The Indian food history is the history of invention in times of necessity and inheritance from diverse cultures. Some dishes were invented for the sake of masses, while some others were borrowed from across geographies. Many such interesting stories of Indian food are still unheard of. Travel Beats, a community portal for Indian Diaspora, takes a few picks from the grave of history to share with you.

Petha is as old as the Taj Mahal 

What to eat in Agra? Whoever has been to the city of the Taj Mahal says that Petha is the best thing to eat in Agra. The invention of Agra ka Petha is linked to the construction of the Taj Mahal in the Mughal Empire. When the colossal monument was under construction, some 21,000 workers were bored of the daily meal comprising only dal and roti. The then Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan shared his concern with master architect Ustad Isa Effendi, who requested Pir Naqshbandi Sahib for a solution to the Emperor’s worries. It is believed that the Pir went into a trance during prayers one day and received the recipe of Petha from the Almighty. Then, some 500 cooks made Petha for the workers.

CHECK Best Dishes of Agra

Dal Bati was a means of survival during wars 

What is the best food to eat in Rajasthan? It is Dal Bati Churma in Jaipur, Mewar, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Udaipur. How the recipe of Dal Bati Churma was invented is a story worth sharing. The origin of this Rajasthani food is the famous Chittorgarh Fort in Mewar. Bati is dough of wheat dipped in ghee, a long-lasting food which the Rajput kings of Mewar required for survival in adverse conditions during wars. Bati could be made with the few ingredients and the little water available in the barren lands of Rajasthan. This culinary invention evolved into a delight with two other items – Dal and Churma – over the years.

SHARE Inforgraphic of Chittorgarh Fort

Mysore Pak journeyed from palace to public  

What is the best taste of Mysore? It is the Mysore Pak, a signature sweetmeat of South India. The Mysore Pak history is traced to the kitchen of the Mysore Palace in the early 20^th century when Nalawadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar was the king in power. Kakasura Madappa, the then royal cook in the Mysore Palace, used to please the King with different dishes. One day he made new sweet dish with the mix of chickpea flour, ghee and sugar. When the King tasted it, it melted at the tip of his tongue. On being asked the name of the dish, the cook invented the name ‘Mysore Paka’ in a split of second. ‘Paka’ is a Kannada word meaning a sweet concoction. Mysore is a weekend getaway from Bengaluru City.

KNOW Best Food of Mysore

Khaja is inherited from the Mauryan & Gupta empires 

What is the best sweet of Odisha? Undoubtedly, it is Khaja. Though the culinary art of making Khaja is a matter of pride for the people of Orissa, the recipe is believed to have been borrowed from the Gangetic plains of Bihar around 2000 years ago. The history of Khaja dates back to the Maurya and Gupta empires in ancient India. Today, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh are homes to this Indian dessert. Each of these states offers a different taste of Khaja. The Khaja of Rajgir in Bihar is famous for its puffiness, while the Khaja of Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh is known for its dry outside and juicy inside.

Do You Know 10 Varieties of Dosa

Jalebi is not essentially Indian but Asian in identity 

Jalebi, one of the most popular Indian sweet dishes, owes its origin to West Asia. The Persian-speaking invaders introduced Jalebi to India in the medieval era. This sweetmeat was called ‘Kundalika’, and ‘Jalavallika’ in India in the 15^th century. The poor were offered platefuls of Jalebi during Ramadan in Iran. It is called ‘Zalabia’ in the Arabian countries, ‘Zilebi’ in the Maldives, ‘Zlebia’ in Tunisia, Libya and Algeria, and ‘Jeri’ in Nepal. References to the Indian version of Jalebi are found in “Priyamkarnrpakatha” by Jinasura, a Jain author of the mid-15^th century.

HAVE Best Sweets of Bengal

Dum Biryani was a meal for the poor in Awadh  

The origin of Biryani is the princely state of Hyderabad in the era of Nizams, according to several historic sources. The recipe of Biryani is as old as the Mughal history of India, according to some historians. Some debate that Biryani was introduced during Timur’s invasion of India in the early medieval era. Though the origin of Biryani is debated, Dum Biryani or Biryani of Awadh was originated in Lucknow. The Nawab of Awadh ordered to cook a meal in huge handis (round-shaped brass pots) for all the poor people of his region when there was scarcity of food. A huge amount of food was cooked with minimum resources in covered and sealed pots. This art of cooking became known as ‘dum’.

This article featuring lesser-known Indian food facts is brought to you as part of the campaign, “Explore India with Indian Eagle”, aiming to promote what is unheard about India through our overseas Indian community portal, Travel Beats. Travel Beats is a subsidiary of IndianEagle.com, a leading online air travel booking portal for overseas Indians.

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The Independence Day of India (August 15) is the day to recall sacrifices by the freedom fighters that made evergreen history for generations. The map of India is dotted with multiple sights and spots of freedom struggle as the freedom movement had spread like wild fire across the country. Some of our customers who are flying to India in the second week of August this year approached us with a request to recommend the best places to visit on Independence Day in India. Indian Eagle picks up the following:

Cellular Jail, the Andamans

The Cellular Jail in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands tops the list of the places to visit on the Independence Day of India. It is a living witness to the brutal treatment of the freedom fighters behind the bars. The Cellular Jail reminds generations of the solitary confinement that the heroes of the National Freedom Movement were sentenced to suffer for years during the colonial rule. An important chapter in the history of British India, the Cellular Jail was declared a national memorial in 1969. On display are the sculptures silently retelling the stories of atrocity that the prison inmates were subjected to.

Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar

Jallianwala Bagh is a must visit in Punjab. Located near the Golden Temple, it is the site where General Dyer shed the blood of thousands who had assembled for a meeting in protest against the Rowlatt Act in 1919. The massacre of 1919 which Jallianwala Bagh has been bearing witness to in form of bullet marks on inside of the wall is one of the most condemnable British acts during the colonial times of India. Jallianwala Bagh is a must stop during Punjab travel at any time of the year.

Indian Coffee House, Kolkata

If you are in Kolkata this Independence Day, do visit Coffee House nearby Presidency University on College Street, have a cup of brewing coffee, and take a walk down the memory lane to the bygone decades when the College Street Coffee House used to be a hotbed of debates on politics, art, music, cinema and culture in the then Calcutta. A favorite haunt of the elite, the literati, and intellectuals of Bengal, including Satyajit Ray, Amartya Sen, Mrinal Sen, Ritwik Ghatak, Samaresh Majumdar, Sunil Ganguly and likes, Coffee House was also frequented by the then political revolutionaries. In the post-independence era, Kolkatas College Street Coffee House witnessed to several mass agitations and movements in the changing socio-political landscape of Bengal. Integral to the cultural history of Bengal, Indian Coffee House in Kolkata is one of the best places to visit on the Independence Day of India.

Also Check: Proposed Museum on History of College Street and Coffee House

Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram

The Sabarmati Ashram was Mahatma Gandhijis workplace for social activism and his activities for National Freedom Movement. He spent 12 years of his life here. The ashram is the place where Satyagraha, Civil Disobedience Movement and Swadeshi Movement had gathered momentum at. Situated on the bank of the Sabarmati River, the ashram is one of the best places to visit in Ahmedabad.Gandhijis Dandi March to disobey the Salt Act implemented by the British began from the ashram in 1930. The Sabarmati Ashram introduces visitors to Gandhijis values, philosophy, vision and support for self-reliance.

India Gate, New Delhi

The India Gate, one of the most popular Delhi attractions, is not just a monumental architecture but also a war memorial. Also known as the All India War Memorial, the India Gate has been carrying the names of nearly 70, 000 soldiers who fought and died in the First World War, and the names of some 12, 516 Indian soldiers who embraced martyrdom on the North-west Frontier. Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, the India Gate and the Flame of the Immortal Soldier under the archway stand for the martyrs of India. It is a must see during Independence Day celebrations on August 15.

Santi Institute Library, Kolkata

A most significant among the age-old, red-brick buildings in Kolkatas Bowbazar is the Santi Institute. The 100-year-old building of the Santi Institute is not just an iconic library of 41000 books of various genres but also a lesser-known historical place. Founded as a haven of peaceful reading after the First World War, the library was started with just 27 books and 21 young members. Gradually, it grew into a hub of stimulating discussions and animated debates among the then liberals, revolutionaries and freedom fighters. A favorite of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, the Santi Institute Library in Bowbazar was also frequented by Bipin Behari Ganguli, Surendranath Banerjee, the educationist Triguna Sen, the historian Ramesh Chandra Majumdar, and the the famous lawyer Radhabinod Pal.

Agra Fort, Agra

The Agra Fort, an integral part of the Mughal history of India, is associated with the history of British India as well. One of the world heritage sites recognized by UNESCO, the Agra Fort was the site of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Also known as the Sepoy Mutiny, it was the first seed of the National Freedom Movement. Located by the Yamuna River, the fort features a unique blend of Hindu and Islamic styles in construction as well as design.

Netaji Bhawan, Kolkata

Netaji Bhawan or Netaji Shubhash Chandra Boses residence in Kolkata City is among the places that remind of British India, freedom fighters and national movement. It is the place where he was put under house arrest and where he escaped from to Berlin in 1941. A part of Netajis life, struggle and mission for freedom of India, the house has got a museum and a library today.

Viceregal Lodge, Shimla

Viceregal Lodge, a splendid English Renaissance architecture of colonial times in India, is not just a tourist attraction of Shimla but also a historic place. Viceregal Lodge was the summer residence of Lord Dufferin, the Viceroy of British India, and the place where discussions on the most fateful India-Pakistan partition were held. Also known as Rashtrapati Niwas, this colossal landmark in Shimla houses a museum exhibiting some stories of Indian freedom movement.

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Prince William and Kate Middleton’s upcoming trip to India in April seems to dig out the skeletons of the past in connection with Princess Diana’s solo trip to the Taj Mahal in Agra in 1992, which had added fuel to the fire in her crumbling marriage with Prince Charles.

The picture of Princess Diana sitting alone on the bench at the Taj Mahal is one of the iconic moments in the history of India’s most popular and top-earning monument in Agra. But it became the image of a lonely and depressed princess, which the global media used as a fodder to feed their stories about the fall of Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s marriage. On being asked how she felt being alone at the Taj Mahal which stands for eternal love, Princess Diana made her first public statement, “It was a healing experience…very healing,” hinting at her troubled marriage.

However, the bench at the Taj Mahal became an ideal spot for posing in front of camera and many foreign tourists have got themselves photographed on the bench with the monument of love in the background since then. Now Prince William along with Kate Middleton will visit the Taj Mahal to live the “Princess Diana moment” for a while in honor of the memory of his mother. “He feels incredibly lucky to visit a place where his mother’s memory is kept alive by so many who travel there,” said Jason Knauf, the communication secretary of Cambridge.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip traveled to India and visited the Taj Mahal in 1961 – IndianEagle

Prince William and Kate Middleton’s itinerary of India includes a visit to Mumbai’s Taj Palace Hotel besides a tribute to Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal. The royal couple from England will offer a wreath in memory of the victims of the 26/11 terrorist attack in Mumbai during their visit to the Taj Palace Hotel where they are supposed to meet members of the staff who risked their lives to protect guests during the 2008 attack.

