What is unique to Onam, the biggest festival of Kerala? It is Onam Sadya, a festive meal of significance. It is the soul of Onam celebration at home and abroad and wherever the Malayali community is. As the festival marks the beginning of a new year for Keralites, celebrates the new harvest of the year and commemorates the visit of their most worshipped King Mahabali, Onam Sadya is evidently not just a festive meal.

Onam Sadya and the Legend of King Mahabali

Onam Sadya owes its significance to the myth of Kerala’s legendary King Mahabali, who is also referred to as Maveli and Onathappan in religious as well as non-religious literature. Mahabali was the chief of the Asura (demon) community in his time. Kerala was a beautiful, peaceful and prosperous kingdom when he was in power. Neither crime nor corruption was in his regime. There was no social hierarchy on the basis of economy or caste. Equal treatment of the rich and the poor was one of the building blocks in the societal system. King Mahabali used to be lavished with respect for his wisdom, generosity, judiciousness, impartiality and farsightedness. His rule is believed to be the golden era of Kerala.

Being grandson of Prahlad, Mahabali was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the Universe in the Hindu scriptures. His fame and popularity was a concern with Gods who took it as a threat to their supremacy and sovereignty. Gods sought Lord Vishnu’s intervention to subdue King Mahabali’s growing popularity and curb his reign. Being charitable, King Mahabali used to grant boons to Brahmins after his morning prayers every day. Lord Vishnu disguised himself as a poor, dwarf Brahmin, which is known as his ‘Vamana’ incarnation, and descended to earth.

READ ALSO The Taste of Kerala

Under the guise of a poor Brahmin, Lord Vishnu asked the King for a piece of land as much as his three steps would cover. Despite warnings by his adviser, the King promised to give what the Brahmin wanted. The dwarf Vamana took three cosmic steps. He covered earth and the sky in the first and second steps respectively. In the third step, he put his foot on the head of the King, pushing the King to the nether land (patala). Then the dwarf Brahmin revealed his true identity and expressed his pleasure to see the King’s unconditional displeasure.

Out of his attachment with the kingdom and selfless love for the people, King Mahabali made a request to let him visit Kerala once in a year. Lord Vishnu accepted the request and granted him a boon that he would be worshipped as well as loved his people for ages. At the time of his departure from Kerala, the King blessed the people to remain happy, prosperous and well-fed for generations. His visit to Kerala is celebrated as Onam Festival every year. Onam Sadya is part of the elaborate preparations that the people of Kerala make in honor of their King and convince him that they are happy.

Onam Sadya and Traditions

Evidently, Onam Sadya is a symbol of the Malayali people’s happy living. Both the rich and the poor are so serious about the significance of Onam Sadya that they prepare this festive meal for grand feasting. A single course of Onam Sadya has 24-28 dishes. The preparation can be so elaborate that even 64 dishes are cooked for a meal.

Eleven dishes are essential prepared for Onam Sadya. Rice, coconut gratings, coconut milk and coconut oil are the basic ingredients in most of the dishes. The meal is traditionally served on banana leaves and consumed in one sitting. Both rural and urban Keralites eat the festive meal with hands. Spoons and forks are not used at the time of feasting in most households.

Onam Sadya Items

The Onam Sadya items are served one by one in an order. Even the age-old tradition of serving a particular dish on a particular part of the banana leaf is strictly obeyed. The feasting begins with the ritual of offering the Onam Sadya items to Lord Ganesha first. The festive meal begins with rasam (soup) and ends with payasam (dessert). The main dish is boiled rice served with uppari, sambar, aviyal, parippu, pullisseri, olan and pickles.

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Indian Eagle promises to make air travel to India cheaper than ever. We rejoice in your happy trips by booking cheap fights to Kerala from USA. Happy Onam!

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Kerala is the only Indian state of beaches, backwaters, lakes, houseboats, wildlife, waterfalls and watersports. Snake boat races are major watersports of Kerala. Boat racing is not just a sport but a traditional festivity, unique to the religious being of Kerala India. Though more or less religious in origin, the Kerala boat races used to be held as part of competition or settlement between two rival communities in the bygone eras. Boat racing being organized during temple festivals throughout the year, every month and every season is the best time to visit Kerala for tourists as well as sports enthusiasts. An interface between sports and festivity, most of the boat races are held on Kerala backwaters. Indian Eagle shares some tidbits of the most popular Kerala boat races.

