Thursday, November 22, 2012

7 most Sacred Rivers of India

The rivers of India are the main source of living of the Indian people. There are some major Rivers in India like, Ganga,Yamuna, Narmada, Mahanadi and Brahmaputra. Punjab-The land of five great river’s Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej. Every river of Punjab has its own significance and symbolic importance. The Himalayan rivers are best for white water sports like rafting and other river sports. The seven rivers are counted as the holy rivers of India, one of the most holiest river in India is Ganga or The Gange. Rivers are India’s lifeline and enjoy a special place in prayers and its traditional practices. Most of the holy places in India like, Varanasi, Haridwar, Talakaveri, Nasik, Ujjain and Patna are situated along with the bank of seven holy rivers. The Triveni Sangam in Allahabad is a confluence of 3 rivers the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythological Saraswati river. A place of religious importance and the site for historic Kumbh Mela held every 12 years and Sadhu the holy men of India are gather here for holy bath from all over India. It is said that by taking a bath in the holy rivers, man can be freed from all the sins of his life. Apart form the rivers we Hindu also worship trees,stones and animals,we believed they are the forms of different deities.

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Ganga River: 

The Ganges, originates in the Himalayas at Gaumukh flowing into the bay of Bay of Bengal is the most sacred river of India and the longest river in India. The river has been declared as India’s “National River” and the Gange dolphins are also declared as the national aquatic animal of India. There are so many tributary to the Ganga like Yamuna, Chambal, Betwa and one of the major is  the Ghaghara, which meets it before Patna. Varanasi is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, it has has hundreds of temples so called “City of Temples” is situated along the banks of the Ganges. There are two major dams in gange river one is The Haridwar dam and another is Farakka. One of the longest road bridge in India named as Mahatma Gandhi Setu is build on river Gange at Patna. The mouth of River Ganga forms a vast delta, the Sundarban delta the largest delta in the world, Also these river’s create some of the beautiful valley’s in India.
Ganga Maiya River - Varanasi ka ghat
Ganga Maiya River - Varanasi ka ghat

Yamuna River:  

Yamuna River is a major river and most polluted river of the Indian subcontinent rising form Yamunotri in the Himalaya Mountains and merges with the Ganges at Triveni Sangam, Allahabad, the site for the Kumbha Mela. This is one of the country’s most sacred rivers, Gokul and Mathura on the other bank of the river are holy places for hindu. The Tons, Chambal and Giri rivers are the important tributaries of Yamuna,River Mandakini is the last tributaries of river Yamuna before it joins The Gange in Allahabad. The famous Taj Mahal is situated on the bank of the holy Hindu river Yamuna in Agra. One of the famous Naini Bridge builds across the Yamuna river.
Yamuna Nadi ka Ghat
Yamuna Nadi ka Ghat

Sarasvati River: 

Saraswati is an ancient river that flowed in northern India during the vedic era. Although the river does not have a physical existence today, the ancient river lost in the desert. The Triveni Sangam in Allahabad is a confluence of 3 rivers, the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati,of these three The legendary Saraswati River is invisible and is said to flow underground and join the other two rivers from below and the point of confluence is a sacred place for Hindus.
Saraswati, Nadi
Saraswati, Nadi

Narmada River:  

The Narmada is one of the most sacred of the seven holy rivers of India. Narmada River originates from the Maikala ranges at Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh and flows between the Vindhya and Satpura ranges in a generally southwestern direction and emptying into the Gulf of Khambhat or  Gulf of Cambay, an inlet of the Arabian Sea India. The Narmada valley has many waterfalls, Dhuandhar waterfall and deepest waterfall Kapiladhara are best of them. Sardar sarover dam one of the India’s most controversial dam projects was builds across the Narmada river. Narmada Bridge is the Longest Road Bridge in Gujarat. Narmada River is one of only three major rivers in peninsular India that runs from east to west along with the Tapti River and Mahi River. The Hindu God Lord Shiva Omkareshwar temple on the banks of Narmada river situated in the Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh also this district host India’s largest water reservoir known as IndiraSagar .
Narmada River - Ghat
Narmada River - Ghat