The Duke and the Duchess will attend a charity cricket match of young slum children at Oval Maidan, a large public park in Mumbai City and meet the representatives of three charitable organizations: Magic Bus, Doorstep and India’s Childline. It will be followed by a brief meeting with the representatives of SMILE, a charity that helps young people be employable by imparting skill-developing training to them. In the evening of April 10, the royal couple will attend a glittering dinner held by the film industry of Mumbai.

April 11, the second day of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s itinerary of India will see them at the India Gate in New Delhi where they will offer a wreath in honor of the Indian soldiers. Then they will visit Gandhi Smriti, a museum dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi, and take a walk through the last 144 days of Gandhi’s life from his bedroom to the spot of his assassination in the garden.

In the evening, the royal guest duo will grace a birthday party for Queen Elizabeth II with their presence at the residence of the British High Commissioner in New Delhi. Prince William will deliver a speech in honor of his grandmother to the invitees including VIPs from different walks of life. The next day they will attend a conference with NGOs in and around Delhi in the morning before they fly to Assam in northeast India.

On April 12, the couple will visit the Kaziranga National Park in Assam. One of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in India, Kaziranga National Park is famous for one-horned rhinoceroses. The third day of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s itinerary of India coincides with the celebration of the Assamese New Year called Bohag Bihu, one of the most popular northeast Indian festivals. The guests will be treated to spectacular music and dance performances celebrating the folk culture of Assam on this occasion.

On April 13, the Duke and the Duchess will take an open-air drive around the Kaziranga National Park and visit the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation where Prince William will speak about the scenario of rhino poaching in India. Their itinerary in Assam also includes a visit to the Kaziranga Discovery Centre build by Elephant Family that Mark Shand, late brother of the Duchess of Cornwall, had founded.

A meeting with a group of young filmmakers from Green Hub, an Assam-based local organization that imparts lessons on the art of filmmaking, will mark the end of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s itinerary of India from April 10 to April 13. On April 14, they will catch a flight to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan in Southeast Asia.

The royal couple of England will visit the Taj Mahal in Agra on return to India from Bhutan on April 16.

Travel Beats is a digital portal by IndianEagle for Indians and Indian Diaspora. IndianEagle, a leading US-India travel organization, publishes interesting stories and news about travel, culture, events, festivals and entertainment from India and USA.

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You will soon get soaked in luxury amidst sands of Jaisalmer in the Indian state of Rajasthan. You will also be traveling along a heritage circuit in North India on wheels of luxury. The Ministry of India Tourism is going to launch two trains for affordable luxury travel in India this winter.

There are super luxury trains in India – Palace on Wheels, the Golden Chariot, the Deccan Odyssey, and Maharajas Express – offering the hospitality of bygone royal eras. With affordable packages, the new trains will add to the bliss of luxury train travel in India by enabling tourists to bask in the beauty of sprawling deserts and timeless heritage of India.

Unlike super luxury trains, the new semi-luxury trains can be afforded by many tourists. Both trains – Desert Circuit and Heritage Circuit – will depart from New Delhi for a five-day odyssey along the routes meandering through the desert of Rajasthan and crisscrossing three heritage cities. Tourists on board will be pampered over a host of deluxe services during the journey. You can enjoy sightseeing not only through window glasses of train coaches but also getting down at major sites where the trains will halt.

“Heritage Circuit” will be running through Agra, Varanasi and Khajuraho, three of the most popular heritage sites in India. What Agra is famous for is known to tourists from across the globe. The Taj Mahal, one of the wonders of the world, is a must see in Agra. The yesteryear kingdom of the Mughal emperors has many stories to tell, including how Emperor Akbar got the recipe of Petha, a most famous delicacy of Agra, during construction of the Taj Mahal.

Varanasi is the oldest and holiest city of India, where you can take boat rides on the River Ganga and glimpses of the spectacular Ganga aarti. Don’t forget to explore the stories of Varanasi during your luxury train travel in India. Banarasi silk cloth, a traditional handicraft of this holy city, is a must buy.

The travel on “Heritage Circuit” will culminate at Khajuraho, a UNESCO world heritage site. Unlike the temples of Varanasi, Khajuraho temples are famous for erotic sculpture displaying human sexuality in multiple different forms from liberal perspectives. The legends of Khajuraho’s erotic art will take you back to the times when eroticism was an art in India.

The ‘heritage’ part of the travel by two new luxury trains in India promises to be a life-enriching experience. The Taj Mahal of Agra will tell you an immortal love story, Varanasi will immerse you in spirituality, and Khajuraho will overwhelm you with stories of passion. – Indian Eagle

“Desert Circuit” will take you on a ride across sand dunes in Jaisalmer and on a tour of Jaipur in Rajasthan. Among the things to do in Jaisalmer are listening to the music of sand dunes, shopping for handcrafted silver jewellery,  and visit to historic Jaisalmer Fort.  Jaisalmer Desert Festival in February is one of the popular winter events in India.

