Tourism in India is a tale of amazing potential, confusing paradoxes, missed opportunities and massive under utilisation of resources. Compared to rest of the tourist hotspots around the world, India has mind boggling variety of tourist attractions of all types which can attract almost every single type of tourist out there. Ancient archaeological heritage of India which goes back to nearly 4000 years is spread all over India, from Laddakh to Kanyakumari.
India is blessed with such awe inspiring ancient monuments at a scale unrivaled by any other country in the world. Forts of Rajput rulers in Rajasthan, artful temples of Bundels, luxurious monuments constructed by Mughals, amazingly beautiful Konkan temples are just a small fraction of this wealth spread across it’s length and breadth. Adventure tourists have some of the best and virtually untouched destinations in Laddakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttranchal, Sikkim, Mizoram and other north-eastern states . Wild life enthusiasts have the option of seeing some of the rarest wildlife not found anywhere else in world in Gir, Jim Corbett and many other national parks.
Adventure tourism, specially in north-eastern states has a lot of potential but hasn’t been explored even partially. The north-eastern states states have some of the best places for adventure activities like trekking, mountain climbing, camping and much more. Culinary tourism in India which has the biggest potential is just a small speck. Considering the vast culinary diversity of India, the country should be the top destination for all foodie tourists.
So many religions like Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism originated in India and their followers from all over the world wish to visit places important to their faiths. Medical tourism in India due to high quality healthcare at very low prices attracts people from all over the world. Culture and food junkies can’t find any place better than India with it’s diversity in languages, people, food, music, literature and culture which go back thousands of years. To top that, India is one of the cheapest tourist destinations compared to most of western countries. There is no other country in the world which offers so much diversity in such a package. Anyone would think that with so many blessings, India would be the tourist hub of the world. To top it all, India is one of the cheapest destinations in the world for tourists.
In 2011, 62 lakh foreigner tourists arrived in India. Tourism sector in India employs nearly 4 crore people and is $ 121 billion dollar industry. Seems impressive, only till compared to 2.5 crore tourists per year Malaysia which has little to offer except beaches and and cheap shopping. Top tourist destination in world is France with 8.2 crore tourists in 2011 and 8.3 crore in 2012. India is not even in top 10 tourist destinations in world or even Asia. It’s actually ranked 38, preceded by countries like Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Egypt and even Tunisia. Just for sake of perspective, go through the following list:
( 1 million = 10 lakh, 100 lakh = 1 crore)
Country No. of tourists
Tourism in India is more than just Taj Mahal, Chandratal Lake, Spiti
Turkey 3.5 crore
Morocco 92 lakh
Tunisia 69 lakh
South Africa 80 lakh
China 5.8 crore
Saudi Arab 1.7 crore
Egypt 94 lakh
Thailand 1.9 crore
Looking at these figures, one can’t help but wonder what is wrong with Indian tourism sector. It’s not that people around the world are unaware of what India has to offer. Established travel forums like TripAdvisor and Lonely Planet are full of foreigners discussing and asking for information related to travel in India. Sections related to India are the ones with maximum number of posters. On Tripadvisor, India section has more than 10000 threads, exceeded only by 15000 threads of Thaliand. A lot people from all over the world wish to visit India but are turned away by numerous factors.
Some of such issues are:
1) Complicated visa procedures: Infamous Indian red tape and bureaucracy is a nuisance outside the country too. Unlike other tourist hotspots, India makes it much more difficult and expensive for tourists to get a visa. India offers on arrival visa to only a handful of countries including Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand and 4-5 others. In comparison, Malaysia offers on arrival visa to majority of countries except Israel, India, China and some African countries.
2) Bad infrastructure : Even though rapid development is happening, India is still a long way from having a world class tourist infrastructure.
3) Safety : Image of India has taken a severe beating recently due to various factors. Pakistan sponsored terrorism in various parts of India is also a big turn 0ff.
4) Lack Of Promotion Unlike other countries where governments and private organisations, spend large amounts of money and effort to promote tourism in their own countries, Indian efforts in this case have been very limited. Incredible India campaign which was launched with much fanfare a few years back ran out of steam pretty quickly.
Above mentioned points are not unique to just India. A lot of countries face similar problems, have very little tourist attractions but still manage to attract many more tourists than India. We need to learn from them and make necessary changes as soon as possible. Some recent high profile projects like Golden Quadrilateral Highway project, Delhi Agra expressway, high speed trains with bio toilets etc are steps in right direction. But a lot more needs to be done. A lot of our customers are solo travelers, men and women of all ages. Some of them spend months or even years traveling inside India without facing any problem. But the recent bad press and selective reporting has messed up image of India badly. In an industry where perception counts for a lot, an effort has to be made to promote the attractions and good points of India rather than just the bad news.
