A letter from our editor-in-chief on the July 2021 issue and an insight on #WhyWeLoveIndia. By Aindrila Mitra
India has battled a devastating second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, which has affected all of us in one way or another. The last few months have probably been some of the toughest in the history of this country. Amid the tragic loss of life and the grief that most of us experienced first-hand, if there’s one thing that shone some light at the end of the tunnel, it was our collective belief, indomitable hope, and love for each other. And the support that came pouring from around the world.
The July edition of Travel + Leisure India & South Asia presents a small slice of that global solidarity. In our special cover package #WhyWeLoveIndia (p.34), we have put together a tribute to this resilient country. Personalities who share a close connection with the country—authors, designers, hoteliers, chefs, and influencers around the globe—come together to reiterate why they love India, and why they cannot wait to return to the country once travel is safe again. Among those sharing their memories are fashion designer Bibhu Mohapatra (p.38), British-Indian musician Karsh Kale (p.46), international influencer Diipa Büller-Khosla (p.40), hotelier Sonu Shivdasani (p.53), French furniture designer Paul Mathieu (p.50), chef extraordinaire Gary Mehigan (p.42), author Bee Rowlatt (p.36), and Travel + Leisure (US) editor-in-chief Jacqueline Gifford (p.44). Our digital platforms too are dedicated to #WhyWeLoveIndia this July, so don’t forget to visit the website for some amazing stories that reveal what makes India unique.
Among our other features, we take you on a thrilling road trip across Arunachal Pradesh (p.60); a photo essay brings you beautiful postcards of Uttarakhand (p.28); a heritage tour of Madhya Pradesh unearths its treasured past (p.64); and an itinerary of Agra dares to skip the Taj Mahal, instead foraying into its colonial history (p.68).
While uncertainty still envelopes us, we hope that with a strong vaccination drive the world will open up to travellers once again. And when it does, we know India will have your heart, like always. That’s #WhyWeLoveIndia.
To access the digital copy of the July 2021 issue, head here.
Editor’s Note: Keeping the current situation of the pandemic in mind, T+L India recommends every reader to stay safe, and take all government-regulated precautions in case travel at this time is absolutely necessary. Please follow our stories on COVID-19 for all the latest travel guidelines.
Related: #WhyWeLoveIndia: Guess What Diipa Büller-Khosla Misses The Most About India