This luxury train travel in India by “Desert Circuit” will end in Jaipur, a yesteryear princely province of Rajput kings. Hawa Mahal, Jal Mahal, City Palace, Amer Palace and Nahargarh Fort are among the must-see tourist attractions of Jaipur. A tour of Jaipur will introduce you to the luxury and bravery of Rajputs.

Other Details of New Luxury Trains in India

“Heritage Circuit” will be operating from December 20 till April 24, 2016. The luxury travel by “Desert Circuit” will commence on December 20 and continue till April 21, 2016. Each of the two new luxury trains in India will make eight trips from December to April, which is the best time to visit India. Travel on these trains is a complete luxury package including 3-star hotel accommodation and exclusive dining apart from travel insurance, complimentary Wi-Fi, and English and Hindi speaking guide service. A trip by “Desert Circuit” will cost between 20K to 37K INR, and “Heritage Circuit” will charge from 18K to 36K for a trip depending on travel classes.

Luxury train travel in India is synonymous with the maxim, “Let the Train take the Strain.” Travel on these luxury trains of India will surely rejuvenate you with fresh moments, enrich you with knowledge, enchant you with offbeat stories and spellbind you with scenic sights which you will cherish forever.

Major international airlines operate flights to New Delhi from USA and Canada. We at Indian Eagle issue cheapest tickets for New Delhi flights from all American cities.

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The Gatimaan Express between New Delhi and Agra is all set to redefine travel by train in India. Flagged off on June 9 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Gatimaan Express is the fastest of all Delhi to Agra trains. It will travel from Delhi to Agra sooner than Shatabdi Express by 15 minutes, at a speed of 160 km/hr. India’s fastest train Gatimaan Express will be launched this financial year. It is a new feather to the cap of Indian Railways.

It is good news for not only Indians but also foreign tourists on visit to Agra, an ancient heritage city of the Taj Mahal. Of the total foreign tourist arrivals in India in 2012, 7.1 lakh visited the Taj Mahal of Agra.  As most tourists travel from Delhi to Agra, the Gatimaan Express will be a hit with them.

Among the things to know about the Gatimaan Express is backseat entertainment system. The back of every seat in the Executive Class is equipped with an 8-inch LCD monitor. To be powered by satellite television at the next phase, the entertainment systems will broadcast live news.

The Gatimaan Express has 12 ultra-modern coaches equipped with sliding doors, automatic fire alarms, passenger information systems and emergency braking system. Evidently, it is a high-tech train, too. It is powered by a 5,400 Horse Power engine to cover the Delhi to Agra distance in 1 hour 45 minutes.

The Gatimaan Express will cost 1365 INR per ticket in the Executive Class and 690 INR per ticket for travel by AC Chair Car. Delhi to Agra travel by the Gatimaan Express will be costlier by 25% than that by Shatabdi Express. However, it seems to be a joyride without any halt on the way.

Indian Railways is looking to make travel by train faster by launching such semi high-speed trains on nine more routes including Goa-Mumbai, Hyderabad-Chennai, Delhi-Kanpur, Delhi-Chandigarh, Nagpur-Bilaspur and Nagpur-Secunderabad.

Indian Eagle is a USA based fast-growing travel organization booking the cheapest airline tickets to India and sharing useful India travel tips. 

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India is a rolling stone that never gathers moss! To say precisely, India is on the wheels of development in all spheres including travel & tourism. Since the discovery of the first sea route to India by Vasco da Gama in 1498, India had been a prime target of the colonists including the Portuguese, the French and the British mainly for its abundant wealth till the end of the Second World War. In the post-independence era, the heritage of India has been a pull to the world. Since independence, India has come a long way in travel and tourism, which is a thriving industry with lots of untapped potential and employment opportunity, today. Though the annual number of foreign tourist arrivals to India is much lower in comparison with other Asian countries, India’s inbound tourism is on a roll. Being a good player in international politics, India has witnessed consistent development in tourism over 68 years of independence. Today, the 69^th Independence Day of India, we at Indian Eagle take a sneak peek at the colossal picture of ongoing and upcoming developments in India travel & tourism.

India’s first Wax Museum in Kolkata

Kolkata is the first Indian city to have got a wax museum like Madame Tussauds in London. The museum has been named after Mother Teresa. Located in the city’s IT hub, the museum exhibits lively statues of eminent leaders, celebrities and freedom fighters of India. Kolkata is about to get a Ferris Wheel on the Ganges like the London Eye on the Thames.

Indian Railways on a ride for the better

Train travel in India is an altogether different experience these days. Thanks to the evolution of locomotive engineering and technology for Gatimaan Express, Indian’s fastest train from Delhi to Agra! Running at a speed of 160km/hr, it is faster than Shatabdi Express by 5 minutes. Ac double-decker train between New Delhi and Lucknow is another new feather in the cap of Indian Railways. India has eagerly been awaiting its first high-speed bullet train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, which is under construction.

Easier Ways of pilgrimage in India

Pilgrimage is no exception to developments in India on the travel and tourism front. The newly laid Katra-Udhampur railway track has made pilgrimage to the hilltop Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu & Kashmir easier than before. Being a democratic country, India is keen on developing Buddhist tourism. The state government of Maharashtra has shown interest in the ambitious project, which is currently limited to identifying the Buddhist spots to be developed across the country.

India offers e-tourist visa to 75 countries

With e-tourist visa to India available for the nationals of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and China, the inbound tourism of India has taken a great leap for the better. Currently, tourists from 75 countries across the world are eligible for e-tourist on arrival in India. Recently, seven tier-II Indian airports including Jaipur, Amritsar, Gaya, Lucknow, Trichy, and Varanasi have been added to the e-tourist visa on arrival scheme.

