CREDITS-
Photographer – Errikos Andreou
Assistant – Ankit Sharma & Snehasish Roy
Stylist – Mohit Rai & Sohiny Das of Grain Fashion Consultancy
Styling assistant – Ria Ebrahimpurkar
Hair & Makeup – Mehak Oberoi
All Jewellery – Paisley Pop Shop, Kaliras by Mrinalini Chandra, Mortantra Jewellery, Diosa Paris, Mozaati, Karishma Joolry, Silverstreak Store
All Models – Gunjan Hada, Tamanna Katoch, Aradhana Buragohain, Yashvika Ghai, Pragathi Belliappa, Mehul Nijhawan, Raj Dobriyal, Abhinav Raghavan & Prince Singh
Production – FSP Productions
Executed by – April Studios
Executive Producer – Aman Lakhani
Errikos’ Agency – Deu Creative Management
PR – Tandem communication
Wardrobe – Falguni Shane Peacock

Kashmir is synonymously one of the most beautiful, breathtaking, and picturesque destinations of India. With its snow-capped mountains, picturesque lakes, and idyllic landscapes, it has always been a much sought-after place for a wintery getaway. However, in recent years, Kashmir has become a hotspot for another reason – weddings.
With its abundant nature and rich cultural heritage, Kashmir offers a whimsical and memorable experience for couples tying the knot or taking their wows. Its beautiful landscapes, from the famous Dal Lake to the dense meadows of Gulmarg, make for an ideal backdrop for any wedding ceremony. Also, Kashmir is home to some of the most exquisite and grandiose heritage estates, including magnificent palaces and splendid havelis, which provide an exclusive and luxurious destination for any wedding.
With the rise of social media frenzy, more and more couples are seeking out unique locales that allow them to make their wedding celebrations truly memorable. In comes Kashmir, as this winter wonderland offers the perfect opportunity for those looking for something magical that is bound to make their wedding stand out, though not more than Kashmir’s beauty. Couples can choose to have a traditional Kashmiri wedding, complete with the customary rituals and ceremonies, or can opt for a fusion wedding that combines different cultural elements.

Kashmir offers a manifold of breathtaking settings, from the snow-capped Himalayan peaks to the stunning backwaters of Dal Lake and couples desiring to host their grand wedding affair can

take fabulous benefits of these mesmerizing surroundings to create their gram-worthy, pre-wedding photo shoots. Kashmir’s tourism industry has also recognized the potential of the region as a wedding destination and has made efforts to promote it as such. Various tourist boards, hotels, and travel agents have begun offering specialized services for couples looking to host their weddings in Kashmir. These services include customized packages that provide everything from wedding planning and coordination to accommodation and transportation.

Top 5 breathtaking locales in Kashmir to host a grandiose wedding/ for a big-fat Indian wedding

Gulmarg

If there exists a place in India that can rival the magnificence of the Swiss Alps, then it has to be the scenic plains of Gulmarg. The stunning backdrop of Gulmarg mixed with the vibrant cultural flair of the place and its people make your wedding an enchanting affair. Add an exciting tinge of adventure to your wedding plans by taking a ride on the world’s second-highest gondola at Apharwat Peak or get rid of your big day jitters by enjoying a skiing session.

Srinagar

This holiday capital of Jammu & Kashmir is also popularly referred to as the wedding capital when it comes to hosting an extravagant affair because of its impeccable scenic elegance. From romantic shikara rides on Kashmir’s most precious jewel – Dal lake to beautiful tulip gardens this place is a galore of all things heavenly.

Pahalgam

If you wish to have a wedding with the great Himalayan peaks in attendance, then Pahalgam is the place for you. Adorned with the beautiful Lidder River, this is where the mountainous beauty lies in extravagance/abundance. Snow-covered valleys such as the Aru Valley and the Betaab Valley offer the best destinations for an epic wedding celebration.

Sonmarg

The name of this whimsical place translates to the meadow of gold and it clearly reflects in its golden yellow fields during the spring season when a radiant halo spreads all over. Sonmarg is an ideal destination if you wish to host a spectacular spring-summer wedding, as the place is brimmed with numerous, popular wedding venues.

