Travel Guruji

January 22, 2019September 20, 2019

11 Best Places in India to Celebrate Christmas

After getting to the end of the year, we all want to celebrate Christmas to mark the end of it. Although we do not do it like the rest of the world, Christmas is also huge in India.

The most important part is that we grasp the spirit of Christmas, which is forgiveness, love, and sharing with the less fortunate. People in most parts of the world celebrate Christmas by pomp, color, and show with enthusiasm.

It is the same with some parts of the country too. Different customs and traditions define the variety of flavor into the celebration so here are some of the best examples to check out.

Goa

The name Goa denotes celebration in itself. It has one of the largest concentrations of Roman Catholics in the country hence the reverence of Christmas. It is also influenced by Portuguese culture hence the pomp and color.

The Catholic faith is known to be zealous and enthusiastic. Here, the city turns into the party capital in the Christmas season. You will feel the real warmth of Christmas if you are present in Goa.

Decorations of poinsettia flowers and lighting to make unique midnight filled with carols, which go to the early hours of the morning. The entire city turns red with restaurants serving Christmas specials and bands play around the streets and beaches. ( Read 10 Best Things To Do In Goa )

Puducherry

Puducherry has tons of French influence to enjoy. It has a unique place to celebrate Christmas because it is peaceful. There are many Roman Catholic faithful here to meaning the Union Territory has also a big way to celebrate the joyful occasion.

It highlights Christmas like a bright event where you will definitely enjoy being part of the people here. There is a huge mass conducted in Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at the height of the occasion.

Daman and Diu

The Portuguese influence contributes to the charm you will find here. It is situated off the coast of Gujarat and a lively place to celebrate Christmas.

It is home to many cultural shows, as there are many Portuguese events and dance forms. There are vibrant lamps to brighten the night sky making it phenomenon and fantastic.

Mumbai

Mumbai is a renowned city around the world but you may have never known it for a place to spend Christmas. You will have a unique occasion here as you enjoy the desserts in the bakeries.

There is all you need to give the best feel of the festival. The western suburb of Bandra is a great place because of the lit-up environment. There are many churches to complete your Christmas day in full.

Dadra Nagar and Haveli

Although barely spoken about, these destinations are lucrative and have the potential for the most attractive tourist locations in the entire country. December is also the best time to visit thanks to the grand celebration expected.

Bangalore

Bangalore brings an exuberant spirit to your Christmas. This entire city gets decked up during the advent season with malls, markets, and restaurants with huge discounts and special menus. It is predominant with Christians and magnificently decorated.

Manali

If you want a white Christmas in India, Manali is the place to be. It is the most popular destination for a perfect real deal. It often snows in Manali during Christmas giving you a chance to enjoy the skiing and making a snowman or throw balls at each other.

You may also want to spend time in the log huts to enjoy an ancient mood of Christmas. Remember to make early bookings because the hotels are high on demand when December comes.

Delhi

You may know Delhi for many other things apart from Christmas. The fact is; this is a place with a great environment for celebration mood.

There are many Christians in Delhi who are enthusiastic about the occasion. They make decorations with thousands of shimmering lights, clubs, and lounges and parties.

Kolkata

This is a city known for its joy in brightness from the aroma of the fruitcakes and pastries to the sweet air. The markets are filled with crowds of shoppers hassling for the heavy discounts available in stores in Kolkata. For example, Park Street is one of the places to enjoy because it is extravagant in its festive mood.

Shillong

Shillong offers you a beautiful experience to complete your December holidays. Although it does not attract many people during winter, you have a chance to celebrate Christmas in a unique Indian setting.

Kerala

Kerala is home to many churches and therefore, a place you want to be in the company of the locals when Christmas comes.

Almost every street has decorations with the churches remaining open all night with long colorful restaurants where food and drinks have heavy discounts.

Most importantly, there is a touch of the local culture into the celebrations, which turn the beaches, backwaters, and streets in

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Read 8 Rituals And Customs To Follow In Chinese New Year

January 22, 2019April 22, 2019

Top 20 Indian Food Recipes

There is nothing like top 20 Indian foods. It’s almost impossible to rank the foods. There are so many varieties of food in India. It’s a country of 29 states and each state is like a country in itself. Even the spices used in Indian food has unique characteristics.

Although Indian food varies across states, what makes Indian food truly “desi” is the use of spices. Spices like dalchini, cloves, cardamon, dhania, tamarind, turmeric are used frequently in any Indian dish.