Domestic air connectivity on a high

India has seen developments in aviation too. In 2014, the Airport Authority of India announced a plan to develop 200 low-cost, energy-efficient airports in tier II and tier III cities across the country over the next 20 years. A few days back, Indian aviation gave approval to a project for developing 5 regional airports including two in Karnataka, one in Rajasthan, one in Arunachal Pradesh and one in Odisha in order to leverage the tourism potential of remote regions through extension of domestic air connectivity.

Wi-Fi and online ticketing for heritage monuments

Image Credit: TheQuint.com

Tourism development in India has taken to heritage properties as well. Online ticketing has been implemented to facilitate hassle-free visit to India’s most popular heritage monuments including the Taj Mahal, the Agra Fort, the Qutb Minar Complex and likes. Besides, visitors can access Wi-Fi connection and upload their selfies to social media instantly at those heritage sites. This tourist-friendly facility has gained huge response. The Khajuraho Temple Complex and Varanasi are among the latest among the Wi-Fi tourist spots in India.

Indian railway stations under Wi-Fi coverage

Wi-Fi at public places is a new cool in India. More and more travelers’ reach to Wi-Fi Internet facility is being extended across Indian railway stations. Bangalore City Railway Station is the first to have been equipped with Wi-Fi connection in India. Recently, New Delhi Railway Station has brought under the purview of this project. Use of Wi-Fi is free for the first 30 minutes. Commuters can buy scratch cards at i-Fi help desks at those stations.

Airport-like hospitality at railway stations

16 Indian railway stations are to get premium lounges with airport lounge-like facilities at affordable rates. Hospitality at these railway stations is about to reach the next level. Jaipur, Sealdah, Howrah, Patna, Bhubaneswar, Secunderabad, Vishakhapatnam, Nagpur, Puri, Ahmedabad, Bilaspur, Dhanbad, Vijayawada and Ajmer are the stations to get executive lounges at the first phase of hospitality development by Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation.

Security developments for female tourists

Developments in India are taking place to ensure security of women travellers. Women-only cab service for women is one of the developments that Goa and Kerala have witnessed to in last few months. The female drivers of the cabs under this initiative in interest of female tourists’ safety are trained in self-defense techniques soft skills, customer relations and first aid. Kerala and Goa’s women-only cab service is equipped with GPS system and panic alert system.

Incredible India Helplines for women travelers

The launch of “Incredible India Helplines” for domestic and international women tourists is one of the remarkable developments in India travel & tourism niche. 1800111363 and 1363 are the helplines for domestic and international female tourists respectively. Currently available in two languages: English and Hindi, the “Incredible India Helplines” will be rolled out in 12 international languages soon.

Innovations in India travel and tourism

The state tourism of Tamil Nadu has planned to introduce helicopter services for foreign tourists in the state. Madurai will be the primary hub of operations for helicopter tours to Kanyakumari, Mandapam and Kodaikanal. Tamil Nadu is globally famous as a state of temples of the Dravidian architecture. The God’s Own Country, Kerala has launched water taxis and AC boats on backwaters in a bid to fetch more luxury tourists. Kerala has teamed up with UNESCO to restore the faded glory of the ancient Spice Route, which connected 31 countries in the bygone eras. Odisha, a coastal state of India on the Bay of Bengal, is supposed to get India’s second Rock Garden. The sculptural exhibits in the garden will be made of rock and stone. Odisha’ Rock Garden will have amusement facilities too.

New tourist attractions across India

Tourism developments in India include innovations being implemented across the country. Gwalior, a historical city in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, is to set up a museum on Rani Laxmibai, whose name is remembered for her bravery in the Revolt of 1857. Udaipur, a heritage city in the Rajput region of Rajasthan, has got a new tourist attraction and that is India’s biggest telescope – the Multi Appplication Solar Telescope. An environment-friendly plan to build ropeway for tourists in Shimla and Rohtang Pass has recently been proposed. Mumbai is the first Indian city to be proposed for a floating hotel. Goa has proposed to transform the 85-m tall lighthouse on the Aguada Plateau into a tourist attraction like Dolphin Nose in Andhra Pradesh and False Point in Odisha.

Upcoming museums for literature lovers

Indian government has decided to convert the houses of George Orwell and Rudyard Kipling, two eminent authors in English literature, into museums for literature lovers. George Orwell, A British novelist who is famous for “Animal Firm” and “1984”, was born in the Indian state of Bihar. Rudyard Kipling, a Nobel Prize awardee in Literature who is famous for “The Jungle Book,” was born in Mumbai (then Bombay).

India travel on wings of global popularity

The growing recognition of Indian heritage and the increasing number of foreign tourist arrivals (though much lower compared to the numbers of FTPs to other countries) are among the leading reasons of ongoing and upcoming developments in India travel and tourism. In the end of 2014, the National Geographic listed Hyderabad as the world’s second best place to see in 2015 and incorporated Goa as the 6^th best nightlife destination to its guide for the year 2015. The Victoria Memorial Hall, which is often referred to Kolkata’s Taj Mahal, has recently entered TripAdvisor’s Hall of Fame, which is an international recognition. According to a report based on the analysis of Google search trends in the beginning of 2015, the Charminar of Hyderabad is the most searched Indian monument. It is followed by the Golconda Fort and the Salar Jung Museum.

