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 post Interesting Facts about Origin of Some Popular Indian Dishes from Indian Food History appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Among the wandering monks of India, Swami Vivekananda is the first name that comes to the mind. The five years of his life on earth, from 1888 to 1893 was full of travels in search of truth, spirituality and a real India. He traveled as a Parivrajaka along the length and breadth of the country. He won the admiration of kings, felt for the suffering people, motivated the youth for a greater cause, studied many religious scriptures, visited many historic sites, gained knowledge, and visualized the future of India during his itinerary, which made a precious treasure of enlightenment for us. On the occasion of Swami Vivekananda’s birthday (January 12), we at Travel Beats, an overseas Indian community portal by Indian Eagle, offer a sneak peek into his historic and spiritual travels.

Varanasi, one of the holiest cities in India, was the first destination on his itinerary. In Varanasi, he came across the saints like Trailanga Swami, the authors like Bhudev Mukhopadhyay, and the Vedic scholars like Babu Pramadadas Mitra. From there, he made his way to Rishikesh through Ayodhya, Lucknow, Agra and Vrindavan. He interacted with and took favor from whoever came his way without caring their castes and creeds because he believed in non-duality of the soul. Some of those who were touched by his noble soul became his disciples and got initiated into service to the nation. Among them was Sharat Chandra Gupta, a railway station master in Haridwar, who came to be known as Swami Sadananda. Swamiji fondly called Sharat “the child of my spirit”.

Then, Swamiji spent days at Vaidyanath and Allahabad during his itinerary between 1889 and 1890. From Allahabad, he moved to Ghazipur where he got in touch with Pavhari Bana, a great sage. Pavhari Baba was known for his absolute knowledge of Advaita Vedanta. On meeting the sage, he felt blessed and referred to him as a great soul of bhakti and yoga in a letter to Pramadababu. In the first half of 1890, he took a break for the travel and returned to Baranagar Math in Kolkata (then Calcutta). After a short stay there, he left for a trip to the Himalayas in quest of truth. Swami Akhandananda accompanied him on the trip. After a visit to Nainital, Almora, Dehradun and Srinagar, Swamiji went to the Himalayas. Delhi was his destination by the end of January in 1891.

He visited the historical sites in and around Delhi. Then, his travel to Rajputana in west India began. This phase of the itinerary was so eventful that it constituted a big chapter of his biography. The first stopover in Rajputana was Alwar where he received a cordial welcome from both the Hindus and the Muslims. They were influenced by this wandering monk’s spiritual values and teachings. Swamiji was invited by Mangal Singh, the King of Alwar, who did not believe in the practice of idol worship because of his western outlook. A meeting with Swamiji changed his attitude towards the idol worship by the Hindus.

Swamiji’s Rajasthan travel was full of learning too. He studied Panini’s Ashtadhyayi under the tutelage of a Sanskrit Scholar in Jaipur. He visited the Dargah Sharif in Ajmer. His meeting with Ajit Singh, the King of Khetri in Mount Abu on June 4, 1891, is another important event. Out his interest in spirituality, the King became a follower of Swamiji and supported him in many ways. Swamiji studied Mahabhasya during his stay at Khetri and then, he went to Gujarat.

Limbdi, Ahmedabad, Junagadh, Kutch, Porbander, Dwaraka, Baroda, Palitana and Girnar were among his destinations in Gujarat. The Gujarat travel was full of enlightenment for him. He studied the Jain scriptures there. He got the idea of preaching Vedanta in the Western World from Thakur Saheb Jaswant Singh who he came across in Limbdi. Haridas Viharidas Desai, the Diwan of Junagadh, welcomed him as a respected guest. Impressed by his personality, the Diwan used to discuss on different topics with Swamiji till late at night. Swamiji immersed himself in philosophical studies during his nine-month long stay at Porbander. At Kathiawar in Gujarat, he got to know about the Parliament of the World’s Religions.

Then, he visited Mahabaleshwar and Pune. While traveling by train in Bombay in 1892, Swamiji happened to meet Bal Gangadhar Tilak, a Nationalist in the Freedom Movement of India. They spent a few days together in Pune. He moved to Panaji in Goa from Maharashtra, and studied the Christian theology at a convent in Goa.

In the second half of 1892, he journeyed to Bangalore, his first destination in South India. There, he met the Diwan of Mysore who described him as “a magnetic personality with a divine force”. Swamiji was introduced to Chamaraja Wodeyar, the then King of Mysore and welcomed cordially to the Palace. He was further introduced to the Diwan of Cochin. His travel continued till he reached the southernmost part of India, Kanyakumari, on foot through Trissur, Ernakulam, Trivandrum, and Nagercoil. The meditation on the future of India, at the Kanyakumari Rock, was the culmination of Swamiji’s spiritual journey at the end of 1892.

