Top 10 Winter Destinations in India

“Winter is a season of recovery and preparation” – Paul Theroux

In many poems and songs of old times, winter usually has a negative connotation, while spring and summer are described with more cheerful words. Winters are associated with dullness and greyness, when everything dries up and even animals go into hibernation or fly south.

However, no one who’s visited India during winter will agree with such a description; it is, in fact, anything but dull! If you know India, you know that it’s pretty impossible for us to be grey, such a colourful people we are! But there are some locations in India that truly bloom during winters, when their real beauty comes through. For some others, winters provide the respite they need from an otherwise hot and humid climate. In any case, there are many destinations in India that are worth visiting especially during the winter season, and here we list out our top ten picks of these destinations.

Top 10 Winter Destinations in India

1.    Shimla 

Source

When you talk of winter destinations in India, Shimla is probably the first one to come to mind! This is a place that completely transforms itself with snow, and becomes the kind of stuff dreams are made of – a perfect place for kids and the young at heart!

2.    Mussoorie 

Source

Known as the Queen of Hills, and rightly so, this otherwise green hill station turns into a winter wonderland. If you love the mountains, then Mussoorie is the place for you! There are many activities too, so that the whole family can enjoy!

3.    Kerala 

Source

If you are from a place that gets really cold in winters and want to enjoy some warm sun and lots of greenery, come to Kerala!! Kerala’s otherwise tropical climate takes a break during 

winter, making it the ideal time to discover the lush greenery of Wayanad or Munnar.

4.    Manali 

Source

Manali is another popular winter travel destination in India, and with good reason! Around mid-December, a blanket of snow descends upon the place, and converts it into a snowy paradise. With lots of adventure sport opportunities, this is the perfect spot for adrenalin junkies!

5.    Rajasthan 

Source

Known for its deserts, winters bring out a different side of Rajasthan, and a lovely one at that! Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer are just some of the many places in Rajasthan that play host to the many travellers from across the globe.

6.    Gulmarg 

Source

You can’t leave behind the paradise on earth when talking about top locations to visit in India, in any season! Gulmarg is the kind of place that will leave you in awe of nature’s beauty and you’ll want to make that sight your permanent wallpaper!

7.    Darjeeling 

Source

Darjeeling is a hill station that has the most breathtaking views in all seasons. During winter, the greenery still persists, giving rise to a lovely scene that’ll have you wondering why you didn’t visit earlier!

8.    Lachen 

Source

Lachen in Sikkim, is a treat to behold, especially in winters as the snow casts its magic all around. A treat for photographers, Lachen is a gem that has many little tourist spots where you can make some great memories.

9.    Ooty 

Source

Ooty is a hill station that requires no introduction, being a popular spot for movie locales for decades! Ooty is a great place to visit in winter, being cold but not inhospitably so. This is a great spot for people of all ages – there’s something for everyone to do!

10. Kutch 

Source

The Rann of Kutch is not a place popular in summers due to the hot weather, but winters are another story altogether! The weather is lovely, and the place comes alive with the Rann Utsav, a cultural festival that celebrates the spirit of Kutch.

So tell us, where are you planning your trip to this winter?

9 Must Try Biryanis of India

Eid-ul-Adha is coming up later this month, and this is the Islamic festival that celebrates the spirit of sacrifice. As with any Eid, the feast for this one will also be one worth looking forward to!! In most parts of India, an Eid feast is incomplete without a biryani, a mouth watering rice, spices and chicken or meat. You can almost smell it now, can’t you?

Now biryani is a very generic term, and there are many kinds of biryani within India. While it’s not really possible to list all of them here, let’s take a look at the most popular biryanis that you’re likely to find in most places in India.

1.    Lucknowi Biryani

Source

Lucknowi Biryani is the kind of biryani that is popular in the northern part of India, and is believed to be a direct descendant of the original Persian biryani introduced by the Mughals. This is a pakki biryani where the rice and meat are half-cooked separately, then layered together and cooked completely using the dum method.

2.    Sindhi Biryani

Source

This is a biryani that originated from the Sind province in Pakistan and is extremely popular in India as well! This biryani is characterized by its generous use of fresh herbs like mint and coriander, giving the biryani a beautiful aroma.

3.    Calcutta Biryani

Source

The story goes that when the last Nawab of Awadh was exiled to Calcutta, he took his chef along with him, who cooked some delicious biryani. Soon the biryani became famous, and poor households managed by substituting meat with potatoes. Today, potatoes with meat have become the trademark of the Calcutta biryani!

4.    Bombay Biryani

Source

As its name suggests, Bombay biryani originated in Mumbai, and it has some Iranian flavours, which some believe are due to the large Parsi community in Mumbai. This biryani uses some flavours not generally found in Indian biryanis, like kewra essence, an assortment of spices and deep fried potatoes.

5.    Hyderabadi Biryani

Source

Eating biryani is probably the first thing visitors to Hyderabad do, it’s that famous! Hyderabadi biryani was developed during the Mughal period, but this one differs from traditional Mughal biryanis in the use of spices. An authentic Hyderabadi biryani packs a good amount of heat and fills the senses!

6.    Dindigul Thalapakatti Biryani

Source

The Didndigul Thalapakatti Biryani originated in the Dindigul town of Tamil Nadu. This biryani uses a good mix of spices, resulting in a darker color. It also avoids tomatoes completely, relying on sour curd and lemon juice for that tang. This biryani also uses a shorter grain rice rather than Basmati.

7.    Bhatkal Biryani

Source

Bhatkal Biryani is a dish of coastal Karnataka that derived from the Bombay biryani but then went on to evolve into something different. The main characteristic feature of this biryani is the use of onions, which is more than in other biryanis. The meat is cooked in an onion based sauce, which lends a different, strong taste to the finished dish.

8.    Ambur Biryani

Source

This biryani is from Vellore in Tamil Nadu and is a meat heavy dish. However, the thing that differentiates this biryani from the rest is the brinjal based gravy that is served alongside the biryani. Other accompaniments include a curd dish called a pachadi.

9.    Thalassery Biryani

Source

Thalassery Biryani is also called Malabar biryani, being a well known dish from the Malabar region in Kerala. Some experts believe that while the Persian biryani was introduced in the North, Arab traders introduced their version of the biryani in the South, which has evolved into the Malabar Biryani. This biryani is lighter on the spices and makes use of a short grain rice called Kaima rice. Cashews and raisins are used generously as a garnish.

We’re pretty sure you’re drooling all over your computer right now, so we’ll stop here!! So this Eid, go ahead and indulge yourself; for a change, you can also try multiple biryanis this year!