Cover India is too vast to be captured in a single list, but every great journey needs a starting point (Photo: NCPA)
India is too vast to be captured in a single list, but every great journey needs a starting point (Photo: NCPA)
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From a regal horse ride through the Rajasthani desert to a legendary Punjabi dhaba and a Himalayan wellness retreat, explore India’s rich tapestry of adventure, flavour and heritage
India is a country that dazzles the senses at every turn. It is where the scent of spices mingles with temple incense, the clatter of city traffic gives way to the call of peacocks in the desert, and ancient traditions sit comfortably alongside contemporary cool.
“Every great journey needs a starting point,” says Amrita Katara. “And these are mine—the ones that gave me goosebumps, rewrote my ideas of beautiful and reminded me why exploring India is an ongoing love affair.” As co-jury head for Tatler Best in India and the content creator behind @thetastingtales, her work brings us closer to stories where craft, culture and character intersect.
Here, she shares her go-to spots to eat, unwind and experience India. These are the places that reveal their charm, and in turn, invite you to discover them on your own terms.
Above Amrita Katara, regional editor for Watches and Jewellery at Tatler Asia, and co-jury head for Tatler Best in India
Amrita Katara, regional editor for Watches and Jewellery at Tatler Asia, and co-jury head for Tatler Best in India
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Peak relaxation at The Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa, Kashmir
Above The pool area at Khyber (Photo: Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa)
The pool area at Khyber (Photo: Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa)
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“At an elevation of 8,825 feet in Gulmarg, Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa is India’s most coveted ski and spa retreat. It offers rich Wazwan [a grand, multi-course meal from Kashmir] cuisine, breathtaking views of the Himalayan range, traditional spa therapies and unforgettable Kashmiri hospitality.
If you can, time your visit for February, when Gulmarg’s slopes are at their powdery best. That said, if you’re looking for a ski holiday, any time from December to March should be beautiful.”
The Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa
Address: Hotel Khyber Road, Forest Block, Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir, 193403, India
Lose yourself in Munnar’s misty hills, Kerala
Above The sprawling tea gardens and hills of Munnar in Kerala (Photo: Unsplash/Dream Holidays)
The sprawling tea gardens and hills of Munnar in Kerala (Photo: Unsplash/Dream Holidays)
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“Munnar is a painter’s palette of misty hills, sprawling tea gardens and gentle waterfalls that soothe the soul. It’s a refreshing escape where mornings are wrapped in mist and the air carries the scent of fresh earth and tea leaves. Highlights like Eravikulam National Park—home to the elusive Nilgiri Tahr—the historic Tata Tea Museum, and tranquil spots like Echo Point and Mattupetty Dam make it endlessly inviting. Be sure to pick up some freshly harvested, high-quality tea; local shops around the Tata Tea Museum offer some of the best varieties.”
Located in the Idukki District of Kerala, India
Walk among the Living Roots Bridges, Meghalaya
Above Living Double Decker Root Bridge in the forest (Photo: Unsplash/Chirayu Sharma)
Living Double Decker Root Bridge in the forest (Photo: Unsplash/Chirayu Sharma)
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“Meghalaya, the Land of the Clouds, is home to the remarkable Living Roots Bridges near Cherrapunji, a town famous for one of the highest annual rainfalls on Earth. These bridges are living, breathing marvels grown over generations by the Khasi people, and look like something from the epic science fiction movie Avatar.
The trek to the famous Double-Decker Bridge near Cherrapunji is a journey into lush greenery and a glimpse of one of the world’s most unique natural wonders. Remember to carry a rope and essentials to trek this part and go right up to the Rainbow Falls. Not too far away is Mawlynnong, Asia’s cleanest village, which cannot be missed if you’re in this part of the world.”
Located across the forests of the East Khasi Hills district in Meghalaya, India.
Discover Mumbai’s creative heart at the NCPA
Above The grounds at NCPA (National Centre for the Performing Arts) (Photo: Facebook/NCPA)
The grounds at NCPA (National Centre for the Performing Arts) (Photo: Facebook/NCPA)
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“Visiting the NCPA (National Centre for the Performing Arts) grounds feels like a secret handshake among Mumbai’s theatre crowd. It’s intimate, lively and soaked in creativity. The courtyard buzz before a show, the masala chai and samosas during the interval, the warmth of the space. It’s one of those places that reveal their charm softly, inviting you to discover them on your own terms.
If you’ve never been, find the time to go. End your experience by visiting the cafe at the NCPA, an alfresco space on the lawns that serves a mean cold coffee.”
NCPA
Address: NCPA Marg, Nariman Point, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400021, India
Dine like a local at 6 Ballygunge Place, Kolkata
Above The daab chingri at 6 Ballygunge Place (Photo: Facebook/6 Ballygunge Place)
The daab chingri at 6 Ballygunge Place (Photo: Facebook/6 Ballygunge Place)
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“Set inside a grand old colonial mansion in Kolkata’s Ballygunge, with high ceilings and a garden that makes you slow down before you’ve even looked at the menu, this is 6 Ballygunge Place. I went in expecting hype and not much else, figuring the setting would be doing most of the talking. Then the daab chingri arrived: prawns cooked in coconut milk, served in a coconut shell, with nothing overdone about it. The kosha mangsho, a slow-cooked mutton curry, had depth of spice without burying the mutton, and the bhapa doi, a steamed sweet yoghurt, was properly set—not the over-sweetened version you get most places. Reputation got me through the door once, but the food’s the reason I keep going back.”
6 Ballygunge Place
Address: 6, Doctor Amiya Bose Sarani Road, Ballygunge, Kolkata, West Bengal 700019, India
Ride like royalty at Mihir Garh, Jodhpur
Above Ride a Marwari horse at Mihir Garh in Jodhpur
Ride a Marwari horse at Mihir Garh in Jodhpur
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“For the uninitiated rider, I wholeheartedly recommend mounting a Marwari horse at Mihir Garh in Jodhpur. This intimate, ten-room boutique hotel offers a taste of India’s royal past. From the moment you arrive, the atmosphere makes it effortless, almost mandatory, to feel regal.
Expect peacocks to stroll past your balcony as you cool off in your private plunge pool. Meals here feel like lovingly prepared home cooking, and although the sun can be relentless, morning rides reveal stunning wildlife. Think elegant blackbucks, the striking neelgai (blue bull) and other native species, making each outing unforgettable.
What’s more, the property curates riding trails for up to seven days, with luxurious meals cooked over the burning desert sand for an elemental dining experience.”
Mihir Garh
Address: Village Khandi, Post Rohat, District Pali, 306421 Rohat, India
Above Mihir Garh, meaning Fort of the Sun, is a luxurious, sandcastle-like hotel located in the Thar Desert (Photo: Mihir Garh)
Mihir Garh, meaning Fort of the Sun, is a luxurious, sandcastle-like hotel located in the Thar Desert (Photo: Mihir Garh)
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A storyteller by day and a first-class food devourer by night, Fontaine is the Regional Dining Editor at Tatler Asia, overseeing dining content across all regions and shaping the brand’s editorial voice on food, chefs and culinary culture.
She is also Content Lead for Tatler Best and Co-jury Head for Tatler Best Hong Kong and Macau, guiding the awards’ editorial direction and evaluation process. With over a decade in the lifestyle and media industry spanning London and Hong Kong, she brings a cross-regional perspective to the table.
Follow her on Instagram at @fontimes.
