Priya Pathiyan
Deputy Editor
It’s that time of the year. When hotels are all sold out, flights are almost bursting at their seams, restaurants are buzzing and everyone’s out and about. This year-end festivity between Christmas and New Year’s Eve is supported by wintry weather, with Delhi, Kolkata, and Bengaluru sparkling with outdoor parties, and Mumbai and Chennai tossing their hat in the ring in the pleasant climate contest (for a change!).
This is the season that domestic travel booms, from the white Rann of Kutch to the colourful streets of Puducherry. In ports like Mumbai, the cruise ships are bringing inbound tourists migrating to warmer climes, just like the blushing flamingos and keen-eyed seagulls that have come in droves to binge on unhealthy gathia!
Indian travellers are flocking to the Maldives (yes, still!), or to snowbound destinations in Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. And, of course, there’s that perennial darling of a destination that beckons to us with its indescribable allure — Goa! Everyone’s been there, done that, and yet wants to go back for more. From cheap alcohol to the most high-end cocktails, serene beaches to raging music festivals, boho chic to bikinis, ancient churches to thriving temples, sea safaris to forest adventures, there’s so much on offer in this sliver of a state. And now, with these as well as many other new and exciting experiences to be had here, it’s no wonder that the flights are more than three times as expensive and still filled chockablock.
This week, we bring you a special feature on Morjim, the shiny star that’s attracting all the attention right now. Our industrious intern Prajkata Mhatre scouts out the best places to party in, binge at, and do more, more, more. And if going slow and easy is what’s more appealing to you at the moment then you can find some travel inspiration with our read on all-inclusive resorts in the Maldives that give you the luxury of completely unwinding.
Whatever pace or place you want to be in, TravelDine is the friend who gets you there, shares her G&Ts and a lot of laughs, and makes sure you get home safe. Cheers to this happy friendship now, as well as in the new year. See you in 2023!