Kheer Recipe Kheer is a milk pudding. This includes vermicelli, rice or broken wheat along with nuts and raisins that give it a crunchy taste and with saffron it gets its color. It’s typically a South Indian dish but very famous with its different versions all over India. It is essentially served as a dessert Ingredients: 1 cup – milk. ½ cup –rice (washed and soaked for 20 mins). 8 green cardamoms peeled and powdered. 20 strands of saffron (soaked in 2 to 3 tbsp. of hot milk). 6-7 tbsp. sugar. 14 almonds. 12 pistachios. Methodology: Let the milk simmer for some time after boiling it. Coarsely grind the rice after draining out the water Add rice to the milk stirring nonstop so that rice doesn’t stick to the vessel. Add saffron and powdered cardamoms. Till the milk thickens let it boil. Add sugar and till it dissolves keep it on the flame. Remove and garnish with Almonds and pistachios. Serve hot or cold.
Adventure tourism in India is fast gaining popularity amongst Indian as well as foreigner tourists. We arrange adventure tours with different activities like trekking, camping, climbing, biking, rafting, hiking, balloon rides, para-gliding, para-motoring and many more in various regions across India. Some of our more popular adventure tourism destinations in India are: Himachal Pradesh: Literal meaning of Himachal is “Lap Of Himalayas” and is one of the most beautiful and picturesque states in India. The state is blessed with many beautiful places like Spiti, Lahual, Manali, Chamba, Shimla, Kullu, Pin valley etc.It’s very popular as a cool destination during summer months in India. It was one of the first regions in India where adventure tourism got really popular and these days it attracts adventure loving tourists from all over the world Lahaul & Spiti Lahual & Spiti are situated on Indo-Tibetan border and the region is a mix of Indian and Tibetan terrain and culture. The average altitude of this region is more than 4000 meters and remains cut off from rest of world for most part of the year. Spiti was opened up for tourism only in 1992 and thus retains much of it’s freshness and some unexplored areas. A number of very rare plant and animal species like snow leopard, Himalayan bear, pika, chinguk etc call this region their home. Lahaul Spiti is a heaven for adventure junkies looking for trekking, camping, mountain climbing, wild life watching and even adventure rides via bikes, motorcycles or off-road vehicles. Adventure Tours in Lahaul and Spiti We have one of the best support network in this region and you can contact us for anything related to travel and short term or long stays in this region. For people looking for adventure we arrange trekking, camping , bike as well as tours by suitable vehicles. All the logistics including adventure gear, guides, means of transport, food, places of stay are arranged. Hotels and Campsites We have multiple campsites, hotels, guest-houses and homsestay facilities all over the region which provide some of the best services at lowest possible price to tourists from all over the world. Our campsite near stunningly beautiful Chandrataal lake provides tents, hot water, hot meals, sleeping bags, mats etc and is one of the top destinations of the region. We have hotels and guesthouse in Kaza, Kibber and Komik. Latter is highest inhabited village in the world at an altitude of 4587 m McLeodganj McLeodganj is a small town in Dhauladhar Range with an average altitude of nearly 2100 meters. It’s famous due the fact that Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama lives there. Accordingly the place is visited by tourists trying to learn more about Buddhism as well as Yoga. The town is home to thousands of Tibetan refugees and is the capital of Tibet’s government in exile. Apart from that, McLeodganj is surrounded by numerous cultural as well as natural attractions. Some of the more famous ones are Tsuglag Khang (Dalai Lama’s temple), Namgyal MonasteryTriund, Bhagsu waterfal, St John in the wilderness church and Dal lake. The forests covered with greenery are ideal for long leisurely walks as well as trekking expeditions. Adventure Tours in Mcleodganj One of the most common adventure activities in Mcleodganj is the trek to Triund (2900 meters) 9 km away. Trekkers can either choose to spend the night in Triund or come back in the evening.It’s an easy trek and anyone in reasonably fit condition can do it. There is an option of going up to snowline at Laka Got (3900 m), 4 km away. For more adventurous tourists, Mceodganj acts as a launching pad for various longer treks which can be 7 to 20 days long and lead to valleys to Kangra, Chamba, Kullu and Spiti. We help with logistics of these short and long trekking tours like arranging guides, good quality gear, hotels,food etc. For spiritually inclined tourists, we help them find a Yoga retreat and classes of their liking away from noise of main town. Uttarakhand Uttarakhand is also known as Land Of Gods due to a large number of Hindu pilgrim sites spread through out the state. This Himalayan state is most famous for it’s beautiful mountains and rivers. 