The Rich, Fiery, & Delicious Flavors of Rajasthan

Rajasthani food is filled with aroma, flavor, and colors. Characterized by the minimum use of water, the dishes use a lot of butter and ghee. Also, the milk and buttermilk are liberally used in the preparation of traditional dishes. Most popular Rajasthani dishes include Panchkoota, Balusahi, Besan-Chakki, Chaavadi, Bail-Gatte, Laapasi, Nukhti, Churma, Dhungari Hui Chaach, Ghevar, Googri, Jhajariya, Raabdi, and Tarfini. Popular snacks include onion kachori, malai kulfi, Gola, papda, and ghevar.

For a traditional Rajasthani family, food time is a formal event where the whole family sits down together. Women of the family serve the smoking hot food straight from the wood fire open ovens called choolah. Influenced by the Marwari or warrior culture, Rajasthani cuisine uses a lot of ingredients like Lentil, bajra, chillies, corn and mango powder, along with a heavy taste and texture of ghee or butter. One can also notice the use of besan or gram flour in the preparations. For non vegans, there are ample of choices like the Laal maas (meat cooked in red chilly curry), Mohan maas (meat cooked in milk), Safed maas (meat cooked in pureed dry fruits and yogurt), Saanth ro achaar (wild boar meat pickled), Khad Khargosh (wild hare cooked and roasted underground).

Snacking is also a popular practice here and a lot of small shops in the streets are known to sell lip smacking items like green chilli fritters, samosa, bhujiya, and lassi (butter milk shake). Other salty items include daal-moth, mathri, bhujia, khatta-meetha sev. Commonly found sweets in such shops are laddos, pedas and ghevar.

Sweets are an integral part of the Rajasthani gastronomy. The special thing about Rajasthani sweets is that you can have them before or after meal, and sometimes even with the meal. There are no restrictions! Popular sweets include Besanchakki, Dilkhushaal, Churma, Balushahi, Motichoor ladoos, and Ghevar. Not only this, each region is famous for its special sweet. For example, Mawa Kachori is from Jodhpur; Malpuas from Pushkar; Ghevar from Jaipur; Diljani from Udaipur; mishri mawa and ghever grom Jaipur; Sohan Halwa from Ajmer; Papad and Rasogullas from Bikaner; Mawa from Alwar, kachora from Nasirabad; and tilpatti from Beawar.

So, after reading this, if you wish to explore the true flavor of Rajasthan, then book one of the most popular Rajasthan tour packages today and experience Rajasthan like a Maharaja. You can even ask your Rajasthan tour operators to offer you a custom made tour package which will take you on a culinary trip to the Land of Maharajas.

5 Reasons Why South India Is the Best Part of India

South India mainly encompasses these Indian states: Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and territories of Pondicherry & Lakshadweep. All these states are well connected to the other important regions of India, thus making it very feasible and comfortable for the travelers to travel across from north India through south India. 

South India is rich in greenery because it is bounded by the Indian Ocean in the South, Bay of Bengal in the east and the Arabian Sea in the west. It is very interesting to know that the traditions and culture followed in South India are very different from that of the north India. 

Travelers are spell bounded by the beauty of this region and often find it mesmerizing. The best things that pull tourists from all over the world in this area are the backwaters, beaches, temples, ancient monuments, hill stations, sanctuaries, festivals, and the cuisine.

When on your south India tour, you can enjoy the below mentioned amazing places:

Thrilling Beaches: Southern part of India is surrounded by three oceans and thus there are exotic beaches located in South India. These beaches are not only interesting but also very clean and serene. You can visit these palm fringed beaches located in the different states of South India. You can also enjoy seafood, picturesque scenery, and adventure sports activities. Some of the most popular beaches of Kerala include Kanyakumari, Kovalam, Alappuzha, Varkala, and Mahabalipuram.

Backwaters and Houseboats: Kerala is the paradise where you can enjoy the thrill of staying on a houseboat. You can stay in these houseboats while enjoying the natural surroundings. These cruises will also provide you the opportunity to witness the people and culture of the local villages. Apart from indulging in the local sightseeing and cuisine, you can enjoy the Ayurvedic treatments on offer here. These treatments are known to rejuvenate the body, mind and soul with the amazing sessions, natural diets and therapies. 

Wildlife Safaris:  The climate and landscape of South India makes it one of the best places with best flora and fauna in genuine amounts. This further makes it the place with densely forested wildlife sanctuaries and national parks with interesting and spectacular species of animals. Some of the best places to visit are Periyar National Park, Bandipur National Park, and Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. 

Temples: South India is the hub of ancient Indian art, culture, literature, and traditions, and here you can find many ancient temples located here. These temples are not only amazing because they are ancient, but also because they feature superb architecture, stonework, and some even display episodes from Hindu Epics and mythology. 

