Page 6 - Travel + Leisure India & South Asia (January 2020)

from the Editor
LETTER
FROM MY TRAVELS
When it comes to Jaipur, one
can’t miss the spectacular
architecture and history that
permeates every brick of
City Palace. This image was
captured on the same day that
the Gudliya Suite in the palace
was officially opened for
tourists to book on Airbnb—a
first in Jaipur’s royal history.
4 TR AV E L+LE I S U R E IND I A & S O UTH A S I A | J A N U A R Y 20 20
aipur is home to me. But besides
J the warmth of being in familiar
territory, among people I know,
it is also one of the most beautiful and
historically rich cities in the country,
welcoming tourists from all over the
globe. In July 2019, the old-walled city
of Jaipur was conferred the title of a
UNESCO World Heritage City. Our first
cover of the new year, focussing on
royalty, aptly features Padmanabh Singh,
the young Maharaja of Jaipur (popularly
called Pacho), and his mother, Princess
Diya Kumari, Member of Parliament
and the force behind the Princess Diya
Kumari Foundation (PDKF), which
works towards the betterment of
underprivileged women in Rajasthan.
Besides being beacons of Indian royalty,
both of them have been instrumental in
promoting and practising responsible
tourism: whether it’s through their work
with PDKF, or their contribution in
putting Jaipur on the global tourism
map. Our cover feature takes a deep dive
into the city, as seen through the eyes of
the 303 descendant of the erstwhile
rd
royal family of Jaipur (p. 88). Further in
our royalty section, A-list member and
author Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi
gives us an exclusive sneak peek into the
priceless art collection of a Roman
prince (p. 81), and our feature on
Liechtenstein takes you to the world’s
smallest wine-producing country and
the vineyards of the reigning prince,
Prince Hans-Adam II (p. 84).
There’s no better time to make
resolutions than now. And to travel as
much as you can should certainly be
one of them—I speak from personal
experience. Our list of the top 20 places
to discover in 2020, keeping in mind
the global travel trends (from slow
travel to vegan holidays), will help you
plan the perfect holiday for the year
(p. 10)! If you’re seeking some self-
indulgence, then check out the world’s
most luxurious beauty treatments and
products (p. 108) in our dedicated
Wellness & Spas section.
Whether you’re road-tripping
through Australia (p. 116), looking for
an adventure outing in Malaysia (p. 122),
or setting out on a gastronomic trail
through Madrid (p. 72), this issue has
invaluable tips and tricks in store. The
country is marred by myriad issues right
now, and if you need to step out, we
can help you explore the world like
never before.
Bon voyage!
Aindrila Mitra
aindrila.mitra@burda.in
#TNLTRAVELS ON
@travelandleisureindia
@tnlindia