Author Archive
March 12th, 2007 | 
Author: The name Gujarat has been derived from “Gujjar Rashtra” which means the land of the Gujjars.
The state Gujarat is bounded by the Arabian Sea on the west, Pakistan and Rajasthan in the north and north-east respectively, Madhya Pradesh in the south east and Maharashtra in south.
Gujarat is dotted with several places to visit and see. Amongst the popular tourist destinations of Gujarat are Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Jamnagar, Patan, Vadodara, Pavagadh, Champaner, Surat, Saputara, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Junagadh, Uperkot, Porbandar, Kutch and Bhuj.
The various cities in Gujarat are easily accessible through air, road and rail. Gujarat has 10 domestic airports apart from an international airport at Ahmedabad. Most of the domestic airlines operate out of Ahmedabad connecting it to rest of the country.
Along with its varied destinations, the attractive handicrafts, the delicious cuisine and colourful lifestyle of the people of Gujarat, add to its charm. Famous for its beaches, temple towns and historic capitals, Gujarat is one state that shall be explored by every tourist. Wildlife sanctuaries, hill resorts, and natural grandeur, of Gujurat makes states a breathtaking destination.
Rich in crafts, history and natural beauty, the remarkable coastal state of Gujarat – the home state of Mahatma Gandhi – continues to attract artists, scholars, the intellectual elite and businessmen from the world over.
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Nowhere in India is dining more rewarding than in Mumbai. The city literally holds thousands of restaurants, and being a city of migrants, every kind of Indian cuisine is represented over here.
Snacks Of Mumbai
When we talk of Mumbai and what immediately comes to mind is Bhel-Puri, the Ragda Patties, Batata Vadas, Sandwich, Kulfi, Coconut and other snacks. Mumbai’ s fast food is not restricted to Bhel and Pani Puri anymore; roadside shacks now sell eclectic stuff, comprising of Dosas, Pizzas, Hamburgers, Pulao, Biryani and many more. In Mumbai, the ‘Paan’ culture has been raised to an art form. An example of this is the Cold and Sweet Paan in which the sweet filling is chilled.
The most popular items include the Mumbai’s Vada Pav, the unique taste of which is unbeatable, Sandwich, a light snack made of bread, Zpudina Chutney and fresh vegetables, Pani Puri, a light snack made up of puffed Puris, sprouts and other spices, “Dahi Batata Puri”, good substitute for breakfast or mini meals during summer days, Pav Bhaji, medley of variety of vegetables cooked in different style, Misal as the name suggests, a spicy mixture of pulses, potatoes and other spices, Bhel Puri a very famous Chowpatty chat popular all over India, “Sev Batata Puri” a light snack made of flat Puris garnished with mashed potatoes, chutneys and other condiments
Konkan Cuisine
Konkan cuisine has two styles of cooking, “Konkanast Brahmin Cuisine”, which uses few spices and is more coconut based, and the spicy non-Brahmin version. A little further inland, the Konkan cuisine has peanuts, sesame and coriander as the main spicing agents.
INDIA GATE: Situated at the banks of Yamuna river, Delhi, the capital of India, is a vibrant modern city with an ancient and eventful history. The city with its multi-faceted culture can aptly said to be a microcosm of the whole nation. Visit to the city offers a unique two-in-one experience as New Delhi with its wide roads and high rise buildings gives a feel of being in a contemporary city whereas a stroll down the streets of Old Delhi can easily take one to a bygone era with its narrow lanes and old ‘havelis’. Delhi has thousands of historical monuments and places of religious importance.
India Gate, an important monument of the city, is a memorial built in commemoration of more than 80,000 Indian soldiers who were killed during World War I. The monument is an imposing 42 meters high arch and was designed by the famous architect Edwin Lutyens. India gate was earlier named All India War Memorial. The design of India gate is almost similar to its French counterpart war memorial, the Arc-de-Triomphe.
The building is made of red stone that rises in stages into a huge molding. On top of the arch, INDIA is written on both sides. Names of over 70,000 Indian soldiers are inscribed on the walls of the monument in whose memory it is built. There is a shallow domed bowl at the top, which was intended to be filled with burning oil at special occasions.
At the base of the India gate there is another memorial, the Amar Jawan Jyoti that was added after independence. This eternal flame was lighted in commemoration of the unknown soldiers who laid their lives to serve this nation.
The lush green lawns, Children Park and the famous boat club around the place make it a perfect picnic spot. Cool evening breeze near the fountains of India gate attract hundreds of visitors daily. In the evenings, India gate is illuminated with number of lights around it that gives it a magnificent appeal. Standing near the base of the monument one can have a good view of the Rashtrapati Bhawan. The beautifully lit up monument provides a memorable background against the darkening sky. Even in daylight, the stretch between India Gate and the Rashtrapati Bhavan offers a splendid view
Every year on 26th January India gate stands witness to the Republic Day parade where latest advancements of defence technology is displayed. The parade is also a good platform to have a glimpse at the colourful and diverse cultural heritage of India as artists from all over the country perform on the occasion
Calcutta is a good starting point for your travels in eastern India.
The capital of the state of West Bengal, Calcutta has a charm all its own. Imperial edifices, teeming bazaars, clubs and golf courses, museums and elegant hotels and the River Hooghly winding through the city are all part of its fascination. A good time to visit Calcutta is during the Durga Puja in October/ November when Calcutta is decked and decorated and is alive with good cheer and celebration.
Many of Calcutta’s imperial buildings are located around the maidan, a large expanse of lawns that forms the heart of the city. They include the Victoria Memorial, an imposing structure in white marble that has a collection of paintings, manuscripts and memorabilia, the Fort William, the Raj Bhawan, the St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Town Hall built in the Doric style. Calcutta has a lively cultural life and fine clubs. So see an art exhibition or two or go to the theatre.
Take a toy train to the magnificent hill station of Darjeeling for an unusual travel experience. Admire a panorama of some of the highest peaks in the Himalayan ranges. Go onwards to Gangtok, the attractive capital of Sikkim.
Travel further north to the lush Brahmaputra Valley to Assam. Explore the verdant unspoilt beauty of the hill states of the north east Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Manipur. There are exciting trekking trails and colourful cultures to encounter and enjoy. Guwahati, set along the banks of the Brahmaputra, Shillong, a pretty hill station in Meghalaya with its grassy downs and lakes are special destinations.
From Calcutta you can wander off in the south eastern direction for a fantastic break to the spectacular Andaman Islands – 300 odd islands in the Bay of Bengal with their lush rain forests and sparkling beaches. You could go by air or take a slow boat to the islands!
Along the coastline, south of Calcutta is the magical state of Orissa. Splendid temples in the Nagara style with tall shikaras or temple towers embellished with exquisite carving are the main attractions of this state. The temple towns of Bhubaneswar and Puri with Konark noted for its unusual Sun Temple, make a marvellous circuit close to Calcutta.
Go west to the state of Bihar for a gentle trail in the path of the Buddha. Ancient settlements- Bodhgaya, the remains of the university town of Nalanda, Rajgir, Vaishali and Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh evoke the life of the Enlightened One.