Beyond the Taj – Less Popular Places to Visit in Agra

Whenever anyone mentions Agra, the first visual that pops up in our mind’s eye is the grand Taj Mahal, which is soon followed by mentions of Fatehpur Sikri and Humayun’s Tomb. However, Agra is a city that is steeped in history, having being home to one of the most influential eras in Indian Civilization, the Mughals. For a change, take a trip to Agra with an aim to go beyond just the Taj and you’ll be surprised at the richness of culture that envelops the city. Here are 5 less popular places in Agra that you’re sure to enjoy visiting.

Chini Ka Rauza

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This monument is the tomb of Allama Afzal Khan Mullah, prime minister of the emperor Shah Jahan who was also a noted scholar and poet. This tomb is on the eastern bank of the Yamuna River.

The word ‘Chini’ refers to the glazed tile work on the building, all the more so since it was the first building in India to contain exclusive tile work of this kind. At a distance, the exterior of the building looks unassuming, but move closer and you’ll marvel at the intricacy of the tile work done. The colors and patterns are very representative of the Mughal era, especially in the central dome which is considered the main attraction of the tomb. Unfortunately, parts of the building are damaged, although the interiors still retain their past glory.

Red Taj Mahal

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The story of the Taj Mahal is extremely popular, about the legendary love between the emperor Shah Jahan and his wife, Mumtaz, on whose death, he commissioned the building of such a beautiful mausoleum. However, there is another less known love story which also resulted in the building of such a tomb. This is the story of the Red Taj Mahal, a smaller and significantly redder version of the original Taj.

Col. John Hessing was a Dutch soldier who surprisingly supported the Marathas and fought against the British and paid for it with his life. His wife, Ann (Alice) Hessing was distraught and built the Mughal designed tomb for her Catholic husband, which is now a symbol for love without barriers of nationality or religion.

Diwan-i-Khas

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The Diwan-i-Khas is the place where a Mughal emperor received official guests. It is also called the Hall of Private Audiences. This was the site for the famous Peacock Throne, which was later captured by the Persian king Nader Shah.

The hall contains a rectangular chamber, surrounded by arches, each of which is intricately decorated. This is a fine example of how much detail the Mughals went into when it came to their buildings and architecture. The ceiling used to have silver and gold, which was used up in subsequent financial difficulties. All of the grand treasures within the hall were looted in the rebellion of 1857, leaving behind the building as it exists today.

Birbal Bhavan

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The tales of the king Akbar and his wiseman Birbal are so popular that Birbal has attained legendary status! Birbal Bhavan is where this talented man lived, near Jodha bai’s palace in Fatehpur Sikri. It was originally built for one of Akbar’s wives who didn’t like it, post which the king modified it as a residence for Birbal.

The building is characterized by its double domes, which is said to have been constructed as a means to keep the building cool. The architectural style of the entire building is a mix of Islamic, Persian, Jain and Hindu styles and is often considered a marvel of civil engineering during the Mughal era.

Musamman Burj

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Another architectural wonder of the Mughal era, the Musamman Burj is an octagonal watch tower, which affords a beautiful view of the Taj Mahal. It is made of marble, with the dome topped with copper. There are several pillars and niches, with beautiful inlays and a carved fountain in the center.

This building was built by Shah Jahan for his wife, Mumtaz, and he even used precious stones as inlays in the marble. This was also where he was imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb, and where he is said to have breathed his last, looking over at the Taj Mahal.

Every historical building has many stories associated with it, and this is only amplified when it comes to the Mughals. The Mughal era has seen the best and worst of human emotions – love, tragedy, deceit, sabotage. If only those marble walls could speak!

Unravel the Secrets of Spice Gardens of Kerala

Kerala, with its virgin backwaters, pristine beaches and tropical jungles, is one of the most enchanting nature destinations, which lures tourists from near and far away.  But, apart from its picturesque landscape, what makes this place truly ‘God’s Own Country’ are the fragrant spice fields sprawled generously over its lush green canvas. Imagine yourself walking through these exotic spice gardens, their delightful aroma intriguing your senses and their natural hues draping your soul with tranquility. Sounds wonderful already? Then, it’s about time that you plan a spice holiday to Kerala!

 Here is a list of popular spice destinations in Kerala, where you can spend savoury time exploring a variety of spices such as black pepper, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, dry turmeric, nutmeg and vanilla.

 

1.    Abraham’s Spice Garden

Located on the route between Thekkady and Kottam, Abraham’s Spice Garden is a place, where spice farming is rather a ritual. Here, you can not only absorb the scents of spices, but also pick up the basics of spice agriculture and organic farming. Run by Abraham family, the spice garden is nourished with the experience handed down by generations. A few of spices you will see here are cardamom, cinnamon, pepper and vanilla. The one hour tour will take you through a guided tour of spice growing & processing, preparation of ayurvedic medicines, wood crafting and much more. What is more, you can even indulge in the taste of some rare food and beverages made from home grown spices.

 www.abrahamspicegarden.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.    Cinnamon Gardens

Nestled in Munnar, one of the most sought after towns of Kerala, Cinnamon Gardens is home to a large assortment of spices, fruits and other vegetation. Here, you can look forward to a visual treat encompassing spices such as allspice, tulsi, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, nutmegs, black pepper, turmeric and vanilla, to name a few. The place also attracts tourist interested in a hands – on learning in herbal farming and exploring exotic varieties of flora and fauna. It is believed that your Munnar visit is incomplete without including a trip to Cinnamon Gardens in your itinerary!

 www.cinnamongardens.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.    Shalimar Spice Garden