Having had the vision of an individual India, Swamiji traveled to Madurai, Rameswaram, Pondicherry and Madras (now Chennai) in the beginning of 1893. He met Ramnad Bhaskara Sethupathi, the then King of Madurai, who approached him with an urge to participate in the Parliament of Religions in Chicago. Swamiji won the admiration of whoever came in touch with him during the itinerary across Tamil Nadu. Most of them became disciples and responded to his call for renunciation in service to the nation. One of his most ardent disciples in South India was Alasinga Perumal who collected funds for Swamiji’s voyage to Chicago by going from door to door. Swami Vivekananda embarked on the historic voyage to America on May 31, 1893.

Swamiji’s travel continued from America to the rest of the world till the demise of his mortal body on July 4, 1902. However, the journey of this greatest Indian traveler is as ceaseless as the eternal flow of time. It is still on the go through the spread of his message, teachings, values and vision

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Are you bored of the Taj Mahal, the Victoria Memorial, the Charminar, the India Gate, the Red Fort, the Gateway of India and other historic tourist attractions in India? If yes, a whole new lot of things to see in India are awaiting you in 2016 and 2017. The upcoming tourist attractions in India include the world’s highest golf course, tallest rail bridge and tallest clock tower, an Eiffel Tower replica, a river gallery, a Madame Tussauds museum, a war memorial, etc. Each of these is a new reason to visit India in 2016 and 2017. IndianEagle shares tidbits about the upcoming tourist attractions in India.

World’s Highest Golf Course in Sikkim

Have you ever imagined of playing golf at a height of 14,140 feet? If yes, the imagination is not far from reality. The northeast Indian state of Sikkim is going to have the world’s highest golf course near Nathula Pass, a mountainous route serving as a trade link between India and China. Named ‘Yak Golf Course’, it would be not only the world’s highest golf course but also one of the most interesting places to visit in India in 2016.

Jatayu Nature Park in Kerala

Kerala’s Jatayu Nature Park is inspired by the story of Jatayu, a mythical character in the Ramayana, one of the Indian epics. Chatatayamangalam in Kollam district, where Jatayu is said to have fallen from the skies during a faceoff with Ravana, is the scenic location of this upcoming park in Kerala. The park will feature an amazing blend of art, adventure and technology. The world’s largest bird sculpture of Jatayu on the top of a hill, measuring 70 feet in height, 200 feet in length and 150 feet in breadth is supposed to be the center of attraction in Kerala’s Jatayu Nature Park. The Jatayu sculpture will house a digital museum and 6D theatre. The park will house a dedicated adventure zone with several adventure games. A high-tech cable car offering a bird’s eye view of the scenic area will be set up over the park. Evidently, Kerala’s Jatayu Nature Park is among the upcoming Indian tourist attractions to watch out for in 2016.

Replica of Eiffel Tower in Kolkata  

The first replica of the Eiffel Tower in Kolkata is surely among the upcoming Indian tourist attractions which are worth a visit in 2016. Kolkata has already laid the foundation of a replica of the Eiffel Tower in solidarity with the victims of terrorist attacks in Paris on November 13, 2015. Part of the ‘Seven Wonders of the World’ at Eco Park, the tower will have an observation deck at a height of 25 meters to offer sweeping views of Kolkata. It will have a coffee shop as well as a souvenir shop. Read on to know the facts about Kolkata’s Eiffel Tower replica.

World’s Tallest Rail Bridge in India

The Chenab Bridge under construction between Bakkal and Kauri in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir is a seemingly impossible technological challenge. Once completed, the 1,315m long bridge will be the world’s highest arch bridge with railway lines at a height of 359m over the River Chenab.

Statue of Unity in Gujarat

The upcoming Statue of Unity in Gujarat is among the new interesting things to see in India. Dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, an eminent leader of the Indian Independence Movement, the statue will boast a height of 182 meters or 597 feet on a river island near Vadodara. Expected to be the world’s tallest statue, the Statue of Unity will be surrounded by a lake sprawling over an area of 12 km.

Madame Tussauds Museum in Delhi

The list of new tourist attractions to see in India includes an upcoming Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in New Delhi. India’s first Madame Tussauds Wax Museum will house life-size wax statues of not only Indian legends and celebs but also eminent figures from the rest of the world. This initiative is part of the India-UK Year of Culture Celebrations in 2017. Read more about Delhi’s Madame Tussauds Museum.

Rock Garden in Odisha

Odisha’s Rock Garden is also on the list of upcoming tourist attractions in India. Being built in Berhampur, it would be India’s second rock garden after the first Rock Garden in Chandigarh, Punjab. The garden will feature several creative structures and artifacts sculpted out of rock to take your breath away. Known for their rock-carving skills, the artisans of Odisha are expected to make the upcoming rock garden a major tourist attraction in the state. To be powered by solar energy, Odisha’s Rock Garden would be among the eco-friendly tourist places across India.

War Memorial & Museum in Delhi

India has proposed to get the first war museum near the iconic Indian Gate in New Delhi. The museum will be a memorial in honor of the martyrs who laid down their lives in the post-independence era of India. Said to be India’s national war memorial and museum, it had been pending since 1960 due to the lack of approval from the central government. Among the tourist places to visit in Delhi, it will stand as a symbol for the Indian soldiers’ sacrifice in service to the nation. The estimated cost of the project is INR 500 crores. Once completed, the National War Memorial and Museum in Delhi will be among the best things to see in India.

