Wayfarer, January: forts and books, Magh Bihu and the tea country.
Editor's Dispatch
Every January we make promises to the calendar: fewer emails, more mornings, one trip that is not squeezed between two meetings. This issue is for the people who mean it.
Wayfarer is built on a few plain rules. We tell you where our facts come from. We say when a date is provisional. And when a story comes from published reporting rather than from our own conversations, we label it so, and name the people and the publication that did the work.
Lead story
Rajasthan in winter: a slower route through forts, cities and booksCold mornings, warm stone and a literary festival: why January suits Rajasthan, and how to avoid turning it into a sprint.
Also in this issue
- Magh Bihu and the tea country: January in Upper AssamA harvest festival built around fire and food, in the region where Indian tea began.
- Kuttanad, beyond the houseboatKerala's rice bowl lies close to sea level. Slow ways to see it, and why the houseboat is only one of them.
- Tet in Vietnam: the new year that closes the citiesVietnam's biggest holiday falls on 17 February 2026. What to expect, and how to plan around it.
- Patagonia in summer: wind, granite and good planningJanuary is peak season in southern Chile. Book early, pack for four seasons, and give the weather room.
- Budget planning for a first big tripA simple, honest way to set a number and stick to it.
Coming up
- Magh (Bhogali) BihuAssam · Uruka (feast night) 14 January; Magh Bihu 15 January 2026 (approx. — verify)
- Jaipur Literature Festival (19th edition)Hotel Clarks Amer, Jaipur · 15–19 January 2026 (approx. — verify)
- International Kite FestivalAhmedabad (Sabarmati Riverfront) and other Gujarat sites · 10–14 January 2026 statewide; Ahmedabad 12–14 January (approx. — verify)
- Rann Utsav (tent city, Great Rann of Kutch)Dhordo, Kutch, Gujarat · 2025–26 season; sources give end dates between 20 February and 4 March 2026 (approx. — verify)
One practical tip
Book the one thing that sells out first, whether a festival hotel or a trek hut, and leave the rest flexible.
Your turn
Where do you want to be on 1 January 2027? Reply and tell us; we may feature your answer.