Travel Guides & Articles
Rob and Rylan’s Passage to India: the funniest TV tour of the country ever created | Television & radio
Indian travelogue shows with British TV presenters are as predictable as they are popular. Here, let me sketch the formula on the back of this samosa. Take, I don’t know, Sue Barker and James Redmond. Whack them in front of the Taj Mahal, then in a tuk tuk. Let them eat pav bhaji. Earnest closeup, while regarding temple carvings. Shot of begging children, while they reflect on what a country of contrasts this is. Much saris and smiling. Close on moment of spiritual epiphany, which evaporates by the airport. It’s a hit!
So I am unaroused by the prospect of Rob and Rylan’s Passage to India (Sunday 14 September, 9pm, BBC Two), the genesis of the three-part series being that Rob Rinder’s favourite novel is the namesake title by EM Forster. Should we send Patrick Kielty to a Kyoto entertainment district because he likes Memoirs of a Geisha? Still, the pair won a Bafta for their previous jaunt around Italy, so I decide to give them a chance.
A quip in the first episode wins me over. Rylan, overwhelmed by the noise of Delhi traffic, is flapping and squawking, and Rinder accuses him of sounding “like the headmistress of a school for excluded children”. I squawk at that. Rinder and Rylan are funnier than anyone who has previously attempted an Indian travelogue, with the possible exception of Romesh Ranganathan. Clearly, there’s something about people whose names begin with R, and I should know.
Their wits compliment each other like raita and mango chutney. Rinder loves classical music, fine art, history. His is a dry, wry whine, complaining about the indignity of having his ears de-waxed on camera, or being made to walk the streets barefoot. He describes Forster as the “Liza Minnelli of literature” to his travelling partner, who he’s horrified to learn hasn’t read the book before filming. (“I was in LA with Mariah Carey,” is the only excuse Rylan gives.)
Rinder grounds the programme, getting misty-eyed at murals, murmuring explainers of why they’re doing any of this at all, all of which washes over Rylan; he’d be as happy at Geri Halliwell’s birthday, or MCing a corporate fruit cider launch. To square the imbalance, the show attempts to imply Rylan is busy doing logistical work off camera. He has many voiceovers along the lines of “While Rob’s admiring sculptures, I’ve tracked down a community spokesperson/organised a tour of the ghats/scored an invitation to a local puppeteering cooperative,” none of which I believe for a second.
His karma could do with some repair. Presenting This Morning last month, Rylan naively complained about small boat migrants to the UK being given free iPads and four-star hotels, a comment for which Ofcom has received more than 700 complaints. He’s on safer ground here, hammering a running joke that Rinder is secretly in love with or trying to get off with him.
Banter notwithstanding, the show is at its best when the hosts discuss gay identity and their yearning for relationship.
Their friendship has real heart under the ribbing. As working-class social climbers, there may be a subterranean identification between them and their subject. They too are riddled with contradictions. Rylan, who sells himself as sex-driven and supercilious, is actually kind and eccentric. He reveals he has built a life-sized railway station in his house, and can only go the toilet naked: “Can’t even have a sock.”
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This show is so good-natured it can walk comfortably in contentious territory. It suggests that anxieties about the subcontinent’s colonial past largely arise from western guilt. (For what it’s worth, I’ve found this too – there’s a bizarre amount of fondness for the Brits in India.) With encouragement from a tailor, Rinder puts aside his worries about cultural appropriation and dons a turban. “I look like Martine McCutcheon with a thyroid problem.”
Rob and Rylan’s passage doesn’t transcend travelogue tropes, but it does update them. They interview India’s first openly gay mainstream politician and Naveen Kumar, a Dalit rapper (the caste formerly known as untouchable) who uses his music to call out injustice. This is modern India, beyond holy cows and street sweepers. It remembers to have fun – there’s a king cobra, a brutal astrology reading, lavish parties with billionaires and royalty. It’s closer to EM Forster, but the novelist would have appreciated the phallic gags … and the attempt to change perceptions. A mildly spicy, very sweet treat.