93% of state’s total land area is covered by mountainous and 64% is covered by forests. Therefore it’s one of the best destinations in India for adventure tourism and also for people looking to be close to nature. Adventure Tours in Uttrakhand Trekking & Skiing Certain regions in Uttarakhand are suitable for trekking and skiing. Some of more popular trekking routes are Valley of Flowers, Chopta, Tungnath, Chandrashila, Hemkund, Pindari and Auli. Auli is also a popular skiing destination during winters.All these locations provide different levels of challange for trekkers. For example, Valley Of Flowers is a simple trek which can be covered in 1 or 2 days with minimal effort. While trek to Pindari (3600 meters altitude) takes 6-8 days in favourable weather conditions Rishikesh Rishikesh is situated on HImalayan foothills where river Ganga first enters Indian plains. The place is well known for it’s spiritual as well as natural wealth. It’s one of the top destinations for Hindu pilgrims as well as adventure tourists. Rishikesh is particularly suited for less intense activities suitable for beginners under expert supervision such as river rafting, cliff jumping, bungee jumping, short treks and camping. There are many Yoga ashrams spread in and around Rishikesh which are frequented a large number of people who want to learn more about Hindu spirituality and Yoga Adventure Tours in Other Parts of India Apart from Uttrakhand and Himachal Pradesh, there are many other destinations in India like Laddakh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh which attract adventure junkies from world over. We arrange para-gliding, ballon rides and related activities in Delhi region too. Please contact us by emailing info @ thingstoindelhi.com/ or filling up the contact form for details:
What is flat, round, topped usually with cheese and tomato sauce and can be custom-made to suit each and every palate, be it vegetarian or non-vegetarian? No points for guessing; it’s a pizza! In the present society, where pizza rightfully claims (and actually does) get to your house before even the police can, there is an ever-increasing war of sorts between all the so-called ‘big’ pizza delivery chains in any city. For instance, in Mumbai itself, there are more than a dozen Pizza Hut Mumbai outlets to choose from! After all, a pizza is like the entire food pyramid rolled into one! And with more and more people warming up to this Italian delicacy, the types and varieties of pizzas available today is truly mind-boggling. That first delectable whiff of your pizza baking in the oven, the scalding of your tongue as you bite into your pizza slice sooner than you should have, the way your mozzarella leaves a trail leading from your mouth to the slice even as you try to pull away and let go, the burst of flavours on your tongue which leaves your taste buds tingling – truly speaking, eating a pizza is an all-encompassing culinary experience in its own right. And the best part of all, a pizza can be prepared in an infinite number of ways, with a different topping or combination of toppings each time. Interesting Facts About Pizzas: More than 5 billion pizzas are sold worldwide each year. The first restaurant which exclusively sold pizzas came up in Naples in the year 1830. The world record for the fastest pizza making currently stands at 14 pizzas in 2 minutes and 35 seconds. There’s actually an entire month dedicated to pizzas in the United States since the year 1987 – October is the ‘National Pizza Month’. The record for the world’s largest circular pizza was set at Norwood Hypermarket in South Africa in 1990 – 122 feet and 8 inches across, weighing 26883 pounds, containing 9920 pounds of flour, 3968 pounds of cheese and 1984 pounds of sauce. Cheese and tomatoes (considered to be essential components of all pizzas) weren’t added to the early versions of pizzas right upto the late 1800s. Is Pizza Actually Healthy? Contrary to popular belief, yes – pizzas are a healthy eating option. Though very often classified under the ‘junk food’ banner, a pizza can be a very wholesome meal, provided you choose the right toppings to go with it. Lycopene, an anti-oxidant found in the skin of tomatoes, is known to fight the destruction of healthy body cells. Studies indicate that it even has the ability to obstruct the growth of cancerous tissues. Also an excellent source of Vitamin C, the tomato sauce on your pizza is extremely good for your health. Nothing tastes better than a cheese-burst pizza, with dollops of cheese loaded onto and into the crust, right? Wrong. Though it may taste good, but too much of cheese may be more harmful than you think. Okay, we’re not telling you to eat your pizza without cheese (no way), but then, the cheese on top of your pizza crust is more than enough for your body’s calcium requirements at any given time. Also, a thin crust pizza is the healthiest option, as thick crust means nothing except some extra flour and bread, which ultimately adds up to needless calories and hardly any vitamins and minerals. Heard about paper blotting? Catch hold of a paper napkin and pat the very obvious oil from the top of your slice before biting into it. It’s hard to believe but this method alone is estimated to cut upto 30 calories. And if you love to sprinkle oregano all over your Pizza Corner pizza