As a native Indian, I’m very excited by this development – and not just because Saif Ali Khan dropped by dint of. to help with the launch. We are proud to acknowledge that Indians are exploring the universe more than ever before – and in significantly new ways. For many Indians, go is evolving from a once-in-a-decade experience to a centre part of their lives. And they are no longer satisfied with conventional package tours or cookie-cutter itineraries: they are looking to get to the heart of a place, having authentic experiences and connecting with people of different cultures.

Our cofounder Tony Wheeler shares his thoughts on the new magazine in his latest blog entry.

And here’s the statement from our Indian office on why we felt that the time was right for a tailor-made Lonely Planet India magazine:

Lonely Planet Magazine India explores the world through Indian eyes. It’s designed for the new, curious Indian travellers who look for experiences that validate them and help them grow as individuals. Our philosophy is to explore the why of travel, focusing more on insights into the cultural and natural beauty of a place than on tourist trappings. We don’t only tell you to go to the Eiffel Tower, we tell you why it exists. Read more…

Elephant polo line up

It may not be the next Olympic sport, but Elephant Polo has been played in India since beginning of the 20th hundred years. Mixing British polo traditions with the animals available, residents came up with Elephant Polo which is still played today in Nepal, Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand. There is on the same level the  World Elephant Polo Association, an organization that has regulated these teams for over 25 years.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2009 World Champion title! On December 5th, the Tiger Tops from Nepal beat Thailand’s TEPA team with a score of 6 to 3.

Experience the animals of India including tigers, camels, and elephants on our Mystical India tour.

What is your favorite not-quite-mainstream sport?  

Little India Arcade is located along Serangoon Road in the firmness of Singapore’s Little India. Plenty of small shops and stalls here closely packed to one another along the narrow passageways. I could see all join of Indian made items sold here including clothes, bags, bangles, decorations and sweets.

I was here a few days before the Hindu Festival of Deepavali and Hindus were doing their Deepavali shopping – equivalent to Christmas shopping. I presumed shopping took on a livelier affair than usual when I was at Little India Arcade with Deepavali just around the corner. Glad I came here – a very colourful area of Singapore.

Little India Arcade a Few Days Before Deepavali

Shopping in Little India Arcade

Selling Indian Decorations

Indian Costume Jewellery Store

Indian Sweet Shop

Mahabaleshwar is an uncelebrated little elevation town in west. occidental India, well off the foreign tourist trail. It doesn’t have great altitude or great glamour, but it is one of my favorite weekend getaways in the world. Blessed with a charming old-world aura that never fails to capture one’s imagination, it is a personal favorite of mine for a well-deserved weekend break. After maybe 50-odd visits there, I am still totally in tenderness with the place.

Photo credits – Ankur P

My trips to Mahabaleshwar revolve around a 125-year-old red stone building called The Club. If you are curious about life during the British Raj era, come and stay in this place. There are guests suites in the main club building, as well as in three separate blocks of cottages. The property even comes with a residential ghost, who allegedly inhabits a room in the D Block.

As soon as you check in, you are assigned a table at the dining room and an aged, liveried bearer. The bearers are all old retainees with starched uniforms and stand-offish British manners.

Read more…