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1 month ago | 
newindianexpress.com | Shuvajit Payne |Kunal Bhatia
Nestled between the Arabian Sea and the soaring Dhofar Mountains, the city of Salalah in Oman is a striking anomaly in the Arabian Peninsula. An aerial view reveals stark contrast—vast arid stretches and sand dunes of the Rub’ al Khali Desert abruptly giving way to a sliver of green—especially during monsoon. Banana plantations line the streets and coconut palms sway along the coastline.
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Oct 31, 2024 | 
magazine.airvistara.com | Kunal Bhatia |Shuvajit Payne |Mayuri Ghosh
By KUNAL BHATIA AND SHUVAJIT PAYNE“You can never see all 15 rocks at once,” declared the caretaker at Ryoan-ji’s Zen garden, even as we strained our necks, not completely believing the genteel ojisan (uncle) who uttered these words. It shouldn’t be so tricky, we thought while shifting a few feet back and forth to get a complete view of the meticulously arranged rocks—each set out on patches of moss and surrounded by a bed of precisely raked white pebbles.
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Sep 30, 2024 | 
magazine.airvistara.com | Shuvajit Payne |Kunal Bhatia |Mayuri Ghosh
Family holidays make for the best memories! It’s so much fun to look back on those cherished moments while browsing through travel photo albums. And how much more unforgettable would those snippets be if you and your loved ones struck a pose against some of the most stunning settings across the world! Read on to know about gorgeous destinations you can visit, where there’s unending fun for your whole brood, with scenic locales to match.
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Aug 17, 2024 | 
newindianexpress.com | Shuvajit Payne |Kunal Bhatia
Sleep early, wake up early” is the motto of the enthusiastic guides at the Satpura Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh. Punctuality is a virtue, being at the right place at the right time. Jungle life is most vocal and active at dawn and dusk, and the golden hue allows photographers to play with light. “Mornings are magical,” says naturalist Shubham Alave, adding, “You might snap a sloth bear or a deer silhouetted against sun rays.”Why bears and deer if you’re here for the big cats?
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Aug 2, 2024 | 
architecturaldigest.in | Kunal Bhatia |Samir Wadekar |Shuvajit Payne
With not another soul in sight or sound, time seems to drift by gently at this holiday home near Bengaluru. The welcome stillness is broken by a refreshing breeze, causing the leaves to sway and the curtains to flutter.
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Jun 30, 2024 | 
magazine.airvistara.com | Kunal Bhatia |Shuvajit Payne |Surina Sayal
From enthralling home-grown artwork on the streets to world-renowned masterpieces in museums, Philadelphia—or ‘Philly’ as it is lovingly known—is a design-forward destination embodying the ethos of art-for-all and all-for-art. By KUNAL BHATIA AND SHUVAJIT PAYNE“IT’S MY FAVOURITE PIECE ALONG this stretch,” exclaims our guide Richard DiLullo, as the lush swathes of colour and masterful strokes on the wall draw our eyes.
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May 31, 2024 | 
magazine.airvistara.com | Shuvajit Payne |Kunal Bhatia |Rhea Mulani
Saudi Arabia’s AlUla is leaving no stone unturned, quite literally, in its efforts to conserve and restore millennia-old history and traditions, paving the way for a sustainable model of responsible tourism of epic proportions. BY SHUVAJIT PAYNE AND KUNAL BHATIAThe lush landscape of AlUla’s oasis sits in green splendour against the desert’s sand-swept dunes. Post the lockdown years, we had been eagerly scouting for destinations offering responsible travel.
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May 25, 2024 | 
deccanherald.com | Shuvajit Payne |Kunal Bhatia
A three-hour drive winding through the breathtaking volcanic desert landscapes of north-western Saudi Arabia brought us to Tayma. Stepping into this historic city, which is even mentioned in the Bible, we didn’t expect much more than a walk through some ruins.
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Feb 10, 2024 | 
newindianexpress.com | Kunal Bhatia |Shuvajit Payne
The sky has turned a deep shade of crimson and purple with the last rays of daylight even as the white-canopied boat glides through placid waters. Its gentle pace matches the restful mood after a rather long day. Suddenly, the shrill cries of peacocks are heard, and as if on cue, the naturalist gets a call. The boat rushes to the far-side bank, and given the sense of urgency in the air, one is beckoned off the lounge chairs.
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Oct 28, 2023 | 
deccanherald.com | Kunal Bhatia |Shuvajit Payne
“How grand it must have been!” This unassuming thought emerges as we gaze at the ancient city of Bukhara, opening a doorway through time, beckoning us to behold its splendour through the eyes of an erstwhile traveller of the sands. Riding a camel through the dunes, our traveller would have approached the thriving medieval trading hub, catching sight of the majestic silhouette of the Poi-Kalyan minaret towering against the golden sky.
