Condé Nast Traveller India August - September - October 2021

PRAGYA KAPOOR Writer; Treading Gently; p78 Having embraced a minimalist lifestyle, I prefer globetrotting with one bag; it enables me to travel without putting too much pressure on the environment. There is only so much I can fit into it, therefore it makes me conscious about my purchases. @pragyakapoor_ SANDIP ROY Writer; The River, The Tiger and All That Lies Between; p108 Understanding that little things make a difference, from not needing the bed linen and towels changed every day to carrying my own water bottle instead of picking up yet another small plastic bottle of water. @sandipr GEETIKA JAIN Writer; Higher Ground; p10 For me, learning about the land, people and their culture and eliciting their best practices is just as vital as the enjoyment of a new destination. I draw maps, start a notebook and…

To travel or not to travel? That is the question so many of us have been grappling with in different ways for the last several months. Gone are the days when we could hop on a flight for an indulgent weekend, taking for granted the crossing of borders, without eyeing everyone we came across with suspicion, and exploring new places without a shadow of doubt hovering over us as to whether strict protocol is being followed. Has some of that carefree joy of travel disappeared? Yes, it has. But, there’s more. This past year has also forced all of us to think about what we love so much about travel—and that’s made us realise just what we are in danger of losing. As more forests burn, as more glaciers melt, as…

Up until just three to four generations ago, sustainability was simply baked into our existence. Banana leaves were dinner plates, bath allowance was a bucketful of water, clothes were dried in the sun and holidays meant visits to grandparents rather than shopping sprees abroad. Belonging trumped belongings. Many tribes still cling to the old ways. Upon hunting a seal, the Inuit in Greenland thank its soul with a prayer and let the other seals return to water. The First Nation folk in America are fighting off lucrative mining on their land for they revere it and care for the future of their people. In the Omo Valley in Ethiopia, most found objects (including spent bullet shells) are saved and turned into jewellery. The Rabari goat-herders in Jawai, Rajasthan, continue to tolerate…

FOREST BIOLUMINESCENCE AT CHORLA GHATS GOA/KARNATAKA/MAHARASHTRA On a dark moonless monsoon night, the tiny moss-like mycena mushrooms on tree barks turn neon green like a scene from the film Avatar, but with a ‘Hilltop’ Anjuna vibe. Of the 27,000 fungi reported in India, 50 are bioluminescent. Located at the tri-junction of Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra, the forests of Chorla Ghats and Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary display this unique natural phenomenon. When the amount of oxygen and moisture in the air is at a certain level—conditions found only in the rainy season—the fungi dispel excess light energy and the forests begin to glow. Go on a night trek in the forest amid the cacophony of Malabar gliding frogs, switch off your torch and witness the enchanted forest come aglow. The surreal experience is…

In 1952, the Asiatic cheetah was declared extinct in India. The last cheetah spotted in the wild, died in Chhattisgarh in 1947. Now, 69 years later, the animal will be reintroduced into the country. By November, eight cheetahs (including five males and three females) will have traversed over 8,000km, from South Africa to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. The park, spread over 750sqkm in Chambal, is home to a sizeable population of antelopes, nilgai, wild boars, spotted deer and sambar, offering ample prey for the cheetahs. This will be the first time that a carnivore as large as the cheetah will be conserved through relocation from one continent to another. Though the animal’s history in the country is one spotted with hunting, captivity and conflict, the reintroduction this year…

Has the electric vehicle (EV) truly found its place in the dynamic Indian car market? The answer, experts suggest, is a resounding yes, with players like Jaguar, Tata Motors, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, MG Motor, among others, each releasing unique and competitive products. The dark horse in the Indian EV race, interestingly, has been Tata Motors’ Nexon EV, pegged to be the most affordable option in this category. The Nexon EV programme, largely underpinned by R&D support from Jaguar Land Rover is a game-changer, especially given the Indian manufacturer’s impressive charging infrastructure. At the extreme end of the spectrum, the Mercedes-Benz EQC proudly entered India as the first luxury EV in the market. The German carmaker pledges that by 2039, it will have an entirely carbon neutral fleet. That said, the plush…