After tasting various Indian foods, we have tried to narrow down the list to 20 foods.

Samosa

Samosas are fried baked pastry with savory fillings such as spiced potatoes, onions, lentils, etc. Indian samosas are mostly vegetarian often served with chutneys. Samosas are common street food in India. It is also a street food in many South Asian countries.

Chai

There is no better feeling than having that cup of tea in a street-side stall in India. Tea is indeed a national drink in India.

Parantha

Paranthas are Indian bread made with whole wheat or white wheat flour. The paranthas may be stuffed with potatoes forming aloo parantha. If stuffed with muli it forms muli parantha. Normal paranthas are often served with Sabji and Aachar.

Naan

Naan is an oven-baked flatbread often served with various meals. Naan tastes best when served with curries. There are various varieties of naan available like garlic naan and cheese naan. ( Read 17 Punjabi Dishes You Must Try )

Chole Batura

Chole is a side dish made from chickpeas. And baturas are deep fried round Indian bread made with white flour. This dish is most popular in northern India.

Pani Puri

Pani Puri as the name states is composed of two words Pani + Puri where Pani means water and Puri means fried puff crisp dough balls. Often tamarind water is placed inside the puris to give its distinctive flavor. Irrespective of any state, this dish is a popular street-side food all over India.

Chaats

Chaat is a savory snack that originated in India. This dish is immensely popular in the Indian subcontinent. The chaat may vary according to its name. For example, aloo chaat, bhelpuri, dahi vada, papri chaat, pav bhaji are different forms of chaat.

Matar Paneer

This dish is prepared by mixing soft cubes of paneer and small green peas in a mildly spicy tomato based gravy.

Bengali Fish Curry

The dish is made by mixing fish with spicy curry. Normally three types of Bengali Fish curry are popular. They are a) Fish Kalia b) Mustard Fish Curry (Shorche Curry ) c ) Tomato Fish Curry. These three fish curries are also popular in neighboring Assam. Tomato Fish Curry is more popular in Assam. ( Read 10 Bengali Dishes You Need To Try )

Chicken Butter Masala

A good chicken masala powder is the main ingredient to make this dish. This dish is made by mixing meat in a medium spicy onion tomato gravy. A little bit of butter is added to give the final taste.

Dal Khichdi

Dal Khichdi is a rice and lentil dish made with medium spices.

Hyderabadi Biryani

It is a great choice for foodies who want to have rice with spices interspersed with small pieces of meat. Cooked in a unique Hyderabadi style it is layered with fried onions and mint. This dish tastes best when served with raita. ( Read 11 Hyderabadi Dishes That You Won’t Regret Taking )

Masala Dosa

Masala Dosa is a famous Indian dish. This dish is not only popular in India but it is also popular in many foreign countries. A potato paste is first made by mixing light cooked potatoes, onions, mustard seeds, and curry leaves. The potato paste is then wrapped inside a crisp crepe. Usually, masala dosa is served with sambhar and chutney. ( Read Best Customary Dishes Of Karnataka )

Idli

Idli is a savory rice cake. The cakes are made by steaming a batter consisting of fermented black lentils and rice. The cakes are served best with chutney and sambhar. ( Read Kerala Cuisine )

Medhu Vada

Medu Vada is an Indian fritter made from black lentil. It is usually shaped like a doughnut with a crispy exterior and a soft interior. The Vada is mostly served with sambhar and chutney.

Vada Pau

The dish consists of a potato dumpling (Vada) placed inside a bun bread (Pav). It is often served with powdered chutney and green chilies.

Dhokla

Dhokla is one of the best dishes to come out from the western state of Gujarat. The dish is actually a steam cake made from gram flour and chana daal.

Momo

Momo is a steamed dumpling with some form of filling. The dish is popular among people of Assam, Ladakh, Sikkim and Darjeeling regions of India.

Rasgulla

It is derived from the word Ras means Juice and Gulla means Ball. It is made from ball-shaped dumplings of chenna cooked in a light sugar syrup.

Gulab Jamun

This is another top Indian dessert. Gulab Jamun literally translates into rose berries. The Gulab Jamun is made from Khoya douse in sugar.

Read about Food Delivery Apps In India

January 20, 2019April 10, 2019

8 Rituals And Customs To Follow In Chinese New Year

More than lights and mythical beasts, Lunar New Year

(LNY) festivities change contingent upon the nation in which you celebrate. With celebrations occurring the world over, here are eight LNY conventions.

