If you ever wondered what the women of India wear, then the answer is the traditional sari (saree). Majority of the Indian women wear it. Sari or Saree is worn in many different styles in India. The styles are either culture specific or region specific. A few styles are –
• Nivi style and Kaccha nivi style– It is commonly worn in Andrapradesh where the pallu hangs on the left shoulder. There is slightly different form of Nivi called Kaccha Nivi where the pleats are passed through the legs and tucked back in the waist.
How can anyone describe Delhi, the 5000 year old capital city of the world’s largest democracy? Some call it the city of extremes; extreme weathers, from clean areas to congested ones, to open roads to chocking traffic, posh areas to poverty stricken. Whatever it may be, Delhi is best known as ‘Dillee Dilwalo ki’ which means ‘Delhi belongs to large hearted people’. Delhi, the capital India is the largest metropolis by area in India. It is also the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population. The city is also the one of the most historical capitals in the world and has a rich and numerous tourist sites.
The city can be divided into Old Delhi and New Delhi. Old Delhi represents the history of India with mosques, forts and other monuments. New Delhi is the seat of government and houses the government buildings and embassies.
Indian food is feast for the taste buds. The variety of food you can find in India is countless. The Indian cuisine is as diverse as India itself. Here in India the food can be categorized mainly as North Indian and South Indian food. It can be further divided into region sub-groups such as Punjabi, Rajasthani, Sindhi, Guajarati, Chettinad, Bengali, Mughali, Kashmiri and Hyderabadi. I will not be surprised if you add a few more regional cuisines to the list!
India is a land of festivals and every festival has its own special menu; every occasion also has a special menu and these are vary from region to region. Now, are you getting the idea of how many other varieties of cuisines you can expect in one cuisine called the Indian cuisine?
Most Indian dishes are full of spices hence the flavour and the colour. The most common spices and ingredients used in Indian cuisine include mustard, cumin, curry leaves, green coriander, garam masala (a masala made of select range of spices), tomatoes, onions, garlic, and ginger, along with the main ingredients such as the vegetables or lentils that go into it.
Do you know why did I am giving you this insight about the diversity and variety of Indian food? Because I find it very difficult to come up with the just top 10 amazing dishes which I can recommend to you on your visit toIndia. Yet here I am with my list of top 10 foods you cannot miss when in India.
Tourists coming to India will have their first culture shock when they come out of the airport. First thing they will notice that India is one crowded country, too many people walking around, people wanting to talk to you or staring at you, some even offering you to take you to hotels and so on.
The second shock comes in quite unexpected. As soon as you walk in a public toilet you will notice that toilets are different to what they are used to. You may not notice this at the hotel as most hotels will have western style toilets. Depending what part of the world you are coming from, you will notice that the Indian toilets are like a hole in the ground. It’s not exactly the same as the pit latrines or the makeshift squat-holes you will find in sub-Saharan Africa but close. But there you have it, these are the traditional latrines used in all over India. You will find these types of squat toilets in many places in India including trains. Unless you are travelling on the Maharaja express you are bound to encounter squat toilets.
You will be forgiven to think, how on earth people take their dump. First things first, don’t panic, it’s quite simple. Also known as the squat toilets, they are pretty simple to use. It’s used in many countries around the world including Japan.
How to use the Indian toilet
All you need to do is take your pants down, yes take them all down including your undergarments and hang them on the hook on the toilet door. Make sure they are hung properly otherwise they might drop and get wet or dirty. You can always pull them half down to the knees but there is a remote possibility of getting them wet even soiled if you haven’t done this before.
Then sit down on the ceramic commode in a squat position. This goes for both men and women. You will require the extensive use of muscles, hamstrings, tendons and ligaments. They will include hip flexors and extensors, knee flexors and extensors, lateral and medial hip rotators. It’s a good exercise, wouldn’t you say. It sure will make you fit in no time. Think of it like the gym lifting Olympic weights sitting across your shoulders in a squat position. Those are half squats, now just be brave and get down to your knees and perform the full squat. So you see, there are natural benefits of squatting as well. It might be uncomfortable in the beginning but believe me, it’s not that bad, and you might even like it. It’s all about practice. Anyway, take a dump. Try to aim in the hole.