Nehru Trophy Boat Race

One of the boat race festivals in Kerala, the Nehru Trophy Boat Race is a visual extravaganza on the backwaters of Punnamada in Alappuzha district. This boat racing in Kerala is a rowing competition between several groups of oarsmen for the Nehru Trophy. The Nehru Trophy Boat Race owes its origin to a visit by Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, the First Prime Minister of India. A snake boat race was held to welcome him. He was so enthralled by the event and the gusto of the participants that he announced the Nehru Trophy to award the winning team. Since then, this Kerala boat race has been an annual event. The trophy is a silver replica of a snake boat.    

Champakulam Moolam

The Champakulam Moolam Boat Race on the Pampa River in Alappuzha district is one of the tourist attractions of Kerala India. The venue of this Kerala boat race is the Pampa River at Champakulam in Alappuzha. The shape of boats with a raised end at the back like the hood of a cobra is unique to the way the Champakulam boat race festival is celebrated to commemorate the age-old event of bringing a new idol of Lord Krishan from Karikulam Temple in Kurichi to a temple at Ambalappuzha by boat, at the behest of King Devanarayana of Chempakasseri. June or July being the month of this festive watersport is the best time to visit Kerala.

Payippad Jalotsavam  

Payippad Jalotsavam is not just the best snake boat race in Kerala but also an attraction of Kerala tourism in South India. A grand festivity for three days, Payippad Jalotsavam is held on the Payippad Lake at a distance of 35km away from Allappuzha, in honor of the presiding deity of the Subramanya Swamy Temple. According to the folklore, the inhabitants of Haripad Village had dreamt that an idol of Swamy Subrahmanya was lying on the bed of the Kayamlulam River before the temple was constructed. The idol was surprisingly found there and brought in a boat to where the temple is located today. This Kerala boat race is annually held to commemorate the event in the month of September.

“Bull Racing in Kerala is not just another adventuresome sport! It is one of the most offbeat sports in India. Kerala’s bull race is India’s answer to Spain’s bullfighting. This furious sport is an extraordinary show of men’s physical strength in contrast with the beastly force of bulls,” said the Editor of Travel Beats, an Indian Diaspora portal by Indian Eagle, a most trusted air-ticketing partner of Keralites in America.

Aranmula Uthrattadi Vallamkali

The oldest boat racing in Kerala, Aranmula Uthrattadi Vallamkali is part of the cultural extravaganza during Onam Festival in August. The Kerala backwaters brim with excitement and enthusiasm of the rowers in hundreds, who oar the boats at a breakneck speed making it a gripping spectacle of energy and madness on the Pampa River. Dedicated to Lord Krishna and his devotee Arjuna, Vallamkali is characterized by embellishment of boats with ornamental umbrellas and flags. 25 folk singers also accompany the rowers during the racing festivity. The racing boats are locally called ‘Palliyodams’. Monsoon being the season of Onam Festival and Vallamkali celebration is the best time to travel to Kerala.

Onam Festival of Kerala will commence on August 30, 2022. This harvest festival of India is celebrated through different ceremonies including Vallamkali Boat Race. It is not just the best time to visit Kerala, but the time for homecoming. Indian Eagle has unbeatable deals for affordable flights to Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. Click the button below to get the cheapest air tickets.

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Pilgrimage to the Tirupati Balaji Temple in Andhra Pradesh is incomplete without a piece of laddu, the most sought after prasadam at one of the richest Hindu temples in the world. It has been more than 300 years since laddu was introduced in the naivedhyam to Lord Venkateshwara in August 1715. Surprisingly, this sacred prasadam never falls short of demand even during the peak season of pilgrimage to the hilltop Tirumala shrine. In 2018, Brahmotsavam, the biggest crowd-pulling annual celebration at the Tirumala Temple, saw a record-breaking sale of 5,13,566 laddus on a single day. This pre-pandemic sale is still a landmark event in the history of the temple.

The whole-year-sale of the Tirupati Laddu contributes minimum Rs 300 crore to the Tirumala Temple’s annual revenue of Rs 3000 crore on average. Travel Beats, a leading community portal for Indians abroad, shares with you some interesting facts about the Tirupati Laddu also known as Sri Vari Laddu.

The making and distribution of the sacred prasadam in colossal quantities makes an interesting case study for management students. The Tirumala Temple kitchen where a daily average of 3 lakh laddus and other prasadam are made is called Laddu Potu. Equipped with modern amenities, the Potu can produce 800,000 laddus a day. There are three conveyor belts for transferring ingredients from one end to the other. About 10 tons of gram flour, 300-500 liters of pure ghee, 700 kg of cashew nuts, 540 kg of raisins, 150 kg of cardamom, and 500 kg of sugar candy go into the making of the Tirumala laddu prasadam every day.