The occasion all the more suitably called LNY, as it denotes the beginning of another lunar cycle. This is a standout among the essential occasions in Asia.

From mouth-watering treats to great fireworks, these are eight different ways that individuals celebrate this festival.

Meet friends and family

Firstly, LNY can be used to make up for the lost time with friends and family. LNY is an opportunity to head home. So prepare to have your cheeks squeezed, your plate filled, and your life decisions addressed.

This festival is best celebrated with family and friends. LNY travel is proclaimed as the ‘world’s biggest human relocation’.

Light up with some shading

Secondly, various lights are lit in the LNY. Being related with riches and favorable luck, red designs are hung to avert Nian – a lion-like beast that fears the shading red, as indicated by LNY folklore.

In parts of China, where the occasion is called Spring Festival, decorative designs and natural product trees light up homes and lanes.

In Korea, winged creatures join these enhancements – beautifying cranes symbolize life span while jaybirds speak to favorable luck.

Offer gifts

Thirdly, gifts are offered to friends and family. Parcels and gifts are presented to the near and dear ones. These red parcels are money blessings that can extend from a couple of dollars to very heavy sums.

Watch fireworks

Fourthly, firework shows are seen during this time of the year. LNY wouldn’t be finished without fireworks. In China, New Year’s fireworks are produced using strings of moved red paper.

The conviction is that the noisy clamor of the sparklers serves to terrify Nian, the lion-like beast who legend says ascended from the ocean for a blowout of human tissue on the New Year.

Nian folklore likewise happens amid lion moves crosswise over LNY merriment’s – a standout among the most universally perceived customs in light of its noticeable quality in diaspora festivities.

Prepare for a new beginning

Fifthly, cleaning is performed to wash away the misfortune of the previous year. In the days paving the way to LNY, windows are cleaned, floors cleared, and furniture tidied.

Cleaning house may not appear the most upbeat of customs, yet as a custom, it sets the tone for the New Year to begin new.

Visit an LNY showcase

Also, in New Year’s Day, outdoors showcases sell designs, red parcels, toys, and garments.

Visit the sanctuary

Further, visiting the sanctuary is another ritual in the LNY. The LNY season is a bustling time for sanctuaries. Admirers normally visit the sanctuary on the third day of LNY to light incense, implore gods for gifts and good karma in the year ahead.

Have happy treats

And finally, people eat good food to observe LNY. In northern China, individuals get ready and eat dumplings, as a major aspect of LNY Eve. In addition, different foods like mandarin oranges, sugar-coated products are usually eaten to observe the LNY.

January 20, 2019May 21, 2019

10 Best Things To Do In Coorg

Coorg is proclaimed as the ‘Scotland of India’. The pleasant area is known for its amazing coffee, yet there is a great deal more to see and do in Coorg. Nature darlings, picture takers, devotees, and culture vultures, will discover intriguing exercises with regards to Coorg.

1. Wash elephants at Dubare Elephant Camp

Firstly, the best activity you can do in Coorg is to play with the elephants. The elephant camp in Dubare has a huge group of elephants that you can encourage, wash and ride.

Situated on the waterway bank, it’s the ideal spot to chill in summer and is among the best activities in Coorg in May.

2. Experience Tibetan culture at the Golden Temple

Another activity you can do in Coorg is to visit the Namdroling Monastery. Coorg is the main spot in Southern India with a Tibetan settlement. The Namdroling Monastery, better referred to locally as the Golden Temple is a lovely Tibetan cloister.

It’s an incredible way to acquaint kids with a different culture. Therefore, visiting Bylakuppe should be on your to-do list.

3. Visit the Abbey Falls

Also, visiting the Abbey Falls can be a refreshing experience. Coorg is honored with nature’s abundance and capturing it is a standout among the best activities in Coorg.

The smooth cascade situated in a beautiful estate which offers an incredible view for that ideal Instagram photograph. So don’t fuss pondering what to do in Coorg, simply head to Abbey falls.

4. Trek through the slopes and wildernesses

Also, trekking is also one of the best things to do in Coorg. The verdant Western Ghats offers open doors for climbing and trekking. Trekking is perfect amid winters when the backwoods are dry and green.

