CNN’s ‘Destination India’ Showcases the Country’s Vibrant Diversity

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A special week of coverage began November 6, 2017, with a 30-minute program airing from November 11 through the 15th, as CNN’s ‘Destination India’ shines a spotlight on the inspiring culture, cuisines, sights and sounds of this South Asian nation.

The 30-minute program will explore the unspoilt forests of the North-Eastern hill state of Meghalaya, delve into the heart of India’s wine country in Nashik, and sample the culinary and cultural treats offered in the country’s capital Delhi.

‘Destination India’ will showcase the captivating locations and experiences through on-air programming on CNN International, specialized content on CNN Digital and across CNN’s social media platforms.

CNN.com/destinationindia will host a bespoke interactive digital holiday planner called ‘Find your perfect India’ which will go live on November 15, inviting CNN’s global audience to create their own dream bucket-list in India. These bucket lists will become the focus of the second ‘Destination India’ theme week which will air on CNN International in March, 2018

Highlights of this month’s ‘Destination India’ include:

Delhi’s food adventures

India is a country of remarkable diversity – with ancient traditions and landscapes that are reflected in its cuisine. To capture the essence of its capital, Delhi, enjoy street food with longtime resident and foodie-in-chief Anubhav Sapra. CNN’s tasty journey continues at upmarket Masala Library, where restaurateur and MasterChef India judge Zorawar Kalra gives us a taste of Delhi’s fine-dining scene — shedding some light on the future of Indian cuisine.

India’s wine industry

Nashik is one of India’s holiest places. A dip in the sacred bathing ghat, Ramkund, is considered very pious. However, this central Indian city now has another claim to fame: it has become the capital of India’s newly-emerging wine industry. Over 30 wineries have sprung up in the region within the last 15 years alone and Sula Vineyards is the oldest; we meet CEO Rajeev Suresh Samant to sample some of the increasing number of grape varietals produced at the vineyard.

Musical delights

Nizamuddin Dargah in Delhi is the shrine of one of the world’s most famous Sufi saints, Nizamuddin Auliya. The landmark was immortalised in Bollywood films like Rockstar and Bajrangi Bhaijaan but there’s more to it than stunning architecture; every Thursday night, the qawwali, a form of Sufi devotional music, attracts huge crowds to the site. Indian musicians, Rahul Ram and Amit Kilamexplain the secret behind the Nizamuddin Dargah’s timeless charm.

Paragliding in North India

Adventure enthusiasts and mountain lovers are mesmerized by the beauty of North India  – and now, tourists have a new way of admiring its stunning landscapes. The Village of Bir in Himachal Pradesh, has become a popular destination for paragliding after it hosted the Paragliding World Cup in 2015. We take to the sky with 15-year-old female paraglider Aditi Thakur, to see what this region looks like from above.

Meghalaya Forest

Criss-cross the unspoilt forests of Meghalaya, the land of the living root bridges. This remote, but beautiful wilderness is also one of the few places in the world where, following a matrilineal system, women own land and property. CNN explores the matrilineal culture in Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, and is introduced to women from the Khasi tribe.

Watch the promo here: http://cnn.it/2h7WnuC

The 30-minute special ‘Destination India’ airs at the following times:

Indian Standard Time:

– Saturday, November 11 at 6:30PM
– Sunday, November 12 at 7:00AM
– Tuesday, November 14 at 4:00PM
– Wednesday, November 15 at 10:00AM