MAM
Darjeeling tops Agoda searches for North-East travel this winter
MUMBAI: When wanderlust goes uphill, Darjeeling is where it seems to pause and stare. Agoda’s latest search data shows the Queen of the Hills emerging as the most searched destination in India’s North-East for the October to December 2025 travel window, signalling a strong domestic appetite for misty views, cool weather and unhurried escapes.
The findings, based on accommodation searches made by Indian travellers between July and September 2025, place Gangtok in second position and Shillong third, completing a hill-station hat-trick that continues to define the region’s holiday appeal. Together, the trio reflects a clear seasonal pattern, as travellers gravitate towards scenic, slower-paced destinations in the final quarter of the year.
Rounding out the top five are Guwahati at number four and Siliguri at number five. While Guwahati draws visitors with its urban buzz and cultural energy, Siliguri’s role as the gateway to the North-East keeps it firmly embedded in many itineraries, acting as a launchpad for hill-bound journeys.
Beyond the usual favourites, Agoda’s data also points to growing curiosity around smaller towns. Cherrapunji, Pelling and Kalimpong are attracting increased search interest, suggesting that travellers are looking beyond headline destinations. From Cherrapunji’s rain-soaked waterfalls and Pelling’s sweeping views of the Kanchenjunga range to Kalimpong’s flower markets and colonial charm, these quieter spots are adding texture to the North-East travel map.
Commenting on the trend Agoda country director for the Indian Subcontinent and Indian Ocean Islands Gaurav Malik noted that domestic travellers are increasingly embracing the region’s mix of well-known and lesser-explored destinations. He added that a growing number of accommodation providers, from hotels and hostels to homestays and serviced apartments, are tapping into this interest by partnering with digital platforms.
The data underlines a broader shift in domestic travel behaviour, where familiarity is giving way to curiosity, and year-end holidays are becoming an excuse to explore landscapes that feel both restorative and culturally rich. For the North-East, it appears the season of travel is also a season of rediscovery.
Brands
YES Bank hands the keys to SBI veteran Vinay Tonse as it bets on a new era
Former SBI managing director appointed as YES Bank’s new MD and CEO
MUMBAI: YES Bank is done rebuilding. Now it wants to grow. The private sector lender has appointed Vinay Muralidhar Tonse as managing director and chief executive officer-designate, with RBI approval secured and a start date of April 6, 2026 confirmed. The three-year term signals the bank’s intent to shift gears from crisis recovery to full-throttle expansion.
Tonse, 60, is no stranger to scale. Most recently managing director at State Bank of India, he oversaw a retail book of roughly $800bn in deposits and advances, one of the largest in the country. Before that, he ran SBI Mutual Fund from August 2020 to December 2022, a stint that saw assets under management surge from Rs 4.32 lakh crore to Rs 7.32 lakh crore across market cycles. Add stints in Singapore and four years leading SBI’s overseas operations in Osaka, and the incoming chief arrives with a genuinely global CV.
His academic grounding is equally solid: a commerce degree from St Joseph’s College of Commerce, Bengaluru, and a master’s in commerce from Bangalore University.
The appointment follows an extensive search and evaluation process by the bank’s Nomination and Remuneration Committee. NRC chairperson Nandita Gurjar said the committee unanimously backed Tonse, citing his leadership track record, governance credentials and ability to drive the bank’s next phase of transformation.
Non-executive chairman Rama Subramaniam Gandhi was unequivocal. “I am certain that Vinay Tonse, with his vast experience as a senior banker, will propel YES Bank to its next phase of growth,” Gandhi said, adding that the bank remains focused on strengthening its retail and corporate banking franchises and expanding its branch network.
Rajeev Kannan, non-executive director and senior executive at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, the bank’s largest shareholder, said Tonse’s experience across retail, corporate banking, global markets and asset management positioned him well to lead the lender. SMBC said it looks forward to working with Tonse and the board as YES Bank pursues its ambition of becoming a top-tier private sector lender anchored in strong governance and sustainable growth.
Tonse succeeds Prashant Kumar, who took the helm in March 2020 when YES Bank was in freefall following a severe financial crisis, and spent six years painstakingly stabilising the institution, rebuilding governance and restoring operational scale. Gandhi was generous: “The bank remains indebted to Prashant Kumar, who is responsible for much of what a strong financial powerhouse YES Bank is today.”
Tonse, for his part, struck a purposeful note. “Together with the board and my colleagues, I remain deeply committed to creating long-term value for all our stakeholders,” he said, pledging to build on Kumar’s foundation guided by his personal motto: Make A Difference.
Beyond the balance sheet, Tonse played cricket at college and club level and represented Karnataka in archery at the national championships — sports he credits with teaching him teamwork, situational leadership, discipline and focus. In quieter moments, he reaches for retro Kannada music, classic Hindi songs, and the crooning of Engelbert Humperdinck, Mukesh and Kishore Kumar.
YES Bank has its steady-handed rebuilder in Kumar to thank for survival. Now it has a scale-obsessed growth banker at the wheel. The next chapter starts April 6.
