Travel + Leisure India & South Asia

Travel + Leisure South Asia, a stylish and authoritative guide for today’s global traveler, offers stunning photography, incisive commentary, vivid narratives and practical travel information with a strong emphasis on Asia. From the best spa’s to the tastiest street food, from the most luxurious resorts to the hottest rooftop bars, from the latest restaurants to the region’s top designers, from the quietest beaches to the busiest shopping streets – Travel + Leisure South Asia delivers, month after month.

Letter from the Editor

Travel + Leisure India & South Asia

THE CINEMA ISSUE • This month, we delve deep into the rabbit hole exploring the dreamlike intersection, where cinema meets travel to capture the power of location.

15 International Film Festivals Worth Travelling For • From the red carpets of Cannes and Venice to the mountain valleys of Dharamshala and Telluride, this curated guide maps out the world’s most iconic film festivals—where cinema, culture, and travel converge to create unforgettable experiences for every film lover.

HEART OF HYDERABAD • Whether you’re on a packed business itinerary or a relaxed holiday, the luxurious Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre offers a serene and fulfilling stay.

Villa Life, Reimagined • Lohono’s handpicked homes across Maharashtra offer a stylish new way to slow down—where every stay feels personal.

HOSPITALITY THAT MEANS BUSINESS • A strategic location and thoughtfully designed facilities make Novotel & Ibis Bengaluru Outer Ring Road a preferred choice for global travellers.

Stay Sober at Savannah • Radisson Blu Plaza Delhi Airport sets a new trend with India’s first premium alcohol-free cocktail experience.

MAPPING ABU DHABI • Historically a rite of passage for travellers and explorers, Akshita M. Bhanj Deo uncovers how Abu Dhabi is reclaiming its place as a confluence of cultures and redefining what it means to be an oasis for the world

CINEMATIC COURCHEVEL • Gliding through snow-covered trails and indulgent alpine experiences, Alfea Jamal discovers Courchevel’s seamless blend of luxury, adventure, and mountain charm

THE GREAT DANISH BAKE-OFF • Copenhagen’s newest food craze? Tiny, flaky, perfect pastries.

Gadget Getaway • From chaotic railway stations to coastal detours, travelling is raw, real, and immersive in the best way possible. And that’s exactly why we love it. Viraj Gawde handpicks a selection of must-have gadgets and apps that make exploring the world easier, safer, and a lot more fun

15 DESTINATIONS TRANSFORMED BY FILM TOURISM • From Yash Chopra’s snow-kissed Switzerland to Zoya Akhtar’s sun-drenched Spain, these filming locations didn’t just set the scene—they fuelled our desire for the perfect getaway.

COSTUME COUTURE • We’re doing it for the plot! Karnika Kabra and Stuti Agarwal curate wardrobes that are worthy of a starring role.

MOSAICS, MONUMENTS & MEMORY • From Bishkek’s wedding palaces to lakeside sanatoriums, a journey across Kyrgyzstan reveals how the relics of a vanished regime still shape everyday life.

Visual Voyages • Few directors turn a destination into a character quite like Neil Burger. Known for inventive stories and gripping films, his latest, Inheritance—a globe-trotting thriller shot entirely on iPhone—redefines cinematic storytelling. In this exclusive with Akshita M Bhanj. Deo, he discusses filming in India, the legacy of Satyajit Ray, and how global settings shape his narratives.

A Room of Her Own • Anuparna Roy’s quietly powerful Songs of Forgotten Trees has travelled far—from a crumbling apartment in Mumbai to global applause at the Venice Film Festival. The award-winning filmmaker shares with Stuti Agarwal how travel, memory, and the pursuit of personal liberation shape her art.

Notes From...