Development of infrastructure accompanied by positive publicity should be the top priority for us. There have been small baby steps, but what we need is a sustained organised effort.
Goa is popular not only for its beaches, parties and nightlife, but it also has some superb street foods. Street food in Goa excels in all aspects and there is no denying to the fact that street food both South Goa and North Goa is lip-smacking. Bebinca is a type of pudding and a traditional Indo-Portuguese dessert. Traditional Bebinca has seven layers. The ingredients include plain flour, sugar, ghee, egg yolk, and coconut milk. It is a traditional sweet of Goa .It is also easily available to carry and preserve for a long time or eaten fresh. Chorizo Pav is a famous delicacy in Goa. Locals enjoy it as a breakfast item or even as a tea-time snack. Eaten with bread, this spicy pork meat preparation is made using a pre-cooked sausage, onions and potatoes. Gadbad Ice Cream , Goan’s favourite is served in a tall glass or bowl. It is a combination of different ice creams served in one serving, topped with noodles and jelly. The perfect summer special everyone will enjoy the Gadbad Ice Cream on a hot summer day. Vindaloo represents the diverse culture of Goa. One of the most popular street foods in the state, it is known for its spicy flavors enriched with vinegar. Made with boneless pork, a variety of Indian spices are added to the dish to make its taste memorable, including cloves, cumin, cinnamon, Kashmiri pepper and many others Ras Omelette is a regular omelette served with some chicken curry.It is garnished with coriander, onions and a dash of lime juice sprinkled on top of the completed dish and has omelette dipped in it.
This article is meant to be a brief India travel guide for tourists who need some information about means of transport in India . Anyone traveling to India for the first time is sure to be overwhelmed by the diversity of cultures, languages, people, food, climates and almost everything else. It isn’t possible to write a comprehensive India travel guide which can cover even a fraction of what a tourist may encounter in India. We aim to cover as much vital details as possible without drowning the reader with too much information. We have already posted some India travel guides on this website,: Traveling safely and for cheap in India during monsoons, How to keep safe from water and food related problems while traveling and How to avoid scams and touts while traveling This guide intends to cover some of the general issues related to transport and travel in India. So let’s begin with : Travel by trains in India India has the biggest system of railway lines on the planet and the service is very good, if not excellent. Traveling in India on via train gives you the chance to explore India in detail and in general is cheaper than domestic air travel. Train travel in India offers good connectivity all over India for people with all kind of budgets .For someone with an inquisitive and open mind, it’s a great way of meeting all kinds of Indian people belonging to different regions and classes. There are different types of trains with different levels of service catering to people with different budgets and needs. Trains like Rajdhani, Shatabdi are air-conditioned, fastest in India and provide meals. There are other trains like Duronto, Garib Rath, various Express and other trains which offer varying levels of service at different prices. Apart from that, there are some luxury trains Palace on Wheels, Maharajas’ Express, The Golden Chariot and a few more. These trains are run jointly by Indian railways and tourism ministries of different states in which they operate. Journeying on these trains covers all aspects of transport, food, lodging and sightseeing. Service and level of comfort offered is among the best in world One major drawback of trains is that it can prove difficult to procure tickets. Another one are the delays which can happen frequently on long routes. If you are very tight schedule, relying on trains for your India journey can backfire. Inter-city or inter-state travel in India by Bus In India, travel by bus is 2nd most popular way of cheap travel and in some cases, the only way of public transport to reach places like Manali, Laddakh etc, not yet connected by train network. There are different types of buses available on budget of the traveler. Ordinary buses are usually very crowded and it’s not possible to reserve tickets. They don’t have any air-conditioning or comfortable seats either, But they are very cheap as even a 5 hour journey may cost only Rs 100. Then there are luxury buses with better seats which may or may not have air-conditioning available. They are generally more comfortable and price for a 7-10 hour journey may vary between Rs 300 to Rs 800 for different places and operators. Tickets in air-conditioned buses cost around 1.5 times to double for same kind of seats. Apart from these, there are luxury buses operated by private as well as government which offer maximum comfort at slightly higher prices. These buses are usually supplied by Volvo or Mercedes and have more comfortable seating arrangements than the rest. Travel by Car A car with driver is the most comfortable and safest way of travel in India.It is possible to get a car on rent and drive it yourselves, if you have necessary paperwork, but Indian roads are too chaotic