Hill Station: South India is proud of its beaches, and it is prouder of its hill stations. South India has loads of fine-looking hill stations such as Ooty, Munnar, Idukki, Coorg, and many more.

To enjoy the true beauty of this beautiful region of India, you can opt from the many south India tour packages. It is undoubtedly one of the best Indian holiday tour packages. For those under a fixed budget, there are many cheap holiday packages.

Best Tips to Travel in India, the Ultimate Holiday Destination

The beautiful land of India has served as the background for many renowned documentaries and movies from around the world. Cultural diversity and rich history make it one of the most visited places in the world. There are many reasons as to why people enjoy visiting India. Some reasons that can be attributed to this are the presence of majestic forts, beautiful palaces and extraordinary places of worship in India. 

Many international travelers visit it to enjoy its cheap holiday destinations. If you too are planning a holiday tour package in India, it is advisable you read some tips to have unforgettable and equally fun filled holidays. Amongst the most popular holidays, the Taj Mahal tour has always amused people from all over the world including the locals. This amazing monument has captured the attention of poets, filmmakers and writers, and commoners. It is not only the beauty of the monument but the love story associated with it. Other must-see destinations in India for history admirers include Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Puri, and Mathura. You can also take up a wildlife tour package to the best national parks of India.

The best time to visit India is often decided by the climate as it plays an important role in deciding the apt time to visit India. It is important to understand that climate in north India is completely than in south India. There are mainly three seasons in India: summer, monsoon, and winter. The best time to spend a wander vacation in India would be during the winters between November and March. During the summers, you can explore cooler areas like Himalayan circuit and northwest hill stations.  

    

Try not to squeeze too much into your schedule as it may leave you feeling exhausted and at nowhere but with too many memories of the place. It is wise to remain flexible with your time, travel plan and journey budget. 

If you are looking for Indian ethnic wear, it is suggested you go for retailer fabindia, which has stores throughout India. 

If you can spare some luxury, then it is always better to avoid booking taxis from your luxury hotel. Always remember to ask prior your ride about any extra costs like the air-conditioning or toll charges. 

Many travelers visiting India finds it challenging to deal with the poverty and desperation found in different parts of India. Beggars may often flock you. To give alms or not is entirely up to you but be aware of the fact that giving alms is not a long term solution. You can either contribute to the registered charity groups or ask for a receipt while contributing to churches or temples. 

Happy holidays!

10 best places to visit in India, ‘the land of diversity’

India is truly captivating with its bustling cities, simplicity of villages, and spirituality. Most popular Indian tours chosen by the travelers include the likes of Goa holiday packages, Kashmir holiday packages, Taj Mahal tour, tour packages to Kashmir, national park tour, and Leh trip.

Let’s have a look at the 10 best places to visit in India:

Delhi – Being the capital of India, this city is much pampered to make it surely look and feel like the queen of India. Foreigners often find the city busy, dirty, noisy, and hectic. This is because this metropolitan is crowded, but at the same time, it is very much happening. The city houses many beautiful ancient relics like the India Gate, Red Fort, Bahai Temple and many more. Delhi city is also home to several interesting markets and is a hub for eating out and nightlife. For a one-day quick local sightseeing, you can either go to ho-ho buses, or simply hire an auto-rickshaw and take a tour.

Agra – Agra is located at a 3-4 hours drive from New Delhi. Agra city is an Indian delight for housing the iconic Taj Mahal.   

Jaisalmer – Also known as the Golden City, Jaisalmer is located in the state of Rajasthan, India. The city appears to have emerged out from the sand and looks pretty close to a sandstone fortress. The best places to visit here include the inner city that remains traffic free and peaceful. Bets things to explore here are the local craft shops, sunset view, and camel treks.

Rishikesh – Housing the sacred Ganges, Rishikesh is home to several temples and ashrams. Domestic and international tourists visit the city alike for its charm and religious significance.

Dharamsala – Situated at the foot of the Himalayas, this place is home to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government. Visit it to head up to McCloud Ganj and Tibetan temples.

Goa – Visit this place for its party culture, pristine coastlines, green background, and traditional fishing communities.

Hampi – This looks like an infertile land with ancient temples and lush paddy fields. Here, you can visit the 15th century village of Vijayanagar, the underwater temple and climb the 570 steps to the Hanuman Temple.

Kochin – The city is known for its cleanliness and calmness. You can take a ferry ride on a taxi to the island and watch the traditional Kathakali dance. You can also see the cricket greens and Chinese fishing nets used by the local fishermen.

Nilgiri Hills – With Kodaikanal and Ooty at its heart, Nilgiri Hills houses the beautiful sight of a narrow gauge railway, elephant reserves and vast plantations of tea and coffee.

Khajuraho – Located in the Chhatarpur District of Madhya Pradesh, this is the second most visited place in India after Taj Mahal. The site houses ancient Hindu and Jain temples that are famous for their erotic sculptures. The group of Khajuraho monuments is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.