Our beach issue takes you to some of the best and unspoiled beaches in India and abroad. We settle the hills vs beach debate with colourful Rio, curate offbeat experiences, away from the madding crowd, in Thailand, take a comprehensive look at what the Fijian archipelago offers, scout for estuarine crocodiles and Irrawaddy dolphins in Odisha, and indulge in the Maldives. This issue also presents a glimpse into a fascinating photo project that seeks to portray each country in the world through one of its streets. We explore Madrid and Bahrain to find riveting tales and intriguing histories hiding in their nooks and crannies. For a cultural garnish, we capture the spirit of Navratri in Gujarat and that of Durga Puja in West Bengal. This issue also brings you the winners of our Boutique Hotel Awards.