Eating beef in India

Note: Being a Hindu I have never eaten beef and neither do I intend to. I do not endorse the killing of cows and I am for complete ban on cow slaughter throughout India. This post is for information only.

Some foreign tourists from the USA and Europe love their beef so much that some of them start having withdrawal symptoms if they don’t eat beef for a period of time. Now if you are one of those people who are craving for a ham burger or beefsteak while on your trip to India, you’re out of luck. Most places in India will not have beef on their menu. In fact, you are not going to find any beef in any fast food chain restaurants including western ones such as McDonald’s, Pizza Hut or Domino’s. You won’t find the Big Mac burger in an Indian McDonald’s restaurants rather you’ll have a ‘Maharaja Mac’ which will be the same size as their Big Mac counterpart but will have chicken burgers in it.

Mughali Beef curry in Agra, India. Photo by VasenkaPhotography

If you are craving for beef during your stay in India then a good place to go is Goa. About 27% of the population of Goa are Christians and many restaurants run by Christians will include beef (also pork) on their menu. In fact, many restaurants at the beach especially in the tourist areas will serve beef burgers. Although, Hindus of Goa won’t eat beef there is little taboo about eating beef in Goa.

In Delhi, the capital of India, most Hindus may not know this but many foreign owned restaurants and Muslim-dominated areas of Nizamuddin area of New Delhi or Jama Masjid (Jama Mosque) of Old Delhi will serve beef. The menu may not have explicit labeling of cow meat but many regulars will know about it. So you will need to enquire in these restaurants if they serve beef or not. Many Hindus may not have a clue that they have mistakenly eaten beef being sold as mutton (lamb) in some of these restaurants. You can identify Muslim restaurants by the signs at the entrance. They will have an Urdu sign along with Hindi and English. In addition, devout Muslims wearing skull caps, so you might find people at the till or the waiters wearing them. Although slaughtering of cows is illegal in Delhi, it is still available in Muslims areas of Delhi.

Beef market in kerala. Photo by Nicolas Mirguet

However, beef is legally available in Christian dominated areas of Kerala, Tribal Jharkhand (former South Bihar), Muslim populated areas of West Bengal and the whole of Buddhist/Christian North-East India. Calcutta (now Kolkata) has a large illegal Muslim Bangladeshi population operating beef markets that cater for the numerous restaurants and dhabas there.

The state of Uttar Pradesh stands as one state that has large number of cow slaughterhouses for meat export. Beef can be found in Muslim areas of Rampur, Ghaziabad, Moradabad, Aligarh, Agra (where the Taj Mahal is). Hyderabad is another place where you can get beef. It said that that Hyderabad is the best place to have beef biryani and kebabs. In fact, the Hindu “dalits” of Hyderabad have been eating beef in India for centuries.

Interestingly, the people in the state capital of Kashmir, Srinagar the only Muslim dominated state of India refrains from consuming beef keeping the Kashmiri tradition of religious and cultural harmony alive (known as Kashmiriyat or Kashmiri Nationalism). However there is no such taboo in the Kashmiri countryside. Recently some kind of disruption has been brewing up. Some Muslims of Kashmir have taken up eating beef just to piss the Hindus off.

You need to remember that cow meat are often replaced by cheaper bull or buffalo meat and sold as beef. You will have to confirm this with the restaurant. If people of Europe can be cheated into eating “horse meat” rather than beef, this can easily happen in India too.

Why beef cannot be found on the Indian menu

• Hindus consider the cow as the symbol of life (and cows not worshipped)
• Cow meat is not feely available in India
• Any hint of cow slaughter can trigger riots
• There is no big demand for beef
• There are no organized slaughter houses for cows
• Most Indian states have banned cow slaughter
• Slaughter of cows is a sensitive issue
• India has a civilian anti-cow slaughter and cow enforcement team

There are some (so-called) intellectuals and historians who claim that Hindus used to eat beef in ancient (referred to as Vedic) times. Funny thing is that many of these English speaking intellectuals don’t even speak a word of Sanskrit and they come to the conclusion that Hindus once used to eat beef. Fact is that mainstream Hindus never eat beef. Anyway even if they did in ancient times it doesn’t mean Hindus have to eat beef now. Times change and religions evolve and we don’t eat beef in this day and age.

You can learn more about Hinduism in my book
Hinduism Made Easy: Hindu Religion, Philosophy and Concepts

However, you still can find beef in some upscale restaurants, hotels and bars with a significant foreign customers and some non-Hindu owned restaurants. Despite non-availability of beef, India happens to be the world’s third largest beef exporter after Brazil and Australia. At the moment, there are restrictions on eating beef in many Indian states. The best option is to refrain from eating beef in India completely.