for a foreigner. It’s better to hire a driver along with the car. Salary for driver is about Rs. 150-300 per day which is included in rent for the car and you don’t have to pay for his food or lodging. Different varieties of vehicles have different rent prices and they vary between Rs 8 per km to Rs 20 per km for most models which include Ambassador, Tata Indigo, Toyota Qualis and a few others. Renting a car is a good option for various reasons as you have much more flexibility and don’t have to worry about following a strict schedule or missing a train or worry about tickets. Having a good driver who can communicate well also means that he can help you with finding good hotels, restaurants and other amenities easily. But be wary of drivers who act as touts. A majority of them try to take tourists to businesses which offer them commissions. It isn’t exactly illegal, but tourists should evaluate their choices before making decisions. They should make sure that they are getting good value for their money for the services availed. Travel by motor-bikes Using a motorbike (motorcycle) can be a great adventure if you are up to driving on dangerous roads. Royal Enfield is the most popular brand for motorcycle enthusiasts in India. It’s less fuel efficient but is powerful enough for most Indian roads including those on mountains. Motorcycles with engines of 100 to 220 cc are more common and cheaper and cam offer a mileage of 40kmpl to 70 kmpl depending upon various factors. It is possible to rent or buy new or used motorcycles. Rental cost per day for bikes vary between Rs 600 to Rs 1500 in different places for different bikes. While buying, it’s advisable to go for 2nd hand bikes which may cost anything between Rs 12000 to Rs 40000. Travel in Indian cities by auto-rickshaws (tuk-tuk) Auto/ tuk-tuk/three-wheeler is a good albeit slightly uncomfortable choice for short-distance travel inside Indian cities. Due to their small size, they can dodge traffic rush easily but have slow speeds which is actually good due to less safety features. Before getting in to an
The cuisine of Jharkhand is not very different from its neighboring Bihar. The food of Jharkhand is very light on the stomach and easy to digest. Dhuska is a popular deep fried snack eaten in Jharkhand. The main ingredients of the dhuska are powdered rice, chana dal powder and boiled potatoes.The bread is then deep fried. It is often served with any sauce or chutney. Dhuska is mostly made at the streets where people enjoy it as a snack . Handia is a rice beer popular in the Jharkhand.The making involves the use of ranu tablets, which is a combination of about 20-25 herbs and acts as a fermentor.The ranu tablets are then mixed with boiled rice and left to ferment. It is served cool and has lower alcoholic strength than other Indian liquors. Meetha Khaja is an item which is prepared in almost every household and then exchanged with their friends and relatives during the festive season. It is synonymous to Diwali in the state. This luscious dessert is made maida and sugar syrup and is a must try for all the sweet tooth out there. Pitha are typically made of rice flour, although there are some types of pitha made of wheat flour.The less common types of pitha are made of palm root. Pithas are primarily made from a batter of rice flour or wheat flour, which are shaped and optionally filled with sweet or savory ingredients. itha are typically made of rice flour, although there are some types of pitha made of wheat flour.The less common types of pitha are made of palm root. Pithas are primarily made from a batter of rice flour or wheat flour, which are shaped and optionally filled with sweet or savory ingredients. Rugra is indigenous variety of mushroom and is very delicious to eat. It rich in protein and minerals and high on calorific value. This dish is preferred by the local people and is high in demand during the peak season of Monsoon.
Meghalaya’s natural attractions are the reason why tourists come here once, but the food is why tourists keep coming back. Meghalaya has three Mongoloid tribes and many distinct dishes to indulge yourself or savoury dishes to appease your taste buds. There is something for everyone here. Do’o Kappa is a Chicken in Garo style. It is made be adding ginger paste,grated onions,turmeric to chicken along with soda powder.Water is added for simmering. The dish is garnished with cream and onion leaves. Dohjem is a khasi delicacy is a favourite of many. Enjoy with regular rice or add it to the putharo this dish is finger licking good no doubt. Prepared by cutting pork into small chunks one cannot resist the temptation of this exotic dish . Doh Khleh is a delicious delicacy that comprises of pig brains cooked in curry and eaten with Indian bread. Doh Khlieh is also cooked as a salad with steamed pork, pig brain and onions.One of the extreme dishes of Meghalayan cuisine. Jadoh is the rice dish of Khasi language.‘Ja’ means rice and ‘Doh’ means meat. It is made with rice and pork mixed with the best spices, chopped vegetables and garnished with eggs or fried fish. Tungrymbai is a wholesome dish flavoured by delicious ingredients and served with love. It is made from fermented soya beans, chopped pork, black sesame, ginger, onion and other spices. All these are fried and sauteed together, and the delicious mixture is left simmering for some time to deepen the flavor and taste.
