The cult film, based on E. M. Forster’s novel of the same name, was the last to be directed by the acclaimed David Lean. Nominated for eleven Academy Awards and winner in two categories, the epic drama serves as inspiration for this journey through the colorful India, with its most beautiful sunsets, luxurious palaces, tea plantations, and golden beaches of Goa, now celebrating 40 years since the premiere of “A Passage to India.”
The main scene of the film “A Passage to India” takes place during an expedition to the Barabar Caves (Marabar in the film), chambers carved in rock, believed to have been created by the Maurya Empire around 250 B.C., with the most famous being Lomas Rishi, its entrance adorned with what is considered the oldest chandrashala, a motif centered on an ogee arch, circular, which decorates many of the most beautiful examples of Indian architecture, with rich carvings in the rock. India is precisely this, a country where wealth overflows. Natural wealth, that of palaces and temples, textiles and spices, but also the wealth of gastronomy and culture, all widely supported by a high-level offer of dining and hospitality.
Complex flavors and renowned chefs
There are many Indian chefs, now dispersed around the world, who continue the tradition of their country’s cuisine, seducing appetites and summoning all senses to the table. This globalization has not only introduced the delicacies of India’s maharajas beyond its borders but has also propelled some of the restaurants where these chefs work to the lists of the world’s best.
Qualia, Mumbai – Considered one of the top 50 restaurants in India, at Qualia, customers are an integral part of the culinary practice. The succession of spaces, respecting the linear shape of the restaurant, is accentuated by the insertion of delicate material details, turning the meal into a theatrical event. Rahul Akerkar, a biochemist and chef, performs on this gleaming stage, with red furniture and mesh curtains, hinting at the arrival of dishes, sweet and sour, unexpected, some of them inspired by the Mediterranean.
Masque – Located in one of the city’s former textile factories, Masque’s distinctive feature is the selection of ingredients, all locally sourced and chosen by Chef Varun Totlani. The ten-course tasting menus — the first of its kind in India — combine tradition and innovation and result from extensive research, which gave rise to Masque Lab, the restaurant’s laboratory kitchen, inaugurated in 2020.
Noon – The elegant Noon, opened in 2022, in Mumbai, is dedicated to reinterpreting Indian cuisine through ancient fermentation practices and, above all, the innovative use of molds. Under the leadership of renowned chef Vanika Choudhary, a pioneer in the farm-to-table movement in India since the opening of Sequel in 2016, Noon stands out for its unique culinary philosophy. The restaurant offers a tasting menu composed of ten dishes, each inspired by the nuances of seasonal changes, and its gastronomic generosity transcends conventional boundaries, offering an exquisite and contemporary experience.
Misu 2.0 – The bold interpretation of a restaurant within a church with classic Western and colonial elements, whose indirect lighting softly reveals the mesh arches and hand-painted walls to create an intimate atmosphere at night. Misu 2.0 is a fusion of concept and materials, a wonderful evolution of its predecessor, considered one of the best restaurants in Bangalore, and currently one of the trendiest.
Nightlife and bars with a view
Aer Bar & Lounge, Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai – Ideal for a celebration, the bar is located at the top of the Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai, one of the city’s best hotels, and offers spectacular views of the nearby Mahalakshmi racecourse and the sea. Open every day, it can be visited at any time of the year thanks to its retractable roof. The design is inspired by art deco interiors and the sophisticated cocktail menu includes all classics, as well as some spicy highballs and a selection of exclusive wines. A must-go-and-see place.
The art of great couturiers
In 2022, singer and rapper Megan Thee Stallion chose a slate-blue dress tailor-made by Indian designer Gaurav Gupta for her debut at the Oscars. Decorated with crystals and sinuous, that dress showcased the excellence of Indian craftsmanship.
Rahul Mishra, the first Indian designer to showcase at Paris Haute Couture Week, advocates for the combination of slow fashion with traditional Indian craftsmanship. The brand AFEW Rahul Mishra, an acronym for air, fire, earth, and water, incorporates Rahul Mishra’s vision of effortless luxury, easy to wear, and tailored to the modern woman’s wardrobe. Sabyasachi Mukherjee is widely known for his grand creations rooted in Indian culture. The designer is a favorite among boomers and millennials, and his reputation has already won over all Bollywood couples and earned him The Grand Winner Award at Mercedes Benz New Asia Fashion Week in Singapore. From vintage art restoration to the creation of original artworks, his work can be seen in all Sabyasachi stores, as well as in Christian Louboutin stores or at the Taj London.
