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Empty roads. No traffic. Open space parking. When you hear these phrases, several places might spring to mind – but Nainital in Uttarakhand is probably not one of them, especially during this time of year. Usually overwhelmed by tourists, Nainital and its residents are now experiencing something unusual; and for many, it’s far from welcome.

This shift is the result of a significant drop in the number of tourists visiting the town. According to locals we spoke to, this decline couldn’t have come at a worse time – May and June – the summer months, and traditionally the peak season for tourism.

’90 Per Cent Drop In Occupancy’

Digvijay Singh Bisht, President of the Nainital Hotel Association, informs NDTV of a massive fall in hotel and resort bookings. He says occupancy rates have plunged by as much as 90 per cent in the last month.

“Bookings were cancelled even for June. There were no walk-in guests. It’s not the same as in the previous years,” Bisht tells NDTV.

NDTV spoke to other hoteliers, cab service providers and local business owners in Nainital, and nearly all of them echoed the same concern – a sharp and sudden decline in the number of tourists visiting the ‘lake district’ of India.

If there’s one thing that annoys us the most while travelling on a plane (after a crying baby on board, of course), it has to be certain people… people who are in such a rush to bolt from the aircraft the moment it touches down.

Whether you’re a frequent flyer or not, you know what we mean. The moment the captain announces some garbled version of “we have landed”, there’s always that one person who springs up, opens the overhead bin, grabs their luggage, and plants themselves firmly in the aisle. This often leads to others doing the same thing, which ultimately leads to a cluster of people standing in the aisle while holding their luggage for no reason.

Taking it easy clearly isn’t part of their travel policy – regardless of whether they have a connecting flight or not. But what’s the point of clutching your bag and standing in a queue if you still have to wait for the crew to open the door for exiting? It’s a mystery. And somehow, this works like a domino effect – once one person gets up (whether it’s time or not), others follow suit as if it’s a race to nowhere.

Now, to tackle this mid-air impatience, it looks like the Turkish government has introduced some new in-flight regulations. The Indian civil aviation authorities – the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) – too might want to take a few notes.

What Does The New Law Say?

Turkey has rolled out strict new rules for airline passengers to improve safety and order during flights – particularly during landing and disembarkation. These regulations, effective from early May 2025, apply to all commercial airlines operating within Turkey, including Turkish Airlines.

Here’s the lowdown:

• Passengers must stay seated with seat belts fastened until the aircraft comes to a full stop at its designated parking spot and the seatbelt sign is switched off.
• Unbuckling seat belts, opening overhead compartments, or standing in the aisle before the plane has stopped taxiing is strictly prohibited.
• Airlines must revise their standard in-flight announcements to clearly instruct passengers to remain seated and warn that violations will be reported.
• Passengers are reminded to disembark in turn, without rushing forward – yes, your aisle seat doesn’t make you royalty.
• Breaking these rules is considered disruptive passenger behaviour and may attract an administrative fine of up to USD 70 (Rs 6,000), say Turkish media reports, although an amount hasn’t yet been specified by the Turkish government.
• Cabin crew are now responsible for enforcing these rules, delivering additional safety announcements after landing, and reporting any misbehaviour for possible legal or administrative action.

So, you’ve packed your bags, triple-checked your flight timing and planned out your outfits. But wait, have you brushed up on your travel lingo?

If not, don’t worry. You’re not alone. As the world of travel gets quirkier, cleverer and, let’s face it, much more unpredictable, so does its vocabulary. 

Welcome to the Travel Dictionary 2025. From ‘townsizing’ (where you ‘size up’ a town), to ‘land snorkelling’ (no sharks involved here), here’s a handy guide on all the travel terms that are trending at the moment.

Detour Destinations

Forget the bucket-list usuals, 2025 is the year of the scenic sidekick. Call it the underdog glow-up, but detour destinations are all about pairing big-name cities with their lesser-known (and way less crowded) neighbours. 

Think Reims with Paris or Santa Barbara as L.A.’s breezy little cousin. It’s the savvy traveller’s two-for-one trick: more charm, fewer queues and just enough space to actually breathe. Merci beaucoup.

