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 

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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 

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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 

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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 

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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 

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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 

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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 

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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 

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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 

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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 

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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!

6 Delectable Thalis of India

There’ll be hardly anyone visitor to India who returns without having at least some kind of a thali meal!! While a thali literally translates into a plate or platter, it has come to represent a complete meal, usually a flat bread or rice with an assortment of vegetarian dishes along with a dessert. But this simplistic description does no justice to the huge variety of thalis available across India!

A thali is a great representation of the oft repeated phrase ‘unity in diversity’. While a basic thali follows the description above, each part of India has its own unique combination of flavours, and these are beautifully represented in the thali of each region. Here is a look at 7 of the most popular and delectable thalis across India.

  

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6 Delectable Thalis of India

 1. Gujarati Thali

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Thalis from Gujarat are quite popular, being really lavish spreads with a large number of dishes! A huge part of the Gujarati population are vegetarian and popular thali dishes are Khichdi, Kadhi, undhiyo, buttermilk, assorted pickles and a variety of flatbreads made from millets, sorghum, corn flour, along with regular whole wheat flour. A special feature of Gujarati cuisine is that even savoury dishes have a certain sweetness and the overall flavours are quite delicate. Shrikhand and laddoos are popular desserts served with the thali.

2. Punjabi Thali

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When people think of Punjabi food, they often think of loads of butter, but butter isn’t the end-all of a Punjabi thali! Punjabis are generally people with a certain joie de vivre, and this enthusiasm is reflected in their thalis as well! A Punjabi thali features predominantly whole wheat breads like parathas, which may be plain or stuffed with potato or paneer. Other dishes comprising a grand Punjabi thali are Chana masala, dal makhani, baingan bharta, aloo gobhi along with non vegetarian delicacies like butter chicken, chicken tikka, tandoori chicken and the like. And of course, no thali is complete without a lassi on the side!

3. Maharashtrian Thali 

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Maharashtra has a mix of vegetarian and non vegetarian population, the latter owing mainly to a lovely long coastline. Maharashtra is a place where wheat and rice are equally popular in a thali, with both often served together. Breads made from millet and gram flour are popular, and are often served alongside onions, lime and green chillies. Another unique Maharashtrian feature is the addition of peanuts to many of the vegetarian dishes on the thali like paatal bhaji, sukhi bhaji, paale bhaji and salads like koshimbir. Non vegetarian thalis often feature fried fish, usually coated with semolina for a crispy layer. Puran polis are a popular sweet dish in Maharashtra and feature on thalis occasionally.

4. Kannada Thali 

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A Kannada Thali is also called a Kannadiga Oota, sometimes referred to as a Mysore Thali. Karnataka’s Udupi cuisine is extremely popular and nearly every district in India will have its own version of an Udupi restaurant! Like thalis from other South Indian states, a Kannada thali has a banana leaf cut into a circle and placed inside the plate. Flavored rice like bisi bele bath is popular, although plain chapathis or puris may feature on the side. Predominantly vegetarian, common thali dishes are chitranna, kosambari, palya and sambar. Unlike the papads from the north, south Indian pappadums are generally plain and non-spicy. The sweet dish is usually semolina kesari or mysore pak.

5. Bengali Thali 

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Like South Indians, Bengalis prefer rice over wheat; maybe the fish just goes better with rice! A good number or Bengalis are non vegetarian, and fish forms an important part of Bengali cuisine. A bitter dish is often part of the thali, and other dishes include masoor or cholar dal, aloo posto, chanar dalna, begun baja, lao ghonto and melt in the mouth fish delicacies like doi maach or sosrshe ilish. Desserts generally include the famous Rasgulla, Sandesh and Misti Doi.

6. Kerala Sadya 

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With Onam just behind us, we can’t not feature the Kerala Sadya! While this isn’t a thali in the traditional sense, being served on a banana leaf, it still features here on account of its deliciousness! Kerala has an abundance of banana trees and coconut palms which explains the banana leaves and the generous use of coconut in all the dishes. Kerala sadyas stick to rice alone, and a variety of vegetarian dishes like inji puli, avial, kootu curry, pachadi and thoran. Sambar and dal is served with the rice, and dried banana or jackfruit chips are common. There are usually more than one kind of payasams to end the meal along with small bananas which cannot be left out!

While these are immensely delicious thalis, they don’t even begin to cover the large variety of thalis in India!! We’ve still got Rajasthani thalis, Assamese Thalis and many more; describing them all would fill a book!! Tell us, which one is your favourite Indian thali?

6 Easy-to-Make Independence Day Crafts for Kids

“What light is to the eyes - what air is to the lungs - what love is to the heart, liberty is to the soul of man.” - Robert Green Ingersoll

Every year, we get a holiday to ‘celebrate’ Independence Day, which is actually supposed to be an opportunity to commemorate the brave souls who fought for our freedom. For today’s kids however, this day might not mean much beyond a ritualistic flag hoisting in the morning, and a day off from school. But the freedom we enjoy today was hard won, and is a part of the legacy that we leave our children.