Just a few days back, a man was murdered in his own house because the villagers thought that he had beef in his fridge. The disgusting paid Indian media is currently trying to whip up this story. Most of the Indian channels are run by supporters of the opposition parties hence they will do everything to create tension and defame the current ruling party. Anyway, whatever the case maybe, people of India takes the killing of cows very seriously.

Finally, I strongly suggest you DO NOT attempt to eat beef in India. We love our cows and in addition there are 24 out of 29 states in India that have some kind of regulations prohibiting cow slaughter and sale of beef.

First impressions of Mumbai

Mumbai formerly known as Bombay is the commercial hub of India and the capital of the state of Maharashtra. Mumbai lies in the west coast of India. It is known as having one of the biggest slums of the world called Dharavi. Mumbai is also the home of Bollywood. Another interesting fact about this city is that it has highest number of billionaires among all cities in India. In addition, the world’s richest people love in this city. Here are some first impressions of Mumbai you will have when you go there. If you are considering visiting Mumbai then you might wish to read on how to travel in Mumbai.

The Gateway of India, the monument built by the British overlooking the Arabian sea.

Overlooking the Haji Ali Masjid (mosque).

Marine Drive, a 4.3 km boulevard. It is considered as one of the wealthiest spots in Mumbai.

The morning rush hour. Ladies going to work. Mumbai can be very crowded.

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CT), the history railway station of Mumbai and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Oval Maidan (field). Just like rest of India, people of Mumbai love playing cricket.

Finding the grave of Dara Shikoh at Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi

If you are in Delhi then you simply have to visit Humayun’s Tomb. It’s one of the most spectacular buildings in Delhi. I am not going to go in its history of the building (you can read about it in more detail here) but will simply ask you to go around the various tombs in its garden and try to find the tomb of Dara Shikoh.

Most tourists to India will have not have heard of him before so here goes! He was the elder brother of Aurangzeb and to-be-heir of the fifth Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (the one who built the Taj Mahal). Dara Shikoh was Shah Jahan’s favourite son and the fanatic brother Aurangzeb was jealous and wanted to become the Emperor himself. Dara Shikoh was a mild mannered person and unlike his predecessors was not a fanatic and even had translated many Hindu holy books into Persian. This is why he was considered a heretic in the eyes of his brother Aurangzeb and other nobles of the court.

TAJ MAHAL: Taj Mahal in Pictures: Travel Guide to the Taj Mahal

Had he become India’s Emperor, I am sure the history of the Indian subcontinent would have been different.  But anyway, war broke out over the Mughal Empire between the two brothers in 1657 but eventually Dara Shikoh lost. He was brought to Delhi in chains and paraded all over Delhi supposedly on a dirty elephant and humiliated. His head was then cut off and sent to Agra Fort where his father had been imprisoned overlooking the Taj Mahal he had built for his wife Mumtaj. Shah Jahan died a broken man while Aurangzeb took over the reins of the Mughal Empire. Dara’s remains were buried in an unidentified grave somewhere at Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi. See if you can identify it!

Tips to Find the Best Luxury Room for the Single Lady Traveler in Delhi

There are hundreds of attractions to draw travelers to Delhi, India’s vibrant and historic capital city. From the stunning array of historic and modern art at the National Museum to the unique and tasty street foods, this city has something to offer everyone, foreign or native. Travel safety has been a rising concern for women in India, especially large cities like Mumbai and Delhi. Fortunately, this hasn’t stopped Indian women from traveling as often as every other month, according to travel blog We Are the City. Single lady travelers are a big business for hotels and hospitality in India, and they are ready to cater to your needs and your safety.

To find the best luxury room for your stay in Delhi, just follow these simple tips! 

Don’t Skimp on Safety or Comfort

 It’s tempting to try to save money by any means necessary when you’re traveling, especially for visiting foreigners on vacation or taking a gap year. However, you get what you pay for, especially where hotels and hospitality are concerned.  All travelers should be prepared to invest in comfort, and, most importantly for a lady traveling alone, safety.

You may be fine traveling without luxury accommodations, but the best quality in hotels also means the best quality in privacy and security. High end hotels offer safety features like extra security patrolling ladies’ areas, CCTV, and door cameras that allow you to see anyone who comes to your door. A higher quality hotel is also far more likely to guarantee your privacy and the safety of your personal information. They will never give out names of patrons or room numbers at the desk, and will even screen all incoming calls to ensure that you have absolute privacy during your stay. 

