India Travel Blog

India Travel Specific - Chai

The Ubiquitous Chai

Chai is hot tea beverage made with the addition of milk and sugar. Unlike black tea, chai is very popular in India.  The beverage is consumed more in North, West and East India and less in Southern India. coffee is more popular in South.  

Chai is consumed throughout the day by many in the country. The chai walla a roadside tea vendor is always busy right from the early morning till late evening. The tea stall by the road is usually a small dingy shop tucked away in the corner of number of larger shops in busy markets. It is also sold in hand carts or simply roadside kettles. Any which way the beverage is sold in India.

The chaiwalla is a prerequisite an accessory that is must for the buzz of the bazaar to keep going.  It is not only in the busy bazaar that you find the vendors, they are present in isolated places beside offices and colonies.  They are invariably present in all railway trains in India.  They manage to creep into sophisticated malls, shopping plazas, theatre in guise of vending machines and small cafes that are tucked away in shopping paradises.

The chaiwalla is omnipresent, as soon you land in India you will come across the sellers of cup that cheers. The presentation is diverse from filthy unkempt abusive vendor to gentlemanly service, and all carry a characteristic flavor of their own. The shops vary too from dirty street shop to clean an hygienic corner...well reasonably. The roadside dhabas sell them too.

A railway journey is unthinkable and incomplete without the vendors cry.

"Chai!Chai!Bolo Chai! Bolo Chai!Garama Garam Chai Le Lo!"

The cup that cheers is available everywhere. It is the safest drink if consumed hot. It is the most economical and customary treat for business men, friends and relatives. From Rs. 2.00 to Rs.5.00 you will get a flavorful, hot, cheery and aromatic beverage that delights.  For the stiff nosed, tea is available alongside coffee in some fast food joints, modern cafes, tea lounge and upscale restaurants. The latter  serves the liquor in stylish kettles and mugs and thugs you out of your hard earned moolah. For there is no guarantee which tea is swanky, it may be a small kiosk selling the most wonderful aromatic and flavorful tea for Rs.2.00 in mud baked cups. Hooray!

The tea making is an art perfected by the chaiwallas. They  take the boiling liquor in hollow pan to heights and then dump  it I mean place it over the kerosene burner repeatedly, with ritualistic addition of secret spices and flavors. The customers sit mesmerized fixated on every up and down swing of hand of the vendor. The rush is inevitable whence the beverage is made.

"One here! Two here! One here please."

You get yours fast if you are in good books of the vendor's boy. It is like manna raining from heaven.  Corruption, favoritism is everywhere here also. Why Not! For people like me there is a grave urgency for the liquor to slither down my throat and make me come alive early in the morning. On roadside kettles you have to corrupt for a stool as well, roughly, tin cans, large canisters or used tyres.  Bolo Cheers!

Central Indian Tiger Safari

Tiger Safari in MP

Homestay a new concept

The concept is not that new but growing popularity of such accommodations is recent. In India home stay accommodations are very popular in Rajasthan, New Delhi, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh and Goa. the concept finds greater appeal in niche destination which are hall marked for sightseeing and cultural experience.  

The home stay accommodations in Rajasthan and Kerala is more of a surviving tradition then rise of a concept. India is well known for the warmth and hospitality of its people. These places have some of the best accommodations which are well equipped and offer host services by the owners. Another advantage is that these lodgings can be established in remote places which are  less viable for hotel industry.

The experience of the stay is unique with doorway opening up to understand new culture and society. The biggest benefit part from personal care is the direct involvement with myriads of cultures and traditions.   

Tiger Tours in India

Indian Wildlife is enchanting and unique much different from Africa. The whole country has protected areas which are the habitat for all wild animals and birds. Many other life forms survive in these nature reserves.

The diverse habitats in India have nurtured mind boggling number of life forms. There are many wildlife sanctuaries and National Parks that protected endangered and rare endemic species. Besides major conservation centers wildlife survives in the reserve forest of India.

The mega fauna which attracts the largest number of tourists on wildlife safaris are:

Tiger
Leopard
Snow Leopard
Clouded Leopard
Elephant
One Horned Rhino
Asiatic Lion
Wild Ass
Sloth Bear
Bison
Wild Water Buffalo
Himalayan Bear
Swamp Deer
Hangul
Wild Dog

There many other predators and prey species that makes a safari enchanting and interesting. The best places to see the big cat are habitat of many of the animals listed above. Tiger visibility is the highest in Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Pench Reserve. It is also high in Ranthambhore and Corbett National Park. There are tigers in many other reserves but the visibility is not very good. The animal is shy and easily hides itself in forest floors behind shrubs and bushes. 

Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Pench are situated in the state of Madhya Pradesh erstwhile Central India. They are known as the tiger heavens most popular for big cat signting  in the World. The density of big cats is very high in the preserves hence the sighting are frequent. The tiger shows though much criticized conducted in the parks increase the sightings.     

This predator can be sighted at many places were the target species is different. In Kaziranga and Dudhwa you can see the Rhino and the tiger besdies water buffalo and swamp deer. Wild Elephant  can be seen in Corbett along with tigers, hog deer, goral, Himalayan Black bear, gharial and marsh crocodiles can be seen. 

For Asiatic lions Gir National Park is the only place in the World to see them. One can see leopards and plenty of deer species at Gir in Gujarat.  Wild Ass can be seen in Rann of Kutch along with flamingos, caracal, wolf, hyena and many other animals.  Little Rann of Kutch is excellent birding spot. 

Hence in many protected areas big cats are present though sighting them on a short tour can be difficult. On the wildlife tours you can visit of one the Indian tiger parks and then visit other reserves. Thus  you can see  different animals and have a holistic wildlife tour in India.  Most of the protected areas are excellent bird habitats and deliver a combined experience of animal and bird watching.

Deepawali - Hindu Festival

The country is a hub of religious and spiritual activities. India subsists on religion and the ensuing rites and rituals. The colors of festivities are most evident during the major festivals which usually signify an event or Godly phenomena.  

Diwali the festival of lights!

The festival celebrates the return of Lord Rama, Laxman and Sita and consequently victory over Ravana the evil King of Lanka. This tantamount to victory of good over evil. Diwali or Deepawali is also called the  festival of lights as firecrackers and colored lightening dazzle through the whole night. The buildings, temples and many offices are lit by colorful lights or traditional lamps the diyas. 

Normally four days of festivity takes places. Dhanteras: This is the negining of new financial year for most businesses. The second day is Naraka Chaturdashi, Lord Krishna overpowered the demon Narakasura and his on this day.  The third day is Amavashya on this day Lakshmi the Godess of wealth is prayed to for a successful financial year. The fourth day is the most significant day with ritualistic evening prayers taking place. The spiritual meaning of the festival is victory of good over evil. Large effigy of  Ravana who symbolizes evil are set to fire and complete destruction. The nights are spent bursting crackers and distributing sweets. Many people celebrate Bhai Dhuj on the Fifth Day whence sisters invite their brothers for celebration and feasting.

The dazzling colors and holiday mood makes this festival the most popular in India.  Diwali is usually held in the months of October or November a per Hindu calendar every year. It is a National Holiday and people of all religions exchange pleasantries and good wishes on this occasion.  

For traveler there are many resorts and hotels that perform the ceremonies with religious fervor. But the best celebrations take place in homes of Hindu families in the country. You can enjoy the revelry and feasting with your Indian friends.   

The mythylogy associated with Hinduism and the mystic rites and rituals have deep spiritual and philosophical meaning hidden in them. 

Road Travel in India

Chalta Hai! (It's Okay) is a popular phrase that defines the lax attitudes of Indians in many spheres of civic life. Things come back on track - fast & forgotten - in this country which exhibits remarkable level of tolerance. This is what preserves the Nation's free spirit but hurts at other places.    

India is a vast country interlinked by a vast road network. It is like a lifeline and keeps the country going. Apart from rail the cheapest transport is the bus service. Most of the buses in India are falling apart in places, especially the state transport and some privately owned.  The vehicles are maintained in road worthy or are just functional - conditions are on the border line. These vehicles offer the best connectivity to a traveler though many times over crowded. 

The comfort level is very low, but at times these are the only means of transportation available to you. The luxury buses ply between major cities and rarely cover small townships. These are costlier but not as much as taxi.    

Privately run taxis are the best bet for long distance travel. The country has large number of SUVs and other vehicles that provide excellent comfort  on tour. These are expensive especially the AC cars but than you have to pay the price. 

The road network in some states is good, but as you reach places of lesser importance - away from the highway -  you will find more pot holes than  functioning strips. At many places in the country the roads are horrible. The inherent corruption is responsible. Most of the time right proportion of material is not used. Tar patches best define the roads in India and they are ubiquitous from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.

India diverse and beckoning

The country lives in various strata of history, it is diverse and colorful, that amazes and at times stuns. The Indian society is multicultural, multiethnic and tolerates multiplicity in beliefs.   On no land, such mind boggling variations occur amidst the humanity.

Being an old land the ancient history has left an indelible impression on the modern society. Vedic rituals still exists in practice and the song of the Lord Bhagwat Gita is growing in popularity.  People live in a modern society with past hinged to entity.