Interestingly, the Tirupati laddu undergoes rigorous checks on the index of quality, calorie count, and self-life at a dedicated testing lab before making it to the deity as part of the daily naivedhyam. Not just the final product, but also each of the ingredients used in the making of the holy prasadam undergoes multiple quality checks at the lab. It is said that the secret recipe of the signature laddu dates back to the Pallava dynasty that ruled the southern Telugu and Tamil regions for about 600 years (from 275 CE to 897 CE).

The Tirupati Temple laddu prasadam not only satisfies devotees’ yearning for divine bliss, but also supports the local economy. The daily making of 300,000 laddus or more and other prasadam generates employment for hundreds of local people. About 600 people, including 270 cooks, are employed in the prasad-making unit of the Tirumala Temple kitchen that works three shifts spanning 20 hours a day. Some of them are permanent workers, while some work on a contract basis. More contractual workers are roped in to ramp up the production of laddus for an influx of devotees during the Brahmotsavam. Some volunteers from the Vaishnava community come forward to offer free service in the temple kitchen on festive days.

Until before the pandemic, the world renowned Tirupati Temple laddu used to be made and distributed in three categories: the prasadam laddu, the big laddu, and the small laddu. The Tirumala Temple’s Potu (kitchen) used to produce some 3000 ‘big laddus’ weighing 700 gram each and 75000 ‘prasadam laddus’ weighing 25 gram each on a daily basis, in addition to the continued production of 3 to 3.5 lakh ‘small laddus’ weighing 175 grams each. Among devotees, the VVIPs would get one big laddu free of cost. The special ‘darshan’ ticket holders would get the same for Rs 200 each before the pandemic. Rs 170 was the cost of making a big Tirupati laddu back then. The temple authorities would spend Rs 39 for making a single unit of the most sought after small laddu.

Until the end of 2019, the temple administration offered two small laddus at a subsidized price of Rs 10 each to ‘Divya darshan’ and ‘Sarvadarshan’ devotees. A maximum of two extra laddus were available for Rs 25 each. Devotees wishing to take more prasadam home, in addition to the aforementioned quantity, they would have to pay Rs 50 for a single piece of the small laddu. The complexity of making laddus in three different categories, and the subsidized pricing under different ‘darshan’ systems had been incurring an average loss of Rs 250 crore every year until the entire system, from production to distribution, was simplified by removing multiple size categories and differential prices, right from the beginning of 2020.

Also Check: Tirupati Balaji Temple’s New VIP Darshan System

Now every devotee receives the blessing of Sri Venkateshwara Swamy in the form of a Tirupati laddu (free of cost) after darshan of the deity in the temple. In addition to the free prasadam, any number of laddus can be availed for Rs 50 each in the open counters.

The Tirupati laddu got a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2009, which prevents sweet outlets of all sizes from selling counterfeit versions of the laddu. In 2013, the Madras High Court banned the sale of laddus with the brand tag ‘Tirupati’ at a Chennai-based sweet store, in an effort to preserve the sanctity of the Tirumala prasadam as it is touched at the holy feet of Lord Venkateshwara being distributed to pilgrims.

In August 2021, the Tirupati Temple administration took a step towards the green future by replacing single-use plastic bags with biodegradable bags for devotees to carry the prasadam all the way back home. There is a dedicated counter on the premises where devotees can buy these eco-friendly bags before moving on to the laddu counters. Made of corn starch at a lab of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) in Hyderabad, the bags are not harmful for both environment and cattle. The temple authorities had distributed the prasadam in about 10 crore single-use plastic bags during the period from 2014 to 2019.

In the 2022-23 budget for the Tirupati Balaji Temple, the governing board expects an estimated income of Rs 4000 crore, including Rs 365 crore from the sale of the legendary laddu prasadam, Rs 670 crore from the interest accrued on fixed deposits in several banks, Rs 360 crore from the sale of darshan tickets, Rs 126 crore from the sale of devotees’ tonsured hair, and Rs 1000 crore from devotee’s direct contribution to the hundi.

