Sorry Delhi, but Mumbai stole our hearts. With its perfect mix of hipster and heritage, highbrow and lowbrow, and streets peppered with eclectic architecture and quirky concept stores, it managed to enthrall us for two full weeks, and we would’ve gladly stayed longer. Here, we’re sharing our favorite things to see, eat, drink and buy…
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You’ll find plenty of pink hues around India’s ‘Pink City’, but actually – Jaipur is a riot of colors. From crumbling forts to some of the country’s savviest concept stores, we’re giving you the lowdown on where to eat, shop and sleep in Jaipur. First things first: the Jaipur highlights We’re never big on ‘must-see’…
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If your idea of a ‘unique India souvenir’ is a Ganesha trinket or a cheap hippie bag, then read on. We’ve scoured India’s best concept stores and design studios to pick some of our favorite gifts to bring back home. ‘Sar: The Essence of Indian Design’ book Indian households harbor a wealth of interesting objects:…
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“Hello! Hello! Old Camera!”. We usually bolt in a different direction when a street-side tout starts shouting at us, but upon seeing Mr. Chand and his vintage camera just outside Jaipur’s Hawa Mahal, we knew we’d be in for something good. The camera is a piece of history. Manufactured in Germany in the 1860s, the…
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India’s best souvenirs aren’t found in gift shops and craft markets, but in places where the locals do their everyday shopping. From household items to kitchen utensils, we selected some of our favorite finds. Where to find it Most of these items are some common, you’re bound to find them before you even start looking.…
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Finding a charming boutique stay in Mumbai can be a challenge. Sure, you have the Taj, the Oberoi and a plethora of international luxury chains, but small-scale, design-driven boutique hotels are few and far between. A standout is Abode Bombay in the heart of South Mumbai’s bustling Colaba district. Set in a beautiful historical building…
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Call us superficial, but we’d be lying if we’d deny that we put Rajasthan on our ‘to-go’ list mainly because we wanted to shoot a single picture: the blue Queen’s Chambers at the City Palace in Udaipur (header image) – it did not disappoint. Built over the course of 400 years, the Udaipur City Palace…
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What is it with the French and their ways of making any space look effortlessly chic? Staying at Scarlette, a small-scale boutique hotel in New Delhi, feels like entering the set of an ELLE Decor or AD shoot, complete with carefully arranged magazine stacks and precisely positioned picture frames, but peppered with a heavy je…
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Judging from the pompous palace hotels dotted around Jaipur and its surroundings, the Rajasthani’s know a thing or two about luxury stays. However, the over-the-top combinations of velvet drapes and gilded pillars are not everyone’s cup of chai (it’s certainly not ours), so stumbling upon the newly-opened 28 Kothi brought a huge relief. Set inside…
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