World’s Tallest Clock Tower in Mysore

If Sikkim is to get the world’s highest golf course, Karnataka is to get the world’s tallest clock tower in Mysore. Infosys has proposed to build the 135-m high clock tower in its Mysore campus, a 2-hour drive from Bengaluru. Comprising 19 floors with a boardroom, the tower will reportedly cost a whopping $8.83 million. It will display a digital timepiece on the top. Read more about this wonderful initiative by Infosys among the tourist attractions in India.

River Gallery in Karnataka

Mysore of Mysuru, a historic city in Karnataka, is mostly famous for the Mysore Palace. An upcoming gallery on the River Cauvery would be another tourist attraction in Mysore. Believed to be India’s first river gallery, it will showcase the culture, life and biodiversity supported by the River Cauvery, the main source of water in Karnataka. The gallery will also exhibit how important role the River Cauvery plays in the lives of farmers across the state and highlight environmental threats to the river.

Travel Beats is a culture & entertainment portal for Indian diaspora by IndianEagle, a leading US-India travel booking organization. It publishes interesting stories about USA, Canada, NRIs, aviation and India tourism.

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Kolkata Big Ben, a replica of the Big Ben in London, is India’s tallest clock tower as of the moment. Soon Kolkata Big Ben will be dwarfed by the upcoming free-standing clock tower in Mysore, Karnataka. Infosys has proposed to build the world’s tallest clock tower in Mysore, a historic city in South India. The 135-meter high tower found space within the sprawling 345-acre Global Education Center.

The proposed Infosys clock tower in Mysore will surpass the 96-m high London’s Big Ben and the 87-meter high Hoover Tower in California. The other clock towers across the world, including McGraw Tower (53 meters) in Cornell, will take a backseat when the Infosys tower will raise its head at the Global Education Center in Mysore.

The estimated cost of the world’s tallest free-standing clock tower is a whopping $8.83 million, which Infosys, one of the leading Indian outsourcing firms, will fund.  A model of the monumental structure is already in place. It incorporates both Gothic and classical styles. The tower in Mysore will stand for nationalism, while Kolkata Big Ben apparently signifies colonialism because it is a replica of the Big Ben in England; the country which had colonized India.

The Infosys clock tower in Mysore will have 19 floors with a boardroom. The base of the tower will feature a dimension of 22×22 meters, and the top will display a digital timepiece. “The Global Education Center in Mysore is considered the world’s largest corporate university. A clock tower will bring alive the campus with more importance than before,” Narayana Murthy, founder of Infosys.

The state government of Karnataka has approved the proposal to build the world’s tallest clock tower in Mysore. The tower will be completed and the clock will be seen ticking within 20 months from now, according to the Executive Vice President of Infosys. The design of the tower has been assigned to a Mumbai-based architect who had also designed Infosys’s Mysore campus.

The contract to build the Infosys clock tower in Mysore is given to the startup of a Kerala-born NRI engineer Faizal E Kottikollon based in Dubai. LERA, a New York based firm, will provide its consultancy services regarding the structural design of the firm.

The Infosys clock tower in Mysore to be taller than London’s Big Ben or the world’s tallest free-standing clock tower is among the upcoming tourist attractions in India.

Mysore is one of the best weekend getaways from Bengaluru, the Silicon Valley of India. Apart from Mysore Dussehra and Mysore Palace, the clock tower with a digital timepiece in Infosys Campus will be another reason to visit Mysore.  – IndianEagle

Travel Beats is a fast-growing news portal for Indian diaspora by IndianEagle, a U.S. based international travel organization booking best flights to Bengaluru and other Indian cities. It publishes the latest news and interesting stories from India, USA, Canada, NRIs and aviation.

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Travel to India is no way different from food travel for a foodie. Be you in north, south, west, or, east, Indian cuisine is as varied as the world geography. This time our pick from the South Indian food map is Mysore as Dussehra festival is around the corner. Dussehra in Mysore is a grand royal celebration which fetches tourists from across the world. If you are traveling to India to celebrate Dussehra in Mysore, you would love to bookmark and share our article on traditional Indian food to eat in Mysore. Indian Eagle shares with you some useful South India food travel tips, too.

Traditional Mysore breakfast              

Dosa, Idli and Vada are the ruling snacks in the cuisine of Mysore. Though Dosa, Idli and Vada top the breakfast menu at restaurants in Mysore, the city is busy preparing and serving these items all the day. You will find 10 different varieties of dosa in Mysore, but Masala dosa is one of the yummiest and most popular Indian foods. Dosa, Idli and Vada are traditionally served with sambhar and coconut chutney. Don’t deprive your taste buds of different idli varieties – Rava idli, Thatte idli and Maligae idli. Mysore Bonda and Mysore Bajji are unique to the South Indian food culture. Bonda is crispy outside and soft inside. Having a plate of smoking hot Mysore bonda is a sinful indulgence for the foodie like you. Varieties of Mysore Bajji are as many as dosa varieties. Potato bajji, Onion bajji, Chilli bajji, Bread bajji, Applam bajji – the list goes on!