Sleeping in palaces
In India, in any region, there are renowned hotels housed in palaces, with lush gardens, perfumed by exotic flowers, adorned with fountains and courtyards, as well as exquisite interiors and premium service. For this journey, we chose a small boutique hotel: Villa Palladio Jaipur. The place leaves everyone who enters for the first time with a unique feeling, that of being transported into a dream, into an atmosphere of beauty, perfection, and surprise. Opened in September 2022, Villa Palladio Jaipur has only nine rooms and is part of a rural property inspired by the fabulous traditions of the great hotels of the past. Designed as a retreat, this ‘wonderland’ offers guests the opportunity to immerse themselves in the country’s history and its magnificence and wealth, according to the codes of 21st-century hospitality.
The Kumarakom Lake Resort, acclaimed as the best luxury resort in India, is located on the shores of Lake Vembanad, in one of the trendiest vacation destinations in the country: Kerala. Stretching over many square meters of lush landscape, it has been awarded three consecutive times by the acclaimed World Travel Awards and offers a luxurious and impeccable stay. Its rooms, villas, and suites, the Ayurveda spa, the pools, the traditional Kerala tea shop, and the houseboats in traditional style, as well as the restaurants, are among its many qualities.
Wellness sanctuaries
Many travel in search of peaceful retreats, focused on promoting their health and well-being. India is prolific in such places, where ancestral practices of yoga and massage take place, often hidden from outsiders’ eyes, in the mountains or by the sea, but also in major cities. Now available to non-residents, The Imperial Spa is a rejuvenating haven in New Delhi, combining ancient healing practices of Ayurveda and yoga. Nestled among landscaped gardens, it draws inspiration from intricate Moroccan architecture, skillfully interwoven with Mongolian and Indian motifs, and is a healing destination that incorporates carefully selected exclusive rituals, personalized oils, and traditional techniques.
“Athithi devo bhava” is the philosophy that defines Shreyas Retreat in Bangalore. The term literally means “a guest should be served as God.” At Shreyas, this philosophy has been widely adopted, believing that “everyone is essentially divine” and that interpersonal relationships, especially with guests, should reflect this. Ancient Ayurvedic treatments and Panchakarma, current therapies such as physiotherapy, acupuncture, colon hydrotherapy, mud therapies, hydrotherapy, and a wide variety of massages under the Indian holistic approach are part of Anaha’s proposals.
Six Senses Vana is an impressive and idyllic wellness retreat located a short drive from Dehradun, in the state of Uttarakhand, in northern India. Retreat itineraries explore physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being through the practice of Ayurveda, Sowa Rigpa (Tibetan healing), yoga, natural therapies, spa, fitness, and aqua. Vana, considered India’s most sublime spiritual spa, offers a personalized plan (therapists are former students of the Tibetan Institute of Medicine and Astrology, Men-Tsee-Khang) and group activities such as meditation and music as an integral part of the daily routine.
On the tea route
Darjeeling, in northeastern India, amidst the great Himalayas, in the state of West Bengal, is known for its tea, grown and produced only there, at altitudes ranging from 600 to 2000 meters above sea level. Every morning, when the mist disperses, women climb the steep mountain trails towards the more than 85 gardens that produce Darjeeling’s legendary black teas. Freshly harvested every day, the prized tea will then be savored by connoisseurs around the world. A journey into the world of Darjeeling tea is one of the most incredible experiences for those visiting India. We chose the historic Glenburn Tea Estate, on the emerald slopes of Darjeeling, in a combination of luxury, serenity, and natural beauty, where the story of the tea heritage is told firsthand. Founded in 1859, Glenburn passed into the hands of the Prakashes, one of the pioneering families in its cultivation in India. The tradition continues to this day, and staying at Glenburn is to immerse oneself in this heritage. The colonial-era bungalows overlooking the majestic Kanchenjunga mountain and the guided tea tasting sessions, factory visits, and tours of Darjeeling’s lush gardens are a journey back to the early 1900s.
