Shikha Shah

Travel writer and watercolour artist Shikha Shah embarks on a four-day solo sketching adventure in Lisbon and Sintra, drawn by the city’s azulejo tiles, pastel façades, rich culinary traditions, and the soulful charm of its fado music and folklore. Illustrations by Shikha Shah

Here’s a wee lowdown on getting an authentic taste of Scotland, as Shikha Shah
traverses its cities, islands, and highlands

Throughout history, this medieval hamlet has remained relatively secluded from the outside world. But now, the world's steepest cable car whisks travellers to the 430-person village.

The weather gods dictate your travel plans on Silhouette, the Seychelles little-known granitic island located 20 kilometres (about 12.5 miles) northwest of the archipelago's largest island of Mahé. Appearing like a forested mountain dramatically jutting out of the Indian Ocean, Silhouette Island is a serendipitous discovery for anyone who dares to venture off the East African country's obvious destinations like Praslin, Mahé, and La Digue, in quest of raw wilderness, tranquility, and the idea of going with the flow.

Shikha Shah explores how slow cruising the world’s longest river offers a unique
opportunity to step into the shoes of the pharaohs and uncover the mysteries of Egypt

With more couples popping the question while on holiday, we list some spectacular,
awe-inspiring, uber-romantic spots and ideas.

A mountain sanctuary in Chiang Rai, Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort offers an other-worldly jungle bubble experience, ethical elephant interactions in Northern Thailand’s Golden Triangle

Geneva offers a unique blend of cosmopolitan energy, serene landscapes, rich history,
and vibrant culture—truly an irresistible destination

"Swicy" flavours are predicted to be the biggest trend in the F&B space for 2025. Here's more

Fresh flavours, long-standing traditions, and multicultural influences: Cairo’s cuisine is a veggie lover’s dream

India’s culinary landscape is set to redefine itself through a blend of tradition and
innovation, say chefs

From freediving in Mexico's cenotes to sketching in Bhutan's cafes, these 20 stories helped us see the world in a new way this year.
Every year, we publish hundreds of awe-inspiring, immersive travel stories from across the globe. Many of these transport us to places we've never been, others reveal new sides to places we think we know and all of them celebrate the people and places that make this world so wonderfully diverse.
These are the stories we couldn't stop talking about this year

A custodian of Bhopal’s royal culinary heritage, Chef Jeewan Singh works alongside the city’s royal family to preserve and revive Central Indian Nawabi cuisine’s spice-laden traditions.

Here's what no one tells you about the "Gift of the Nile"

A repository of culinary traditions, little-explored architectural gems and nature’s bounty, Bhopal offers a royal break minus tourist traps.