Largest earthen dam in the world

The Hirakud Dam built on the Mahanadi River in Orissa is the world’s largest earthen dam and the longest dam in India . It was built in 1956 and its total length is 25.8km. It also forms the biggest artificial lake in Asia, with a shoreline of over 639 km.

Hirakud-Dam

The dam is 15 kilometers from Sambalpur and was the first large scale, multipurpose river valley project in India after 1947. It was built to control the problem of flooding in Orissa and over 22,000 families were displaced during its making.

The dam provides an ideal home for rare species of flora and fauna. Its reservoir receives up to 25 species of migratory birds during winter. The Debrigarh wildlife sanctuary is located here.

The India Coffee House

The quick in and out espresso bar of Europe has yet to make its way to India, where people still like to spend hours over a cup of coffee. Chains of coffee shops have mushroomed all over the country. In fact, an urban neighbourhood is likely to have more than a dozen of such swanky outlets. The oldest name in the business, however, is a far cry from the modern-day cappuccino-selling shops.

The India Coffee House chain, founded more than 70 years ago, has a presence in all major cities and many small towns. There are close to 400 such outlets, with Kerala notching up the highest number with more than 50. Orderlies with cummerbunds and pointed turbans can be found in many of the Coffee House branches. The coffee menu is usually restricted to hot coffee (black or with milk), cold coffee (without ice-cream), tea, milk and a handful of sherbets and milk shakes. The accompaniments are what contribute to the high footfall, despite the fact that some of the outlets are in need of a makeover. Plates of mutton samosas, biryani, cutlets, omelettes, paranthas, dosas and pakoras fly off the counter as quickly as the coffee served in modest white cups and saucers.

The-India-Coffee-House

The most legendary India Coffee House branch is the one opposite Presidency College in Kolkata. This is where film-makers, politicians, poets, writers and statesmen spend hours over coffee, making it the hotbed of intellectualism. They say that many a revolution was born, many a script written, many a deal struck and many a love affair blossomed over a cup at the ‘Coffee House on College Street’.

Coffee-Cup

Breakfast in the south of India,usually idlis, upma, idiappam and suchlike, is incomplete without the signature filter coffee, served in stainless tumblers. Be it the legendary MTR (Mavalli Tiffin Room) chain in Bangalore or the popular Murugan’s Idli Shop in Chennai’s T. Nagar, the filter coffee served is a mix of dark roasted coffee beans and chicory. Filter coffee mixes as well as the coffee maker, a set of two tumblers,are good souvenirs from a holiday in the south.

Traditional-Coffee-Cups-Maharashtra

The moment a train enters the south, you will see vendors selling tea are far outnumbered from those with coffee. The coffee available on railway platforms is usually served in a small paper cup. The vendor almost always sprinkles coffee powder on the top, giving you as authentic a taste you can ask for Rs. 10 or even less. In some cases, you will find a vendor selling ‘chaffee’ a mix of coffee and tea.

WHILE ON THE MOVE….

Here’s a pick of good places to go for coffee, conversation and more:

• India Coffee House on Shimla’s Mall. Also try the mutton dosa.
• Devraj Coffee Corner, the only German bakery in Rishikesh. Have coffee with the brown bread and yak cheese.
• Brown Bread Bakery in Varanasi, which is a great place to catch up with fellow travellers.
• Matteo, Bangalore’s hottest new cafe.
• Auroville Bakery in Pondicherry, which is also much known for its cakes and croissants.
• Lila Cafe on Baga beach in Goa, also famous for the pumpernickel bread and apple pie.

COFFEE CARDAMOM KULFI RECIPE

Try this delicious coffee based recipe for an alternative but very popular way to get your coffee fix!

Ingredients:

Servings: 5

8 cups milk

3 tbsp sugar

12 cardamom pods

6 tbsp brewed espresso

Method

Heat the milk in a heavy-bottomed pan. When it reached boiling point, reduce to low heat and stir occasionally for 20 minutes.

Crush the cardamom and add to the milk. Simmer for 60 minutes (or untill the time the milk reduces to two cups). Pour the milk into a bowl, add espresso and sugar, and stir. Leave it to cool down.

Churn the mixture in an ice-cream maker until thick. Put  the mixture into five kulfi moulds and refrigerate.

Add slivered almonds and a few strands of saffron before serving.

Swaad with Sharmaji

Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary

The protected Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary offers an impressive amount of wildlife and fauna for the outdoors enthusiast. Just 10km from Kashid beach in Maharashtra it’s a great spot to get back to nature. Our guide gives you the essential visitor information.

About the sanctuary

The wildlife sanctuary has four major trails and umpteen opportunities to spot wildlife. Though spread over only 52 sq km, the Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary is replete with a large variety of flora and fauna.

Butterfly-in-Phansad-wildlife-sanctuary

It is well known for its population of leopards, hyenas, jungle cats, barking deer, sambhar, wild boars, giant squirrels and bonnet macaque. Even the bird watchers have a notable list of avian friends to follow- Pied hornbills, three toed Kingfishers, Malkohas, Pittas and more. Almost 90 species of butterflies and a number of insects are also a part of the sanctuary. For herpetology enthusiasts, there are a large number of poisonous and non-poisonous snakes. With its growing popularity, specialists are at work in identification of all flora and fauna. The list of plants stands at about 710.

Getting Around

The Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary is a favourite with weekend photographers, who are free to take guided hikes around the forests on the specified trails. Private vehicles need prior permission from the Forest officials. Observation kiosks are made near the water bodies.