Look for Escorts and Assistance

 Hotels have realized the special needs of lady travelers, and they are prepared to provide special accommodation, Financial Express reports. In addition to providing you the best privacy and security in your room, luxury hotels with services for single ladies will help you to stay safe and stress free throughout your trip.

You are probably well aware of the dangers of walking alone after dark in cities like Delhi, which can make shopping and dining challenging for a young lady hoping to enjoy her stay to the fullest. Public transport can pose some risk as well, especially if you can’t find a ladies-only metro car or bus. To avoid this problem, look for a hotel that offers booking services: the desk clerks will help you book a safe, reliable taxi cab or auto-rickshaw to ensure you get where you are going safely. You should also look for a hotel that offers 24 hour, seven day a week room service, to ensure you can get service quickly without having to venture out alone. Many hotels will even guarantee that your service is provided by a female stewardess, so you feel entirely safe and secure during your stay.

Single lady programs also offer extra security and assistance: with a little searching, you can find a luxury hotel with a female-only wing, where a female associate will escort you directly to your door. 

Historic Hotels offer the Best of the Best

Delhi is a city of both long, proud history and rapid change. Even the longest established businesses must move with the times, and fortunately, Delhi’s best hotels are doing just that. The Imperial prides itself on its history (Trip Advisor describes the building as a time capsule to the days of the British Raj) but this famous hotel is also prepared to stay current for the modern world. Chances are you’ve heard of the Imperial Hotel’s famous Heritage and Imperial Suites. Now, there is the Eliza room at Imperial Delhi, an updated version of those famous luxury rooms, designed specifically for ladies traveling alone. In addition to offering ladies amenities, the Eliza room boasts of extra security features like door cameras and CCTV coverage. The Imperial is truly the gold standard for comfort and security a lady should expect while traveling. 

Before You Go

There’s no reason to be frightened of traveling alone in Delhi. All you need are some basic safety precautions to have a fun and productive trip, and those precautions start with finding the right hotel room! You will truly get your money’s worth in one of Delhi’s luxury accommodations for single ladies, with separate wings, special security, and escort and booking services to ensure your privacy and safety every hour of the day.

Delhi is waiting for you: time to book your hotel and start planning your next trip!

Enjoy India's Famous Wildlife Sanctuaries in Luxury

Safaris are awesome, but not everyone wants to hike through the jungle for 11 days. If on an extended vacation, it’s nice to be able to change things up and relax by the pool once in a while.

Corbett National Park 

To visit the Corbett National Park in style and comfort, the Corbett Treetop Resort is best. Visitors can drive to Ramnagar or take the train. It’s about five hours by car or six and a half hours by train from New Delhi. The resort is close to the Corbett Tiger Reserve.

From near the resort, guests can take a Jeep and tour the jungle looking for tigers and elephants. There also are plenty of birds to watch and lots of sceneries to take in. While checking out the foliage, visitors will notice the sal tree, which is common in the area. The resin and fruit from the tree are used for various medicinal purposes. The leaves are used in rice cakes, for smoking, making bowls and caulking. The seed oil can be eaten and is called sal butter. It can be used for cooking or burned in oil lamps. More information about the sal tree is available through a Google search.

The adventurous can go on safaris every day. Other outdoor activities include rock climbing, river crossing, nature walks and trekking.

Visitors can come back from the jungle and relax in the pool and dine at the resort’s multi-cuisine restaurant. Of course, if guests are too tired after their adventures, they can stay in their room and order room service. The best time to visit Corbett National Park is from November to June to avoid monsoon season.

Sariska National Park

Not to be outdone by Corbett, the Sariska wildlife sanctuary boasts tigers, leopards, hyenas, jackals and wild dogs. There also are a variety of birds to watch including peafowl, golden-backed woodpecker and the crested-serpent eagle. Ruins of medieval temples also populate the sanctuary. The park is less than a three-hour drive from New Delhi. The nearest city to the park is Alwar, and the train from New Delhi to Alwar takes about four hours. The best time to visit is from October to June to avoid monsoon season.

When staying at the Sariska Tiger Heaven Resort, guests can go on Jeep safaris in the morning or night. There also are other attractions in the area such as the Hanuman Temple, Neekantheshwar Temple, Kankwari Fort and mysterious Bhangarh.