How to reach Tirupati Balaji Temple 

About 560 km is the distance between Hyderabad and Tirupati. The distance from Bangalore to Tirupati is some 250 km. 155km is the distance from Chennai to Tirupati. Tirupati Airport (Renigunta) is a short flight from Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad International Airports. Tirupati Town is a 15km drive from Renigunta Airport.

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Ugadi is a festival of the Telugu-speaking populace in the states of South India. Ugadi is celebrated to welcome the Telugu New Year which ushers in a season of freshness and brightness before the colors of Holi entirely fade away. Nature brims with sprightliness when red flowers blossom and mango buds bloom heralding the arrival of New Year for South Indians. The festive ceremonies of Ugadi are observed in harmony with the joy and beauty of nature to mark the beginning of growth, affluence and prosperity for everyone.

Legendary beliefs

Apart from its harmony with the changing face of nature, Ugadi has an age-old association with mythology and history in reference to Hinduism. It is mythically believed that the day when Lord Brahma, the Supreme Creator of the universe, stared creation of life is the first day of a new year or the Ugadi Day. If the cosmic calculations made by Bhaskaracharya, a noted Indian mathematician, are to be believed, the first day of the first month of a new year begins with the Ugadi festivity. The controversy of these beliefs apart, the fields with vibrancy of life, the meadows with colorful blossoms, the mango trees with green foliage and the households with the glow of rangoli refer to a new beginning, a new journey, a new life…

Culinary tidbits

Ugadi comes with the fresh aroma of raw mangoes in the air. It defines the mood and color of the environment, which in turn impacts the festivity and celebration. Raw mango slices are among the ingredients of Ugadi Pachadi, a must-taste festive dish that is unique to the culinary culture of the Telugu people. The women in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh get busy making several different mango preparations including pickle as raw mangoes are available in plenty for two months – April and June. Atukulu Payasam, Boorelu, Bellam Garelu, Semiya Payasam, Rava pulihora, Pappu Pulusu, Vankaya batani, etc. are some of the most popular Ugadi festival dishes, unique to the culinary culture of the Telugu people.

Philosophy of life

Ugadi Pachadi is not just an overtone of the festive celebration but also an integral part of the cultural tradition and a reference to the philosophy of life in the Telugu community. It is a dish of six different tastes and flavors – jaggery, raw mango, tamarind, neem flowers, salt and green chilli – that range from sweet to bitter. The ingredients of the dish symbolize the different phases and experiences of life that everyone undergoes during the journey from cradle to grave. Human life is a harmonious mix of verities including joy and sorrow just Ugadi Pachadi, a mix of different flavors. Ugadi Pachadi is known as Bevu Bella in Karnataka.

Traditional rituals

The people wake up before sunrise. They start the Ugadi day with a holy oil bath early in the morning and wear new clothes. The women draw beautiful rangoli in form of floral designs, as an auspicious mark of the festivity, on the space just outside their homes. The main entrance, doors and windows of houses as well as shops are decorated with strings of fresh green mango leaves called thorana. According to a mythical legend stating that Lord Ganesh, god of wealth and prosperity, is fond of mango leaves, this tradition signifies good harvest and good health. The people visit temples to seek divine blessings for health, wealth, success and prosperity in the New Year.

Travel Beats is an overseas Indian community portal by Indian Eagle Travel. It publishes latest visa, immigration and travel news, inspiring features and interesting community stories. 

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Today is Hindi Day in India. The country celebrates Hindi as the official language of the Indian Union on September 14 every year. September 14 is the day when the Constituent Assembly declared Hindi as the official language for the Union of India in 1949. Hindi is often mistaken to be the national language of India. However, it was initially the official language of only nine Indian states and five union territories including Delhi. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi invoked the countrymen to enrich and preserve Hindi and other Indian languages, on the inaugural day of the World Hindi Conference in Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh.

We at Indian Eagle celebrate the Hindi Day and share some interesting facts about Hindi language:

In 1950, there was a constitutional change in the recognition of Hindi language. The Constitution of India recognized Hindi in the Devanagari script as the official language of the country. The educated class of the then society used to prefer English as a language of official communication even after independence of India. English was to be prohibited 15 years after the Constitution of India was formed on January 26, 1950. But the non-Hindi speaking population of South India, whose mother tongues are hardly similar to Hindi, opposed the proposal to ban the use of English. It forced the Parliament to bring into effect the Official Languages Act 1963, which recognized English as an official language of India. Today, English is the official language of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh in Northeast India.

Bihar was the first state of British India to have adopted Hindi as its sole official language and replacement of Urdu in the year 1881.