Phansad-wildlife-sanctuary

Location

The Phansad Wildlife sanctuary lies in Raigad, which is about 150 kms from Mumbai. The distance is convenient for also a weekend trip. It is just a short trip from the wonderful Kashid beach destination.

Best Season to Visit

The sanctuary is best to see in the warmer months of April and March before the rains, so that there are more chances to spot wildlife.

Punjab Tourism: Things to do in Amritsar

The city of Amritsar in the state of Punjab in Northern India has lots to offer visitors. People flock to see the glittering Golden Temple but also discover a city full of interesting sights and plenty of world-class restaurants. Here are some things to do in Amritsar to make the most of this vibrant destination.

1. The Golden Temple

The Harmandir Sahib commonly known as the Golden Temple is a prominent Sikh gurdwara. Construction of the Golden Temple began in 1574 on land donated by the Mughal emperor Akbar. The building project was overseen by the fourth and fifth Sikh Gurus.

The-Golden-Temple-Amritsar

The temple was completed in 1601, but restoration and embellishment continued over the years. The Golden Temple has unique architecture. It has been deliberately built at a level lower than that of the neighbouring land in order to teach the lesson of equality and humility. The shrine can be accessed from all four directions signifying that people belonging to every walk of life are equally welcome.

The only restrictions are that visitors must not drink alcohol, eat meat or smoke in the shrine. Visitors are asked to leave their footwear at a facility near the entrance, cover their head and wash their feet by wading through the shallow pool before entering. It is advised to come here keeping a few hours spare in order to soak in the magic of this divine temple.

2. Jalianwala Bagh

A historical monument telling the sad story of mass killing during India’s freedom struggle is another must visit in Amritsar. The site is famous for the memorial of the martyrs of the 1919 carnage carried out by British General Dyer. He was convinced that a major insurrection was going on and hence banned all meetings. On being informed that about 15,000 people had gathered at Jalianwala Bagh, he along with 50 riflemen opened fire and kept firing till all ammunition was exhausted. Although, Dyer was removed from duty and forced to retire, this tragic incident left a deep scar on the people and was a catalyst in quickening the struggle for Freedom. The place also has a park. The Martyr’s Gallery is open to all from 10 am to 4 pm during winters and from 9 am to 5 pm in summers.

Jalianwala Bagh-in-Amritsar

3. Wagah Border

Wagah, on the Indo-Pakistan border, is 28 kms from Amritsar. Numerous visitors come to see the ceremonious change of guards and the flag hoisting and lowering activities done skillfully and with precision by the border security forces of both the countries. It is interesting to note that border security forces of both India and Pakistan undergo the elaborate ceremony jointly! The ceremony is impressive and one of its kind in India, and is a sure shot recipe to evoke feelings of patriotism. The flag down ceremony starts at 4:30pm and goes on till 5:00pm.

Wagah-Border

4. Khair-ud-Din Masjid 

Renowned for its architectural beauty, Jama Masjid Khairuddin is one of the most admired religious center of Amritsar. Famous among the tourists as well as the locals, this beautiful mosque was built by Muhammad Khairuddin in 1876. This holy place is where Tootie-e-Hind, Shah Attaullah Bukhari raised his voice against the British rule. This grand edifice of the freedom struggle displays one of a kind architectural elegance. Do note that being located in the midst of a busy market, this mosque is quite crowded.

5. Durgiana Mandir

Located in close proximity to the Golden temple is the Durgiana Mandir which was built during the 16th century. Although dedicated to Goddess Durga it also houses other deities such as Lakshmi and Narayana. Located in the middle of a pristine lake, it does not follow the typical temple architecture of ancient times. A renowned depository of Hindu scriptures, this temple displays an unusual grandeur and elegance of its own.

Durgiana-temple

6. Akal Takht

The Akal Takht, next to the Golden Temple, is the seat of the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, the religious governing body of the Sikhs. The principal sacred text of Sikhism, Adi Granth is housed in the ground floor of the Akal Takht and is taken out in procession every morning to be placed at the Harmandir Sahib. Again at night, it is brought back to the Akal Takht. It also houses the 68 holy shrines of the Hindus and according to the teachings of Guru Arjan Dev. It was enough for the devout to visit these shrines and not visit all the original Hindu shrines which are spread all over the country so come visit the Akal takht if you’re seeking a short cut to your journey of spirituality!

Akal-takht

7. Shopping

Shopping in Amritsar can be very exciting and you will be spoilt with the amount of choice that is available. Famous for its traditional Phulkari Embroidery, Amritsar can be quite a haven for shoppers. Also available are the beautiful Patiala Salwars worn by the women of this region. To team with them get the Punjabi Jutis, the traditional shoes of the people of this region. Considering that Amritsar does got quite chilly during the winters, you can also buy here some fantastic woollen garments, carpets and blankets woven by the people of Punjab.

The old city bazaars are the best places to go for shopping the traditional items. You can try out Guru Bazaar, Mochi Bazaar and Shastri Market to get hold of some elegant Patialas. The market places are abuzz with activity right from 11:00 in morning till 9:00 in the evening.

8. Food

Last but not the least, no write up of Amritsar could ever be complete without mention of food. Known for their fish fry, lassi, paranthas, puri channa, Kulfi, Sarson ka saag and makki ki roti you are going to need days if not weeks to sample all of it!

Punjabi-food

Kesar da dhaba in the heart of old city whips up some delicious but also quite heavy food. Surjeet food plaza located in a capacious basement on Lawrence Road is best known for its yellow daal, paneer dishes, and the tandoori fish. KulchaLand located at the District Shopping Complex serves up delicious Amritsari kulchas from morning till evening 4 p.m. The pickles, jams and jellies of Amritsar, made by the rural women are great to carry back home.