At the resort, guests can enjoy a massage, the gym, pool, sauna, and Jacuzzi.  The resort restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating and serves Indian, Chinese and continental dishes. If a room or cottage is not adventurous enough for a guest, the resort offers luxury tents to stay in. There is hot water in the bathrooms, the rooms have air conditioning, and the whole resort has backup power.

Thekkady

The Thekkady district is in Periyar National Park and about a three-hour drive from the Madurai Airport. A flight from New Delhi to Madural will take 3 to 6 hours. Cochin International Airport is a little closer to Thekkady and generally has much faster flights from New Delhi. There are attractions at the Periyar Tiger Reserve visitors will not see at other reserves in India, so it’s worth the trip south.

Trekking is a big part of most wildlife sanctuaries in India. To go bamboo rafting on the reserve, visitors will have to trek through the forest to get to Periyar Lake. There also are boat cruises available. Unlike the rafts, no paddling is required on the motorized boats.

Wildlife visitors can see include tigers, sambar, hundreds of species of birds and plenty of reptiles including the king cobra.

The Woods N Spice resort in Thekkady is near the edge of the reserve and it meant to blend in with the surroundings. The interior of the resort features hardwood walls and floors. The roofs are thatched, so visitors definitely will feel like they are in the forest. The resort features a restaurant, pool, subuthi spa, room service and organized activities on the resort grounds.

Safari advice

If visitors are planning on going out on even a short safari, there are certain things they should bring and do. Visitors should make sure to book their safari or tour in advance because there are permits involved, and getting into reserve may be difficult without them. Also, there are only so many Jeeps, boats and rafts available each day.

The guide should have a first aid kit, but why not bring a small one just in case. Sunscreen, bug spray and sunglasses should be in visitors’ bags whenever they are in India. Hiking boots are not just fashionable in the jungle. During monsoon season or when in Thekkady, wet weather gear is a must. Protect cameras and other electronic devices from water. It might not be eco-friendly, but bottled water is a good idea.

If you are looking for place to stay, Sterling Holidays is located near most famous wildlife sanctuaries in India. Before heading make sure you are well planned for your trip.

India’s 1st Sand Sculpture Exhibition Center in Mumbai

In India one rarely gets to see some amazing sand sculptures for real, it’s mostly only while browsing the internet or news papers. But we at Sand Cult envisage changing this and bringing sand sculptures live to the naked eyes of all people. Bringing this vision to reality, Sand Cult- Sand Sculpting Company proudly presents India’s 1st sand sculpture exhibition center, titled “Sand Art Square”. This one of a kind exhibition center located at R-City Mall, L.B.S Marg, Ghatkopar (W), North Wing, 1st Floor (Above Information Desk) would be open all through the year. The current theme of “Alice in wonderland” is created using 15 tons of sand and gallons of water by one of the finest Indian sand sculptors, Narayan Sahu. It has taken a lot of endurance and 20 days of hard-work for over 9 to 10 hrs every day. The theme would change after every six months and bring to life some more thematic sculptures based on fairy tales.

Embark on a fantastical journey in sand with some breathtaking sand sculptures of the Jabberwocky, the castle and Mad Hatter’s Tea Party all made with just sand and water. That’s not all, you also get to sit at the “Mad T Party” and take your photograph with Alice, White Rabbit, Cheshire cat and the Mad Hatter. (This is the first interactive sand sculpture to be ever made in India where visitors can be part of the art work).

Unlike other art forms, sand sculptures are fragile and cannot be sold. This whole exhibition is solely funded by ticket sales. The tickets are priced at INR 50/-for sixteen years and above and INR 30/- for children below the age of three and fifteen. It helps us cover the making cost, operating costs, periodic maintenance and the rentals so that you could always enjoy and see more such masterpieces in the future. While you have an Unbelievable, Unforgettable and Unmissable experience, you are also supporting this unique form of art and the artists. So come fall into the rabbit hole and join the Mad T Party.

Lynton and Lynmouth cliff railway in Devon Great Britain

If you ever visit Devon in the South of England then do visit the two villages of Lynton and Lynmouth situated on the North of Exmoor National Park. I was there recently and really enjoyed myself. What I found most interesting was the Lynton and Lynmouth cliff railway purely powered by water from the West Lyn River situated about a mile away. The Lynton and Lynmouth cliff railway actually joins the two twin villages (some say they are towns). Once you are on the top of the cliff there’s a coffee shop and had one of the best cafe lattes I had for a long time. The views from there were spectacular. We then walked about a mile to the Valley of the Rocks. It was slightly scary walking the narrow lane as one side there was mountains and the other side a cliff and one slip and you would end up in the sea.