Traditional Mysore lunch    

It is as important to know what to eat at the lunch time as to know where to eat in Mysore. The typical Mysore lunch will give you a taste of traditional South Indian food. Most of the restaurants across the city serve food on banana leaves. The lunch menu starts with cereal salad Kosambri. It is followed by Huli, a dense broth of boiled vegetables and lentils, spiced with chilli powder and tamarid juice. Huli is both tangy and sour in taste. Gojju is another traditional vegetable curry.  Palyas, rasam, papad, pickle and curd are some of the other items on the Mysore lunch menu. Pickle, papad and curd are the essential add-ons, served in lunch and dinner meals. Coconut, tamarind and chilli are common ingredients in the South Indian cooking of dishes in Mysore.

Traditional Mysore sweets

Your affair with Indian food in Mysore will remain an incomplete story without a mouthful of Mysore sweets. Mysore Pak is one of the most popular sweets in the South Indian cuisine. Part and parcel of traditional Indian food culture in South India, this sweet delicacy is made of gram flour, pure ghee and sugar. It is so soft that it melts the moment it comes in touch with the tongue. If you crave a sweeter experience of food travel in Mysore, make sure to try Chiroti, a kind of pastry made of flour, smeared with sugar powder and dipped in almond milk. The list of Mysore sweets will go on until Holige is mentioned. Holige is wafer-thin, flat, fired bread stuffed with jaggery and dried coconut gratings. If these sweets fail to satisfy your sweet tooth, Rave Unde and Shavige Payasa will surely give a twist to your taste buds.

In addition to sharing food travel tips with the foodie, Indian Eagle offers cheap airline tickets to India. It is never late to book your travel at Indian Eagle  as we offer last minute travel deals too.

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How to make the most of your trip to India during monsoon? No need to think hard! Book the cheapest flight to Bangalore or Chennai or Coimbatore, and set out for a journey by the Nilgiri Mountain Railway. The journey across the Nilgiri Mountains offers a rare mélange of adrenalin rush, adventuresome vibe and romantic feel. It is one of the most wonderful mountain rail journeys in India. Indian Eagle explains why you should travel by the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, at least, once in lifetime.

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway journey is accessible from two states of South India – Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. If you are flying to Bangalore International Airport, you can set out for a downward journey from Ooty, which is a short drive from Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka. Or, you can take an uphill journey from Mettupalayam in Coimbatore which is a 4-5 hour long drive from Madurai, one of the most famous temple cities of Tamil Nadu. Those on a traveling spree in South India can make a trip from Bangalore to Madurai or from Madurai to Bangalore via Coonoor on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway.

READ MORE  Weekend Getaways from Bengaluru

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is popularly known as the Nilgiri Toy Train which runs between Udhagamandalam (Ooty) and Mettupalayam in Tamil Nadu. Ooty, the Queen of South Indian hill stations, is at the height of 7,228 feet near the top of the Nilgiri Hills, while Mettupalayam stands at the height of 1,069 feet near the foot of the Nilgiri Hills. The uphill or downhill journey between these two stations spans over a distance of 41.8 km. The uphill journey is longer than the downhill journey in terms of timespan. The former takes nearly 5 hours, while the latter takes 3.5 hours.

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway has 7 main stopovers – Kallar, Adderly, Hillgrove, Runneymede, Kateri Road, Coonoor and Lovedale – on its route between Mettupalayam and Ooty. The route features different geographic forms making it an unforgettable journey. Wavy paddy fields cover a 7-km long stretch from Mettupulayam to Kallar. The next part of the route spanning for a distance of 21 km from Kallar to Coonoor is dotted with rocky terrains. This rocky track has many twists and turns through 13 tunnels. Then, there is a steep rise from Coonoor to Fern Hill, the highest point on the route. The track runs downwards a little till Ooty.

Coonoor is the 2nd largest hill station in the Nilgiri Mountains. Located in the Nilgiri district of Tamil Nadu, this hill station is famous for its beautiful tea estates. The Nilgiri tea is the mainstay of Coonoor whose tourist attractions include Sim’s Park, Dolphin’s Nose, Law’s Falls, Lamb’s Rock and Droog Fort. The part of the Nilgiri Mountain Railway track running through Coonoor is landscaped by tea plantations on both sides, making is a most picturesque phase of the journey. Coimbatore International Airport is a 56-km drive, and Ooty is 18 km away from Coonoor town. You can stop by Coonoor for one-day stay during the journey.