India is a spectacular array of festive colors, pot potpourri of culture and a cauldron of ethnic communities. The land varies from high reaches of Himalayas to plains of the lower reaches. The desert, forest, river deltas, grasslands, mangrove and vast stretch of beaches define India.

Hinduism has the largest followers in the country and is an open-ended religion without any didactics. It is an environment that nurtures the country with it liberal connotations and free spirit. It is a colorful religion with lots of rites and rituals. The festivals are path to expression of free spirit in belief, tradition and the way of worship.  Other ideologies that developed in India are
Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism besides many micro beliefs that exist without any impediment. 

The number of languages and dialects are uncountable confined to regions but large numbers of people speak Hindi and English. These languages are bridging gaps among innumerable tongues that exist here. The English that was once a symbol of foreign rule has been adopted with religious fervor thanks to it utility. English is an internationally spoken language and has benefited the expatriates and professionals in India the most.

The Indian cuisine is one of the fastest growing in popularity.  It differs from people to people, place to place and region to region. The style recipes have a commonality but the buck stops there. The food varies depending upon the local ingredients and styles. From the multiplicity has arisen many nationally popular foods like the tandoori, dosa, idli, kofta, pulao, biryani and what not. These are the International symbols of Indian Cuisine the range is realized only while taking the tour of India.    

Tourism in India is an ethreal experience if one can tolerate discomforts here and there. The sights and smells of approaching rural habitations and urbanity are imemorable etched in mind for ever. India is a treasure trove of history and historical monuments that stand testimony to its beleagured history.

The wildlife is enchanting with the World's top most charismatic animal the tiger. There more than 300 mammals found in the protected areas and 2000 bird species. Besides the Bengal Tiger, Asian Lion, Indian Elephant, Leopard, Snow Leopard,  Clouded Leopard, Wild Ass and bears are the star attractions.   

Bird havens of North India

The expedition begins with birding at Okhla Barrage in New Delhi and Sultanpur Lake in Haryana.  Both are wetlands and excellent destinations for wetland species. One can sight many birds here including yellow bellied prinia and striated babbler at Sultanpur.

The birding group than moves to Bharatpur with on the way birding at Palwal and other suitable destinations. Agra to Bharatpur is two hours drive with bad road in between. The Keolodeo Ghana Bird Sancturay is one of the top birding spot in the World.  In a three day tour one can see as many as 180 avian species. Nearby places are Bund Baretha where one can see many birdings including Indian Skimmer and Whiskered tern.    

Another good place for birding is Bayana on route one can see Munias, Blue Rock Thrush and many more avians. The wetland species though in good number are not impressive at Bayana but on the way stops offer good sighting of eagles, wheatears, munias and other passerine birds. 

The next destination is Dholepur which is on MP Rajasthan border. The Chambal River Sanctuary flows through this destination and offer good chance of sighting River Dolphin,Gharial and fresh Water Crocdile. Avian species abound Osprey, Bonelli's Eagle, Laggar Falcon, Rock Eagle Owl, wheatears, black bellied tern, gulls, ducks, teals, storks, Bar headed geese and much more.  

It is back to New Delhi via Agra. Sightseeing at Agra is the Taj Mahal of course as  well as Fatehpur Sikri. If time is availabel than one can see the Red Fort at Agra.  Bharatpur to New Delhi is a long journey hence a night stay is required. From the Capital  it is straight to Sat Tal almost 8 hours of drive. Birding takes place at Ganga River on the way for River Lapwing, Bar headed geese, Avocets, Stilts, Stints and many other river species.  

Sat Tal near Niani Tal in Uttranchal is a birding paradise with many exotic species like wise species of higher reaches can be seen at Pangot. These destinations in Niani Tal District offer spectacular landscape of the Himalayas. Pangot is at height of 2300 plus MSL while Sat Tal is around 1400 plus MSL.

Two day bird watching at these places are enough. You can see many birds here, the journey to Corbett from both is downhill going through outer fringes of Naini Tal Township. Another good place for  bird watching is Bajun but I have not been there.

Corbett is a birder's paradise with more than 500 resident plus migrating species. Birding outside the corbett reserve is at the banks of Koshi, Mohan, Lal Dang, Garjia, Sunderkhal and Kumeria.  This is followed by visit to Dhikala Zone of Corbett. It is delightful birding at all the places in and aound the tiger reserve. Stay overlooking the Dhikala Meadow is rewarding both in terms of animal watching and birds. The lanscape is spectacular and a drive down the meadow, Sambar Road or Champion Road offers chance of sighting the majestic Bengal Tiger. The Dhikala Rest House is basic but no major complaints have been recieved. The food is good hygenic and servede in an enclosed dining hall that offers a view of the meadow and the mountains.     

