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Archive for the ‘Highlights of India’ Category

Agra ka Petha the taste of the Taj mahal.

20 Apr

Ingredients

1 kg. firm white pumpkin
800 grams sugar
2 tsp. (lime power) calcium hydroxide
1/2 tsp. alum powder
1 tsp. rose water
3-4 drops kewra essence
2 cups water

Method
Dissolve alum in 1/2 cup water, keep aside. Dissolve lime in 1 litre water, strain with a clean cloth, twice if required.
Peel pumpkin, discard seeds, mushy centre. Cut into 1″x2″x1″ rectangular blocks or as desired.
Prick all over with a metal skewer or fork. Put pieces in lime water. Soak for 30-35
minutes.
Drain, wash under clean running water for 2-3 minutes. Put in a bowl, sprinkle alum water, shake to coat all pieces evenly.
Drain, boil pieces in a large heavy pan, till a little soft and exuding water. Make a syrup of sugar and water, till 2 1/2 thread consistency (refer syrup method)
Put drained pumpkin pieces in syrup, boil till syrup becomes thick again. Keep covered with a mesh, overnight.
Drain, boil syrup again till thick, add pieces, reboil for 3-4 minutes. Drain out excess syrup, sprinkle essence and rose water. Cool completely, refrigerate.

 
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Posted in Agra, Recipes

 

Taking a sabbatical.

04 Sep

Never has it been more common to take a sabbatical than right now the most popular form of sabbatical if travel.  Many companies are offering unpaid leave to employees, are you worried to take a sabbatical like many worried that:

  • The company won’t keep your job for you when you return.
  • The expense will not be out weight by the benefits.
  • Just down right worried about taking one.
  • not got an idea what to do with the time.

Well lets start by telling you that perhaps after pursuing, the horizon widening value of travel, you will either one never return to either the same country or company by choice.  Sabbaticals are known to change life’s.

If you rented your house rather than staying in it you could with great possibility save money and still retain the asset you have spent years acquiring this is particularly true if you choose to travel in countries which are cheap such as Asia.  Since the pound and dollar have regain their former glory in recent months.    The saving can be further made if you take up a paid sabbatical such as teaching English.

There are many organisations set up to assist you in your sabbatical or you could consider contacting a  sabbatical life coach one such organisation which has been helping many accomplish their dreams is i-to-i Travel not only do they teach you how to teach English but they even assist you to find a job.  To read about other types of sabbatical visit


20% Off 100 Hr Online TEFL

 
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Posted in Special interest tours, Sustainable and responsible tourism

 

Jodhpur in Rajasthan, India

26 Aug

Population 1 million
Jodhpur is the capital of the former princely state of Marwar, meaning the Land of the Dead. Marwar, the largest kingdom in Rajputana and the third largest of the Indian Kingdoms, after Kashmir and Hyderabad (prior to Independence) was named for the country that it covers which is a hostile desert. Surrounded by legends and myths, this city claims to trace its roots further back than most other Rajasthani kingdoms. Jodhpur was founded in 1459 by a local tribal chieftain – Rao Jodha, the then ruler of the Rathore clan (who traced their origins back to Rama, and the sun). Legend has it that a hermit used to meditate on the rocky hill where the fort now stands. Rao Jodha had him evicted, and was immediately cursed by the furious sage, who decreed that the land would be inflicted by drought and famine from then on. The chieftain and his people, overawed by the damnation, tried to pacify the hermit, but the curse was never completely lifted. To this day Jodhpur remains a dry area, suffering from drought time and again.
Rao Ganga Singh of Jodhpur (reigned 1516-32) fought alongside the army of the great warrior king of Mewar, Rana Sanga, against the first Mughal emperor, Babur. But over the next 50-odd years, the rulers of Jodhpur allied themselves with Babur’s grandson, Akbar. Several rulers of Jodhpur became trusted lieutenants of the Mughals. With the support of the Mughals, the court of Jodhpur flourished and the kingdom became a great center of the arts and culture. In 1657, after the alliance with the Mughals ceased to exist, Jodhpur formed a triple alliance with Udaipur and Jaipur, and together they defeated the Mughals. In the 17th century, Jodhpur, situated on the ancient silk caravan route linking Central Asia and North India with the sea ports of Gujurat, became a flourishing center of trade, and is still today a leading trade area for cattle, camels, wood, salt and agricultural crops.

 
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Visit Varanasi, UP, India

14 Aug

Known as one of the world’s oldest living cities. It is situated between 2 tributaries of the Ganga, the Varuna and Assi from where it gets its name. Also known as Banaras (Mughul) and Kashi – City of Light (Hindu). The Ganga, which normally follows a south eastern course changes its path here briefly and flows north for a while, through the city. This is considered very auspicious. Shiva is said to have poured the river Ganga down from the Himalayas. Buddha gave his first sermon just outside the city, and 3 tirthankars of the Jain religion were born here. It is the holiest of the 7 sacred cities of Hinduism. To die here is to receive an instant passport to heaven. There are more than 2,000 temples and shrines.

Varanasi main Ghat

Varanasi main Ghat

 
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Deeg small town, India

11 Aug

Deeg was the first capital of the newly carved out Jat State, when Badan Singh was proclaimed its ruler in 1722. Due to its strategic location and proximity to Agra, Deeg was vulnerable to repeated attack by invaders. In 1730, Prince Suraj Mal erected the fort in the southern part of town (now in ruins) and eventually shifted his capital 34kms away, to Bharatpur. In the late 18th century the town reverted back to the Raja of Bharatpur and the British finally sealed the fate of Deeg, when they stormed the fort in December 1804. Today what remains however, are beautiful Bhavans and palaces forming a quadrangle around gardens and fountains (more than 500). White and yellow marble and sandstone were used extensively. The palaces are flanked by two grand reservoirs, Gopal Sagar (west) and Rup Sagar (east).