Today, about 40% of the total Indian population speaks Hindi in day-to-day life. Hindi is also spoken in a few foreign countries such as South Africa, Mauritius, New Zealand, Surinam, Fiji, Nepal, and Trinidad and Tobago.

180 million people are proud of Hindi as their mother tongue. It is the second language for almost 300 million people across the globe.

Hindi is often referred to as the “Language of Unity’ because of its wide use by the freedom fighters of India during the British Raj. Mahatma Gandhi, an eminent political figure and freedom fighter, encouraged the use of Hindi as the language of communication, the language of protest and the language of the nation’s collective voice.

The Oxford Dictionary has incorporated the Hindi word “Swadeshi”, which is a matter of pride for the Hindi-speaking Indians and the descendants of the freedom fighters who used the word “Swadeshi” as a sign of patriotism. Besides this, many Hindi words such as ‘Guru’, ‘Nirvana’, ‘Adda’, etc. are used in many parts of the world.

Hindi is mostly influenced by Sanskrit language, which dates back to nearly 5,000 BC. It owes its origin to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language group. The word “Hindi” came from the Persian word “Hind”, which means the “Land of the Indus River.” The river falls into Pakistan after passing through Tibet and northernmost part of India.

Hindi was called different names at different stages of its evolution in different eras. Hindi was known as Apabhramsa at its earliest stage. Kalidas, a renowned Sanskrit scholar and literary playwright in ancient India, composed a romantic play titled “Vikramorvashiyam” in Apabhramsa in 400 AD.

There are no articles in Hindi language as English has three articles: a, an, and the. One of the most interesting facts about Hindi is that every noun has its own gender, either masculine or feminine. Adjective and verb forms of a noun change according to the gender of the noun. That’s why learning Hindi language and grammar is a difficult task. On the other hand, Hindi is one of the easiest languages to read because words are pronounced as exactly as they are written.

Hindi language has borrowed many words from Arabic and Persian languages. The Mughals enriched the Hindi vocabulary with many Urdu words. Hindi was immensely influenced and modified by the Mughals. However, Hindi is the youngest of all Indian languages.

Hindi is also referred to as a link language as it has interconnected non-resident Indians living around the world. It is the fourth most popular language following Chinese, Spanish and English on the list of ten most widely spoken languages in the world.

George Bush, former President of the USA, had allocated a budget of $114 million to teaching of Hindi as a part of the curriculum from the kindergarten to the graduate level, considering the importance of Hindi as a common native language of Indian Americans during his tenure.

Hindi has found acceptance among South Indians of the present generation. Previously, Hindi was not welcome in this part of the country. Deve Gowda, former Chief Minister of Karnataka, spoke up in support of Hindi language in 1997. Later, former CM of Tamil Nadu, Karunanidhi, recited a Hindi poem during a socio-political campaign. Even current CM of Tamil Nadu, Jayalalitha speaks in Hindi to reach out to the mass during campaigns.

A few other interesting facts about Hindi:

• “Udanta Martanda” was the first Hindi weekly from Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1826
• Gujarati poem Narmad proposed Hindi as the national language of India in the 1850s
• The term ‘Hindi’ was used for what is known as Urdu today till 1850
• “Samachar Sudhavarshan” was the first Hindi daily from Calcutta in 1854
• The “Bharatendu” period of modern Hindi literature began in 1886
• Raja Harishchandra, the first Hindi movie by Dadasaheb Phalke, was released in 1913
• Alam Ara, the first Hindi talkie in Indian Cinema, was released in 1931
• Hindi typewriters came to markets in the 1930s

Indian Eagle celebrates all important days of India in the USA, connecting Indian Americans with their respective native cultures. Indian Eagle books cheap air tickets to India for them, without compromising the quality of service. Search. Book. Fly.

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• Interesting Facts about Sanskrit
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Have you had enough of romance in India monsoon? Are you looking for a break away from typical romantic monsoon destinations? Give a try to adventure in Agumbe, a monsoon getaway in Karnataka. It is the wettest place receiving the highest rainfall in South India. Veiled by dense, lush greenery, Agumbe seems to be a land of phantoms in the dark. Much of the landscape of this monsoon town is dotted with rain forests in the Western Ghats. Trekking in the dark and dense forests is the most challenging pursuit of adventure here. If you are all set for an intriguing adventure travel to India, Indian Eagle will book the cheapest flight tickets to Bangalore for you.