Kshipra or Shipra River: 

The Shipra, also known as the Kshipra rises in the Vindhya Range north of Dhar and flows south across the Malwa Plateau to join the Chambal River. It is one of the sacred rivers in Hinduism. The holy city Ujjain is situated on its right bank. Ujjain is an ancient city of Malwa region in central India and famous for one of the twelve celebrated Jyotirlingas in India known as Mahakaleshwar. In every 12 years, the Kumbh Mela festival takes place on the city and millions of people take holy dip and bath in the holy river Shipra.
Shipra, Kshipra - Nadi - Ujjain - opposite Mahakaal Temple "OM Namah Shivay
Shipra, Kshipra - Nadi - Ujjain - opposite Mahakaal Temple "OM Namah Shivay!!!"

Godavari River: 

The river Godavari originates near Trimbak in Nashik flows towards the Eastern Ghats into the Bay of Bengal. This second largest river is considered to be one of the big river basins in India. Kumbh Mela at Nashik is well known as an important center of Pilgrimage in India because the holy river Godavari. Godavari, the largest and the longest river of South India is popularly referred as to as the Dakshina Ganga. Jayakwadi dam is one of the largest earthen dams in India build across Godavari River in Maharashtra.
Godavari Nadi, Nashik - Maharashtra
Godavari Nadi, Nashik - Maharashtra

Kaveri River: 

Kaveri or Cauvery River is considered to be a very sacred river of southern India. It originates from the Brahmagiri Hill in the Western Ghats flow towards the Bay of Bengal. This sacred river travels across the heartland of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. It is one of the major rivers of the Peninsular flowing east and running into the Bay of Bengal. The Mettur Dam is a large dam build across the Kaveri River. The beautiful shivasamudram falls of Kaveri river is the second biggest water falls in India.
Kaveri Nadi - Hari Om
Kaveri Nadi - Hari Om!!

Great Thar Desert India

The Geat Thar Desert - Rajasthan, INDIA


The Great Indian Desert Thar lies mostly in the Royal Rajasthan states of India, and extended into the some portion of Haryana,  punjab and Rann of Kutch in Gujrat. Thar desert covers eastern Sindh province and some area of Pakistan Punjab as well. The maximum area is covered in Rajasthan, India and total covers area is 208,110 km. It is said to be “The Great Indian Desert” is extending towards UP and MP as well. A camel safari into the Thar desert is an experience not to be missed for tourist. Best time to visit The Great Indian Desert is between Oct to March. The Desert National Park, Jaisalmer  has a collection of fossils of animals and plants of 180 million years old. Some fossils of Dinosaurs of 6 million years old have also been found in the area


Camel Resting inn Fierce Sun - Thar Desert

The Camel also known as “Ship of the desert” is the best way to explorer The Great Indian Desert. Evening of the state of maharajas, Rajasthan is most beautiful with awesome scenic view.

Some wildlife species,which are about to extinct in other parts of India, are found here in large numbers,such as the Great Indian Bustard, the Blackbuck and the “Indian wild Ass”. The Desert National Park, Jaisalmer, spread over an area of 3162 km. It is an excellent example of the ecosystem  of the Great Thar Desert.

Thar Desert Bird - Great Indian Bustard


The three most important things to survive into the Thar desert are prosopis cineraria tree a goat and a camel. With these three things together any one can sustain under the most trying condition, another species of tree is rohida that found in Thar Desert.

Camel eating on Babool Tree in Great Thar Desert

The people of Thar have a great passion for music and poetry. people get together to play soft music and dance. This event continues to till late nights.Thar peoples travel miles of distance to get one potter of water. Woman’s of Thar Desert love to wear beautiful jewelry.


Tribal woman and Kids from Thar Desert

Rajasthan desert festival is held once a year during winters. Camels play a very important role in the desert life as well as in the Desert Festival. Rajasthan folk and rich culture can be seen in this festival.