Jammu

Snuggled on the river bank of Tawi, the sub-tropical atmosphere and the Himalayan magnanimity of Jammu make it a perfect destination for a wedding celebration. With historic significance and scenic beauty in abundance, it brings unparalleled value to host a destination wedding in the Kashmir valley.

Overall, Kashmir has earned its ‘dream wedding destination’ reputation among Indian couples looking for an ideal locale to celebrate their equally dreamy union. With its scenic beauty, beautifully preserved traditions, accessibility, and availability of plush hotels and palatial properties, Kashmir serves as the ultimate joie de vivre to host an unforgettable wedding. As the ongoing trend of “destination weddings” in India continues to hold its ground, it is certain that more and more couples will celebrate their weddings in this enchanting land of Kashmir, further proving its title as the ‘paradise on earth’.

The post KASHMIR: THE NEW WEDDING DESTINATION appeared first on TPM.

CREDITS-
PHOTOGRAPHER – ARJUN MARK
STYLING – ESHAA AMIIN
MAKEUP – SALIM SAYED
HAIR – ALIYA SHEIKH
ALL JEWELLERY – MISHO DESIGNS, OUTHOUSE JEWELLERY, FLOWER CHILD BY SHAHEEN ABBAS, AZOTIIQUE BY VARUN RAHEJA, PRERTO JEWELLERY, VALLIYAN JEWELLERY, CURIO COTTEGE
ALL SHOES – STEVE MADDEN, CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN, FENDI, MELISSA INDIA
PRODUCTION – STUDIO LITTLE DUMPLING
WARDROBE – FALGUNI SHANE PEACOCK

When Rakul Preet Singh made her debut in 2019, little did she know that her star and stardom would rise in not one but about three film industries. With a film industry presence of more than a decade and more than 30 films in her repertoire, most of which are nothing less than a superhit, Rakul became one of South Indian film industry’s most bankable stars.

But there’s more to the young star than her impeccable acting prowess, her on-point style and her girl-next-door demeanour. Hailing from an army background, Rakul was raised in most parts of the country. She accredits it as the prime reason for the traveller in her. She confesses about being able to switch from being a luxury vacationer to a basic camper with ease, thanks to her father’s army postings that ranged from urbanised cities to the quaint forests in the North East.

Rakul gets candid about this and her other travel stories that made us want to travel to the untouched nooks and corners of India, just like the way she did. Read on for the excerpt..

[Q] Where were you born and raised?
I was born in Delhi but raised all over the country. My father was in the army because of which I’ve changed 10 schools or so, studied for four years in Aizawl in the North East and resided in so many cities like Bengaluru, Bathinda, Deolali, etc. You name the city and I’ve been there. I’ve done my high school and college in Delhi and those five years was the only time I was in Delhi. Apart from that, I was all over the country.

[Q] What are some of the fondest trips from your childhood days?
Well, lots! I have travelled to the interiors of the country on quite a lot of my trips. I think one of my most beautiful travels has been to Rajasthan where we would drive from Ferozpur, Jaisalmer and Bikaner to just explore the state. Also, something that I’ll never forget is my stay in Aizawl – the capital city of Mizoram, for four years. My father was posted in Assam Rifles and I believe Aizawl is possibly the most unseen and pristine part of India in the North East. It’s beautiful. We used to travel a lot that time to Silchar to Lunglei to Jiribam and Shillong. Those are the trips that I’ll always remember.

[Q] Of all the places you’ve lived in, any particular city that is close to your heart? What makes this place unique?
I think every place is unique in its own way and has a lot of memories attached to it but if I connect to one place a lot it would be Hyderabad, because that’s the place that gave me an identity and I started my career from. It’s the love from people that made me Rakul (Preet Singh) and gave me some sort of fan following and abundance of love. So I think Hyderabad will always be special.

[Q] You’ve been to various locations for your movie shoots. Which one has been your most favorite?
I think my all time favourite is London because I just love the vibe that it has. You can work in London, you can chill in London, it has some great food, great weather, great shopping and the people are vibrant. London definitely is one of my most favourite places!

[Q] How does the culture of these places you’ve visited influence you?
Well I think any sort of influence is a subconscious process which you don’t realise but it happens. I believe, the more you travel, the more exposure you get of the different cultures, different cuisines, different people makes you feel that the world is so big and how minute and non-existent part of it we are. All this experience really helps you in your personal growth, in your nature and in your being. So I think it’s a very subconscious process like I said and the more you travel it constantly keeps changing you.