to give it that extra zing, go ahead by all means – your oregano is a good source of Vitamin K, fibre and manganese. So, as you can pretty much make out by now, there is no reason whatsoever to compromise with your taste when it comes to your favourite pizzas, as long as you don’t go overboard in the choices you make. On a lighter note: So then, what would be the best time or occasion to order in a pizza? Well, let’s see if we can make out. Woken up on a lazy Sunday morning and it’s almost noon? Don’t get down to cook, just order in a pizza. When your friends suddenly decide to jam at your place without prior notice, you have no option but to get pizza home delivered. And yes, a different flavour for everyone. If you’re almost out of cash and can’t afford a seven-course meal, the best and most-filling option that you have is a pizza. Down in the dumps at any random time of the day, weekday or weekend? It’s pizza time. Simply put, you’ll feel good by the time you finish your meal. Guest post by Nitya Marwah
Tourism in India is a tale of amazing potential, confusing paradoxes, missed opportunities and massive under utilisation of resources. Compared to rest of the tourist hotspots around the world, India has mind boggling variety of tourist attractions of all types which can attract almost every single type of tourist out there. Ancient archaeological heritage of India which goes back to nearly 4000 years is spread all over India, from Laddakh to Kanyakumari. India is blessed with such awe inspiring ancient monuments at a scale unrivaled by any other country in the world. Forts of Rajput rulers in Rajasthan, artful temples of Bundels, luxurious monuments constructed by Mughals, amazingly beautiful Konkan temples are just a small fraction of this wealth spread across it’s length and breadth. Adventure tourists have some of the best and virtually untouched destinations in Laddakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttranchal, Sikkim, Mizoram and other north-eastern states . Wild life enthusiasts have the option of seeing some of the rarest wildlife not found anywhere else in world in Gir, Jim Corbett and many other national parks. Adventure tourism, specially in north-eastern states has a lot of potential but hasn’t been explored even partially. The north-eastern states states have some of the best places for adventure activities like trekking, mountain climbing, camping and much more. Culinary tourism in India which has the biggest potential is just a small speck. Considering the vast culinary diversity of India, the country should be the top destination for all foodie tourists. So many religions like Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism originated in India and their followers from all over the world wish to visit places important to their faiths. Medical tourism in India due to high quality healthcare at very low prices attracts people from all over the world. Culture and food junkies can’t find any place better than India with it’s diversity in languages, people, food, music, literature and culture which go back thousands of years. To top that, India is one of the cheapest tourist destinations compared to most of western countries. There is no other country in the world which offers so much diversity in such a package. Anyone would think that with so many blessings, India would be the tourist hub of the world. To top it all, India is one of the cheapest destinations in the world for tourists. In 2011, 62 lakh foreigner tourists arrived in India. Tourism sector in India employs nearly 4 crore people and is $ 121 billion dollar industry. Seems impressive, only till compared to 2.5 crore tourists per year Malaysia which has little to offer except beaches and and cheap shopping. Top tourist destination in world is France with 8.2 crore tourists in 2011 and 8.3 crore in 2012. India is not even in top 10 tourist destinations in world or even Asia. It’s actually ranked 38, preceded by countries like Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Egypt and even Tunisia. Just for sake of perspective, go through the following list: ( 1 million = 10 lakh, 100 lakh = 1 crore) Country No. of tourists Turkey 3.5 crore Morocco 92 lakh Tunisia 69 lakh South Africa 80 lakh China 5.8 crore Saudi Arab 1.7 crore Egypt 94 lakh Thailand 1.9 crore Looking at these figures, one can’t help but wonder what is wrong with Indian tourism sector. It’s not that people around the world are unaware of what India has to offer. Established travel forums like TripAdvisor and Lonely Planet are full of foreigners discussing and asking for information related to travel in India. Sections related to India are the ones with maximum number of posters. On Tripadvisor, India section has more than 10000 threads, exceeded only by 15000 threads of Thaliand. A lot people from all over the world wish to visit India but are turned away by numerous factors. Some of such issues are: 1) Complicated visa procedures: Infamous Indian red tape and bureaucracy is a nuisance outside the country too. Unlike other tourist hotspots, India makes it much more difficult and expensive for tourists to get a visa. India offers on arrival visa to only a handful of countries including Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand and 4-5 others. In comparison, Malaysia offers on arrival visa to majority of countries except Israel, India, China and some African countries. 