Travel Guides & Articles
IndiGo to launch direct flights between India and Greece from January next year
Gurugram-based airline IndiGo will launch direct flights between India and Greece from January 2026 in a broader move to expand its footprint in Europe, the company announced on Monday, September 15.
Flights will begin after necessary regulatory clearances are obtained.
The first Indian airline to operate direct flights to Greece, it will service the route with Airbus A321XLR, which will be brought to India for the first time by December 2025.
IndiGo will run six weekly flights, including three each from Delhi and Mumbai to Greece’s capital Athens. Passengers will also get convenient access to the famous Greek destinations such as Santorini, Mykonos, and Crete, among others.
Indian tourists to Greece have steadily increased in the last few years and are close to match up with the pre-Covid levels. The government said the number of Indian tourists to Greece increased from 29,523 in 2023 to 37,150 in 2024. In 2019, the number of tourists stood at 39,812.
Pieter Elbers, CEO, IndiGo, said the airline will increase connectivity to more destinations within Greece.
“This new aviation corridor is a strategic step in IndiGo’s international expansion and aligns perfectly with India’s growing economy and tourism industry. With flight schedules ensuring convenience for travellers, we are confident that this route will further encourage demand for business and leisure travel alike,” Elbers added.
The expected arrival of Airbus A321XLR will fuel Indigo’s ambitions to service more European destinations.
With a range of up to 8,700 km, the aircraft helps maintain cost-efficiency for longer ranges to meet the growing demand for business and leisure travel.
At the same time, Indigo has also been increasing its domestic destinations it serves. Last week, it added Purnea in Bihar as its 94th domestic and 137th overall destination. Direct flights between Kolkata and Purnea begin today, September 15, 2025.
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Travel Guides & Articles
Beyond Goa & Manali: 5 Secret Indian Spots for Your September Holiday – The Better India
Travel Guides & Articles
France’s Courchevel, One Rep Global host four-city roadshow in India to tap luxury segment
Courchevel, in the French Alps, is set to showcase its world of alpine luxury to India through an exclusive four-city roadshow in collaboration with One Rep Global.
The highly anticipated showcase will begin in Bangalore today, travel to Ahmedabad on September 16, continue to New Delhi on September 18, and conclude in Mumbai on September 19.
Over the course of the week, India’s leading luxury travel advisors and trade professionals will be introduced to Courchevel’s finest experiences—from world-class skiing on the slopes of Les 3 Vallées and Michelin-starred gastronomy to luxury chalets, alpine events, and the cultural richness that has long defined Courchevel as a global luxury destination.
Alexia Laine, Director, Courchevel Tourisme, shared, “India is an incredibly important market for us, and we are delighted to return with a stronger presence across four key cities. Courchevel offers an unmatched combination of thrilling alpine adventure and world-class luxury. For Indian travellers seeking refined experiences with a touch of cultural authenticity, Courchevel represents the very best of the French Alps.”
The roadshow is being curated by One Rep Global, India’s leading sales and marketing representation company for luxury hospitality and travel.
Hemant Mediratta, Founder & CEO of One Rep Global, said, “At One Rep Global, we are committed to connecting India’s discerning travellers with the world’s most exceptional destinations. Courchevel is a perfect example of luxury that goes beyond indulgence—it is about experiences, authenticity, and connections. This roadshow provides an invaluable opportunity for India’s luxury travel community to engage deeply with the destination.”
Loveleen Arun, Advisory Board Member of One Rep Global and Founder of Panache World, commented, “Indian travellers today are evolving rapidly in their preferences—they want destinations that not only deliver luxury but also embody a sense of place and uniqueness. Courchevel offers exactly this—a rare harmony of elegance, culture, gastronomy, and adventure. We are delighted to be a part of this initiative to bring Courchevel closer to the Indian market.”
With its timeless allure, Courchevel continues to define haute montagne living, where glamour, gastronomy, and alpine adventure come together. Celebrating 80 years of setting the standard for luxury alpine experiences, 2026 marks a special milestone in Courchevel’s storied history. This exclusive roadshow is a gateway for Indian travellers to discover why Courchevel remains one of the world’s most coveted luxury destinations.
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