Animal Aid Unlimited (Udaipur)

With plenty to do, Udaipur is a popular place for visitors, but one activity that is not as well known is spending a day or two volunteering at Animal Aid Unlimited. This organization acts as a “rescue center, hospital, and sanctuary for injured and ill street animals,” something that you don’t find too often in India despite the ubiquitous animals.

If you visit, you’ll find cows, donkeys, dogs, pigs, goats, and other animals receiving wonderful care from a dedicated team of volunteers, veterinarians, and paid staff from the local community. I’ve visited Animal Aid four times now, and I always head to the enclosure for dogs that have been partially paralyzed. I could sit in that enclosure for hours, hanging out with these energetic dogs that seem truly excited to be in this special place.

Animal Aid is a great spot to visit, either for a tour by one of the staff (which they are happy to do) or even to volunteer. Short-term and long-term volunteers are always welcome with open arms.

Located near Badi Village (8km from Udaipur). Expect to pay around 350 INR for a rickshaw there (return). Just make sure to arrange your ride back before coming as there are no rickshaws available at the sanctuary so you need to arrange transportation before visiting. animalaidunlimited.org. 

Kinnaur, Lahaul, and Spiti (Himachal Pradesh)

 

I call it the “loop,” and if you want a true Himalayan adventure, this route that goes through the Kinnaur, Lahaul, and Spiti Valleys (starting in Shimla and ending in Manali) is one of the most spectacular options. You’ll visit the villages of Kalpa, Nako, Tabo, Dhankar, Kaza, Ki, and Kibber along the way, as well as one of the oldest Tibetan temples.

With the breathtaking snow-covered mountains surrounding you at all times, you’ll feel as if you’ve been transported to a hidden world of such extreme beauty that nothing could possibly top the experience. Give yourself 10-14 days to complete the loop — it just might be the most memorable period of your travels.

Gali Paranthe Wali (Delhi)

A famous food lane in the heart of Old Delhi in the middle of the Chandni Chowk market. On this lane are a handful of well-known eateries, all serving up the same dish: unique Delhi-style stuffed parathas, a type of flatbread made from wheat dough and lightly fried in oil on both sides.

While the usual filling is potatoes, on this street you can get them stuffed with anything, from cheese to squash to raisins to mint to mixed vegetables to cashews and more. Some of the places have been around for over 100 years, and it doesn’t take long to see why these hole-in-the-wall eateries are almost always full of Indians enjoying this tasty meal.

Take the metro to Chandni Chowk. Once there, head east on Chandni Chowk until you hit the alley. Follow the alley and you’ll come to the paratha restaurants.

7 Things About India No Guidebook Will Tell You

 

India is a popular tourist destination with its history, architecture and geographical splendor. To prepare for a pleasant Indian vacation, people go through guidebooks to learn more about the local culture. But India is essentially a mix of numerous different cultures, and it is difficult to find many minute but essential tips to understand local people and their ways. Here are seven fun and fascinating things that only Indians know and would greatly benefit a newcomer.

Distance is Measured in Hours Not Kilometers

In metro cities like MUMBAI and BANGALORE, distances are not measured in kilometers or miles but hours and minutes. These cities experience so much traffic, especially during peak hours, that even a few kilometers can take hours to traverse. So when planning city travel, one needs to not only take into account the distance but also the peak traffic hours.  

Asking for Directions

Google Maps has just started to proliferate into India and faces its share of glitches. There are instances when it takes you to a completely different location than you intended, or the time taken does not really take into account the traffic conditions or potholes on the road. But do not fret; locals everywhere across India are extremely helpful with giving directions. People always take the time to stop and guide you to your destination, even if they are themselves in a rush. In fact, Indians rely on directions from passersby than any technology and GPS. 

Several Languages, Numerous Dialects

There are several languages spoken all over India, from Hindi to Bengali to Malayalam. Something of interest – each language also has several dialects, sometimes so different from each other that people speaking the same language but different dialects cannot understand each other. The dialects vary within districts across a region.

Local Cuisine Best Experienced at Roadside Stalls

The most authentic regional food is available at the roadside food stalls and smaller eateries, not the posh restaurants. The best local flavors and spices are infused by local food sellers with food made at home.P.S. If you are not accustomed to Indian food, the food might be easy on your pocket but not on your tummy. It would be best not to indulge yourself too much as the food might be quite spicy and not extremely hygienic.

Indian Traditions, Cultural Differences

Most Indians are known to be rooted in their cultural heritage. There are several ancient customs that are still followed by households to keep connected with family traditions and culture. There are several practices that are considered holy or unholy, right or wrong. However, certain traditions that are considered holy in certain parts of India are considered wrong in other parts.For example, in India, the younger boys and girls alike take blessings from those who are older by touching the feet of the elders. But in certain regions, girls are not allowed to touch anyone’s feet as they are considered to be a living form of the Goddess.