Remember the half squat at the gym
Oh by the way, make sure before you couch down that there is a bucket of water in the bathroom otherwise you are out of luck. Indians like to use water rather than toilet paper and it is unlikely that you will find a bidet in a public location. Anyway, fill the mug of water and wash your backside with your left hand with multiple washes and make sure it’s thoroughly washed. It may seem strange at first washing your own backside with your hand, but that’s the way majority of the Indians do it. If this is your first time, you might even like it and discover something you never knew about yourself.
As a matter of fact, squatting is a good you. It has been suggested that those using the squat toilets are less likely to suffer from colon cancer. The rationale behind is that squatting empties the bowels completely while in the western styles, some crap remains in the colon and over a period of time it stiffens leading to cancer of the bowel (sorry no references).
Now get up, pull the flush chain, and wash your hands in the sink. It might be a little difficult to stand up from the squat or crouch. Often you might not find soap as health and hygienic education is poor in India. You should have checked this before you couched down. This is what I call tough luck.
If you did find soap or you’ve got your own, wash your hands thoroughly. You might need to wash several times to wash the faecal matter off your hands. Now you’re done. Put your pants back on and walk out and enjoy the rest of the day.
Don’t let cultural factors ruin your latrine use. I would like to hear about your experiences of your stay in India and your use of Indian toilets.
Can elephants swim? Yes they can. They are known to be good swimmers. New evidence suggests that elephants may have evolved from sea creatures. The discovery of “nephrostome” in elephant foetuses similar to what is found in freshwater fish, frogs and egg laying reptiles suggests that they have common ancestry. The ancestors of the modern elephant went through a variety of harsh environments and were able to evolve to environmental changes quite fast. This gave them remarkable physical and mental agility.
Street food in India: what to eat and how to be careful when trying out the Indian street food? 2BCTVSY27ZW5
India is a country of diverse cultures and traditions. It has rightly been called as a ‘Subcontinent’. Most states of India are different from each other in terms of culture, ethnicity, language and the food they eat.
Foods are tempting and if you aren’t a foodie then you will miss a lot on your trip to India. Apart from the region specific menu in India, there is one particular menu that is not only mouth-watering but available in almost the entire country. It is the menu of the Indian ‘street food’.
South India has the best destinations India has to offer. If you visit South India, here are the top destinations you should not miss.
Destination Karnataka
Bangalore Palace was built to look like a smaller replica of the Windsor Castle. Source: Wikimedia Commons
Karnataka has the second highest number of protected historical monuments and is ranked as fifth best tourist’s destination in India.
Bangalore (Bengaluru) is the capital city of Karnataka also known as Silicon Valley of India. The tourist attractions list is exhaustive and the major ones include Bangalore Palace, Vidhana Soudha, ISKON temple, Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace, Lal-Bagh a botanical garden, Cuban Park, the large Shiva Idol/statue, Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum, St. Mary’s Basilica and Infant Jesus Church, UB city to hang-out, Wonderla amusement park, huge sophisticated malls and various other temples and more.
Bijapur in South India is famous for Gol-Gumbaz and other historical monuments, Hampi is the ruins of Vijayanagar Empire and is famous for Virupaksha temple, Murudeshwara is famous for the world’s second largest Shiva-statue and has a beautiful beach, in and around Mysore for bird sanctuaries, wild-life sanctuaries and many more temples, Udupi Krishna temple, and Mangalore Malpe beach.
Is there any other way to explore the marvels and the rich cultural heritage of India than in style, this is exactly what the Maharaja Express has to offer.
