The engine is humming, the bags are packed, and the open road awaits. But as every parent knows, a successful family road trip in India is a fine art. It requires more than just a GPS; it requires a strategy for clean restrooms, engaging pit stops, and food that won’t result in a backseat tantrum. When the logistics are handled, a road trip becomes more than just travel; it becomes a core childhood memory. From the misty mountains of the North to the coastal breezes of the South, Dhanush Kumar brings you six iconic Indian routes designed to keep the kids happy and the parents’ stress levels low. 1. Delhi to Jaipur: The Golden Path The transition from the skyscrapers of Gurgaon to the pink walls of Jaipur is a visual treat. The expansion of the NH48 makes this a smooth drive for families. You can break the journey at Neemrana Fort Palace, the sprawling gardens are perfect for kids to burn off energy, and the vintage car museum is a guaranteed hit. On the way, you can stop at a dhaba and order Paneer Parathas and fresh curd. 2. Mumbai to Mahabaleshwar This route offers a dramatic climb through the Western Ghats. The Mumbai-Pune Expressway provides world-class tarmac, while the climb to the hill station offers cooler air and scenic views. You can stop at Mapro Garden, also known as Panchgani. This isn’t just a stop, it’s a destination. With dedicated play zones and a chocolate factory tour, it’s the ultimate reward for a long drive. 3. Bangalore to Coorg The drive through the lush landscapes of Karnataka is refreshing, but the winding roads near the end require planned breaks to keep motion sickness at bay. A slight detour near Dubare Elephant Camp allows children to interact with elephants

What Lies Ahead in 2026As we step into the year ahead, astrologer and psychologist Kirron Shahppuri gives us a playful, insightful peek at what the stars have planned from surprises and shifts to fresh beginnings worth getting excited about. ♈ ARIES (March 21 – April 19) Theme 2026: Leadership with emotional maturity Prediction: In 2026, Aries is pushed into positions of responsibility. Career growth is certain, but results come only through patience and strategic action. Financial stability improves gradually. Relationships become smoother once impulsive reactions are controlled. Health requires proper rest and stress management. Avoid: Anger-driven decisions, confrontations, and impulsive spending.Lucky Dates: 9, 18, 27Lucky Colours: Red, CoralRemedy: Offer water to the Sun daily and chant Om Suryaya Namah every Sunday. ♉ TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) Theme 2026: Stability through adaptability Prediction: This year strengthens Taurus financially, but only through long-term planning. Property, savings, and business foundations grow steadily. Emotionally, relationships demand flexibility and openness. Those who resist change may feel stuck. Avoid: Stubbornness, emotional possessiveness, risky investments.Lucky Dates: 6, 15, and 24Lucky Colours: Pastel Pink, Earthy GreenRemedy: Donate milk or rice on Fridays and chant Om Shukraya Namah. ♊ GEMINI (May 21 – June 20) Theme 2026: Mental clarity and communication power Prediction: Gemini experiences professional growth through communication, networking, teaching, and media-related work. New contacts open doors. Mental discipline is essential to avoid anxiety. Personal bonds improve with honest conversations. Avoid: Gossip, multitasking overload, mental exhaustion.Lucky Dates: 5, 14, and 23Lucky Colours: Light Green, YellowRemedy: Chant Om Budhaya Namah on Wednesdays and keep a green plant nearby. ♋ CANCER (June 21 – July 22) Theme 2026: Emotional healing and inner security Prediction: A deeply introspective year where home, family, and emotional balance take priority. Property-related matters may arise. Career growth remains steady if emotional boundaries are

There’s celebration, and then there’s arrival. New Year’s Eve isn’t meant to be lost in crowded parties or noisy resorts. It’s a moment that deserves space, serenity, and a horizon wide enough to hold your dreams for the year ahead. As India’s luxury travel scene steps into 2026, the idea of escape has transformed. No longer just vacations, private island rentals have become portals where time slows down, sea wind feels like scripture, and silence heals in ways noise never can. Dhanush Kumar writes about the five most extravagant private islands you can rent for the New Year in and around India. 1. Munjoh Private Island- Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India Tucked deep within the turquoise cradle of the Andaman lies Munjoh Private Island, a sanctuary carved for those who prefer whisper over crowds. This ultra-luxury island offers private beaches, palm-lined coves, and villas that blend barefoot simplicity with refined indulgence. At night, the sky becomes a cathedral of stars. At dawn, the island wakes in a golden hush.  Private chefs craft ocean-fresh menus, spa therapists arrive at your doorstep, and your very own yacht stands ready. 2.Fregate Island- Seychelles Just a few hours from India by air, the Seychelles unfold like a dream, and Fregate Island is its crown jewel. This is luxury at its most uncompromised. Only a handful of villas exist on the entire island, each carved into the landscape with an artist’s touch. Think infinity pools suspended above the sea, private butlers who know your preferences before you speak, and beaches so untouched they look ancient. Fregate is where billionaires and Hollywood royalty choose to vanish. A perfect place to let the New Year rise without the world watching. 3.Sirai Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania Far across the Indian Ocean, but spiritually close to India’s sense of coastal

In India, the divine and the medicinal have never lived apart. Here, faith isn’t just a prayer; it’s a pulse. It flows through temple corridors scented with camphor, rises with mantras at dawn, and lingers in the herbal smoke of age-old rituals. Long before laboratories and hospitals defined health, Indians sought balance between the physical and the spiritual, between body, mind, and the cosmos. Today, as the modern world burns out in its search for healing, these healing temples stand quietly, bridging belief and therapy, mysticism, and science. They remind us that medicine need not always come in a bottle; sometimes, it’s found in devotion, energy, and sacred tradition. Dhanush Kumar takes us on a journey through the heart of India, where faith and alternative medicine walk hand in hand. 1.Vaitheeswaran Koil, Tamil Nadu Tucked in the heart of Tamil Nadu lies Vaitheeswaran Koil, named after Vaidyanatha Swamy, a form of Lord Shiva known as the Divine Healer. For centuries, devotees have arrived here with faith in the temple’s sacred waters and rituals for their curative powers. The temple’s theertham is believed to have medicinal properties, infused with herbs used in ancient Siddha medicine even the priests here know the old healing chants and herbal combinations. From skin diseases to chronic pain, this temple is seen as a place where faith amplifies natural healing, where medicine is both prayed for and practiced. 2.Kottiyoor Shiva Temple, Kerala Deep within the lush forests of Kerala’s Kannur district, the Kottiyoor Shiva Temple blooms every year during its monsoon festival. What makes it extraordinary isn’t its architecture but its elemental simplicity. Built near natural springs, it turns into an open-air altar of mud, water, and air, the original Ayurvedic ingredients. Devotees bathe in the spring believed to balance the body’s doshas, Vata, Pitta, and