Fever Tree, one of premium natural mixer brands held an event launching their premium brand, Robert Parker. The event was hosted by British High Commissioner Sir James Bevan. British deputy PM, Mr. Nick Clegg was guest of honour for the event. POST RELEASE New Delhi, 25th Aug 2014: The age of the dismal mixer is over with the introduction of Fever-Tree (The Premium Natural Mixer) in India. The capital witnessed the sophisticated launch of the iconic super premium brand Fever Tree, The World’s Best Tonic Water – Robert Parker. Making its foray into the Indian Market, this is the first venture of the company in the subcontinent and it has made headline for bring Indian Tonic Water back to India. The event was hosted by The British High Commissioner Sir James Bevan in honour of British Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Nick Clegg’s visit to India. The event was attended by Mr. Tim Warrillowm (co-founder & Director Fever Tree) and Mr. Anuj Kushwah (Managing Director Kaama Impex Pvt. Ltd) who is the importer & distributor for the Fever-Tree Brand in India. An exquisite evening of luxury, delight and splendor, the event celebrated amongst the crème de la crème of Delhi. Proudly served in 7 of the top 10 restaurants in the world Fever Tree is one of the most premium and iconic brand coming out of UK. India is the 50th export market for Fever-Tree. Fever-Tree was recently named Tonic of choice in an independent survey of the world’s leading bars and restaurants Mr. Anuj Kushwah, Managing Director of Kaama Impex Pvt Ltd says “Every decision we take at Kaama is keeping in mind the consumers needs and experiences, hence the choice of bringing Fever Tree to India. Fever-Tree is an iconic brand and we are proud to launch in India.” This August, Fever-Tree, the premium natural drink mixer company, will launch their Indian Tonic Water in India, the home of Gin & Tonic and the brand’s 50th export market. The British company, which sees 70% of sales come from export, is looking to continue its dramatic rise and commitment to bringing consumers the perfect gin and tonic wherever they are in world. Fever-Tree will travel as part of a UKTI delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg across India. As part of the government policy to boost British export and David Cameron’s commitment to increase trade to £1trn by 2020, the trade envoy will hold events in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore from 25th -28th August. Founded in 2005, Charles Rolls and Tim Warrillow identified a need for premium mixers to accompany the fast growing array of superior spirits available on the market and travelled from the Congo to the Ivory Coast in pursuit of the highest quality ingredients. Fever-Tree now has a range of 14 natural mixers and an annual company turnover of £25 million. Tim Warrillow comments: “We are delighted to bring premium quality, full flavoured Indian Tonic Water back to the birthplace of the gin and tonic. In 1820, the Malaria-plagued British Army in India inadvertently created the cocktail by mixing their regular dose of quinine with sugar, water and local fruits and of course their daily ration of gin. We have been championing the gin and tonic boom across Europe over the past years and will now, almost two hundred years later, return an all-natural premium tonic water back to its spiritual home.” Charles Rolls comments: ‘India is now one of the five largest gin markets in the world and will provide us with a long-term platform for growth. Traditionally a whisky market, white spirits have grown in the region in recent years and we hope to capitalise on the popularity of Western drinking habits in bars, restaurants and hotels.” Since its launch, Fever-Tree has collected a vast number of awards, including the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, Exporter of the Year at The Grocer Gold Awards, and the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for London and the South. For the third year, Fever-Tree was earmarked by The Fast Track 100 as the fastest growing non-alcoholic drinks company in the UK and included in the highly respected list. About Fever-Tree Founded in 2005, the company is one of the UK’s fastest growing companies with a turnover of £25 million in 2013. Fever-Tree sources the world’s finest ingredients from natural sources, including quinine from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, ginger from the Ivory Coast, India and Nigeria, and lemons from the slopes of Mount Etna, Sicily. Fever-Tree has a portfolio of 12 mixers which are available to buy in the UK from Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose. Fever-Tree products are served in the most prestigious venues across the world, from Claridges in London to Raffles in Singapore and the Burj Al Arab in Dubai.
Arunachal Pradesh street food differs from tribe to tribe. As one move toward the eastern side of Arunachal people are dependent on bamboo and other leafy vegetables which are strictly boiled. Fried food is not as popular as people like to eat either boiled or smoked food. Apong is a type of rice beer, which is traditionally prepared by tribes of Arunachal Pradesh.India. Apong is prepared by fermenting rice. The two types are Nogi Apong and Poro Apong.The two apongs differ in their taste and colour. Chura Sabji is a kind of curry made of fermented cheese made by either yak milk or cow’s milk and not to forget the most important the flakes and a few pieces of the King chilly which makes it spicy but delicious. Lukhter is another delicacy of the Arunachal Pradesh.Lukter is a combination of cooked dry meat and chilli flakes from the King chilly or Bhut Jolokia. Like the norm goes with Aunachal, this is a side dish meant to be eaten with rice. Pehak is made by use of fermented Soybean and King chilly. In this dish, the king chilli is used as the main ingredient. It is also used as a side dish with rice. The pickle is hot and very spicy that gives the rice a very unique hot flavor. Pehak is very popular among Arunachalis. Pictures sourced from various sources on internet. Please contact for credits.