Tribal Rajasthani Man resting with Camel in Thar Desert - Jaiselmer

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

10 Best Street Food from India

The road side foods are specialty of Indian cities and reflection of India’s culture and tradition,stall vendors of street offers different kinds of delicious and tasty food such as famous chole bhature,Parathas, pitha, chotpoti,puchka, jhalmuri, badam and various fried items. The street vendors of Indian cities also sell sweet items and drinks including Lassi plain or salty,fruit flavored juice, Sherbet,Jaljeera, Neera and other seasonal drinks. Some of major Indian cities are well famous for street food items like Delhi for chole bhature,Indore Poha jalebi, Mumbai for Vada Pao and Kolkata for all types of rolls.

Pani Puri: 

The must try road side Indian food is a mouth watering food item also known as Gol Gappa in Northern India and Poochkas in West Bengal. Pani Puri is best street food from India and the most favorite of Indian girls. Gup chup or Pani Puri is originated from Bihar the Magadh region of India and now available across every street of India. The most popular Indian street food is a small, round, crispy semolina shells stuffed with spice and potato and servers after digging into tangy water, The Water used for panipuri is mixed with Indian spices, amchoor powder and salt. Other variants of Pani puri are Dahi puri and Sev Puri.

Pani Puri from Delhi


pani puri


Chaat: Chaat or Aloo tikki 

Chaat: Chaat or Aloo tikki is another most famous Indian Street Food item available from every village to all Indian cities. Tasty evening snack item is originated from Uttar Pradesh state and become very popular in rest of India and the Indian Sub-continent. The most famous area for Chaat are Agra and Mathura, taste can be vary from city to city. Mumbai’s Chowpatty Beach is world famous for stalls different variety of chaats and other street foods. Chaat is mostly served at road side stall or by vendors around, other variant of Chaat are Papri chaat,Aloo Chaat and Dahi Chaat.
Chole Chaat, Aaloo Tikki

Pav Bhaji

Pav Bhaji is the traditional fast food dish native to Maharashtra and one of the most famous street food in metropolitan areas of India. Pav means a small loaf of bread which served with Bhjai,vegetable dish especially in the central and western Indian states. The quick meal of Indian street as well as Indian restaurants served with butter fried pav,or some more varieties like Cheese Pav Bhaji,Paneer Pav Bhaji and Mushroom Pav Bhaji. Pav Bhaji is one of the most common snack to have between lunch and dinner, it is also a party favorite food item.

Pav Bhaji - femous from Streets of Mumbai

Putu Mayam

Putu Mayam is a local Tamil dish made by rice flour noodle and served with sugar and coconut. Its a type of round, steamed rice flour noodles eaten with sweetened toppings such as desiccated coconut and gula Melaka. Putu Mayam is also known as string hoppers are commonly sold as road side food from market stalls to the street of cities in carts, as well as being made at home. Putu Mayam and Idiyappam street food are the specialty of Indian states Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and coastal areas of Karnataka.

Putu Mayam, famous  from streets of Southern India and Coastal areas of Karnataka

Thattu Dosa

Thattu Dosa is the famous street food of south India especially in the state of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.Set Dosa or Saada Dosa is a pure vegetarian delicacy served with sambar and coconut chutney. Its a mouth watering dish made by traditional form of Kerala dosas and serve by street food sellers around the state. South India is known for its high standard food items, specially road side food and eaten on the streets. There more then 100 varieties of Dosas available in south India,other famous dishes from road side stall are Kerala’s famous banana fry and idlis sambar.

