ZANSKARLADAKH
The surreal lunar landscape of the remotest region
in the country is completely off-the-grid: no internet
or annoying phone notifications to intrude on your
quality time together. It’s a long haul to the biggest
town, Padum, from Srinagar, or alternatively, Leh.MUNSYARIUTTARAKHAND
Gone are the days when a cosy weekend in the hills
meant driving up to Nainital. Now you’ve got to drive
further towards the Himalayas to escape the tourist
juggernaut. Munsyari, on the last green hillside
before the peaks, is still pristine and untouched
by the vagaries of modernity. Plan your first pit stop
at Almora, then Chaukori.BIR,BILLINGHIMACHALPRADESH
For adventurous couples, Bir in Himachal Pradesh considered
one of the finest paragliding destinations in the world
is a peach of a spot. And since there is no airport nearby, most
tourists give it a miss. Strap into a tandem harness and take
off into an expansive valley where you can glide for hours.(^0) TRAVEL + LEISURE WEDDINGS & HONEYMOONS
Nothing quite like a road trip with the love
of your life. Meraj Shah proposes nine
destinations that you truly, madly, deeply,
need to put on that bucket list.
DIMMING THE LIGHTS IN YOUR APARTMENT, OPENING A
BUBBLY, AND WATCHING A WONG KAR-WAI FLICK JUST
DOESN’T MAKE THE GRADE FOR QUALITY TIME WITH THE
BETTER HALF ANYMORE. WHAT YOU NEED IS AN IMMERSIVE
EXPERIENCE, IDEALLY IN AN EXOTIC LOCALE—WITH CAR
RENTAL AGENCIES NOW OFFERING A VARIETY OF CARS
AND SUVS FOR SELF-DRIVE TRIPS, THERE’S NEVER BEEN
A BETTER TIME TO BORROW A PLUSH RIDE AND
TRAWL THE CORNERS OF THE COUNTRY FOR
THAT SPECIAL PLACE.
HYUNDAI SANTA FE In this cold wilderness, take the
indestructible Santa Fe that’s surprisingly capable off the
tarmac. Hyundai’s expansive service network (Kargil and Leh)
means that you don’t have to worry about getting stranded.
AUDI Q7 The country’s top-rated executive SUV is perfectly
at home in the mud and slush of mountain trails and navigating
narrow roads. The new Q7 is loaded with technology which
makes driving a much safer proposition in the hills.
MERCEDES E-CLASS Possibly the most reliable luxury sedan in
the world, the E-Class makes short work of the less-than-perfect roads
leading up to Bir without losing its composure. Rock solid.
ON THE
ROA D TO
LOVE
Illustration by Karan Oberoi