READ MORE  Coonoor Sightseeing Guide

The uphill journey ends in Ooty, the largest hill station in the Nilgiri Mountains and the state of Tamil Nadu. Ooty is one of the most popular summer retreats and monsoon holiday destinations in South India. It is a famous film shooting location too. Ooty Lake, Rose Garden, Botanical Garden, Stone House, Tribal Museum, St. Stephen’s Church, and Wax World are the must-visit tourist attractions of Ooty. If you drive from Ooty to catch your flight at Bangalore International Airport, make sure to halt at Mysore, a historic city in Karnataka, on the way. A 3-hour long journey by buses and trains from Ooty, Mysore is famous for Mysore Palace, Chamundeshwari Temple, Kannada Literature, Mysore silk, Mysore painting, and the history of Wodeyar Dynasty.

Constructed in 1908, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. The mountainous terrains had made the construction a massive challenge which was however converted into a marvel of engineering and technology. Painted in blue and cream, the train has wooden coaches with large windows which offer gripping views of the outer world. The train consists of first class and general class compartments. The first-class compartment offers a more comfortable journey than the general class. You can book a ticket or tickets within 2 months prior to the date of your journey, on IRCTC website.

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway has been filmed in several travel documentaries and feature films. A few sequences in A Passage to India, a Hollywood film by David Lean, were shot at Coonoor Station. If you are a Bollywood buff, you should watch Shah Rukh Khan’s journey on the rooftop of the Nilgiri Mountain Railway passing meanderingly through the green landscapes of Coonoor, in the popular song Chaiyya Chaiyya from Mani Ratnam’s Dil Se. Moreover, Ooty has been filmed in several movies of different South Indian languages.

It is said that live in the present as there is no tomorrow. So, don’t give a second thought to the opportunity of flying to India at the lowest fare. Book your flight to Bengaluru today on IndianEagle.com.

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“A civilization is a heritage of beliefs, customs, and knowledge slowly accumulated in the course of centuries”. This famous quote by some historian is true about India, a civilization of heritage. It is the age-old monumental heritage that has eternalized the Indian civilization in the world history by inspiring generations to explore the art and culture of India. Most of the monuments including palaces and forts have not inched from their position despite the testing time has hurled blows to them over hundreds of years, but their invaders, captivators and rulers have faded into the wood. Indian Eagle salutes to the immortal heritage of India, on the World Heritage Day (April 14), with reference to some of the best and most celebrated monuments that Indians as well as NRIs are proud of.

The Taj Mahal, Agra

The one and only heritage that represents India in international tourism is the Taj Mahal of Agra, a living witness to the age-old Mughal History of India. Celebrated as an eternal memento of love, this mighty Mughal architecture is a symbol of peace, harmony and religious tolerance that India stands for. A flight to India, irrespective of the purpose, is incomplete without a glimpse of the Taj Mahal under the open sky washed by the bright sunrays or flooded by the soft moonbeams.

The Victoria Memorial, Kolkata

The Victoria Memorial, another wonder of white marble, is called the Taj Mahal of Bengal. Commissioned by Lord Curzon, the then Viceroy of British India, in the memory of Queen Victoria, the marvelous architecture is the most precious gem in the treasure of Kolkata. Located in the heart of the city, the Victoria Memorial keeps Kolkata’s colonial history alive against the ravaging flow of time. It has become a pride of Kolkatans through cultural evolutions over the years. Some of you might have exclaimed in joy, “Hey, it is my Kolkata”, to see the heritage in Pradeep Sarkar’s Parineeta starring Vidya Balan.

The India Gate, Delhi

The India Gate is not just another heritage of India. It is more than a brand icon and a historic landmark of New Delhi. The Indian Gate was built in the memory of thousands of unsung soldiers who Mother India lost in the First World War, the Northwest Frontier and the Third Afghan War. A sacred tribute to the heroism, bravery, fortitude and sacrifice that India has been known for in the annals of the world history, this war memorial has been seen as a venue of mass protest against socio-political injustices in a few Bollywood movies such as Rang De Basanti and No One Killed Jessica.

The Charminar, Hyderabad

The Charminar, a monumental architecture, is the most recognized Islamic heritage of Hyderabad. The construction of the monument coincided with the foundation of the city in 1591. Why Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah commissioned the construction of the Charminar is still shrouded in mysteries due to unanimous arguments of the historians. Though intermingled with the Islamic culture and history of the city, it has been losing its sheen. Surrounded by crowded bazaars on four sides and polluted by heavy vehicular traffic around, this pride of Hyderabad is no more a glory in contrast to the cosmopolitan cum cyber image of the city.

The Gwalior Fort, Gwalior

The Gwalior Fort, the heritage of Madhya Pradesh, is a colossal defensive structure consisting of beautiful palaces and temples inside. A most important figure in the history of Central India, the fort has been standing tall through the regimes of several rulers in Madhya Pradesh. It retells the age-old stories of the Pal Dynasty, the Pratihara Dynasty, the Tomar Dynasty, the Suri Dynasty, the Mughal Dynasty, the Rana Jat Dynasty and the Maratha Dynasty. The mighty being of the Gwalior Fort has been carrying the scars inflicted by the British during the repression of the Sepoy Mutiny (The Rebellion of 1857). Gurjari Mahal and Man Mandir are the greatest attractions of this architecture.