Romance and adventure exist side by side in Agumbe. Panoramic views of the diverse geography of Agumbe ooze dollops of romance, while the precarious trekking trails penetrating through the forests highlight adventure. You can take fancy to the romantic beauty of Agumbe or respond to the calls of adventure, according to your travel taste this monsoon. Agumbe treats both romance seekers and adventure junkies alike. If the adventurer in you overpowers your romantic self, you must go through the rest.

Travel to India for an adventure holiday in Agumbe begins with an international flight to Bangalore, which is followed by a domestic flight to Mangalore, a coastal town in the state of Karnataka. Mangalore to Agumbe is a 100-km long drive via scenic roadway. You can take a road trip from Mangalore to Agumbe, which will offer a toast of adventure to you from the very beginning of the journey. It is one of the best road trips in South India.

If you want to drink to the scenic beauty of nature while sitting in a comfort zone on wheels, you can journey by train to Udupi Railway Station. Udupi is a coastal town where Agumbe is an only 55-km long drive from. Once you are in Agumbe town, your journey for adventure is all set to commence. The trekking trails through streams, waterfalls and forests are rough and precarious; so professional trekking guidance will be a great help.

Rows of trees at the initial phase of the journey lead to thick vegetation which ends into the deep of rain forests in Agumbe Ghat. Monsoon clouds from the southwest strike against the peaks of Agumbe Ghat, which measure more than 2,000 feet in height, and make heavy showers over the rain forests here. That is why the trails are slippery making trekking a challenge. As a result of heavy rainfalls in the months of Indian monsoon for years, the hillsides of Agumbe have got covered in the dark green cloak of rain forests, which is washed by cascading waterfalls.

What is the best month to travel to India for an adventure trip in Agumbe? Monsoon is the best time though you can visit Agumbe in any season of the year. July is the wettest month of India monsoon here. A veil of mist hangs over the hillsides of Agumbe in July and August, which you will miss in other times of the year. But, trekking is more challenging in monsoon than in other seasons. The width of the trails varies at different points in the forests. The width is very narrow at some places.

The Barakona Falls is the biggest waterfall in Agumbe. Some trails run down to the base of this waterfall. The breathtaking views of the Barakona Falls from close quarters are worth braving the challenge of trekking down to the base. You can explore the wilderness of Agumbe which teems with moths, butterflies, deer, scorpions, frogs and snakes. King Cobra, the largest and most venomous snake in the world, is noticed in the forests of Agumbe, mostly in the drier months.

As the population is sparse in Agumbe, there is little room for accommodation except a feudal home in the village. Overnight stay is not a wise option here. Therefore, a daytime trip to Agumbe is recommended. However, Agumbe, the Cherrapunji of South India, is an ideal monsoon destination for adventure.

Indian Eagle strives to make you travel on cheap flights to India even in the last minute. Once you have traveled to India, you can create many such wonderful stories of adventure and romance to cherish in the coming years. 

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The season of Haleem is back to Hyderabad with the holy month of Ramadan which commenced on May 5 this year. Hyderabad celebrates the season with its cosmopolitan populace every year. Haleem festivals are organized at different places in the city. Last year, the city’s brand restaurants including Pista House, Paradise, Sarvi, Shah Ghouse, Shadab, and Bawarchi treated the natives and the expats to the authentic taste of Haleem garnished with nuts and raisins amidst soulful notes emanating from a live Ghazal concert, which lent a feel of the Arabian ambience to the venue, Shilparamam, the handicraft village market. The season of Haleem in Hyderabad is the season of culinary bliss for foodies.

Why do the foodies in Hyderabad go gaga over Haleem during the Ramzan month? Why does Haleem in Hyderabad rule the taste buds? We at Travel Beats explore when and how the City of Nizams developed a bond with Haleem.

If the origin of Haleem is traced, it is found to be an Arabian dish. Hyderabadis owe their love for this festive delicacy to the Arabians who introduced it when the Nizams were in power. Mehbub Ali Khan, the sixth Nizam of the then Hyderabad Princely State, added the Arabian dish to the royal menu. Mir Osman Ali Khan, the seventh Nizam, made Haleem a part of the traditional Hyderabadi cuisine. Then, Saif Nawaz Jung Bahadur, an Arab chief from Yemen and a courtier in the regime of Mir Osman Ali Khan, popularized Haleem as an authentic flavor of the city. Then it evolved into a taste of Hyderabad with a blend of local spices and ingredients, which is different from the Arabian recipe.

