Visit (Northern) India: Tours, Guides, Drivers

India has a vibrant and colorful culture, climate, history and food. Their cultural and regional diversity has led to the creation of mouthwatering delicacies. Therefore it is easy to say- like region like food. Every Indian cuisine has its own past and flavor.
The heritage of Indian cuisine varies from North to South, each region or state has its own taste, spices and culinary style. India is a blessing for every food lover and traveler. Let us check out the top 5 regional Indian foods:

Fiery red curry from North: Rogan Josh

With the fresh aroma of herbs and nutrition of lamb, Rogan Josh has a Persian origin, however, at present, it is heavily linked with Kashmir. Rogan means clarified oil or butter and Josh means heat or passion. It is a flavourful lamb curry, with red sauce/ stew and tender pieces of meat. The stew gets its color from the famous chilies of Kashmir.
The curry is made by making gravy of ginger, onions, yogurt, garlic and other aromatic spices and herbs. After which the tender lamb pieces are added and cooked. You will be served with basmati rice or flatbreads like naan with Rogan Josh. Back in the 1950s this Indian Cuisine was taken to the UK, making it popular there as well.

Route to every Indian’s heart: Biryani

Biryani is one of the most famous rice-based dishes in India; it is found and consumed from northern to southern Indian states. However, biryani was discovered in the South Indian region from where it spread to the north and went international. The preparation and cooking style may vary based on the regional influence on the cuisine. It is initially cooked by adding vegetables, spices and meat with rice. People also top it with dried fruits some times. You can also get vegetarian versions of this delicacy. Types of Biryani include- Dum Biryani of Hyderabad, Dindigul biryani of Tamil Nadu, and a Bhatkali biryani variation on the coastal regions of Karnataka.

Delicious meals from Centre: Daal Bafla

Coming to the center of the Indian sub-continent, Daal Bafla is a regional specialty. It was originally from Rajasthan, from where it spread to Madhya Pradesh and became famous. The dish includes dough balls called Bafla, these are cooked till their outer part becomes hard and crispy. After which these balls are dipped in or poured with generous amounts of clarified butter or ghee. These balls are served with seasoned daal, green coriander chutney, and sweet gram flour balls or Laddu. This meal might just look like a plate full of different flavours, however, this cuisine does have a lot of fats, proteins, carbohydrates and vitamins. You should try these for lunch, and order sweet and spicy pickles with it.

Internationally Indian Cuisine: Vindaloo

A dish famous in the Konkan regions and Goa- Vindaloo is another curry dish made from pork. These regions were once home to Portuguese sailors, traders and merchants and the Anglo-Indian community has kept this amazingly delicious dish alive. In Portuguese the name Vindaloo means marinated meat with garlic and vinegar. The dish was further taken to England as well, where it adopted a local taste and lost its organic touch becoming a hot and spicy curry. You must try Vindaloo when visiting the Konkan region if you like chilies and spices.

Solving sweet-tooth Cravings: Mishti Doi

An Indian meal is never complete without a dessert or sweet dish; and what better place to look than West Bengal! The state is famous for its traditional sweet servings and the table topper of these desserts is Mishti Doi. It is found and consumed all over the country, however, the best taste can only be obtained when you get Mishti Doi from Bengali makers. These are commonly served on festive occasions or even after regular meals. Your taste buds will get a sweet kick after having the first spoonful of this delicacy. It is sweetened curd; the sweetness is added with slightly caramelised sugar. Traditionally these are served in earthen pots; it enhances the earthy flavour of the dessert.

Filled with palaces to temples and castles to ruins, Indian art and architecture have never ceased to amaze the global audience. There are so many archaeological and historical architectural masterpieces that have attracted visitors and tourists from all over the world. These sites have also played a key role in making the extraction of Indian art facts and piecing the puzzling history together. To find out and enlist the best or top few places to see would be hard. However, we have compiled a list of worth visiting sites in India to understand its architectural diversity and here it is:

Sun Temple from East: Konark Temple

Embellishing the eastern coasts of the Indian sub-continent, the Konark Temple is a shrine of Lord Surya. The temple is sometimes also called the Black Pagoda, showcasing the stages of sun. This temple was built in the 13th century under the kingship of King Narasimhadeva I from the Ganga Dynasty. The site derived its name from Sanskrit terms- 'Kona' or corner/angle and 'Ark' meaning the sun. A World Heritage Site, Konark Temple is famous for its chariot like shape and intricately carved stone walls. There are several other structures in the complex, you should visit them all.

Wonders of Indian art and architecture: Khajuraho Temples

Khajuraho Temples were mainly constructed under the reign of the Chandela Dynasty and have detailed Nagara style carvings on them. It is said that initially 85 temple structures, most of which fell to ruins, and only 25 of them have survived to date. They are being conserved and restored under the governmental organisation's watch. Why are these famous? Well, these temples are considered to be the largest collection of Jain and Hindu temples that have refined and detailed stone sculptures and carvings on them. The Kandariya Mahavea sculpture is one of the most popular temples in Khajuraho and has 84 shikhara with a height of 116 feet. This structure alone has helped in getting the site listed to the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Pacifying and Holy Golden temple: Harmandir Sahib

Sign of courage, patriotism, tradition and bravery, the Golden Temple, or the Harmandir Sahib Ji is another marvel of the Indian Sikh community. Their faith and love for God are shown through the gold-coloured walls of the main structure. Built in 1588, the foundation of this temple was laid by Mir Mian Mohammed, a Muslim Sufi saint after Guru Arjan Dev encouraged him. The name Golden Temple denotes the ‘abode of God’; it is also called Darbar Sahib. This site is like a pilgrimage center, other than Patna and Kartarpur Gurudwaras, for all Sikh worshippers.

