An India For Every Sense

August 2026

India is not just a destination. It is an emotion. A melting pot of noise, chaos, and crowds, but also of culture and community. And it has to be celebrated in all its hues—there is definitely an air about India!

In our Cover Story this month, we pay homage to this spirit and look at India through a different lens—of five senses. Padma Bhushan AR Rahman talks to us about the sounds of India that have inspired him; Padma Shri Chef Sanjeev Kapoor believes rice is the one culinary link that binds us together; textile designer Sanjay Garg explores our weaving
legacy; our story on ittars delves into how the little vials serve as harbingers of memory; and costume designer, curator, and textile revivalist Sandhya Raman takes us inside the world of classical dance.

Inside, join us as we venture to Alappuzha to see the town coming alive as it prepares for the annual Nehru Trophy Boat Race. We give you a peek into some of India’s exquisite handlooms, whisk you off to Guwahati, called the ‘gateway to north-east India’, and urge you to visit two exhibitions both celebrating our culture—the sā Ladakh Biennale (the world’s highest regenerative art, climate, and community event) and The Light and the Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One with the successfully-repatriated sacred Piprahwā relics of Lord Buddha (in Delhi).

Bringing the world closer to India is our aim and we have become the first Indian airline to implement the government’s hub-and-spoke service, aimed to seamlessly connect more domestic cities with international destinations. Our Easy Connect service debuted from Varanasi and will cover over 10 cities in a phased roll-out. This will fundamentally change the way Indian travellers access global destinations.

Even as we take strides to forge new connections, we continue to uphold our time-honoured traditions and celebrate our legacies. And with that, dear guests, we wish you a happy Independence Day.

Happy Reading!