Ingredients used to garnish Haleem

With the time passing by, Hyderabadi Haleem became a unique delicacy of meat, lentils and pounded wheat. Today, Haleem is as popular as biryani in the city. Much like biryani, it has been integral to the culinary identity and food culture of Hyderabadis for years. It is mostly consumed as an evening meal after the day-long fast in the month of Ramadan. It is available in the market only during the Ramzan month of the year. It was the first non-veg item to be granted Geographical Indication Status for its mounting popularity.

READ MORE Interesting Stories of Hyderabad

Hyderabadi Haleem is a great hit with the taste buds of not only the Muslim populace of the city but also the people of other communities. A high-calorific and nutritive dish, Haleem is the most common thread of harmony among several different communities in the social fabric of Hyderabad.

Travel Beats is a digital community portal by Indian Eagle, a leading international travel organization. It publishes interesting stories of food, travel, culture, heritage, aviation, philanthropy and innovation in India and USA.

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Indian Tourism is scaling up with several new and upcoming attractions such as the longest ropeway over sea in Mumbai, Vistadome train coaches with glass ceiling in Visakhapatnam of Andhra Pradesh, and Dr. Kalam Memorial at Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu.

Vizag, as Visakhapatnam is popularly known among tourists, is all set to outsmart Goa on the strength of its new-age tourist attractions. After having introduced Switzerland’s Glacier Express-like Vistadome train coaches with glass ceiling and air conditioning in Araku Valley, Vizag is likely to get India’s longest ropeway for spectacular rides between two tourist spots.

Known for some of the best beaches in India, Vizag is not just a beautiful port city but a popular, family-friendly tourist place on the east coast of India. It is nicknamed the City of Destiny for its tryst with devastating natural calamities like tsunami and cyclone. Though it was torn apart and suffered major setbacks, it never succumbed to overwhelming power of nature and damaging blows of fate. Like Phoenix in the Arabian Desert, Vizag rose out of ruins only to attract tourists.

Interesting Facts about the Proposed Longest Ropeway in Vizag 

India’s longest ropeway in Vizag will pass from Kailasagiri to Dolphin’s Nose. It will offer thrilling rides with panoramic views over the famous Ramakrishna Beach. A one-way ride on the proposed ropeway will cover nearly 12 km. Another stretch of the longest ropeway in Vizag will cover nearly 2 km between Kailasagiri and Simhachalam.

To be precise, the ropeway will connect Kailasagiri, Simhachalam, Dolphin’s Nose and RK Beach among the most popular tourist spots in Vizag. The longest ropeway in Vizag will get glass-domed cable cars to enthrall tourists with glimpses of lush green landscape on one side and sweeping views of the sea on the other.

New Tourist Attractions in India 

• Vistadome Coaches of Araku Valley Trains
• Longest Ropeway over Sea in Mumbai
• India’s First Underwater Metro in Kolkata       
• APJ Abdul Kalam Memorial in Rameshwaram

Famous Tourist Places in Vizag

One of the best places to visit in Visakhapatnam, Kailasagiri is a sprawling hilltop park. Spread over a forested area of 380 acres at a height of 360 feet, Kailasagiri dominates the landscape and overlooks the beaches in Vizag.

Among the beaches of Visakhapatnam, Ramakrishna Beach is a most scenic one. Sunrise is a mesmerizing view to behold at this beach, in addition to relaxed strolling and sunbathing. Rides on the proposed longest ropeway in Vizag will pass through Ramakrishna Beach.

Dolphin’s Nose is a vantage point among the places to visit in Vizag. Bearing resemblance to a dolphin’s nose, it is a 174-m high rocky cliff with a long-standing lighthouse. Adjacent of Dolphin’s Nose in Vizag is a residential area of armed forces, which is restricted to tourists. The other side of the hill is landscaped by a secluded beach, Yarada.

Among the best tourist places in Visakhapatnam, Simhachalam Hill is where the famous Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha temple is located 800 meters above the sea level. Dedicated to an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the temple has five gateways and three courtyards, making it resemble the exterior of a fortress.

How to Reach Vizag

Vizag is a short flight away from Hyderabad, Bhubaneswar and Kolkata.  Though Bhubaneswar is the nearest airport, Vizag is accessible to foreign tourists via Kolkata International Airport and Hyderabad RGI Airport. Vizag is one of the popular weekend getaways from Hyderabad City.