[Q] Amongst all the places that you’ve traveled to, which one do you think is underrated and deserves more attention from travelers?
Like I mentioned earlier, the North East region of our country is beautiful. All the seven sisters are beautiful, but unfortunately a lot of Indians don’t even know the states, forget visiting them. I really feel that part of the country needs more attention. It’s beautiful, it’s serene, it’s untouched and pure. We travel abroad to see all of this but we have such gems in our own country. It’s high time we explore such places and I hope that happens in the future.

[Q] Which city did you visit recently? What did you love the most about it?
My last visit was to London. In the last two years of the pandemic I haven’t really travelled much but before that it was to the Maldives and that was my first time there. I love water and I’m a complete water baby. I just loved how untouched and dream-like the entire island is.

[Q] Do you remember your first solo trip?
I’m not a solo traveller at all. Even though I’ve thought of it many times, I don’t think I can travel solo. I need company even if it’s one person. So yes, I’m yet to do my first solo trip.

[Q] If you had to give a piece of advice to female solo travelers, especially in India, what would you say to them?
Well I don’t know why my tip would change from a female solo traveller to a male solo traveller, but to each solo traveller I would say ‘Kudos for taking on these independent trips and keep going on! Explore and live your life to the fullest.’

[Q] What are the three things that define the essence of a city?
I think for me it ideally is the food of the city, its culture and the architecture to quite an extent.

[Q] What do you like to read/watch when on a long flight?
I really like to watch a lot of entertaining movies or even others depending on my mood on a long flight. I generally do not read because I find time to read otherwise.

[Q] Backpacker or a luxury traveler?
I think I’m a little bit of both, like I’m somewhere midway. I like my luxury travel because I feel a little bit of luxury is important but I can also be an absolutely basic camping kind of traveller. So yes, I’m a little bit of both. It just depends on the group of people I’m travelling with.

[Q] How necessary is conscious traveling in today’s time?
You know it’s very easy for you and me to discuss travelling but it depends on a lot of affordability factors especially in a country like ours. I think every person in whatever capacity they can afford to travel should make that effort because it helps in personal growth. Like I mentioned, the more you travel, the more exposure you get is directly proportional to personal growth that comes in use somewhere in your life, and that shapes your personality.

[Q] What are some of the most important things you keep in mind while traveling?
I think the most important thing is to make the most of your travel and the destination you’re travelling to. For example, if it’s an adventure trip then make the most of it. Just let yourself soak into the beauty of nature and the calm that it gives you. If there is a trip with a group of friends to a great food destination, I mean food is a very important part of my travel, so indulge into it. I think it just depends on the destination but the overall thought in my mind is to always soak into the destination that I’m travelling to.

[Q] Are you an impromptu traveler, or do you like to pre-plan your holidays till the last detail?
I think I am a little bit of both. Though I am more of a pre-plan-your-holiday-kind of person because with the kind of schedule I have, I need to plan my holiday maybe five or six months in advance to take out those 10 days together and it’s always so uncertain because your dates depend on other people. But if suddenly I have some dates free then I travel impromptu. There have been times when at night me and my friends have decided to go to a particular place in the morning. But I have never done anything impromptu the same day, I don’t think I’m that much of a spontaneous person but yeah there are certain times that I do plan a trip last minute.

[Q] Your bucket list destinations?
I haven’t been to Greece so I want to go there. I want to go to New Zealand, Bahamas and Africa.

[Q] Five things you never travel without?
In today’s time you cannot travel without your mask, shield and sanitiser. But otherwise I always travel with my iPad, my entire day and night routine kit which includes my creams, moisturisers, sunscreens and shampoos. I’m not a person who can travel without my own personal things. I will always have my gymwear and gym shoes even if I am travelling for a day.

[Q] What does your travel playlist look like?
My travel playlist keeps changing. I am not very fixed with the kind of music that I listen to which I feel is really odd sometimes. But It keeps changing with the mood that I’m in. Sometimes I love country music, sometimes I love house music, and so on.

The post RAKUL PREET SINGH – A STAR UNBOUND appeared first on TPM.