2) Bad infrastructure : Even though rapid development is happening, India is still a long way from having a world class tourist infrastructure. 3) Safety : Image of India has taken a severe beating recently due to various factors. Pakistan sponsored terrorism in various parts of India is also a big turn 0ff. 4) Lack Of Promotion Unlike other countries where governments and private organisations, spend large amounts of money and effort to promote tourism in their own countries, Indian efforts in this case have been very limited. Incredible India campaign which was launched with much fanfare a few years back ran out of steam pretty quickly. Above mentioned points are not unique to just India. A lot of countries face similar problems, have very little tourist attractions but still manage to attract many more tourists than India. We need to learn from them and make necessary changes as soon as possible. Some recent high profile projects like Golden Quadrilateral Highway project, Delhi Agra expressway, high speed trains with bio toilets etc are steps in right direction. But a lot more needs to be done. A lot of our customers are solo travelers, men and women of all ages. Some of them spend months or even years traveling inside India without facing any problem. But the recent bad press and selective reporting has messed up image of India badly. In an industry where perception counts for a lot, an effort has to be made to promote the attractions and good points of India rather than just the bad news. Development
Indian food is known to be one of the most rich and delicious cuisines in the whole world. When you are traveling, you are bound to encounter some Indian food at the restaurants. Most people do not know how to make Indian food and therefore do not know much about it. Health benefits: Indian food is one of the healthiest in the world. It is made with very little oil and never animal fat. This means that it is not likely to result in high cholesterol blood content. This means that it is quite excellent for people who want to stay healthy and not experience cardiac diseases. This food is also made using a lot of spices and herbs. Most of these are known to have not only excellent taste, but they also have medicinal benefits. Some of the spices, such as turmeric, help in boosting the immune system. This means that by eating Indian food regularly, you are able to keep diseases at bay and live a healthy life. Main courses: Unlike other international cuisines which involve a lot of courses, Indian cuisine centers around one main course. This is either rice or bread. The variations in the dishes are brought about by the side servings which are numerous. Indian rice is made through different recipes so you do not feel like you are eating the same main dish every day. For example, you can have pulao rice, masala rice or turmeric rice. There are also a variety of Indian breads such as roti, naan or chapatti. These breads are sometimes made from whole grains and without any adding any fat making them healthy but still tasty. Meats: Indian food includes a wide range of meats apart from beef. However, most of the dishes are vegetarian with protein being obtained from other sources. Some of the popular protein sources for Indian foods include lentils, dried beans, chickpeas and black-eyed peas. This is one of the reasons why Indian food is considered to be quite healthy due to the extensive variety of vegetarian dishes. Spices: Indian foods are made using a lot of spices. Indian curries are quite hot and you may not be able to eat them if you are not used to having pepper in your food. Never the less, you can always make a special request to the chef to make your food without the pepper. This will take away a bit of the hotness but the other spices used will still maintain the flavor. Therefore, it is always advisable that you enquire from the server how spicy a dish is before ordering for it. Variety in recipes: Indian food is never prepared in the same way. Due to the wide variety of spices, you will find that each hotel and chef have their own secret recipes. Therefore, the same dish will taste quite different from one restaurant to another. This is one of the most intriguing things about Indian food and continues to make it a favorite. Next time you are going through ESTA ensure that you include Indian restaurants in your itinerary. Guest post by: Annie Bonneville