Townsizing

Big cities? Been there, ‘grammed that. Enter townsizing, a delightful little buzzword courtesy of Priceline that swaps skyscrapers for storybook streets. 

Want mountain air in Stowe, Vt? Or coastal charm in Carmel-by-the-Sea? Townsizing isn’t just a change of scene, it’s a mindset. Smaller towns, slower pace, bigger smiles. It’s like therapy but with cobblestones and ice cream.

Land Snorkelling

Yes, it’s a thing, and no, you don’t need a wetsuit. Born from the poetic brains of artists Clyde Aspevig and Carol Guzman, land snorkelling is like forest bathing’s minimalist cousin. 

You walk slowly, soak in the world around you-city cracks, desert shadows, wildflowers by the sidewalk-and tune into the tiny, beautiful chaos of your surroundings. It’s mindfulness in motion, minus the moss.

We all know Sydney Sweeney as a talented actress, a style diva and the founder of the production company Fifty-Fifty Films. Along with all these glorious titles, Sydney has now stepped into the beauty sector by launching limited-edition soaps in collaboration with men’s grooming brand Dr. Squatch. The real highlight of the product? It is made from Sweeney’s used bathwater.

The Euphoria actress announced the news in an Instagram post on Thursday. She wrote, “You kept asking about my bathwater after the @drsquatch ad… so we kept it. Introducing Sydney’s Bathwater Bliss! A very real, very limited-edition soap made with my actual bathwater.” 

Sweeney’s fans had mixed reactions to the new launch. While some called it the “best marketing gimmick” they had ever seen, others commented, “Sydney, honey, I love you, but I don’t know about this.” 

What Is It

Sidney’s Bathwater Bliss is a medium-grit exfoliating soap made with pine bark extract, sand and a touch of the actress’s bathwater. In terms of scent, the soap bar transports consumers to the forest with scents of pine, Douglas fir and earthy moss, as well as Sidney’s actual bathtub. 

As per a report by People, Sydney Sweeney said, “It’s weird in the best way, and I love that we created something that’s not just unforgettable, it actually smells incredible and delivers like every other Dr. Squatch product I love. Hopefully, this helps guys wake up to the realities of conventional personal care products and pushes them towards natural.”

How Much Will It Cost

The limited edition soap will be launched on June 6 and costs $8 a bar.

Before the soap’s official release, 100 customers will have the opportunity to enter a competition to win a bar of Sydney’s Bathwater Bliss. To win, they will have to follow Dr Squatch Instagram page, like the post and leave a comment. Or, one can enter via the online form by June 4. The form is available in their official page. 

Author and former Bollywood actor, Twinkle Khanna recently opened up about experiencing hot flashes, a common symptom of perimenopause and menopause. Known for her insightful reflections, Khanna shed light on a topic many women silently endure.

The 51-year-old shared the information in yet another playful post on Instagram. The caption read, “Both of us are suffering. Me: Hot flushes. Him: Itchy ears. One of us is, as usual, chasing their own tail. Guess who.” 

What Are Hot Flashes

Hot flashes are sudden surges of sweat, sudden heat, or flushed skin. They are a common symptom of menopause. According to John Hopkins Medicine, most women start experiencing them in their 40s. They can last from anywhere between thirty seconds to five minutes. 

You may suddenly notice your face and neck turning red, with your heart rate increasing, and you will most likely break out in a sweat. Hot flashes can also happen at night, commonly referred to as night sweats. Along with sweating, you may also experience fatigue, irritability, and forgetfulness. 

If you have been experiencing these symptoms, you should consult your gynaecologist to avoid any problems. 

What Causes Hot Flashes 

The number one cause of hot flashes is hormonal changes during, before, and after menopause. According to the Mayo Clinic, hot flashes occur when lower estrogen levels cause the hypothalamus – your body’s heat manager – to respond to even the slightest changes in the temperature of your body. 

When it thinks your body’s too hot, it causes hot flashes to help your body to cool down. 

While menopause is considered the most common cause of hot flashes, the Mayo Clinic suggests that certain medications may also contribute. In rare cases, conditions such as thyroid and certain cancers may cause hot flashes. Stress may also aggravate the symptoms. 

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