 
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Visit Udaipur, India,

09 Aug

Classified as the number one city in India to visit, the serene & picturesque lakeside location of Udaipur was chosen by the Rajput Maharaja Udai Singh II in the 16th century as the location for his new capital upon his decision to move from the fortress & plains of Chittorgarh. The city prospered & the arts flourished in their new home. Said to be the most romantic city in Rajasthan, Udaipur’s lakes, palaces and roof-top café’s make it a favourite with travellers. The view of the rolling hills that surround the valley combined with a cool breeze blowing in off the lake, make for a perfect sunset!

 
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The holy city of Pushkar, Rajasthan, India

09 Aug

Home to the only Brahma temple in India, Pushkar is one of Hinduisms holiest towns. Located around 11km’s out of Ajmer, one has to make their way over Snake Mountain to get here. The name Pushkar comes from Pushpa (flower) and Kar (hand). It is said Lord Brahma, Creator of the Universe, did battle with the demon, Vajra Nabh, and slew him with a lotus blossom. A petal fell from his hand and landed on earth, creating the lake. Hindus come to bathe in the lake, believing it will wash away their sins, earning themselves a place in heaven. Pushkar is therefore one of the essential pilgrimage destinations for a Hindu. There are about 400 temples. The town is also famous for its annual Camel Fair, held in November just after Diwali.

 
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The sweet shops of Old Delhi

08 Aug

The Speciality of

The oldest sweet shop in Delhi is the Ghantewala in Chandini Chowk, which went into business in 1790. Down the centuries, it has remained in the same family and is now in the hands of the eleventh generation. There’s an interesting story behind how it got its name, Ghanta actually means a big clanging bell in Hindi. Legend goes that whenever the royal procession moved down this road, the emperor was in the habit of stopping here for a snack – a habit that his elephant acquired too. Well, we all know how passionately fond of sweets elephants are, so of course came the day when he found the way to the shop himself. Apparently he refused to budge and kept on shaking its head until people rallied around with assorted sweets. The bells hanging from the elephant’s neck would tinkle whenever the animal went into stubborn mode and shook his head. and from there came the shop’s name – beat that! The Ghantewala Halwai is celebrated for its sohanhalwa, a sweet made from dry fruits, sprouts and sugar.
There is another Ghantewalah Shahi Halwai, now near the famous fountain in Old Delhi. It is owned by a part of the same family, which branched out somewhere down the line. This shop also does roaring business with its dry fruit, sohanhalwa, barfis and namkeens.
Chandini Chowk is justly famous for its chaat: a quintessentially Indian spicy snack with various ingredients, laced with lots of sauces. In shops like Natraj’s Dahi Bhale (almost legendary for its chaat) and Chaatwallah you can still bange on some of the best chaat in Delhi.

 
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Posted in Delhi, Highlights of India

 

Visit Delhi, India

01 Aug

Delhi is the capital city of India and the major gateway to the northern part of the continent. It is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world having been inhabited for 2500 years. Seven major powers have ruled here and modern Delhi is woven into those seven ancient cities.
The Chauhans took control in the 12th century and made Delhi the most important Hindu centre in northern India. When Qutab-ud-din Aibak occupied the city in 1193, he ushered in six and a half centuries of Muslim rule. The various Delhi Sultanates lasted from 1206 to 1526, despite its inconsistent rule, and was followed by the mighty Mughals from 1526 to 1857. The basis of what is today Old Delhi, including the Red Fort and the Jama Masjid, was built during the reign of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (1628-58). Final the British having exciled the last Moghal to Rangoon made Delhi the capital in 1911, Lutyens’ Delhi named after its designer now known as New Delhi. When they finally left in 1947 it stayed as the capital of newly formed country of India.
Delhi on first visiting is a cacophony of sights, sounds and smells, an assault on the senses is the most apt description for the first time visitor to Delhi! It is not difficult to be captivated by this amazing and colourful city, from the towering walls of the Red Fort and Jama Masjid, to the grand open spaces of Rajpath to the crowded bazaars of the old city. The warmth of the Indian people will blow your mind. India is full of surprises and adventure, so grab your courage and explore!

For more Delhi city information

 
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Fatehpur Sikri near Agra, India.

30 Jul

When visiting Agra this palace which appears frozen in time is unmissable. Fatehpur Sikri is easy to visit during a tour of Agra, India or on the way to Jaipur.

The “Ghost City? of Fatehpur Sikri was built by Emperor Akbar, the great Mughal ruler, and is now a World Heritage Site. Akbar, who was anxious for an heir, visited this site where a Sufi saint, Shaik Salim Chishti, told him he would have 3 sons. The promise came true in 1569 when the first of three sons Salim (later known as Jahangir) was born. In honour of the saint, Akbar built a new city at Sikri and moved his capital here, from Agra, in 1571. Fatehpur, meaning “town of victory”, was built in sandstone quarried from the hill on which it stood. It was only occupied for 14 years before Akbar shifted his capital to Lahore due to the water shortages at Fatehpur Sikri. The distinctive architecture, a blend of Hindu and Islamic styles, reflected Akbar?s secular vision as well as his style of governance. The site is separated into two areas – the sacred complex and the royal complex. The Badshahi Darwaza, or Victory Gate, an exclusive royal gateway, separates these.

For Agra tour packages including this unmissable sight visit. www.classically-indian.com

 
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