Someone asked what gifts they can give to their Indian friends in India. This is something I had not thought about. Although you can buy everything in India but if you are struggling to figure out what to buy for your friend when you visit India then here are a few travel gifts I can think of.
Pens: Pens are valued in India. We Indians love pens which mean that if we have a quality pen, we will cherish it. So you can gift a pen to your Indian friend but do make sure that they are foreign.
Located in the south of Delhi, this magnificent red sandstone building called Qutub Minar (Qutb Minar) is still the tallest tower in India, more than 800 years after its foundations were laid by Qutab-ud-din Aibak, the first Muslim ruler to successfully establish an Islamic dynasty in India. It’s widely believed Qutab-ud-din issued orders to build this historic monument after defeating the Rajputs. Though the original tower was built as early as 1202 AD, it would be Qutab-ud-din’s successors who would add more storeys to it, make it taller and still more impressive. This splendid piece of architecture is the most popular tourist spot in India, attracting millions of tourists each year.
When you are out and about in the markets of India, don’t be put off by those who come and approach you and offer you to polish your shoes. Its part and parcel of the Indian experience! You might feel a little intimidated about the situation but these shoe polishers (or shoe shiners or boot polishers – whatever you like to call them) are actually trying to make a living. They are not begging or trying to con you, they are simply offering a service which you will not get anywhere in the western world.
At first glance, Portugal and India might seem like two very different countries, and if you have planned a holiday with Saga Travel to Portugal, you might be baffled as to what, exactly, Goa has to do with it. However, peel back surface layers to expose their history, and the two countries are closer than you might ever have supposed. Goa, Daman and Diu were formerly colonised by the Portuguese, and as such, were known as Portuguese India for almost 450 years. Although Portugal lost control of the territory in 1961, the Portuguese influence remains, in the architecture, the Goan Catholocism and the cuisine. Likewise, as a former trading partner of the Portuguese-Indian trading route, the Indian influence in Portugal can be detected, even today, in some surprising guises…
The mouth-watering piri piri spices we now associate with Portuguese cuisine were actually picked up from India by the first Portuguese explorers, along with black pepper, cinnamon, vanilla and saffron. The Portuguese also lefttheirgastronomic footprints in the idyllic Goan sand; perhaps one of the most iconic Indian dishes, vindaloo, was a result of the Portuguese pairing of garlic and vinegar. Similar legacies have been bequeathed on many countries explored by the Portuguese, including Japan, Hawaii and even Australia.
The ornamental style of Portuguese colonial buildings revolutionised the modest Goan architectural style, adding bright colours, balustrades and cosmetic flourishes to West Indian domiciles. Centuries of Portuguese colonial occupation also firmly entrenched Roman Catholicism in some areas of the country, and today, the majestic Se Cathedral still stands 350 years after its consecration, in Vasco da Gama. The cathedral has five bells, a golden interior and a number of grandiose statues that testify to its excellent preservation.
From the name of its largest city, Vasco da Gama, to the Indo-Portuguese mansions that crumble unfettered in its older neighbourhoods, traces of the Portuguese can be found everywhere in Goa. From poetry, painting, music and dance, Portugal and Goa are intrinsically linked across 450 years of occupation, and lines have begun to blur. It has been commented that even the Goan sense of humour, language and outlook display Portuguese nuance, differing from other areas of India significantly.
Perhaps the most exciting legacy left linking between Portugal and Goa is that of their people, and the Goan cultural diaspora living in Portugal. This originated in the citizenship rights granted to Goans under colonial rule, as a Vice Kingdom of Portugal. Migration to Portugal was first stimulated by a search for education. Today, pockets of Goan culture, music, handicrafts and dance can be detected in cities like Lisbon.
Now stronger than ever, the Goan and Portuguese cultural connection remains irretrievably entangled. The beauty of this for travellers is that a visit to either country will reveal some traces of the other, whether in attitude, cuisine or residents.
Julia Alvarez is a travel writer that grew up in Spain. She has spent most of her life living in the Med and most of her career writing about it.
Images by Pelle Sten, Adam Jones, Frederick Noronha and Satish Krishnamurthy used under creative commons license.
Here are some useful Hindi help related words and phrases that you might wish to memorise in case you need them in India. Remember these are Hindi words, so if you are travelling in the South of India particularly in the state of Kerala and Tamil Nadu; there is limited scope that they will understand them. But if you are travelling in North, Central and the Deccan areas of India (limited), you will be understood (covering large sections of India).
Most visitors to India will probably land in Delhi – the capital of India. It is here that they will spend considerable amount of time site-seeing. Many would take day trips to Agra to see the Taj Mahal and spend a few days exploring Rajasthan particularly Jaipur and then coming back to Delhi before flying back to their own country. I personally think this is an excellent idea. So why not make the most of the stay in Delhi.
North India has some of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. This article will go though the best tourist places North India has to offer. Those who love India food will really enjoy this part of India. There are plenty of things to try. Read more articles on Indian food here. North India is also that part of India where you have the opportunity to make a trip to the Golden Triangle that includes Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. The 7 prominent states of India together make North India include Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttaranchal, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
