gINKgo I The RARE Newsletter I Summer of '26 - Part III Of The RARE Collection I Vol 121 I May 2026
Dear Travellers...
It was a busy April. From promotional road shows to checking some of the most charming hotels, some new on the boutique scene; sitting through an unimaginably poignant book release that melds wildlife photography and tribal art with very personal hospitality walking in forests and gardens in the suburbs of Srinagar it was endless travel. Finally ending up at The Great India Travel Bazaar, Jaipur, staying at the incredibly stylish "The Rajmahal Palace RAAS." I eased my pace. A two-day princess life is recommended for everyone who needs a pause and pamper - surrounded by colour, grace and grandeur, with a fabulous team so perfect with their hospitality.
Time to gear up for a long, harsh summer - but first, a moment of introspection. We've heard time and again how the next world war would be fought over water; looks like it's still oil over waters, literally! While travel is obviously impacted, the principal issue - a planet being polarised and bullied over finite resources - is a frightening thought. And the effects of this war on land and resources rubbishes any claims towards conservation and sustainability.
Helping hotels in Kashmir revive tourism has required a mammoth effort, as the valley waits and hustles for tourism to return. Every query we try to convert for Kashmir turns into a debate over rates and safety. Still Kashmir with a group of golfers and their spouses was memorable, Srinagar is quieter but beautiful.
Having promoted "Travel as a force for good" (Jake Hupert, The Transformational Travel Council) as a central philosophy for our business at RARE, here's a LinkedIn post by the MD of Steppes Travel on Worldview that sets a new perspective.
A quote from the post: "Mark Twain wrote that travel is "fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." That remains true. Avoiding 'difficult' places does not protect us; it leaves our assumptions unchallenged."
On that note, be cool, stay hydrated, and eat seasonal and local - it's nature's own antidote to her moods! And don't forget to move away from the crowds. The RARE Collection takes you places where the tourism footprint is deliberately low. Check out our summer and monsoon programs in Ladakh, Nepal, and Bhutan.
Shoba Rudra
Storyteller & Boutique Hotels OG
We welcome Zhiwaling Heritage to The RARE Collection
PARO, BHUTAN: While many landscapes cling to the past, the Paro Valley coexists with its ancient spirit. Standing as a silent sentinel to this timelessness is Zhiwaling Heritage —a sanctuary that does not merely occupy the landscape but breathes with it.
To arrive at Zhiwaling is to step into a living gallery of Bhutanese craftsmanship. This is not a hotel in the conventional sense; but an architectural love letter to the Kingdom of Happiness. Every beam is hand-carved from local larch wood, every cornice painted as per Himalayan craft traditions, and every stone mirrors the surrounding dzongs. It is precisely this dedication to authenticity and slow, mindful travel that we love as RARE.
Beyond the intricate woodwork lies a profound quiet. Luxury here is stillness - juniper incense in the grand vestibule, prayer flags in the breeze, and the emerald valley stretching to the heavens. From the in-house temple to the thrill of traditional archery, Zhiwaling connects you to the living heart of this mountain kingdom.
Find your flow with yoga overlooking the Tiger's Nest, where ancient rituals and mountain sunrises that may turn a simple stay into a profound spiritual awakening.
It is a rare invitation to cease your journeying and finally begin your arrival into the very soul of the Kingdom.
Himalayan Highs to Kangra, Kullu and Shimla
The journey commences at The Lodge at Wah, an easy to get to sanctuary close to the deep-green folds of the Kangra tea estate. Explore Palampur's tea, cuisine, art and timeless quiet, where mornings may be reserved for yoga in the mountain air and late afternoons spent on private forest trails. The itinerary balances tea trails with spiritual sojourns to Dalai Lama's temple in Upper Dharamshala, Baijnath temple and craft at Andretta's pottery village. With time in hand, you can visit the formidable Kangra Fort or the mystical Masroor rock-cut shrines and a short ride on the narrow-gauge train. Guests invariably return to the Lodge for home cooked meals with added Himalayan and Tibetan flavours.
Transitioning from tea trails to Kullu, the drive ascends toward Neeralaya, a riverside retreat in Raison where the Beas River hums a soothing melody. Days here offer a choice between casting for trout directly from the estate's banks or embarking on hikes into the legendary Tirthan Valley. For those seeking a different tempo, activities range from mountain biking through hidden glades to the heights of the Rohtang Pass or the Hadimba Temple.
The final act unfolds with the journey to the imperial grandeur of Shimla, the storied summer capital of the Raj. A stay at Chapslee—less a residence and more a living museum of heirlooms, art, tapestries and family conversations - provides a gilded backdrop for walking the Ridge. After exploring the Victorian facades of the Gaiety Theatre, the Mall Road and the Viceregal Lodge, find leisure and legacy within the manor's library and historic halls. One final evening of silver service dining in the grand dining rooms, attended by liveried staff, features a mix of Anglo-Indian and North Indian cuisine, leaving behind the lingering scent of cedar and the romance of Shimla.
Don't forget that with The Doksa in Spiti (Dist, Lahaul) longer itineraries allow you to explore that valley that's yet to be explored for its beauty and culture.