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August to March is the best time for road trips on bikes in North India. Delhi, the national capital of India, is at crossroads of weekend getaways for bikers. Weekend road trips from Delhi are adrenalin-pumping adventure drives for biking enthusiasts. Some road trips from Delhi run along highways; some run through zigzags in valleys and mountains; some run by beautiful rivers or shimmering streams; some run crisscrossing barren landscapes, while some run through green corridors at escalating altitudes. Some roads for bike trips from Delhi are motorable, while some are precarious throwing challenge to road trippers. You can soak in the natural beauty of India hanging over concrete highways, sandy trails, and mountainous passes. Indian Eagle lists the best road trips from Delhi for bikers.

Road trip to Ladakh from Delhi

Driving to Ladakh at an altitude of 13,000 feet is one of the most coveted road trips from Delhi. Riding a Royal Enfield for a whopping 1800km of round trip is not for the fainthearted. A road trip to Ladakh is full of adventure making it an inspirational story of courage, passion and obsession for the aspiring road trippers. If you are not a seasoned biker, Ladakh road trip may end up being far from euphoria. Don’t let it disappoint you. There are not-so-adventurous weekend road trips from Delhi for you, too.

READ MORE Ladakh Road Trip: An Inspirational Story

Road trip to Dehradun from Delhi

The road from Delhi to Dehradun and Mussoorie is poor, but what makes this road trip a must have for bikers is the breathtaking sightseeing. Dehradun and Mussoorie are the nearest hill stations from Delhi, in the Himalayan region. It is a 6-hr drive from Delhi to Dehradun, and driving to the hilltop of Mussoorie takes another 1.5 hours. Do halt at Cheetal Grand, a roadside eatery, to fuel your body with Indian or western food during your road trip to Dehradun.

Road trip to Jaipur from Delhi

Jaipur is on every biker’s list of top 10 road trips from Delhi. India’s Pink City is an exciting 6-hr biking trip. It is worth a long drive from Delhi for several reasons including tourist attractions and Rajasthani food. The Delhi – Jaipur Highway is a part of the Golden Quadrilateral project. October to March is the best time for a road trip to Jaipur.

Road trip to Agra from Delhi    

Needless to say why driving to Agra is one of the best weekend road trips from Delhi. Driving a bike or car on the newly built Yamuna Expressway to the city of Taj Mahal is an inexplicable experience, which India’s fastest train from Delhi to Agra falls short of. The mouthwatering taste of Agra’s street food and the mind-blowing beauty of the Taj Mahal add to the joy of road trips to Agra.

Road trip to Bharatpur from Delhi  

Bharatpur is a small town on the Agra-Jaipur Highway and famous for the Bharatpur bird sanctuary. Driving to Bharatpur is a fancy ride across vast sandy landscape. The entrance of the sanctuary looks abandoned, but the interior will mesmerize you the more you will explore. October to February is the best time for a road trip to Bharatpur because the sanctuary welcomes beautiful migratory birds during this period.

Road trip to Rishikesh from Delhi 

Rishikesh is a must visit for not only pilgrimage, yoga and meditation but also adventure. One of the holiest places in India, Rishikesh offers toast of adventure in form of river rafting, trekking and hiking. Evidently, adventure-loving bikers must hit the road to Rishikesh from Delhi at any time of the year and that is because of pleasant weather.

Road trip to Dharamsala from Delhi  

Dharamsala in the Kangra Valley of Himachal Pradesh is a scenic drive from the hustle-bustle of Delhi. One of the best getaways for summer vacation in India, Dharamsala is a beautiful canvas crisscrossed by hilly streams flowing through deodar and pine forests. This Himalayan hill station is the headquarters of Dalai Lama, too. Road trip to Dharamsala is a must for biking enthusiasts.

Road trip to Chittorgarh from Delhi 

[pullquote]Check our infographic on the unforgettable story of Chittorgarh Fort.[/pullquote] Chittorgarh in Rajasthan is one of the best destinations for weekend road trips from Delhi. Though a large portion of the Chittorgarh Fort is in ruins, the story of the fort will not fail to haunt you once you step into the fort complex. The timeless tales of Rajput rulers’ valor and Rajput women’s spirit of sacrifice in Mewar are worth 7-hr driving from Delhi to Chittorgarh.

Road trip to Chandigarh from Delhi 

Driving to Chandigarh from Delhi is an adrenalin drive for bikers. The Grand Trunk Road is the main route to Chandigarh from Delhi, giving access to Shimla and Kasauli, two most popular hill stations in Himachal Pradesh. Both Shimla and Kasauli are 2-3 hour pleasant drive from Chandigarh. It is safe not to venture out for a bike trip to Chandigarh or Shimla in the thick of winter.

Road trip to Alwar from Delhi

Biking or driving to Alwar from Delhi is an adventurous experience. Alwar is one of the princely states in Rajasthan. Visit to Sariska, one of the most famous tiger reserves in India, is worth a road trip from Delhi to Alwar. The month of February / March is the best time to visit Sariska because tigers are the likeliest to be sighted this time. You can halt to see the haunted Bhangarh Fort on the way.

READ MORE  Haunting Stories of Bhangarh

Road trip to Nainital from Delhi

Driving to Nainital is an escalating ride across high altitudes in Uttarakhand. No provision for air travel or train travel between Delhi and Nainital has made road trip to Nainital a must for bikers. Nainital Lake and Jim Corbett National Park are the best tourist attractions of this hill station at a drive of 285 km via roadway from Delhi. Jim Corbett National Park is the oldest park in India.