Also Check how to save big on travel to Visakhapatnam

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Coffee is our favorite source of ideas and stories. Coffee itself is a theme of few books including ‘The Romance of Indian Coffee’ by senior journalist P. T. Bopanna from Bengaluru. This book on Indian coffee has won ‘the World’s Best Coffee Book’ title at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards held in China.

Published in 2011, the book ‘The Romance of Indian Coffee’ is a mirror to the history and evolution of Indian coffee. It takes a close look at many fascinating aspects and walks through many interesting facts of coffee culture in India. The book offers a 360 degree view of Indian coffee’s uniqueness and popularity in the global market.

In ‘The Romance of Indian Coffee,’ author P T Bopanna has chronicled the landmark events in the history of the Indian coffee industry, including how the British planter Ivor Bull from Coorg ideated the ‘pooling system’ to save Indian coffee during the Second World War.

The book has a dedicated chapter sharing the author’s secrets of making a good cup of coffee and highlighting different ways of preparing different types of coffee including South Indian filter coffee. It also shares some rare recipes of popular coffee concoctions including coffee liquor from the author’s collection.

One of the chapters is about the day-to-day life of the early British coffee planters in coffee estates across South India in 1880s. The book also focuses on the contemporary scenario of coffee cultivation and delves into how current issues like deforestation, climate change, etc. threaten it.

‘The Romance of Indian Coffee’ contains a number of amazing anecdotes about coffee from high-profile personalities in the industry. It is also an interesting read on what makes coffee a charming brew.

Journalist and author P T Bopanna beat other entries from across the world to win the coveted award for his book on Indian coffee. Even the entries from Brazil and the United States took a backseat in competition with ‘The Romance of Indian Coffee’ at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards which recognize the best food and wine books in both print and digital mediums. It hosts renowned cookbook writers and eminent chefs every year.

P T Bopanna, who got into journalism as a Coorg correspondent of The Hindu newspaper in 1981, has penned five books with focus on his hometown Coorg. Each of the books – ‘Discover Coorg,’ ‘The Rise and Fall of the Coorg State,’ ‘Dateline Coorg,’ and ‘Coorg: Land of Beauty and Valor’ – is a different take on Coorg, one of the weekend getaways from Bengaluru in the Indian state of Karnataka.

Also Read Starbucks to Sell Indian Coffee of Coorg in United States

The post Indian Journalist Wins ‘World’s Best Coffee Book’ Award for His Book ‘The Romance of Indian Coffee’ appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Dosa is one of the few unique Indian snacks which unify people from different food cultures across the country. It had its magic on Prince William and Kate Middleton too, yesterday. The Royal Couple from Cambridge, who had a grand Indian dinner at Mumbai’s iconic Taj Mahal hotel, tried their hands at making dosa.

It was their first ever tryst with the most popular South Indian snack which is available in more than 10 varieties across Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore and other South Indian cities. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge successfully made a dosa-making attempt using DosaMatic. Prince William poured the battered rice paste into the automated machine and Kate Middleton pressed the buttons.

DosaMatic is the world’s first automatic dosa maker, invented by Mukunda Foods based in Bangalore, the Silicon Valley of India. Dosa is primarily a manual preparation which DosaMatic has made a lot easier. It works at the touch of a few buttons to make dosas of varying thickness levels from 1 mm to 6 mm.

The Royal Couple was happy to get a crispy dosa in just one minute after they operated the machine. Prince William had a bite and exclaimed “Namaste Mumbai” out of joy. The Duchess shared his joy and gave a brief thanking note for the dosa experience.

Bound to the norms that the members of the British royal family do abide by, the Duke and Duchess usually avoid taking food in the public. But they could not help tasting the hot crispy dosa in India. Such is the irresistible temptation of Indian food!

Kate Middleton found DosaMatic an interesting device that helps to make dosa similar to crepe pancakes in Britain. She was much curious about the story behind the invention of DosaMatic and the device’s role in the Indian society. In response to the Duchess’ queries, the CEO of DosaMatic said that hotels and restaurants across India are using 500 bigger versions of the device. The plan of launching a mini residential version of DosaMatic is underway.

India is a major destination for diversified culinary tourism in Asia. The Union Ministry of India Tourism is looking to fetch in foreign tourists for food tours in heritage cities of India such as Agra, Lucknow, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mysore and likes. The best way to explore the culinary culture and heritage of India is tasting local cuisines across the country. – IndianEagle

Read More Duke and Duchess’ Royal Indian Dinner in Mumbai

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