The Amba Vilas Palace, Mysore

Popularly known as the Palace of Mysore, the Amba Vilas Palace is one of the few heritage citadels which was demolished and rebuilt multiple times. Originally built in the 14th century, the Mysore Palace went through a series of renovations till 1912. The official residence of the Wodeyar Kings, the palace is synonymous with the majesty and royalty of Mysore in Karnataka. One of the most popular tourist destinations in South India, the Mysore Palace features the finest blend of the Hindu, Muslim and Gothic architectural styles. The illumination of the palace is the mightiest attraction of the Vijaya Dashami or Dusshera festival in Mysore.

We regret having not listed, here, the majestic palaces and historic forts of the Rajputana states which are among the best heritage of India.

However, the heritage tour of India requires several trips to Indian cities. No need to worry when IndianEagle.com offers the lowest airfare throughout the year!

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Many foreign tourists are more familiar with the hill stations in the Himalayan region of North India than the hill stations in South India. They think that Himalayan hill stations are suitable for not only sightseeing but also meditation as well as yoga. However, the remedial and meditative power of nature manifests itself in the beauty, solitude, peace and greenery of the following South Indian hill stations. Indian Eagle recommends these five of the best South Indian hill stations for any seasonal vacation in India.

Ooty

Ooty is as charming as a child’s imagination of a toy train making its way through mountains amidst picturesque settings where a lake lies in peace and greenery exudes freshness. This picture of Ooty is not a piece of mere imagination. It exists as a concrete creation of nature with many visual attractions that catch the eyes of a traveler in us. Mother Nature makes her artistry felt in every nook and corner of this hill station at a short drive from Mysore and Bangalore or Bengaluru in Karnataka. Pykara Waterfalls, Doddabetta Peak, Kamaraj Sagar Lake, and Catherine Waterfalls make Ooty a must visit at a height of 7350 feet above ground.

Coorg

Ask an Indian painter to create a picture of Scotland on the canvas, he will paint Coorg. Yes, among the hill stations of South India, Coorg is titled the ‘Scotland of India’. Lavished with greenery and landscaped with coffee plantations, Coorg lets you drink to the beauty of nature through sensory visuals of the Western Ghats. For its soothing and sedating atmosphere, Coorg seems to be a land of lotus eaters on in India. The itinerary of this South Indian hill station in Karnataka is full of tourist spots including waterfalls, temples, national parks and the Kaveri River. Abbey Falls is a favorite of tourists there.

Kodaikanal

If the hill stations of Tamil Nadu compete with each other in terms of height, Kodaikanal is sure to win the competition. Kodaikanal boasts of a height of 7,000 feet above ground. This South Indian hill station is a thing to all catering to the likes of lovers, honeymooners, poets, romantics and peace seekers. The sprawling lake dominates the landscape of Kodaikanal which is further beautified by Bryant Park, Pine forests, Silver Cascade Waterfalls, and Dolphin’s Nose. Sightseeing in and round Kodaikanal is an elixir of warmth for the mind and that of joy for the eyes.

Munnar

According to John Milton, celebrated author of Paradise Lost, hell and heaven exist in our minds. If there is heaven in the world outside the mind, it is Munnar in Kerala. With tea plantations rolling around hills, Munnar is an escape to ecstasy in the solitude of nature. Still, many of the treks are unexplored there. Unlike Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu, Munnar is a hotbed of joyous activities including Sightseeing, cycling and trekking for the fun-loving tourists. Do visit Photo Point, Attukal Waterfalls, Mattupetty Dam, Eravikulam National Park and the hill town of Devikulam at the height of 6,000 feet where Munnar is located.

Yercaud

One of the most beautiful jewels in the crown of Tamil Nadu, Yercaud is blessed with virgin beauty of nature. Located in Salem District near the Eastern Ghats, this hill station takes pride in Big Lake with a floating island. The surrounding of the lake is steeped in green beauty of the place. Besides the lake, it is the cave temple of Servaroyan where the idols of river deities are preserved with mysticism. Yercaud at a height of 4970 feet above the ground is the location of the famous Killiyur Falls. Whiffs of aroma from tea plantations and sandalwood trees make the air pleasant to the olfactory sense.

Have you ever explored the bounty of nature at these superior destinations of South India? IndianEagle.com books the cheapest flights to Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu – the key for you to explore these heavens.

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The harmony of different cultures and customs in the social fabric of India is best experienced during Navratri and Dussehra celebrations that take place in every state. The entire country, from Delhi to Mysore and from Gujarat to Bengal, wears a celebratory look and exudes elegant ethnicity. Some states celebrate Durga’s victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasur, while Lord Rama’s triumph over Ravana the King of demons is celebrated in some states. However, victory of the good over the evil is the common purpose of celebrations all over the country. Whichever part of India you visit during the festival, you will find smiling faces, happy minds and devoted souls in common though the way of the festivity is different in different states. Indian Eagle holds a mirror to the different ways of Navratri and Dussehra celebration in 7 best places of India:

Delhi

Delhi observes the Dussehra festival in celebration of Ram’s victory and Ravana’s defeat. The temples of Lord Ram are decorated with flowers and lit with lamps, in every nook and corner of the capital. Religious music and recital of the Ramayana fill the atmosphere. Ram Leela is the main cultural event, held on the festive evenings in the city. The burning of the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakaran and Meghnad on the last day of the festival is the mainstay of Dussehra celebration in Delhi. This ceremony is followed by an amazing firework.