So, this Independence Day, don’t let the holiday be just another excuse to laze on the couch and watch hours of TV. Use it as an opportunity to bond with the family while learning about the country that we call our motherland. And with kids, what better way than to involve them in crafts? The best thing about crafts is that it requires the use of your hands, which makes it more likely to stick in your memory long after the day has passed. Here we have 7 easy to make crafts for Independence Day, all of which require just basic craft supplies.

6 Independence Day Crafts for Kids

1. Tricolor Glass Jars 

Recycling never looked so good! Put old glass jars to good use by painting them in our national colors! To make them look even better, place candles inside and light them after dimming the lights in the room. Spectacular!!

2. Paper Plate Tiger 

India’s national animal needs no introduction! Make this super easy tiger craft that looks really impressive! Explain to kids how the number of tigers is dwindling in India and what rules are in place to help them.

3. Fan Peacock Craft 

Few birds are as gorgeous as the national bird of India! The peacock is a beautiful symbol of India’s colourful heritage and this easy craft is a lovely way to make your own peacock. Tell kids about how a peacock starts dancing when it’s about to rain.

4. Taj Mahal Art 

For many people around the world, India is synonymous with the Taj Mahal, the grand monument of white marble in Agra. This art project is a great way to learn new art techniques and create a beautiful masterpiece in the process. Teach children about how we need to preserve our ancient monuments.

5. Paper Plate Elephant

Elephants are another common group of animals associated with India, and decorated elephants are a common sight during festivals, especially in Kerala. Make your own decorated elephant with a paper plate and shiny fabric or lace. Show children videos or books about how elephants were used by kings in old times.

6. Tricolor Bunting 

This is a super idea especially if you’re having an Independence Day party!! This bunting is actually a lot easier than it looks and can be made in a very short while. This is a good opportunity to look up the various rules for the Indian national flag with your kids.

So there you go, 6 simple crafts which the whole family can get together and make, including even the littlest members!! So tell us, what are you planning to do with your family this Independence Day? 

6 Ways to have a Productive Weekend

When most people hear of the word ‘weekend’, images of people lazing around come into mind. Of course, there are people who paint the town red on weekends, but we’re talking more about regular folks like you and us! Then there are those of us who take a break from our work week, only to work more on weekends - doing chores and running errands! Of course neither of these serve the true purpose of having a couple of days off, which is to rejuvenate and refresh yourself for the coming week. You could spend your entire Saturday and Sunday binge watching your favourite show, but that’s hardly productive, is it? So today, we tread the middle path and bring you 6 ways to have a productive weekend – yes it’s possible!

6 Ways to Have a Productive Weekend

Play a Sport

Whether you workout during your weekdays or not (you should, really!), playing an hour or two of any sport on the weekends really makes a big difference to your overall wellbeing. Besides the cardio workout, you get to play in a team, which is good socializing – minus the alcohol and heavy snacks!

Join a Class

Everyone has got that deep seated desire to learn something they’ve always wanted to since childhood. It could be dance, pottery or photography. Whatever it may be, what are you waiting for? Life is happening now; take control! Most classes of these sort operate on the weekends, so you’re sure to find something suitable for you in your locality. Learning a new skill builds new neural pathways in your brain, which makes you more effective at processing new information.

Explore your City

You could always pack your bags and head away, but you don’t have to. There are likely to be many undiscovered treasures within your city itself. Plan a one day field trip with your family and explore all the little known places in your city; the journey itself will be an adventure, and who knows, you might even discover a brand new spot!

Set up a Kitchen Garden

There are people who think of gardening as a messy chore, but the truth is that you’ll be hard pressed to find something more relaxing! Spending time with nature, touching and feeling the soil and leaves is very therapeutic, especially after a stressful work week. It feels good to reconnect with the real world after spending all that time online. Not to mention, you end up with healthy, pesticide free herbs and vegetables!

Assess your Life Goals

A weekend is a great time to just sit back and think: are you where you want to be in your life right now? Is your current lifestyle in sync with your goals? Think about where you’ll be in 5 or 10 years if you continue the way you are doing now, in terms of all aspects of your life – health, family, finances, career etc. You need to be relaxed and free from everyday stresses for this exercise, hence the weekend.

Prep for the Week Ahead

Yes, we know we said that doing chores during the weekend wasn’t fun, but rushing like crazy through the week isn’t very enjoyable either! Designate some time during the weekend, about 1-3 hours, to do all your prep work for the coming week. It could include ironing work/school clothes, chopping or freezing vegetables or meat, confirming appointments, getting anything ready for any event etc. Allotting just a specific time slot for these activities will give you a much more relaxed week and won’t feel like you’re spending your entire Saturday doing chores!!

Sleeping in till noon on weekends may sound good in theory, but in practice, it just throws off your entire body rhythm. It messes up your sleep and you feel groggy and weird. Being productive on the weekend without actually ‘working’ relaxes you, improves relationships and refreshes you for the next week. So, which of these are you planning to do this weekend? Do tell us!!