Collection of Knowledge and History: Nalanda

One of the earliest Indian Universities, Nalanda, is known to be the best place for acquiring knowledge and has given ancient India lots of scholars and intellectuals. Back in the 5th to 12th century, there was no better place to learn than Nalanda. Being a Hindu- Buddhist monastery in the ancient Janpada of Magadha, it was also a place that received lots of funding from several dynasties and kings. This university flourished a lot after receiving aids and grew exceptionally under the rule of the Gupta Dynasty. Students and aspirants from all over Europe and Asia came here to get an advanced education.

City of the rulers: Hampi

A wonder of Indian art and architecture, Hampi was a very prosperous and thriving city back in 1324-1565 CE. This city was once the capital of the famous Vijaynagar Empire and to date is famous for its beautifully carved monuments and Hindu temples. Declared as UNESCO's World Heritage Site, the carvings on the wall tell the stories of Hindu epic- Ramayana and also stories from Kishkindha city. The chronicles notes by Portuguese, European and Persian travellers tell us about how flourishing, grand and wealthy the city of Hampi was. The ruins of this city are found spread over 4,100 hectares, there is also a shrine called Pampa Devi in this complex.

If you are bored of visiting conventional tourist destinations and are willing to try something truly unique. Then no better place to go than India! There are so many offbeat places to visit in India. You will be allowed to take a step away from the busy lifestyle of cities, and experience nature and heritage in their best forms. It has become a trend among travelers, backpackers and tourists to take trips to lesser-known places.

The sites listed below are rarely included in popular tourist places in India, but for a thrilling and exciting getaway, these places would be the best! Without further ado let’s check out the best 5 places to visit in India:

Feel the gush of fresh cold air at Gurez Valley

Gurez is a valley located in the high Himalayas, about 86 kilometers from Bandipore and 123 kilometers from Srinagar in northern Kashmir and southern Gilgit-Baltistan. Snow-capped mountains, flowing rivers and lush greens make the perfect backdrop to imagine the beauty of Gurez or Gurais Valley. You will find local shepherds grazing their animals along the river. The valley provides a clear view of the Wular Lake, Peer Baba Shrine and Razdan Pass. The valley is placed close to LOC or Line of Control, making it one of the most protected areas of India. Don’t worry, the area is kept under strict surveillance and is patrolled frequently, it is safe. It is best to visit from May to September; the weather is exceptionally pleasant.

Thachi Valley; one of the offbeat trekking places in India

Another of nature’s wonders is nestled in the Mandi District of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. You will find the least possible tourists here and no souvenir stores to block your sight. Exploring Thachi Valley would be a memorable experience for you and your family or friends. You won’t hear cars honking; rather this valley will welcome you with the purest sounds of nature. The valley is also home to several temples, and Bithu Narayan Temple is among the most famous ones. It is said to be the shrine of the supreme deity for the valley. The marvellous and detailed wooden carvings on this small temple make it special and worth visiting. Another thing that makes this temple special and travel able is the stone statue of Lord Vishnu with 11 heads. The natural richness from the Deodar trees of this place makes it even more unique.

Taking a peek into history with Halebidu Temples

Known as one of the most ancient temple cities in Southern India: Halebidu is famous for its tranquility and detailed stone structures. You won't find many tourists here, rather you will be greeted by the historical appeal of this temple. Built with Hosayla architecture pattern, this place is also called as- ‘Dwarasamudra’ or ‘the gateway to the seas’. Back in the 12th century, this town was the capital of the Hoysala Dynasty. The town fell to ruins at the beginning of the 14th century after Malik Kafur with his armies raided the city. Spending some time here will make you feel connected with the past, stories and tales.

Going off radar at Phugtal Gompa

Phugtal Gompa is a Buddhist monastery located in the remote Lungnak Valley in south-eastern Zanskar, in the autonomous Himalayan region of Ladakh, in Northern India. You can consider the Phugtal Gompa is one of the most remotely located monasteries in the Asian continent. It can be found cozily placed in a mountain cave at Zanskar. While climbing these rocky mountains, you will get a panoramic view of the scenery around including Nun-Kun Kasif, Drang Dung Glacier, and Tsarap River. The best time to visit Phugtal Gompa would be from June to September. But for visiting this Gompa, you will need to complete a trek of 1-2 days as there are no roads to reach this Gompa.

Observing nature closely at Tadoba

Another of lesser-known places to visit in India, Tadoba Wildlife Sanctuary is blessed with flora and fauna. This town is known for Tadoba Lake, Tadoba National Park, Erai Dam, Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve and Khosla & Mohrali villages. The locals often refer to this town as the 'Jewel of Vidarbha'. It is a great option to escape from city life and spend quality family time. You can go on safari rides, click pictures of animals or relax inside your resort.