The Writer’s Flight

Emerging need for more space, greenery, light, ventilation and privacy are driving demand. If you're buying one, ensure the title is clear and the plans are duly sanctioned Namrata Kohli   |   New Delhi   A bungalow built over 1,602 sq yard at Friends Colony West, New Delhi, on sale for Rs 70 crore. Photo credit: India Sotheby’s International Realty Just a few decades ago, a bungalow or villa was the dream house of the upper-middle and affluent classes in India. If it wasn't affordable, the next best thing was the row house or the builder floor. Somewhere in the 1980s or 1990s, the high-rise apartment began catching the fancy of the upper-middle and affluent class. Builders were quick to capitalise on the boom and it was a matter of time before they started embellishing skyscraper complexes, if you will, with amenities such as clubhouse, spa, restaurant, sports facilities and in some cases, even a shopping area. The pandemic seems to have changed all that with low-rise, indepen

You can choose from a range of branded weekend resorts that offer serene surroundings, top-class safety and hygiene, and cap it all with unique experiences Namrata Kohli   |   New Delhi The Vivanta Surajkund, NCR, is just off Delhi. Surrounded by lush forests, it has special experiences such as bespoke private dining options and sprawling Jiva Spa. Picture Courtesy: Taj Group The festive season has started kicking in, Covid cases are on the ebb, and the pent-up desire to explore new places or simply chill elsewhere is slowly morphing into a catchphrase called revenge travel. People are now beginning to move around a bit with friends and family, aided in no small measure by the increase in Covid-19 vaccinations. They are often opting for offbeat, non-congested properties at drivable distances from home, in the safety of their own vehicles instead of relying on public modes of transport such as air and rail. The operative word is properties at “drivable” and selection of hotels is based