6 Healthy Iftar Recipes for Ramadan

"Ramadan is, in its essence, a month of humanist spirituality." - Tariq Ramadan

The month of Ramadan is upon us and many of us are in full fasting mode! Besides abstaining from food, drink and other worldly pleasures, the holy month of Ramadan is also one of introspection, spirituality and prayer, along with helping people. Unfortunately, for many, this month translates into a 30-day fried food festival! Needless to say, this doesn’t do your arteries or your waistline any favours, with many people actually gaining weight by the time of Eid!

Bingeing on oily snacks at the end of a 15 hour day without food or drink is a bad idea for many reasons, such as:

• After many hours of no food, overloading your stomach directs most of your blood supply towards the digestive system leaving you feeling lethargic
• Your metabolism is operating in slow mode when fasting, and overloading it turns most of it into fat
• Oily snacks mean an intake of too many calories, contributing to weight gain
• With only a small window available for eating, stuffing it with oily snacks leaves no space for healthy foods, leading to malnutrition
• Overeating in the evenings can lead to an increase in visceral or belly fat

The solution to this is to opt for healthy, yet filling and balanced meals at Iftar, so that your body is not shocked and you still have energy to get on with the rest of the day. Here are some easy, healthy recipes that you can make for Iftar.

1. Stuffed Dates

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Across the world, dates are the preferred choice to break one’s fast, but you can take it a step further by stuffing them. You’ll need some larger, succulent dates for this.

1. Slit down the long side of a date, but not completely.
2. Replace the seed with a quartered walnut, and press the sides of the date together to hold it in.
3. Arrange beautifully on a platter along with some dried figs.

 2. Avocado Smoothie

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Avocados are rich in Vitamin E and are low in calories, making them a great option for Iftar. You can use any milk or yogurt of your choice.

1. Scoop out the flesh of a medium sized avocado.
2. Blend the avocado flesh with 1.5 glasses of cold milk, 2 tsp sugar and ¼ tsp vanilla essence.
3. If it appears too thick, add more milk. Pour into tall glasses and serve with straws.

 3. Broken Wheat Lentil Soup

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It is recommended to use whole grains rather than refined ones during Iftar, to ensure better metabolism.

1. Soak a cup of broken wheat and ½ a cup of lentils for 30 minutes.
2. Temper ½ tsp cumin seeds and fry a chopped onion till brown.
3. Add a tsp of ginger garlic paste, a chopped tomato, a tsp of chilli powder and ½ a tsp each of turmeric and garam masala.
4. Add the drained lentils, season to taste, cover and cook till completely done.
5. Garnish with chopped coriander and serve hot.

 4.   Almond Chicken

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Almonds are a great way to add an extra crunch to an ordinary chicken dish, and this one is much better than fried chicken.

1. Soak or blanch ¾ cup almonds so that they can be peeled easily. Keep aside.
2. Grind ¾ of the almonds and slice the rest. Keep them separate.
3. Marinate ½ kg chicken pieces in salt and ½ a tsp each of ginger garlic paste, turmeric, and chilli powder. Keep aside for 30 minutes.
4. In oil, fry a chopped onion till brown, then add 1 tsp ginger garlic paste and 2 chopped tomatoes.
5. Add the marinated chicken and the almond paste and cook till done.
6. Serve garnished with chopped coriander and the remaining almonds.

 5.  Easy Vegetable Korma

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Vegetable korma needn’t be a thick creamy, heavy dish, you can make a simpler version with cashew nuts.

1. Soak 10 cashews in hot water. Grind to a smooth paste.
2. Fry 1 sliced onion till brown, add 1 tsp of ginger paste, 1 chopped tomato, 1 tsp of pepper, and ½ a tsp each of turmeric and garam masala.
3. Add 1 cup of chopped mixed vegetables like cauliflower, carrots, beans, peas and potatoes. Coat with masala and cook with a little water till done.
4. Add the cashew paste and simmer for 5 minutes. Serve garnished with chopped coriander.

 6. Multigrain Methi Parathas

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Multigrain parathas are very easy to make right at home, and are much more nutritious than regular ones. Go easy on the oil to keep them healthy.

1. Grind ½ a cup of multigrain oats to a powder.
2. Mix the oats and 1.5 cups of whole wheat flour along with 1 cup methi leaves, ½ tsp ginger garlic paste and salt to taste and make a smooth dough. Keep aside for 30 minutes.
3. Roll out balls of dough into slightly thick parathas and roast on a flat pan or tava. Use a little vegetable oil to grease it on either side. Serve with homemade curd.

If you crave something sweet at the end of your meal, have a small piece of dark chocolate or a small bowl of a milk based sweet like sweet vermicelli or fruit custard without cream. Make life easier by planning ahead, prepping in advance, cooking in bulk & freezing. This way you can ensure you don’t spend the whole of Ramadan in the kitchen and can focus on the spiritual aspects of the holy month as well. Ramadan Mubarak!