The maharaja express is one is one of the most luxurious trains on offer by the Indian Railways and the Indian Tourism Department. It happens to be the most expensive as well. Think of it as the “Orient Express of Europe”. As a matter of fact, it was voted in the top 25 trains of the world by the “Society of International Railway Travellers”. Indeed, it has the best onboard accommodation and dining facilities, off-train excursion programs fit for a king hence the name “Maharaja”.
Are you on a trip to India? Then you just cannot afford to overlook the Dhaba!
What is a Dhaba?
The Dhaba is form of restaurant traditionally found on highways famous for catering authentic Punjabi cuisine typically for Punjabi truck drivers. Dhabas are prominently located near or next to petrol pumps or the gas stations.
Some special features of a typical Dhaba that make it different from restaurants:
• Roadside eating place usually found on highways. • Tasty and nourishing food yet very economical. • Traditionally the ambience here is very different. Fresh air, big earthen oven called ‘tandoor’, the smell of tandoor, the Punjabi music, traditional bamboo cots called ‘chaarpai’ to sit and a wooden plank placed perpendicularly in the centre of the chaarpai that serves as the purpose of the table.
Freya Stark says ‘To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world.’ One cannot possibly ignore the romance associated with travelling alone, exploring new and wonderful places and experiencing the unknown. But when you are in a foreign land or town; it is always better to know certain dos and don’ts to ensure a safe and secure travel.
Tips on travelling India alone
Source: Eric.Parker's on flickr
While travelling to India alone especially for a female, the key is to dress modestly and avoid travelling at nights in taxis, auto rickshaws unless in cities. In that too certain cities like Delhi are not the safest in the world at night especially for Women, hence avoid any sojourn at night alone. While travelling always opt for pre-paid services wherever available like cabs or autos; that way you could be sure of your safety to a certain extent. When travelling alone in India be sure to stay in reputed hotels.
The reviews on various travel sites could be of help to ascertain that you pick the right hotel. Hiking alone is a strict no-no especially for women. It goes without saying do not trust strangers, which in your case would be everybody and never accept food from an unknown person; a polite no is always better than taking the risk of being dazed and looted.
India is a land of splendours and has a bit of everything on offer-from the colossal Himalayas to the stunning beaches of God’s own country; from the amazing tribes of the north east to the beautiful desert forts of the west.
For a connoisseur of wildlife, there is a lot on the platter too. There are innumerable attractions that are world renowned and a must on the list of the wildlife aficionados. An approximate figure would be 80 national parks, 23 Tiger Reserves and 441 Wildlife Sanctuaries. It is also home to about 1250 different species of birds. Quite a number of rare and endangered species can be found in the country. The marine life is equally fascinating too. But there is not only a diversity of species but terrain too and that is what makes the experience more intriguing.
The wildlife of India
Source: Wikimedia Commons
The Bengal tigers, one horned rhinoceros, elephants, black bucks, Asiatic lions, cobras and peacocks are among the prime wildlife attractions in India. A wildlife escape to India will let you have an experience worth cherishing for the rest of your lives. Seated on a jeep or the back of an elephant or on a boat you could see these animals moving around safely in their natural habitat. You could come face to face with the Asiatic Lions in the Gir National Park or the one horned rhinoceros at the Kaziranga National Park.
Bird watching, Tiger Tours and special Wildlife packages are on the offer online and you could choose from a variety of options. You could go for Bird watching in Sikkim, Uttarakhand or Andaman and Nicobar Islands; Tiger watching in the Golden Triangle or the Sunderbans; spend exclusive weekends in Ranthambore or Corbett National Parks. The options are varied and one better than the other.
Imagine this; you are out to explore the beautiful landscapes of India when one morning you wake up with very high temperature. Sick in a foreign land and looking for a doctor can be quite a drag. What could have caused this you think and the next moment you hear the buzzing sound of a mosquito. Mosquitoes can really get you down to that point but there are various ways to avoid that. Malaria and other nasty diseases are carried by these tiny creatures. Here are a few tips for avoiding mosquitoes in India; to help ensure yourself an itch and bite free stay!
