We are excited and ecstatic to introduce two new corals this month. Each very different from the other, but both offering a perfect excuse for a retreat to treat yourself.

In this edition of the Coralogue, we give you a glimpse of Red Coral Annual event that took place at the beginning of August, the first of its kind that brought with it the promise of many more to come.

Nawalgarh of the Shekhawati region, a mere 270 km drive from Delhi is the jewel de paragon of Rajasthan is as much a veritable open-air museum as it is steeped in the richness of history, culture, culinary experiences and an equestrian showcase thanks to our latest coral, Roop Niwas Kothi. Tracing their roots to Thakur Nawal Singh, the founder of Nawalgarh himself, the erstwhile royal family in residence, Rawal Devendra Singh and Jogeshwari play the gracious hosts, their knowledge of the region surpassed only by their warmth.

Spread across acres of fertile estate, with organic farms, local breed cattle dairy, fruit orchards, home to many species of birds and a stud farm, the envy of horse lovers world over, having successfully bred the indigenous and hardy Marwari and Sindhi horses, Roop Niwas Kothi is an elegant structure with perfect harmony of Colonial and Rajasthani aesthetics. With a wide range of accommodations from deluxe rooms to royal suite and experiences even wider, from town and village walks to horse safaris, it is the perfect addition to any itinerary of Rajasthan.

Experiences at Roop Niwas Kothi

• Sights and colours of Nawalgarh: Discover the beauty of Nawalgarh through this guided walking tour
• Shekhawati Jeep Safari: Explore the vibrant towns of colourful Shekhawati in an open-air jeep
• Cooking Demo at the Farm: Enjoy a day at the farm with sumptuous dinner and leave with the souvenir of myriad Indian Recipes to take back with you.
• Enjoy a Risala Dinner
• A Day picnic with a view: Start your day with a sumptuous breakfast watching the sunrise and end it with a steaming cup of masala chai against the backdrop of an evocative sunset

Delhi – Nawlagarh – Jaipur – Agra

Delhi – Nawlagrah – Bikaner- Jodhpur – Jaisalmer – Jaipur
Delhi – Nawalgarh – Bikaner – Jaislamer -Jodhpur – Udaipur – Jaipur – Agra – Delhi

Java Rain is a hidden coral, covered with an emerald shroud and dreamy white mist, deep in the Western Ghats, located in Chikamagalur, the coffee capital of the country. Ideated and conceived by seasoned hospitality pioneers, Shubha and Shiv, it is infused with their passion and attention to details. Designed and executed by Cadence Architects based out of Bangalore, Java Rain is inspired by the world travels of the owners. The Villas are a sprawling 1250 Sq. ft each with glorious views of the surrounding mountains and the coffee plantations.

Experiences at Java Rain Resort:

• Treks, Plantation walks and mountain cycling trips
• A guided trek to Mullayanagiri, the highest peak in Karnataka
• Spice and Coffee plantation walks are an exhilarating experience in themselves with the cacophony of birds at dawn and dusk 
• Day excursions to Belur, Halebidu, Shravanbelogola and the temple trails of the Western Ghats for a historic, cultural and spiritual experience
• Mirra and Crimson Peak offer a delectable mix of global and local cuisines to keep your palette excited and satiated
• A relaxing and rejuvenating day dedicated to wellness at Shvah Spa

Hyderabad – Hampi – Chikmagalur – Mysore – Kabini 

Bangalore -Kabini – Mysore – Chikmagalur – Hampi 

Bangalore – Chikmagalur – Mysore – Coorg – Bangalore

Bangalore – Chikmagalur – Mysore – Bandipur – Bangalore

Bangalore – Chikmagalur – Mysore – Bandipur – Ooty – Coimbatore (exit)

Bangalore – Chikmagalur – Hubli (On the way jog falls) – Hampi-Hubli (exit)

Bangalore – Chikmagalur – Hubli – Hampi – Goa (exit) 

Red Coral along with the participating partner hotels, in the first edition of the annual event, undertook a blitz campaign, meeting all the top DMC and tour operators, a roadshow, to impress upon them the uniqueness and exclusivity of our corals and the experiences these destinations have to offer. This was followed by a day-long tete-a-tete in the congenial atmosphere at the IIC, New Delhi. The representatives from various DMCs along with many from the vibrant expat community shared their time with the owners and representatives of our participating hotels, creating awareness about the destinations, experiences there in and unique itinerary ideas.

The week-long campaign saw its valediction in the plush spaces of Home, PVR Director’s Cut at the Ambience Mall, Vasant Kunj. The apogees of this entire effort were the three luminaries from very disparate fields, but all connected through their necessity and impact on experiential travel. Hailing from different backgrounds and generations, it was heartening to see a common spirit and purpose entwining their ideas and existence. The colloquies, the guests of honour graced us with along with the myriad confabs helped us transform from mere peddlers of vacations to the purveyors of experiences and social enlightenment through conscientious travel.

Born to royalty, Dr M K Ranjitsinhji, the principal architect of the 1972 Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, giving birth to the many wildlife sanctuaries and national parks that we enjoy today,  graced the evening with a wonderful discourse on the relationship between wildlife, conservation and tourism. The ornate atmosphere of the Home was further amplified by the regality of Dr M K Ranjitsinhji, the cynosure of the entire gathering, not just owing to his royal legacy also owing to his encyclopaedic knowledge and astronomical experience. His autobiographical book, A life with wildlife captures the essence of life and the person he is and is a must-read. Accompanied by his elegant wife, Mrs Parvati Sinhji, they embellished further this memorable evening.

A third-generation photographer and photo-artist, Amit Pasricha has veered through his narrow viewfinder and achieved a broad understanding of the role the various neglected historical monuments can play in engaging us with our own past, not as an entity that needs to be conserved, but in stasis, as a centerpiece of conversations that impart a sense of legacy and tie us to our roots. Through his India Lost and Found initiative, primarily on the digital, social media, Amit Pasricha is creating waves which will launch us back in time and transform the future by its engaging relationship with these tangible manifestations of our vivid past.

Enduring all odds, Ms Radhika Khandelwal, the young and iconoclastic chef and owner of the Fig & Maple, a unique culinary experiential restaurant in New Delhi, adorned our gathering and shared her story of the gastronomic universe and impressed upon us the need of the hour to retrace our steps and rediscover our local produce and foods, not just to retain a diversity for its own sake, but as a tool towards achieving the SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) as propagated by the UN.

We would like to express our gratitude to all the participating travel and hospitality partners for the support and encouragement we received through it. We will endeavour to make the next edition even better; more engaging and productive for all involved.