Thattu Dosa - famous from streets of Kerala, Tamil Nadu (Southern India)

Bhelpuri

Bhelpuri or simple Bhel is a savoury snack item or kind of Chaat, made out of puffed rice, onion,potato and a tangy tamarind sauce. Major ingredients used to made Bhel are tomatoes, onions,chilis Sev,Chat masala and chutney. Type of chutneys is the responsible for the flavour like sweet,tangy or spicy. Bhelpuri is called Jhaal Muri in Kolkata, Churumuri in Bangalore and a dry version popularly known as Bhadang in Maharashtra. Jhaal Muri is a different snacks item sell by vendors around the street markets of city. The savoury Indian snacks is created from Maharashtra and got famous to rest of India.
Bombay Bhel Puri - famous from streets of Mumbai , Bombay

Bhel Puri

Poori Sabji

Poori is an Indian fried bread served with gravied potato curry or sweet tomato chutney,Pickle,chana masala along with halwa. Poori Sabji is one of the most favorite breakfast item in India, It also best during the travel as well as for picnic. The fried bread of India is very popular among all age groups and enjoyed while having in breakfast, lunch or dinner. Poori is also made up during the traditional festivals or during any Puja and served with kheer and halwa so also called as festive food. variant of puri is bhatoora, Its three times bigger then one size of a puri and served with chholey and pickle, the luchi from Orissa is another form of Poori. South Delhi is famous for Poori Sabji, bhatoora and delicious Parathas.

Poori Sabji or Poori Bhaji - famous from Ghats of India, Haridwar, Kashi etc

Samosa

Fried Snacks of Indian street are perfect evening snack or a rainy day snacks item. These fried snacks may available in the restaurants but street food are the best for a better taste and experience. Samosa is one of most popular fried snacks serve with sweet-sour tamarind chutney or tangy chilli chutney. Bhajias, Pakoras, Allogunda, Kachori, bade, mirchi bajji etc are some of the best road side fried Indian snacks to have in the evening or in the morning with tea.
Road side Samosa frying :) yummmmmm

Kebab

Street foods of India offers varieties in terms of taste veg,desert,drinks or most favorite non-veg delicacy. Bun-Kabab is one of the most favorite road side food to taste specially in Delhi and Calcutta. The best Indian street non-veg food Bun-Kababs, Seekh Kabab,Tandoori Kabab,Hara Kabab, Egg rolls,chicken rolls and deep fried chickens. Street food stall of India offers Punjabi, Chinese, Mughalai and South Indian non veg dishes. Hyderabad,Delhi and Lucknow are the best place to try every Non-vegetarian street food in India.
Kebabs from Delhi or Hyderabad Street

Fried Rice

Indian street are one of the best place to try Chinese snack item like Chinese fried rice,Chicken Fried Rice and  chilli chicken. Chinese stalls are available on the street of every major cities of India, specially in the evening. These snacks item are very easy to cook and taste a mixture of Indian and Chinese. Apart from Chinese other road side food like momos,noodles,mutton and desert are also available in the streets of India.


fried rice

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Famous Forts and Palaces of Royal Rajasthan

Royal Rajasthan is well known for spectacular Forts and Palaces palaces like Lake Palace of Udaipur, Umaid Bhawan Palace of Jodhpur and Hawa Mahal in Jaipur. These luxury hotel palace offers a royal experience and a touch of Rajasthani culture, traditions and Royalty. Rajasthan is one of the major tourist attraction in India for its palaces, forts,Great thar desert and luxury trains Palace on wheels and Royal Rajasthan on wheels.

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Hawa Mahal, Jaipur

The Hawa Mahal or Palace of Winds is was built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in the pink city Jaipur. Hawa Mahal is a five-storey building with 953 small windows for royal ladies to enjoy everyday life of city. Palace of the Winds is one of the most famous historical monument of India and major tourist attraction of Royal Rajasthan.
Hawa Mahal, Jaipur Rajasthan

Neemrana Fort Palace, Alwar, Rajasthan

The Neemrana Fort Palace is situated on high hills of Alwar and known for its magnificent views of the surrounding beauty. Neemrana Fort Palace is a heritage resort and ranked among India’s oldest heritage resorts.
Neemrana Fort Palace, Alwar Rajasthan (close to Delhi Jaipur National Highway)

Lake Palace, Udaipur

The magnificent Lake palace or Jag Niwas is located in Lake Pichola in Udaipur, the city of Lakes. Lake palace is now a luxury hotel with white marble walls and ranked as the most romantic hotel in India. The royal summer palace was built by Maharana Jagat Singh II in 1743.
Lake Palace, Udaipur - Rajasthan

Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur

The royal Umaid Bhawan Palace is owned by Maharaj Gaj Singh and its world’s largest private residences. One of the part of Umaid Bhawan Palace is a luxury Taj Palace Hotel and another is a Museum.
Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur, Rajasthan (Most expensive hotel in India)

Laxmi Niwas Palace, Bikaner

The famous Laxmi Niwas Palace was a residential palace Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner. Laxmi Niwas Palace is now a luxury hotel built with red sandstone and one of the most popular tourist destination in Bikaner along with Lalgarh Palace.
Laxmi Niwas Palace, Bikaner Rajasthan

Gorbandh Palace, Jaisalmer

The Gorbandh Palace is located in the Jaisalmer, the jewel of desert and known for its Sand Dunes. Gorbandh Palace is now a Luxury heritage hotel near the famous fort of Jaisalmer in the Great Thar Desert.
Gorbandh Palace, Jaiselmer , Rajasthan

Devi Garh Palace, Delwara

The heritage Devi Garh Palace is a hotel and resort in the village of Delwara and regarded as India’s leading luxury hotels. DeviGarh Palace was the residence of royal rulers of Delwara, It is situated on the Aravalli hills near the valley of Udaipur.
Devi Garh Palace, Delwara , near Aravalli Hills - Valley of Udaipur

Padmini Palace Chittorgarh

The Rani Padmini’s Palace is a old but facinating places to see in Chittorgarh near the Gaumukh Reservoir. Padmini’s Palace is one of the major attraction of city with Kalika Mata Temple,Vijay Stambh and Jain Kirti Stambha.
Padmini Palace, Chittorgarh Rajasthan

Sariska Palace, Sariska National Park

The Sariska Palace is a Prime Heritage Hotel and Resort in Sariska built by Maharaja of Alwar Jay Singh near the Jaipur. The glorious past as the Royal Hunting lodge makes it a luxurious Heritage Hotel today. Sariska National park was the royal hunting lodge for Maharaja Jay Singh.
Sariska Palace, Sariska National Park, Rajasthan

Deogarh Palace, Deogarh

The Deogarh Mahal is located at an elevation of 638 m in Rajsamand district. Deogarh Palace is now a luxurious heritage resorts and one of the popular tourist destination of city managed by Royal family of the Deogarh thikana.
Deogarh Palace, Rajsamand District - Deogarh Rajasthan



Other most famous Palaces of Royal Rajasthan are City palace Jaipur,Lalgarh Palace Bikaner, Jal Mahal Jaipur,Shiv Niwas Palace Udaipur and City Palace Udaipur, These fort palaces are now a museum of a luxury hotel.

Famous Street food from Major Indian Cities


Street foods are ready to eat food or drink generally sold in streets, public areas like a market,in fair by a hawker, vendor with a portable stall. Indian streets are well famous for its cheap and tasty food items, Every Indian city has its own specialty of all time favorite snack. Delhi is famous for its tasty street foods either Indian or Chinese with Indian flavor, North east Indian cuisines are also considered to one of the best food such as Naga cuisines, Assam Laksa,bamboo shot, momos, they are cheap and taste really good.




Chole Bhature: 

Delhi, The capital of India is one of the best place to have street foods, Delhi offers variety of road side food and stalls. Chole bhature is a Punjabi dish but very popular in major urban cities of India. Delhi is well famous for best chole bhature,  commonly eaten for break fast or snacks other famous road side food from Delhi are rajma chawal, prathe and most famous mouth watering snacks item chaat.


Famous Delhi - Chole Bhature

Mirchi Bajji: 

Hyderabad, The famous Hyderabadi style mirchi bajjis is a common snack or appetizer, stuffed green chili fritters. Though mirchi bajjis are found with different stuffing’s from at different regions in India but Hyderabadi style mirchi bajjis are the best one to have. Hyderabad is also famous for its Biryani, dosa, idli and Bonda.