Ravana is considered a demon king by most of India and portrayed as the villain in a well-known epic, the Ramayana.The festival of Dussehra in North India ends with Rama slaying the demon king and Ravana bursting into flames. But in some South Indian regions, Ravana is worshipped, and there are temples constructed in his honor. In fact, Ravana is worshipped even in some North Indian cities like Mandsaur (Madhya Pradesh),Jodhpur (Rajasthan) and Noida (Uttar Pradesh), which is quite a bit of an anomaly.

Indian Hindu weddings are not all as you see in movies. Every region, sect and sub-sect have their separate set of rituals. Most communities have their weddings at night, but many have it during broad daylight. Most wedding rituals call for taking seven circles around the holy fire, but many limit it to only four.

15 Interesting Facts Related To Indian Food You Should Know

Food. Everyone loves it, everyone has it. Everyone even talks about it. Food is something we can talk about for hours and hours. You might know different dishes and their recipes. But how much do you know about the history of Indian food? Or how many Indian food-related facts are you aware of? Here are 15 interesting facts related to Indian food you might not know:

1. India is rightly called the Land of Spices. No country in the world produces as many varieties of spices as India. 

2. Greek, Roman and Arab traders have contributed a lot to the first foreign flavours in Indian cuisine. Who did you think brought the amazing saffron to India?

3. Staple ingredients of Indian cuisine like potato, tomato and chilli don't have Indian origin. They were brought to India by the Portuguese.

4. Not only this, the Portuguese also introduced us to refined sugar. Before that? Fruits and honey were used as sweeteners in Indian food.

5. Here comes a blow! Our very favourite Chicken Tikka Masala, a popular dish in India, is not Indian. It was invented in Glasgow, Scotland!

6. The first Indian restaurant in the USA was opened in the mid 1960s. Today, 

 there are around 80,000 Indian restaurants in America.

7. Very little is known about the food and eating habits of the earliest Indian civilization, Indus Valley Civilization, because the ancient language has not been deciphered yet.

8. According to Indian Food Theory, our food has 6 different flavours: sweet, salty, bitter, sour, astringent and spicy.

A proper Indian meal is a perfect balance of all 6 flavours, with one or two flavours standing out. So the next time you eat your meal, you know how to judge it.

9. Who doesn't like chutneys? Indian food is incomplete without this delicious side dish. But do you know the Britishers loved our chutneys as much as we do? In fact, they named one of the chutneys as 'Major Grey's'. It is still sold in India and is quite famous.

10. Mithais are an important part of Indian cuisine and celebrations. Payasam , one of the favourite sweet dishes of South India, is a must-serve at important ceremonies like weddings. According to South Indian tradition, a wedding is not over until Payasam is served.

11. Traditional Kashmiri cooking, Wazwan, reflects strong Central Asian influence. The unique thing about this cooking technique is that the spices are boiled, not fried. It gives the food a distinctive flavour and aroma.

12. Pepper is known as the king of spices because it goes well with everything. Mix it with salt and it becomes the classic combination we all love. Imagine how bland our food would taste without this spice.

13. Love eating dum pulao or dum biryani? Do you know how this style of cooking originated in India? Here's the story:

The Nawab of Awadh was facing a shortage of food in his region so he ordered a meal to be cooked for all the poor in huge handis, covered with a lid and sealed with dough. This would help cook a lot of food with minimum resources, but who would have thought that this would eventually lead to a new style of cooking, now known as 'dum'.

14. Indian food system classifies food into three categories - Saatvic (fresh vegetables and juice), Raajsic (oily and spicy food) and Taamsic (Meat and liquor).

Saatvic food leads you to higher states of consciousness.

Raajsic food is the foundation of activity and motion.

Taamsic food brings out negative feelings.

15. Strictly speaking, this is not a fact but this 'cuisine map' of India will definitely amaze you. It shows the huge and delicious varieties of food Indians indulge in.

3 Top Most Offbeat Places in Spiti Valley

 

Spiti Valley is an offbeat destination. There are no questions about it. The younger sibling of the popular Ladakh, Spiti has maintained its aura and mystique as an unknown land. But, in this age of over-exposure and insane levels of research before embarking on any journey, there is a certain knowledge already easily available. And this is fine – for it is great to be prepared. Places such as Mane, Lhalung, Komic are insanely gorgeous. But, when you’re looking for seclusion, zen and being part of something so strikingly challenging like the arid jewels of Himalayas- offbeat and unknown is integral! 

3Off beat places in Spiti

So, you’re not the touristy type. You need to discover places and call them your own. You need the possession of life, of nature, of something truly belonging to you! I understand, I get it, I am the same way. Especially when exploring such far-flung regions, it is essential to go off the path, make your own way. Here are some of the places no one has heard about, or explored this way. Hope this is helpful.

1. Sopona Lake

2. Kanamo Peak

3. La Darcha Grounds