Gujarat

Experience the festive best of India in Gujarat for nine days of the Navratri festival. Ahmedabad, Surat, Baroda, Gandhinagar and other cities in Gujarat come alive with gusto for celebration through music, dance and food. Gujaratis stick to their age-old culture on nine days of the festivity, no matter how modern they are in the 21st century. Women in lehenga cholis and men in traditional kedias look their best on festive evenings when they gather to perform Garba and Dandiya Rasa, the most popular folk dances of Gujarat. The cultural celebration centers on the worship of Ma Amba, another name of Goddess Shakti. Visit Gujarat to overwhelm your senses with the riot of colors in every nook and corner, during Navratri.

Chhattisgarh

Let’s penetrate into Chhattisgarh and see how the tribal folks of Bastar celebrate the festival. Surprisingly, the celebration spans over as many as 75 days here. Unlike the celebration of Ram’s triumph over Ravana in north India, the natives of Bastar worship Devi Maoli, a local goddess, and her sisters during Navratri . Hundreds of priests join the grand procession which is organized to bring the local deities to the Danteshwari Temple in Jagdalpur. The main attraction of the holy procession is a double-decker chariot or rath. The tribal folks make the 2-ton heavy chariot using traditional tools. The path of the procession between Bastar and Jagdalpur is lit with one thousand lamps by the tourism department of Chhattisgarh.

Varanasi

Navratri brings Varanasi alive with an aura of festivity and spirituality in the blend. For ten days from the beginning of the festival till Dussehra, the city remains a favorite haunt of holy seers and devotees. Ram Leela is an attraction of Navratri celebration in Varanasi. Ram Leela is a dance drama which is performed to enact the lives of Ram, Sita and Lakshman in exile, on a makeshift stage. Though the entire city becomes a Ram Leela ground during Navratri, Ramnagar at a distance of 15 km from the city is famous for this event. The recital of Ramcharitamanas on nine days of the festival is considered a virtue. Devotees hear the recital with single-minded devotion. The way Dussehra is celebrated in Varanasi carries off the bell. The episode of Ram’s reunion with Bharat on return to Ayodhya after his victory over Ravana is commemorated in the Bharat Milaap event on the next day of Dussehra.

Himachal Pradesh

Navratri is not as fabulous a festival as Dussehra is in Himachal Pradesh. Kullu Valley is the epicenter of the celebration for 7 days following Dussehra. In Kullu, the festivity centers on the worship of Lord Raghunath on the fairground of Dhalpur Maidan. The idols of local gods and goddesses are brought to the fairground through a holy procession. The entire valley overflows with the joys of festivity for a week. The celebration comes to an end when a heap of wood and grass is set to fire on the bank of the Beas River, the last day. It symbolizes the burning of Lanka, an event in the Ramayana. However, the worship of Lord Raghunath on Dussehra dates back to the 17th century.

Karnataka

If you are flying to Karnataka this Navratri , you stand a good chance to experience the 400-year-old Dussehra festivity in Mysore. The festival is locally known as Dasara in the city. Mysore springs into activity over the celebration for ten days. The illumination of Mysore Palace with as many as 100,000 lights on the occasion of Dussehra is a rare visual treat that no other city offers. Moreover, catching the procession of richly embellished elephants on the decorated streets of Mysore is an experience of the city’s royalty and ethnic culture. The celebration in this princely city of Karnataka is a roller-coaster ride of gastronomic joy too.

West Bengal

As Goddess Shakti is worshipped as Durga in West Bengal, Navratri festival is known as Durga Puja in this state of India. A brand identity of Bengal, Durga Puja is a 5-day long cultural extravaganza. The capital city Kolkata is the hotbed of festivity. The cityscape is dotted with hundreds of different theme based pandals where the life-size idols of Durga and other family members are worshiped for 5 days. The city skyline is lit with beautiful lightings from twilight till wee hours. Kolkata does not sleep for 5 days as the people begin to hop around pandals in the evening and continue throughout the night. Though the festival ends with the immersion of idols on Maha Dashami, the celebration continues over the ceremony of exchanging warm greetings with near and dear ones, and the sweetening of mouths with bites of Rasogolla.

IndianEagle.com offers the cheapest flight for your trip to the cities of India where Navratri and Dussehra festivals are a must experience.