A woman carrying a baby, seemingly sick and sound asleep, running around begging for food or money in the scorching sun is a common sight in India. Heart rendering isn’t it? The first reaction would always be to hand out any food or money available to give some sort of comfort to the child. But hold on a second and read through before acting on the very basic human instinct.
Beggars in India is a reality
Source: ruffin_ready's on flickr
There is more to begging and beggars in India than meets the eye. Poverty is a sad reality about the country. It is a conundrum that is deep rooted and in spite of the efforts made by the Government and the Non Government Organisations (NGOs), it will take considerable time to phase out. The beggars are just one of the by-products of this mess.
Now there may be some who are genuine and forced to beg out of compulsion. But more often than not there are well organized gangs who run begging rackets. Yes unbelievable but true there are big syndicates whose sole source of income is begging. For them begging is the easy way to earn money and they do it by playing on the sympathy of the unsuspecting tourist or passerby.
“There are some parts of the world that, once visited, get into your heart and won’t go. For me, India is such a place. When I first visited, I was stunned by the richness of the land, by its lush beauty and exotic architecture, by its ability to overload the senses with the pure, concentrated intensity of its colours, smells, tastes, and sounds. It was as if all my life I had been seeing the world in black and white and, when brought face-to-face with India, experienced everything re-rendered in brilliant Technicolor” said Keith Bellows.
The land of India
India is a land which is a living embodiment for diversity and richness of culture. There is so much to see, so much to soak in; that one is compelled to return over and over again to this vibrant country.
‘Incredible’ is the word that defines India in so many ways. Misty and charming hill stations; long and sandy beaches; lazy backwaters lined by coconut trees; temple and historical sites; centres of art and culture and religious destinations with history of Hinduism ,Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism; are all entwined into the single thread called India. And that’s not all; there are treks, national parks and sanctuaries for the wildlife and adventure connoisseurs.
Never in a single country would you be able to see life at striking contrasts. If you want a complete experience of life, India is the land that awaits you. On one hand there are the busy streets and happening nightlife of Mumbai while there are also the crowded yet mystical Ghats of Varanasi; the atmosphere divine with hymns and aroma of burning incense sticks. There is also the laid back life of Kerala where you could spend your days relaxing on a backwater cruise gorging on the tastiest fish curries ever. If you are holding up for a wildlife safari, for those moments in the wilderness and for unlimited excitement; then you could spend days in the Gir Forest National Park and take in the majestic feel of the Asiatic Lions. The Rann of Kutch, another jewel in its crown, is like India’s very own moon here on earth with miles and miles of white desert; in fact it is the largest salt desert in the world. The temple towns of Tamil Nadu; crowded streets filled with people, lined by flower vendors ; the path leading up to the shrines with bells chiming and chants evoking the Gods. The list; the thrills and splendours are far too many to even jot down in one place. It would only be apt to say that India is a kaleidoscope of wonders; a land so colourful that you would be drenched in it and forever cherish the moments spent in this magical land.
A Moghul emperor once rightly quoted for Kashmir; another gem of India;
(If there is a paradise on earth, it is here, it is here, it is here.)
Yes, India is the land which has paradise on earth. It is a captivating nation with the unique combination of culture, tradition and geography. Each part of India – north or south or west or east – is worth exploring and worth relishing. An exotic land, with variety at its best is what ‘India’ is; so be sure to place it on that on the very important travel list of yours!
Visa for travels in India
Just like you need visum usa to visit the United States, similarly you will need your Indian visa if you are visiting India no matter where you are coming from and for any purpose. There are strict rules which you need to follow when obtaining the visa for your travels to India. India is working towards an agreement where you can obtain the visa for certain countries at the airport. If you are coming from the UK then the visas for India has been outsourced to VFS Global. You will need to visit their centres but you can receive your passport via post.
Imagine this; you are out to explore the beautiful landscapes of 