5. Relish ‘pandi curry’ and ‘akki rotti’

Another activity that you should do in Coorg is to eat ‘pandi curry’. For veggie lovers, there is akki rotti, nool puttu, and koovaleputtu. Thus, if you are a foodie you can try out the Coorgi cuisine.

6. Go for a stroll in a coffee estate

Further, bean picking is a standout among the best activities in Coorg. The district is the biggest maker of coffee and you will discover coffee estates throughout the territory. The picking season is between November-January.

7. Camp under the stars

Furthermore, camping under the stars can be a lovely activity to do in Coorg. Truth be told, with an outdoors trip you don’t need to stress over what to do in Coorg. You can pick, book, and unwind in your tent amid the day and camp under the stars around evening time.

8. Go angling in the streams and pools of Coorg

Coorg has various lakes and streams. The streams make angling a standout among the best exercises in Coorg. Hence, angling in the streams of Coorg can be a thrilling experience.

9. Enjoy a traditional homestay

Home-stays are a well-known choice in Coorg. Here you can encounter Coorgi way of life and appreciate home prepared dinners.

On the off chance that you are fortunate, you can visit a Coorgi wedding which is a standout among the best activities in Coorg. Hence, a homestay can be a unique experience for you and your family.

10. Go for river rafting in Barapole

Finally, river rafting is a great thing to do in Coorg. Coorg is in actuality an incredible spot for whitewater boating, particularly amid storms. The Barapole waterway offers a great experience to explorers. Therefore, if you are pondering about doing some water activity you should not miss this one.

January 20, 2019September 20, 2019

8 Wonderful Jain Food Recipes You Have To Try

1. Bajra Dhebra

Firstly, one delicious dish in Jain Cuisine that you must try is Bajra Dhebra. Bajra dhebra, a puri like a dish that conveys with it a kind of flavor and surface of crunch that gives a nourishment darling a colorful eating knowledge.

The pan-fried dish is a super dish for a winter evening or a stormy night close by some chai. With a dash of sesame seeds added to them, the bajra dhebra taste simply heavenly.

2. Jain Mixed Vegetable Handvo

Secondly, Jain Mixed Vegetable Handvo is another Jain dish that you must try. Jain dishes are 100% vegan. One such remarkable dish is the Jain Mixed Vegetable Handvo.

As the name proposes, it is a dish with a decent group of veggies including sweet corn and some jug gourd.

3. Dhokla

Thirdly, Dhokla is another Jain dish that you must try. Dhokla is the enticing yellow in shading Gujarati dish 14 Vegetarian Gujarati Dishesthat just fulfills cravings for food at breakfast time. The dish is supple in surface and tastes really stunning with kinds of pepper, green stew, and salt.

4. Dal Makhani

Fourthly, Dal Makhani is a dish that vegetarian food lovers should try. Dal Makhani with roti or rice is a great combination.

5.Banana Chutney

Fifthly, another Jain dish that you must try is banana chutney. Banana is the most loved organic product for some and it is accessible around the year. You more likely than not knew about banana chips or banana curry.

6. Vegetable Pulao

Sixthly, one more Jain dish that you must try is vegetable pulao. It is one of those extremely prominent dishes in India where individuals simply influence this one dish when visitors to arrive and offer with salan or raita.

Pulao is one of the exceptionally simple to make an Indian rice dish that tastes excessively great. Mouth-watering right? Look through the fixings and the cooking methodology to attempt it for yourself.

6. Khatta Dhokla

In addition to the above dishes, another Jain dish you must try is the Khatta Dhokla. The light surface of the dish makes it simply soften inside the mouth as you chomp into it. This is one of those snappy dishes which are made with acrid curd.

With a basic kind of pepper and green chilies that give a hot taste, the dish is one of the most loved chomp on’s for both north and south Indians, for each such exceptional dish is accessible everywhere throughout the nation.

7. Corn Upma

Another lovely Jain dish is corn upma. While Upma is the most depended on breakfast dish of South Indian homes, Corn is viewed as the most beneficial fixings.

Presently, imagine a scenario in which we reveal to you that you can make upma with corn and it tastes delightful. Somewhat fiery, somewhat sharp and somewhat delicate, corn upma is a more beneficial decision for breakfast.

8. Paneer Dal Curry

Finally, one dish that you shouldn’t miss is the paneer dal curry. While Paneer is the most loved element of the majority of us, dal is veggie lovers’ protein source.

With a remarkable flavor and being protein pressed, this dish is taking care of business when folded into a roti or any such loaves of bread.