This article is meant to be a brief India travel guide for tourists who need some information about means of transport in India . Anyone traveling to India for the first time is sure to be overwhelmed by the diversity of cultures, languages, people, food, climates and almost everything else. It isn’t possible to write a comprehensive India travel guide which can cover even a fraction of what a tourist may encounter in India. We aim to cover as much vital details as possible without drowning the reader with too much information. We have already posted some India travel guides on this website,: Traveling safely and for cheap in India during monsoons, How to keep safe from water and food related problems while traveling and How to avoid scams and touts while traveling This guide intends to cover some of the general issues related to transport and travel in India. So let’s begin with : Travel by trains in India India has the biggest system of railway lines on the planet and the service is very good, if not excellent. Traveling in India on via train gives you the chance to explore India in detail and in general is cheaper than domestic air travel. Train travel in India offers good connectivity all over India for people with all kind of budgets .For someone with an inquisitive and open mind, it’s a great way of meeting all kinds of Indian people belonging to different regions and classes. There are different types of trains with different levels of service catering to people with different budgets and needs. Trains like Rajdhani, Shatabdi are air-conditioned, fastest in India and provide meals. There are other trains like Duronto, Garib Rath, various Express and other trains which offer varying levels of service at different prices. Apart from that, there are some luxury trains Palace on Wheels, Maharajas’ Express, The Golden Chariot and a few more. These trains are run jointly by Indian railways and tourism ministries of different states in which they operate. Journeying on these trains covers all aspects of transport, food, lodging and sightseeing. Service and level of comfort offered is among the best in world One major drawback of trains is that it can prove difficult to procure tickets. Another one are the delays which can happen frequently on long routes. If you are very tight schedule, relying on trains for your India journey can backfire. Inter-city or inter-state travel in India by Bus In India, travel by bus is 2nd most popular way of cheap travel and in some cases, the only way of public transport to reach places like Manali, Laddakh etc, not yet connected by train network. There are different types of buses available on budget of the traveler. Ordinary buses are usually very crowded and it’s not possible to reserve tickets. They don’t have any air-conditioning or comfortable seats either, But they are very cheap as even a 5 hour journey may cost only Rs 100. Then there are luxury buses with better seats which may or may not have air-conditioning available. They are generally more comfortable and price for a 7-10 hour journey may vary between Rs 300 to Rs 800 for different places and operators. Tickets in air-conditioned buses cost around 1.5 times to double for same kind of seats. Apart from these, there are luxury buses operated by private as well as government which offer maximum comfort at slightly higher prices. These buses are usually supplied by Volvo or Mercedes and have more comfortable seating arrangements than the rest. Travel by Car A car with driver is the most comfortable and safest way of travel in India.It is possible to get a car on rent and drive it yourselves, if you have necessary paperwork, but Indian roads are too chaotic for a foreigner. It’s better to hire a driver along with the car. Salary for driver is about Rs. 150-300 per day which is included in rent for the car and you don’t have to pay for his food or lodging. Different varieties of vehicles have different rent prices and they vary between Rs 8 per km to Rs 20 per km for most models which include Ambassador, Tata Indigo, Toyota Qualis and a few others. Renting a car is a good option for various reasons as you have much more flexibility and don’t have to worry about following a strict schedule or missing a train or worry about tickets. Having a good driver who can communicate well also means that he can help you with finding good hotels, restaurants and other amenities easily. But be wary of drivers who act as touts. A majority of them try to take tourists to businesses which offer them commissions. It isn’t exactly illegal, but tourists should evaluate their choices before making decisions. They should make sure that they are getting good value for their money for the services availed. Travel by motor-bikes Using a motorbike (motorcycle) can be a great adventure if you are up to driving on dangerous roads. Royal Enfield is the most popular brand for motorcycle enthusiasts in India. It’s less fuel efficient but is powerful enough for most Indian roads including those on mountains. Motorcycles with engines of 100 to 220 cc are more common and cheaper and cam offer a mileage of 40kmpl to 70 kmpl depending upon various factors. It is possible to rent or buy new or used motorcycles. Rental cost per day for bikes vary between Rs 600 to Rs 1500 in different places for different bikes. While buying, it’s advisable to go for 2nd hand bikes which may cost anything between Rs 12000 to Rs 40000. Travel in Indian cities by auto-rickshaws (tuk-tuk) Auto/ tuk-tuk/three-wheeler is a good albeit slightly uncomfortable choice for short-distance travel inside Indian cities. Due to their small size, they can dodge traffic rush easily but have slow speeds which is actually good due to less safety features. Before getting in to an
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