The Corbett birding is about three days or more the target species are Ibisbill and Wall Creeper. But all species are sought after anyway besides the tiger safaris. 

Some tours extend to Kanha or Bandhavgarh for tiger safaris. The tour is known as tiger extension but the tourist are flabbergasted by the avians species in these Central India tiger reserves.  

Tourism in MP

Tourism in Madhya Pradesh The state is rich in natural beauty, culture, history and traditions. Predominantly inhabited by tribal communities MP has urbanized in recent times. The state exhibits characteristic mix population dominating the towns and cities.   The state boasts of the finest infrastructure for tourism with resorts hotels, transportation available with ease. It is already well known for tiger safaris and Khujaraho Temples. Pachmarhi too is popular but mostly among the Indian crowd.    The state is rich in natural beauty, culture, history and traditions. Predominantly inhabited by tribal communities MP has urbanized in recent times. The state exhibits characteristic mix population dominating the towns and cities.   

The state boasts of the finest infrastructure for tourism with resorts hotels, transportation available with ease. It is already well known for tiger safaris and Khujaraho Temples. Pachmarhi too is popular but mostly among the Indian crowd.    

Other places of interest are:
Kanha National Park
Pench National Park
Bandhavgarh National Park
Satpura National Park 
Sanchi Stupa
Orchha
Mandu
Omkareshwar
Mahakaleshwar
Ujjain
Maheshwar
Indore
Gwalior
Jabalpur
Bhopal
ShivPuri

Tourism is developing in many other destinations in MP state. In time to come lesser known places will be on the tourist circuit which will be good for tourism in MP hence India. The best way to travel in the state is on package tours. The tour operators offer affordable packages which are well designed. 

The best time to travel in Madhya Pradesh is during the winters. The state is well connected with New Delhi by air and rail. Jabalpur is connected with all metro cities by rail and with New Delhi by rail and air services. Jabalpur is the central city from where most destinations could be easily reached.    

India Tour - What to wear?

It is important to know what to wear in India and where.  India is a diverse country with varying climate and weather. The dress code also varies from region to region. The ethnic profile is diverse as well hence the daily wear changes by distance.

The most common dress is the Sari and Salwar Kameez. The latter in the North India & Pakistan. Besides there are lot of regional versions of Saree as well as Shalwar Kameez.  While traveling it is advisable to wear traditional local garments. This brings in lot of synergy with the local community as its acceptance level is very high. Secondly the local garb remains in sync with the climatic conditions present there.

The other popular dress styles are Kurta Paijama, Lehnga Choli, Ghaghra, Sherwani, Skirt and Shirt Pant. The later is more common among men in urban surroundings.  The traditional dress vary in cut and style regionally pertaining much to the indigenous lifestyle.

The Northern Indian climes are colder while Western India including Punjab has extreme climes. Punjab Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh experience extreme cold in winters and heat in summers. Uttaranchal, Himachal and Kashmir can have long bouts of snow. North East along the Himalayas is cold while humidity prevails along the sea coast. More over the cold weather is constantly changing locally from extreme cold to cold.

Many places in the North are covered in fog till late in the morning. Maharastra, Gujarat and surrounding areas are milder though summers can be blistering hot.  Southern India can be hot and humid leaving Bangalore which has a pleasurable weather. 

Not only culture it is the effect of the weather as well that plays part in evolution of clothing styles. Cloth are very colorful in Rajasthan as compared to desert surroundings. Color makes up for absence of greenery in arid zones.     

In tribal belts as in Bastar in Chattisgarh scant clothes are worn by the communities as per custom and backward status . In India a single dress code can have varying styles, patterns and colors.The Indian saree is one such example. It varies as a wedding dress, community dress code and local region styles are abundant.

The traditional designer cloths in India and Pakistan have been enriched by professional  fashion designers. Most of the dresses are sold through retail counters but in urban areas and foreign countries they are sold in fashion boutique.  One can buy designer Indian and Pakistani dress in USA , UK and Europe easily.  There  are many fashion garment boutiques in USA and UK. These are owned by top rated fashion designers belonging to the sub continent.

One can buy saris in fashion boutique as well. The fashionable designer sari in India are sold in many online stores. They are also available in local retail shops everywhere.   Local dreses may be bought in local shops in rural areas where they are more popular.

It is now easy to purchase Indian or Pakistani dresses outside the sub continent. The online stores do a good job of delivering what you want. So buy before hand whence traveling to India or Pakistan.