Road trip to Ranthambore from Delhi

Ranthambore is a paradise of natural beauty in Rajasthan and home to one of the most famous national parks in India. Located in Sawai Madhopur, the Ranthambore National Park and Tiger Reserve used to be a favorite haunt of the Rajput kings of Jaipur. The park is wildlife photographers’ delight, too, because of its scenic landscape and rich wildlife. Evidently, bikers brim with enthusiasm for road trip to Ranthambore from Delhi.

Road trip to Ajmer from Delhi   

Of the historic cities in Rajasthan, Ajmer is worth several road trips from Delhi. A 5-hr ride on bike, Ajmer is nearer than other cities to Delhi. Nestled amidst the Aravalli Mountains and founded by Ajayraj Singh Chauhan, Ajmer still carries palpable influences of the Chauhan Era in Rajasthan. The city is famous for its age-old artistry and the Ajmer Dargah.

Road trip to Almora from Delhi 

Almora is a gateway to adventure and sports tourism in the Himalayan region of Uttarakhand. One of the summer capitals in the Himalayas, Almora offers a springboard of outdoor activities including trekking and rock climbing. Many bikers, adventure lovers and sports enthusiasts from Delhi make road trips to Almora. Driving to Almora is much of an obsession with seasoned bikers and young road trippers.

Road trip to Mathura from Delhi

The Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has many destinations for bikers from Delhi. Road trip to Mathura from Delhi is not just an adventuresome drive but a way to seek solace in spirituality since Mathura being birthplace of Lord Krishna is a glorious destination for pilgrimage. Mathura is a must visit on the occasion of Janmastami in August or September. Attend the magnificent pooja ceremony and get blessed with delicious Prasad during Janmastami in Mathura.

Indian Eagle, a leading USA-based travel booking organization, books cheap flight tickets to India and helps tourists fly to India at the lowest airfare throughout the year.

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A historic monument is just a tourist attraction to travelers with camera. But, it is something more to the creative mind which seeks inspiration from the beauty of heritage. The heritage of India has equally captured the imagination of photographers, painters and poets for ages. Artists from around the world have painted beautiful pictures of Heritage India by smoothing out the ruggedness of structure with their creativity. In the paintings, the centuries-old monuments of India exude rare aestheticism in contrast to reality. Indian Eagle curated some of the most beautiful paintings of Indian Heritage to celebrate the World Heritage Day with the hope that the historic monuments are best preserved so that the next generations can make paintings as beautiful as these. 

The Taj Mahal, Agra

Image Source : winnieyong.wordpress.com

The India Gate, Delhi 

Image Credit: muruarts.com

Hampi, Karnataka

Image Credit: Fineartamerica.com

The Qutb Minar, Delhi 

Image Credit: Artoflegendindia.com

The Victoria Memorial, Kolkata

Image Credit: Artoflegendindia.com

The Gateway of India, Mumbai 

Image Credit: Uberartgallery.com

The Red Fort, Delhi 

Image Credit: Artoflegendindia.com

The Gwalior Fort, Madhya Pradesh

Image Credit: Fineartamerica.com

The Hawa Mahal, Jaipur 

Image Credit: Artoflegendindia.com

The Shore Temple, Tamil Nadu 

Image Credit: artdurkee.blogspot.in

The Amer Fort, Rajasthan

Image Credit: Wikipedia.org

The Agra Fort, Agra 

Image Credit: Fineartamerica.com

The Sanchi Stupa, Madhya Pradesh

Image Credit: Bharatdarshan.info

The Charminar, Hyderabad 

Image Credit: Fineartamerica.com

ALSO CHECK Rare Photographs of Taj Mahal

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The post Beautiful Paintings of Heritage India will Leave You Speechless appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Are you looking to ring in the New Year with a travel wishlist in hand? If yes, we are here to recommend a few tourist destinations for your India travel wishlist 2015. A travel wishlist comes handy when you plan vacations at the onset of a new year. It is an altogether different pleasure to explore the lesser-known tourist destinations rather than visiting the most frequented places in India. Hope, our choice will help you to create a wishlist for India travel in 2015.

Hampi in Karnataka

One of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in India, Hampi is a historic treasure of rocks and ruins. The erstwhile capital of the Vijayanagar Empire in the 13^th and 14^th centuries, Hampi was the world’s second most populous city. Do listen to the stories of the architectural ruins dotting the rocky landscape of Hampi.

Fatehpur Sikri in Agra 

If you have already visited the Taj Mahal, add Fatehpur Sikri to your travel wishlist 2015. Though no wonder of white marbles, Fatehpur Sikri is a sprawling UNESCO World Heritage Site of red bricks and stones. The monument complex boasts of the world’s largest doorway, the Buland Darwaja. Once the capital of the Mughal Empire in Akbar’s regime; Fatehpur Sikri is a living witness to the stories of the Mughal.

Read more The Agra Travel Food Guide

Gandikota in Andhra Pradesh 

Founded in 1123 by a subordinate of a Chalukyan King of Kalyana on the right bank of the River Pennar, Gandikota is a small historical village. The Gandikota Fort was one of the remarkable constructions in the Kakatiya, the Vijayanagara and the Qutub Shahi regime. It is a tourist destination not only for its historic significance but also its geographic beauty. Gandikota’s geography resembles Arizona’s Grand Canyon in the United States.

Mandu in Madhya Pradesh

A ruined city of historic tales dating from the 6^th century till the Maratha regime in the 18^th century, Mandu occupies a significant role in the history of India. Home to palaces, forts, temples and other monuments on a rocky outcrop, Mandu was renamed Shadiabad by Allauddin Khilji in 1305. Mandu was blessed with prosperity when the Ghuri Dynasty was in power. It was incorporated to the Mughal Empire during Akbar’s regime. Later, the Maratha ruler Peshwa Bajirao the First captured Mandu in 1732.

