Company. EVERY DETAIL COUNTS •Vegetables, fruit and herbs were grown on the hotel’s farmland months in advance based on the food and…
the wedding moves closer home
Several families retreated to their holiday homes in nearby getaway towns during the lockdown. Couples even tied the knot in such villas with their immediate families in attendance. You too can host an intimate wedding at equally charming rentals. Consider SaffronStays L’Attitude By The Lake (saffronstays.com) in Kamshet, Maharashtra for a quiet celebration in the lap of nature. Vista Room’s Shivom Villa (vistarooms.com) in Pawna is a unit of multiple villas, and can accommodate up to 100 guests.…
love in the time of covid
PLANNING A WEDDING IN TWO weeks was not jewellery designer PRERNA CHOWDHARY’s original plan. She was slated to wed Dubai-based enterpreneur ROHAN SIROYA in her hometown of Mumbai last May. The pandemic, however forced them to revise their plans and marry in Dubai. “With the restrictions being eased there, it seemed like our best option. The original plan was a small 10-people wedding complying with government rules,” reveals the bride. “But once the limit was extended to 200 guests, we decided to invite our friends and family too. We had less than two weeks to pull this off!” The couple gives us a BTS look at this whirlwind celebration. THE PLANNING “We did all the planning from our hotel rooms with limited access meets. It wasn’t easy. Having a local wedding planner…
