Let's Go India Tours: 2016

Friday, 29 July 2016

Things to Know: 10 Interesting Facts About Jaipur

Jaipur is the capital and the one of the largest city of the Rajasthan state of India. It is the beautiful and magnetic city of India that attracts a number of tourists every year.It is the city that has the population of almost 6.66 million and is the 10th most populated city of India. It is the major tourism destination in India with the numerous cultural and traditional places.

Consider the following facts about Jaipur that you might not know.

1. The Pink City

Jaipur is called the Pink City because of the fact that the major structures and buildings of Jaipur are made from the specific pink color stones that embellishes the whole city with the signature pink color.

2. Hawa Mahal

The Palace of winds or Hawa Mahal is also located in the city of Jaipur. The Palace was built by the Maharaja Swai Parpat Singh. The design of this Mahal is like the crown of the god Krishna. The palace is made unique with the 5 stories like honeycomb maize with its 953 windows.

3. Jal Mahal

Another miraculous palace of the Jaipur is the Jal Mahal that is situated in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake. The Jal Mahal was renovated in the 18th century by Maharaja Jai Singh.

4. Cultures

Jaipur is the true representative of the traditions and culture of Indians. It is cultural lively city that has the combination of the true blend of traditional and modern colors.

5. Ghewar

The one of the popular sweet dish from Jaipur is the Ghewar. The sweet is associated with the Teej festival. It is a disc shaped sweet which is made with the traditional Jaipur ingredients. It is very popular sweet even outside the Jaipur.

6. The courteous Hosts

The people of Jaipur are the courteous hosts that meet and greet their guests with their majestic courtesy. They have been proved to be the best host even since the times of royal kings. They are famous for their true affection and compassion.

7. Folk Music

The Rajasthani music is yet still traditional and is rich in the flavor of Sufism. These folk music suits the needs and the moods of every person at every time.

8. The Elephant Festival

The festival of elephants is the colorful festival that is celebrated in the Jaipur. It is celebrated in the Chaugan stadium in the season of Holi. Festival includes the royal processions, elephant polo matches and races. And also the traditional folk musics and dance performances are the part of this festival.

9. Traditional Turbans

The people of Jaipur are recognized by the traditional turbans that are cotton candy colored. These turbans represent the impression of Rajasthan with the camels and deserts.

10. Ghagra & Choli

The women of the Rajasthan and especially from the tribes of the Jaipur wear the traditional vibrant colored Ghagra and Choli that are the long skirts with the short blouses. These Ghagra and Choli represent the rich typical tradition of Rajasthan.

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Thursday, 28 July 2016

New Delhi Facts

New Delhi Facts

Interesting Facts about New Delhi

Green Facts:

1. Delhi is one of the 'greenest' cities in the world with a green cover of almost 20%.

2. The entire public transport of the city runs on environment friendly Compressed Natural Gas.

Interesting Facts:

3. Qutub Minar in Delhi is the world's tallest brick minaret.

4. The walled city of Delhi originally had fourteen gates. Five are still standing. Here's the provenance behind their names. Ajmeri Gate: Facing Ajmer in Rajasthan; Lahori Gate: Facing Lahore in Pakistan. Kashmiri Gate: Pointing North to Kashmir. Delhi Gate: Road to earlier cities of Delhi Turkman Gate: Named after pious saint Hazrat Shah Turkam.

5. In between the rubble of the fifth city of delhi – Freoze shah Kotla stands the 3 century B.C. Ashokan Pillar. Emperor Feroz Shah Tughlaq brought this 27 tonne pillar to Delhi from Topar in Ambala, where the great Emperor Ashoka erected it.

Weird Fact:

6. Delhi has an International Toilet museum.

Spicy Fact:

7. Khari Baoli is the Asia's largest wholesale spice market. A must visit for the once-in-a-lifetime overdose of a spice cocktail high.

Random Facts:

8. Traffic in Delhi is like traffic in London. Drivers sit on the right side of the car.

9. Three-wheeled contraptions called Autos are a great way to see the city over short distances. And test your faith in God.

10. Delhi has not always been the capital of India. Under the British, Kolkotta had the honor for a long time till Delhi was reinstated in 1912.

11. Delhi has a rail museum with steam-age behemoths.

Fun fact:

12. Every Delhite is ever ready to help you out with directions. They will direct you even when they do not know what you are talking about. So check, crosscheck. And check again.

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Wednesday, 27 July 2016

Jagdish Temple, Udaipur

Jagdish Temple is a large Hindu temple in the middle of Udaipur in Rajasthan. A big tourist attraction, the temple was originally called the temple of Jagannath Rai but is now called Jagdish-ji. It is a major monument in Udaipur. The Jagdish Temple is raised on a tall terrace and was completed in 1651. It attaches a double-storey Mandapa (hall) to a double-storey saandhara (with a covered ambulatory) sanctum. The mandapa has another storey tucked within its pyramidal samavarna (bellroof) while the hollow clustered spire over the sanctum contains two more, nonfunctional stories.