Bishnupur in West Bengal 

Located in the rural tourism circle of West Bengal, Bishnupur is famous not only for the history of the Gupta Period but also terracotta (clay work), a popular handicraft of Bengal. 132 km away from Kolkata, Bishnupur is known for its age-old temples which are adorned with terracotta sculpture depicting the scriptural stories of ancient India. Bishnupur’s terracotta pottery, artifacts, jewellery and home décor items are exported to the overseas markets.

Raghurajpur in Odisha 

 One of the lesser-known places in the rural backwaters of Odisha, Raghurajpur is a handicraft village of patachitra painters and artists. A tourist destination for art lovers in rural India, Raghurajpur has kept alive patachitra, an ancient art of India or an art form of ancient India. The patachitra artists breathe life to the mythological stories and folk tales of India on perched palm leaves and clothes through a rare palette of natural colors. Their creation is not just an art but an enchanting poetry.

Know more about The Artists of Raghunathpur

Silent Valley in Kerala

One of the least explored and lesser-known tourist destinations in India, Silent Valley is part of the green forest belt in Kerala. It was converted into a national park in 1980 and is under consideration for a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A natural habitat of rare species of birds, the Silent Valley in Kerala is an ideal destination for green travel in the Nilgiri Hills.

Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu 

One of the holiest cities in India, the modern-day Kanchi was the erstwhile capital, Kanchipuram, of the Pallava Kingdom. Most of the temples in Kanchi are dedicated to Lord Bishnu and Lord Shiva. Kanchi’s every nook and corner is full of history of different eras when the Pallavas, the Cholas, the Pandyas, the Vijayangar dynasty were in power. Kanchi is a must visit to photograph the delicately sculpted South Indian temples.

Kumbhalgarh in Rajasthan 

Kumbhalgarh is famous for its age-old hilltop fort, one of the tourist attractions in Rajasthan. The Kumbhalgarh Fort is famous for its 36-km long wall with watchtowers which command breathtaking views of the peaks of the Aravalli Mountain range. Many tourists do not know that the Kumbhalgarh Fort Wall is known as the Great Wall of India. Listed among the offbeat tourist attractions in India, it is the second largest wall in the world.

Read more The Great Wall of India

Ravangla in Sikkim 

Of the least explored tourist destinations in Northeast India, Ravangla should be on your India travel wishlist 2015. Ravangla is a small town at a height of 7,000 feet in Sikkim. A summer habitat of several species of Himalayan birds, Ravangla is known for its quiet ambience, soulful environment, meditative beauty, simple ways of life, and tryst with nature.

Indian Eagle will help to make your travel wishlist come true in 2015 by giving you the best itineraries to India at the lowest airfare from the United States & Canada. The cheapest flight to India is guaranteed! Just click the button below & choose your travel dates to get the best deal:  

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The post Travel Wishlist 2015 – Best Places to Visit in India appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

“LOVE is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no; it is an ever-fixed mark,
That looks on tempests, and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth’s unknown, although his height be taken.
LOVE’s not Time’s fool,”

In the stanza quoted from “Sonnet No. 116,” William Shakespeare speaks about the eternity of love, which is best embodied and concretized by the Taj Mahal in India. A wonder of wonders in the world, the Taj Mahal is a living edifice of human passion, which neither History dares to bury in its grave nor does Time dare to forget. Celebrities from across the globe have defined and described this immortal heritage of India in different ways. We have compiled some of the best quotes about the Taj Mahal to share with you, through eloquent visuals from the lens of travel photographers.

Rabindranath Tagore, Nobel awardee in literature

“You know Shah Jahan, life and youth, wealth and glory, they all drift away in the current of time. You strove therefore, to perpetuate only the sorrow of your heart? Let the splendor of diamond, pearl and ruby vanish? Only let this one teardrop, this Taj Mahal, glisten spotlessly bright on the cheek of time, forever and ever.”

Image Credit: Thomas and William Daniell, The British Library Board

Sir Edwin Arnold, English Poet

“Not a piece of architecture, as other buildings are, but the proud passions of an emperor’s love wrought in living stones.”

Image Credit: Cosmin Danila

Bayard Taylor, American novelist

“Did you ever build a castle in the Air? Here is one, brought down to earth and fixed for the wonder of ages.”

Image Credit: Alexandra Stukkey/ThinkStock

Hodges, British painter

“It appears like a perfect pearl on an azure ground. The effect is such I have never experienced from any work of art.”

Image Credit: Steve Mccurry

Bill Clinton, former President of the USA

There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who have seen the Taj Mahal and love it, and those who have not seen the Taj Mahal and love it. I would like people to watch the Taj Mahal and fall in love with it.

Image Credit: Jitendra Singh

Count Hermann Keyserling, German Philosopher

“A massive marble structure, without weight, as if formed of ether, perfectly rational and at the same time entirely decorative, it is perhaps the greatest art work which the forming spirit of mankind has ever brought forth.”

Image Credit: Julien Pons

Lord Curzon, British Governor General

If I had never done anything else in India, I would have written my name here, and the letters would have been a living joy.”

CHECK MORE Beautiful Paintings of Indian Heritage Monuments

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The post 7 Best Quotes & Photographs of Taj Mahal That will Make You Respect Indian Heritage appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.