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Bengaluru housing technology biggies and MNCs is a thriving IT hub, popularly known as the Silicon Valley of India. The cityscape is often referred to as a concrete jungle of towering buildings and colossal constructions. However, Bengaluru offers a scenic drive to nearby getaways including hill stations, valleys, waterfalls and historic places which are perfect weekend holiday destinations. Some of our NRI customers from USA and Canada who often fly to Bengaluru on business trips have approached us to know if there is any getaway for relaxation within short drive from the city and its crowd. We recommend the following weekend getaways from Bengaluru to them:

Ooty

Distance: 268 km from Bengaluru
What to see: Hills, boating, lake, forests, trails, park
What to do: Boating, sightseeing, hiking, trekking, fishing

The queen of hill stations, Ooty is a picturesque town in the lap of Nilgiri Hills at a height of 2240m from the sea level. This romantic getaway with stunning locales for soothing sightseeing from Bengaluru was a favorite haunt of the British in India. The landscape dotted with sprawling teagardens offers wonderful vistas of greenery. At a short drive from Coimbatore Airport, Ooty is nature’s darling. Ooty Lake, Droog Fort, Dodabetta Peak, Lamb’s Peak, Avalanche Lake, Mukurthi Lake and Kalhatty Waterfalls are the attractions of Ooty.

Devangere

Distance: 260 km from Bengaluru
What to see: Museum, fort, parks, temples, wildlife sanctuary, gardens, local markets
What to do: Shopping,

Located at the foothills of the Western Ghats, Devangere is a thriving tourist place with lots of economic potential. Also known as the “Manchester of Karnataka”, Devangere was once a hub of cotton mills. As per the history of Karnataka, Devangere had developed into a textile center during the regime of Hyder Ali, Tipu Saultan’s father. Siruvani Falls, Marudamalai Temple, Harihareshware Temple, St. Thomas Church and Clock Tower are the attractions of Devangere. Local South Indian cuisine is the best bite here.

Coorg

Distance: 260 km from Bengaluru
What to see: Lakes, hills, waterfalls, gardens, water parks, valley, botanical garden
What to do: Trekking, sightseeing, angling, rafting, bird watching

The Scotland of India, Coorg is one of the most beautiful tourist spots on the Western Ghats. This holiday getaway from Bengaluru brims with unmatched luxury of nature and green exuberance. Situated at a height of 3500ft from sea level, Coorg is an interface between hill station and valley. The lush green beauty of nature prevails all over the landscape rolling with wavy coffee plantations. Coorg is an exotic retreat on weekends in the season of summer. Abbey Falls, Iruppu Falls, Omkareshwar Temple and Madikeri Fort are the attractions of Coorg.

Nanda Hills

Distance: 100 km from Bengaluru
What to see: Temple, hill
What to do: Climbing

Located within a distance of 100 km from Bengaluru City, Nanda Hills is an ideal weekend getaway which does not require a planned trip. The surrounding of the hill is a thick cover of flora which lends a green look to the landscape. The hilltop houses a temple where it is a thrill to view the sprawling surrounding from. The natural beauty of the place makes it an ideal location for one fine morning drive.

Mysore

Distance: 142 km from Bengaluru
What to see: Museum, palace, zoo, art gallery, temple, gardens
What to do: Trekking, climbing, shopping, sightseeing, hang gliding

Visit to Mysore is a historical exploration drive. The city of Mysore, once the seat of Tipu Sulan’s regime, is a dedicated chapter in the colonial history of India. The city is a living witness to Tipu Sultan’s disobedience and resistance to the British. The story of Hyder Ali, Tipu’s father and his rule is also associated with Mysore. The Mysore Palace is the center of attraction at this getaway from Bengaluru. A part of the palace has been converted into a museum. Mysore is the best visit for Dussehra celebration in India.

Coonoor

Distance: 296 km from Bengaluru
What to see: Waterfalls, hills, tea plantations, flowers, valley, wildlife sanctuary
What to do: Trekking, sightseeing, toy train journey, bird watching, shopping,

If you dream of a leisurely walk on a lazy morning and a laidback evening amidst tea plantations, Coonoor is a perfect getaway for you. The idyllic setting of Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu is the location of this fascinating hill station. The rolling fields of tea plantation offer impressive that soothe the senses. Birth watching is a rare pleasure that Coonoor offers to visitors. The landscape is suitable for hiking as well as trekking. A toy train runs across the hill station offering the best glimpses of nature that you have ever imagined. Catherine Falls, the Hidden Valley, Sim’s Park, Toy train and Lamb’s Rock are the attractions of Coonoor.

Hampi

Distance: 372 km from Bengaluru
What to see: Palaces, forts, temples, art galleries
What to do: Rock climbing, shopping, exploring history

A small town of historic importance in North Karnataka, Hampi was the capital of Vijaynagar Dynasty. The town was constructed on the Tungabhadra River. The townscape is dotted with architectural ruins of the Vijaynagar Empire. Some monumental palaces and forts stand tall amidst the ruins. Colossal temples are the highlights of Hampi, too. Besides its touristic significance, Hampi is a sacred spot for the Hindus because of its association with the mythology of India. It was a thriving commercial center in the medieval era. Lotus Palace, Monolith Bull, Matanga Hill, Old Palace and Hampi Bazar are the attractions of Hampi.

IndianEagle.com books the cheapest flights to Bengaluru in India.

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