The mesmerizing Shalimar Spice Garden stands proudly amidst the verdant spice gardens of cardamom, pepper and coffee. Also an eco-friendly resort with a beautiful blend of traditional local culture and modern amenities, Shalimar Spice Garden offers in-house tours that will take you through spice fields and other crops. From here, you can also plan exclusive excursions to spice plantations in Kumily (spice trade centre), Murikkady (cardamom, pepper and coffee), Vendiperiyar (tea, coffee and pepper) and Vandanmedu (cardamom).  While at Shalimar Spice Garden, you can also enjoy a host of other fun activities like visit to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, bamboo rafting on Periyar Lake, boat ride, cloud walk etc.

 www.shalimarspicegarden.com

 

 

4.    Biovalley Herbal and Spice Garden

This herbal and spice garden is situated on Allava – Munnar road. With its farm fresh spices in the offering against the backdrop of panoramic view, Biovalley is the place that will rejuvenate your senses with the scent of pepper, coffee, cardamom, cinnamon, allspice, ginger and several other flowers as well as medicinal herbs.

www.facebook.com/Biovalleyherbalandspicesgarden

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apart from the above, this beautiful state includes a host of other small and big spice plantations, which you can explore as suited to your itinerary. All these exquisite plantations boost of the rich culture of Kerala and are loved for their unmatched splendour.

 

Want to relish the flavor of authentic spices from Kerala, right from the comfort of your home? Check out here to know more!

 

 

(All Images via Google Search)

Traditional Indian Recipes for Ramzan and Eid

Welcome to the uIndia Blog!!

Ramzan is the 9^th month in the Islamic lunar calendar and is observed by fasting everyday from sunrise to sunset. The end of the fasting month is marked by a festival called Eid-ul-Fitr with a feast to celebrate the month long abstinence from food and drink.

Both Ramzan and Eid are observed in different ways throughout the country. While there are a few basics like milk based desserts and meat based biryani, every region adds their own distinctive flavor to come up with their own authentic cuisine. Here we bring together different dishes from various parts of India, for a truly authentic Indian spread!

1. Haleem

Haleem is a fasting person’s super dish – an all in one meal in itself! The most popular version is Hyderabadi Haleem which is even transported from Hyderabad to places around the world during Ramadan!

1. Soak 100 g chana dal and 250 g broken wheat for 4-5 hours. Marinate ½ kg boneless mutton pieces with ¼ cup curd, salt, 1 tsp red chilli powder, ½ tsp turmeric and 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste for an hour.

2. Cook the mutton in a pressure cooker till done. Keep aside and cook the dal and wheat together till soft.

3. In a food processor, blend together the cooked meat and dal to a smooth consistency.

4. In a cup of oil, fry 3 sliced onions till brown and crisp. Keep aside.

5. In the same oil, fry ½ tsp turmeric with ½ tsp garam masala and salt. Pour in the meat-dal mixture and cover and cook till it becomes thick and porridge-like.

6. Serve garnished with the fried onions, chopped mint leaves and lemon wedges.

2. Ghee Rice

While biryani is a well known staple for Eid, its younger cousin, ghee rice isn’t far behind. This is a common dish in Malabar households and is very versatile – it can be eaten with any kind of curry!

1. In 2 tbsp of ghee, fry 3 cardamoms, 3 cloves, a ½” cinnamon stick and a tablespoon of cashew nuts.

2. Add 4 cups of water and salt to taste. Bring to the boil.

3. Add 2 cups of washed and drained jeerakasala rice. Lower the heat, cover and cook till all the water has been absorbed.

4. Serve garnished with fried onions and cashew nuts.

3. Shami Kebab

Lucknow is famous for its huge variety of kebabs. Many of them have influences from the Middle East and Central Asia and most of them deal with meat. This one features chicken, for a change.

1. Soak 100 g chana dal for 6 hours. Cook ½ kg of chicken mince till tender. Grind to a paste.

2. Grind 2 tbsp ginger garlic paste, 1 tsp pepper corns, 1” cinnamon stick and 1 tsp cumin seeds into a paste. Mix with the chicken paste and add salt to taste.

3. Mix 1 large beaten egg and 2 tbsp flour into the paste. Add 1 finely chopped onion and green chilli and mix to form dough. Shape little round balls out of the dough, flatten into patties and fry till brown on both sides. Serve with chutney.

4. Rogan Josh

This dish is a must have at any authentic Kashmiri feast and its trademark is its rich red color and fiery gravy. Another Ramadan favorite, it goes perfectly with both rotis and rice.

1. Heat oil in a pan and fry 1” cinnamon stick, 2 bay leaves, 3 cardamom pods.

2. Add ½ kg lamb pieces and fry till they’re brown.

3. Add ½ tsp turmeric, 3 tbsp Kashmiri chilli powder, 1 tbsp coriander powder, ½ tsp cumin powder, 1 tbsp ginger paste and salt. Stir well and cook the lamb till done.

4. Add ½ cup yogurt and simmer till the required consistency is reached.

5. Sheer Korma

This is an extremely popular Eid dessert in North India. Made with fine vermicelli and whole milk, it can be customized with your choice of dry fruit.

1. Fry ¼ cup fine vermicelli in a tablespoon of ghee and keep aside.

2. Boil 2.5 cups of milk and cook till it’s nearly half its volume. Add ½ cup of cream and cook till thick.

3. Add the vermicelli and cook till soft. Add ½ cup of chopped dried fruit of your choice. If using figs or dates, soak them beforehand in warm milk. Cook for 2 minutes.

4. Turn off the heat and serve hot, garnished with cardamom powder and slivered almonds.

Do try out these dishes and send us pictures, we’d love to know how your family enjoyed them!