Chaat – Indian Street Food Various varieties of Chaat are some of most popular Indian street food dishes and quite more than just snacks for people in India. Chaat is among the lightest, cheapest and most convenient meal to have when someone is in a hurry. Indian street food is incomplete without a mention of chaat. A confusing point that many people don’t get is that a lot of Indian street food items are called chaat. Some of more popular chaat dishes are papdi chaat, gol gappa also called paani puri,and bhalla chaat. Chaat is a street food dish, but some kind of it always served during most parties in India. Even posh, high-end restaurants have started serving chaat items, but they are often beaten by the street food vendors who have been doing it for generationsA large number of chaat food items exist in India, many with completely different flavours, looks and ingredients from the rest. Many chaats are eaten cool and thus are enjoyable even in summer. Pani puris for example, are just water flavoured with digestive spices served in hollow balls made of crisp flour. Sometimes they are garnished with chick peas and boiled mashed potatoes. The flavoured water is usually salty made using pudina (mint), rock salt, pepper, and some other ingredients depending upon where you eat it. For people who like sweetness, bit of sweet and tangy tamarind chutney is added. A number of different flavours among pani puris are available catering to almost every type of fan. The flavoured water is considered to help with digestion and is useful in preventing dehydration during hot summers of India. Many people drink pani puri water by cups. Puris are the most common ingredients for other types of chaats. They are small, crisp and crackle loudly when broken. Boiled or fried potatoes and two or more types of chutney ( a type of sauce) are also used. One chutney, made of imli (tamarind) is sweet and tangy . Second one is spicy and made of pudina (mint), ginger and green chillies. Many street food items, including chaat may or may not have dahi (curd, yooghurt), another popular food item in India. It helps with digestion and makes tolerating excess spiciness easy for people who are not used to it. Dahi bhalla chaat is a very popular and tasty street food item, specially popular during summers. The yoghurt is thickened and sometimes sweetened, giving it a smooth creamy texture which gels really well with bhalla . It is sometimes sprinkled with chaat masala, onion garnishing and bits of fried potatoes.Chaat masala is another thing which helps with digestion but is used more in a wa, not just to increase the flavours. It may have different varieties and ingredients in different places. Most popular are powders of , dried raw mango (aam choor), ginger, pepper, rock salt and dried pomegranates ( anaar daana). Apart from their use as chaat masala, these ingredients are also used in combination with other different ingredients as churan to help with digestion. Bhel puri, from Maharashtra is a very tasty light snack made of sev ( thin noodle like crisps made of besan) and puffed rice. They are sprinkled with chaat masala, chutney and garnished with tomatoes and onions. It’s a good snack to have, light on stomach and low on oil. Aaloo tikki is another very popular chaat dish made of boiled and then crisply fried potato cakes. They are served as soon as they are cooked, garnished with chaat masala, chutney and sometimes yoghurt. It’s a heavy dish due to fried potatoes but it’s popular all the same. McDonalds in India even launched a McAaloo Tikki burger to cash in on its popularity.Even if the chaat may seem heavy or tough to digest, yoghurt and chat masala make sure that your digestive system stays fit and healthy. As with everything else, it’s not good to eat chaat in excess, especially if you don’t know about Indian food in details How to eat chaat or any other food in India While traveling in Delhi or any other Indian city, you will find a number of street food vendors selling different varities of food with chaat vendors being a significant majority. Some of them will be there just to make a quick buck and be done with the whole thing, while others serve their food with pride and care for customers. Important thing is to know how to distinguish between the two. Good street food vendors care for their clientele and serve only the best quality food. You can tell it from their loyal customers. Make sure that the food vendors you visit obey basic hygiene rules. Confirm that the food ingredients are covered and protected from dust and flies. Most street food vendors use disposable plates, but if they are not, make sure that they are clean. Read this article to know more about how to keep safe from water and food related problems while traveling. We hope that this article will help you enjoy Indian street food, specially chaat better. Happy munching. Contact us for feedback, queries or for booking an Indian street food tour. Image courtesy: Wikipedia