Mirchi Bajji from Hyderabad


Akki rott: Bangalore

The specialty of state is akki roti, A spicy bread made from rice flour and server with coconut chatney. The delicious street food is one of the most popular and common tiffin snack quick to make and tastes so good. The specialty of food street in banglore is dosa, there is a huge variety on dosa served here, other food items are sambar,rasam and curd rise.


Akki Rott - Bangalore


Idli Sambhar: 

Chennai, The most favorite south Indian dish, common as breakfast item and served with combination of chutney and sambar. Sambhar which tastes so good with idlis and vadas is made with tamarind and pigeon peas. Idlis and vadas sambhar are the best food in the streets of Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Idli Sambhar - Madras - Chennai


Egg Rolls: Kolkatta, 

Egg Rolls are one of the most popular of all street foods in Kolkata. A  fried egg wrapped inside a paratha served with chutney or sour dipping sauce in many roadside stalls. Another famous street side food item in Kolkatta is phuchka or golgappa.


Famous Egg Roll from Kolkatta, Culcutta


Dabeli: Ahmedabad, 

The most popular street food originate from the Kutch region of Gujarat and travel across street of Mumbai, Pune and other cities of India. Dabeli is a very popular and fantastic spicy snacks item made by boiled potatoes with a special dabeli spices and putting the mixture between the pav.

Dabeli from Ahmedabad, Gujrat


Poha-Jalebi: Indore, 

The biggest city and commercial capital of the state called “heart of India” Madhya Pradesh. Indore is most popular for its culinary rang and well known for wide range of namkeens, samosa, chaats, lapsi and the best one bafla. Poha-Jalebi is the best street food and the specialty of Indore served with sev & nukti and with jalebi. Indore felt proud of the poha and jalebi being the best in the world.


Poha Jalebi , from MP - Indore


Litti Choka: Patna

The most famous dish and the soul food for people of Bihar, Jharkhand  and eastern Utter Pradesh. Litti Choka is looks like dal batti of Rajasthan but its completely different in taste as well as in recipe. The traditional dish of Bihar is made with sattu, grinded gram nut or chana served with chokha made out of potato, brinjal and tomato and a bowl of melted pure desi ghee. Litti Chokha is the best breakfast, lunch and dinner and one of the most important delicacy of Bihar cuisine. Never miss the chance to taste it on streets of Patna.


Latti Choka "Similar to Dal Bati from Rajasthan" -- Patna


Aloo Tikki: Lucknow, 

The most popular snack dishes aloo tikki typically served at road-side tracks from stalls in Lucknow and all over India. aloo tikki is one of the most mouth-watering delicacies within the street food of  Uttar Pradesh. The North Indian snack is made of boiled potatoes and various spices served hot along with sauce. The dish vary from city to city with different name and forms like ragda pattice in Mumbai, Aloo chat etc, The royal cuisines of Lucknow, galauti kebab is a kind of road side food which is also one of the most famous food in streets of Lucknow. Other popular street foods in Uttar Pradesh included Bhel, pani puri, sev puri, dahi puri,jhalmuri and Puri-Subzie.
Allo Tikki - Urf - Bhalla - Lucknow - UP


Vada Pao: Mumbai, 

The Indian version of burger and most popular road side food straight from the heart of Maharashtra. Vada Pao is the most loved and ultimate staple food item, consists of a fried potato dumplings called vada served in a bun, pav with condiments such as red or green chutneys and fried green chillies. The famous vegetarian fast food dish is native to Maharashtra few other are misal pav,pav bhaji, pav-sample, dabeli, batata wada and kande pohe.

Vada Pao or Batata Vada - Mumbai/Bombay - Maharashtra


Kachori: Bikaner, 

The royal state of India, Rajasthan is well famous for its awesome cuisines and delectable street foods. Its famous Bikaneri kachori and popular mirchi bada are the most favorite amongst the locals, and found in almost every street shop or stall. The desert state also known for its most popular dal-baati-churma, pakores and mawa, famous desert from alwar.


Kachori, Bikaner , Rajasthan



Sunrise view from my house