Lanes taking off from many of the sheharpanah (city wall) converge on the Jagdish Temple. It was built by Maharana Jagat Singh in 1651. It is an example of Māru-Gurjara Architecture.

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Dilli Haat

Dilli Haat is an open-air food plaza and craft bazaar located in Delhi, run by Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC). Unlike the traditional weekly market, the village Haat, Dilli Haat is permanent. It is located in the commercial centres of South Delhi, opposite INA market. The 6 acres of land on which this complex is situated was salvaged as part of a reclamation project and transformed into a plaza. Extensive foundation work, small thatched roof cottages and kiosks give the plaza a village atmosphere. Some shops are permanent but other sellers are rotated, usually for fifteen days. Products offered may include rosewood and sandalwood carvings, embellished camel hide footwear, sophisticated fabric and drapery, gems, beads, brassware, metal crafts, and silk and wool fabrics. A number of shows promoting handicrafts and handlooms are held at the exhibition hall in the complex. To sell wares, there is an application process and spaces are allocated according to which state the seller is from. In all, Dilli Haat, INA Market has 62 stalls allotted on a rotational basis to craftsmen a payment of INR 100 per day for a maximum period of 15 Days.

History
Dilli Haat was established jointly by Delhi Tourism (DTDC), Government of Delhi and NDMC, D.C. (Handicrafts) & D.C. (handlooms), Ministry of Textiles & Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India and opened in March 1994. Around 2003, this market became fully wheelchair-accessible, including an accessible bathroom. Delhi's second Dilli Haat, the Dilli Haat, Pitampura, also was developed by DTTDC in Pitampura, close to Pitampura TV Tower and spread over 7.2 hectares, was opened in April 2008. More Dilli Haats are set to be created in other parts of Delhi with the third expected to open in Janakpuri in August 2013.

Over the years, Dilli Haat became a venue of crafts, music, dance and cultural festivals, for example India's first comic convention, Comic Con India was organized at Dilli Haat, INA, in February 2011.

Accessibility
Dilli Haat, INA Market is accessed through INA underground station of Delhi Metro, which opened in 2010;[12] while Dilli Haat, Pitampura is serviced by Netaji Subhash Place Metro Station. It is situated on Ring Road Near AIIMS. From NDLS Rly station you can reach by Delhi Metro. From Delhi Airport You can Reach by bus crossing AIIMS. Dilli Haat is now opened in Janak Puri too which is in West Delhi. The best way to reach there is by taking metro till Janak Puri East station and from there you can either take metro shuttles or an auto rickshaw to Dilli Haat.

Entrance
Dilli Haat INA is open to public, 10.30 am to 10.00 pm., seven days a week, at a nominal entrance fee, Rs. 20 for Adults, Rs.10 for Children, Rs. 50 for foreigners.

Craftsmen
The craftsmen who are registered with D.C.Handicrafts are the ones who are eligible to find a place at the Dilli Haat. The stalls selling handicrafts are allotted on a rotational basis to craftsmen who come from all corners of India at nominal payment for a period of 15 Days. This ensures that visitors get to buy authentic wares at prices that have not been inflated by high maintenance costs.

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2 Most Haunted Places in Agra

2 Most Haunted Places in Agra

1. St. John’s College

St. John’s College is one of the oldest colleges in India. This amazing college was established in 1850 in Agra to promote education in Agra and nearby cities. The first principal was Rev. Thomas Valpy French from 1850 to 1859.
According to TripAdvisor discussion topic, St. John’s College is one of the haunted places in Agra. According to the said topic on TripAdvisor, many students have committed suicide for one reason to another. A few people have seen shadows doing whistling and walking on the railing of the college after 2:00 am. However, there is no official confirmation of the said incidents.

2. Agra Fort

According to a few online websites and the said TripAdvisor discussion topic, the Agra Fort is considered as one of the most haunted places in Agra. Many people have been killed in this fort since its construction. May be, it is one of the reasons for this place to be considered as one of the haunted places in Agra.

Most cemeteries, and crematorium are popular places in each city which are considered as the most haunted places. Most of people avoid visiting these types of places. So, if you have fear of ghosts and its tales, then you should stay away from the above mentioned places in Agra.

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5 Most #haunted places in #Delhi

5 Most #haunted places in #Delhi

For someone, who don’t believe in paranormal activities must go through this piece because it might make you rethink on supernatural powers and those who believe in them should also read it for their interest. The haunted places mentioned below are not imaginary for those who have exprerienced it themselves.

Delhi Cantonment Ghost Lady
The first haunted place in our list is Delhi Cantonment also known as Delhi Cantt. It is said to be one of the most scariest haunted sites in the capital. People says various stories about the ghost lady of Delhi Cantonment. It is said that Delhi Cantt is a shelter of a lady ghost, who supposedly killed in a car accident. Many people who have visited the area have experienced her existence over and over again. The lady’s spirit tries to attract passer-bys and if people do not stop their cars, she runs afters the car and if they stop she disappears.

Older people advices not to stop vehicles if someone tries to stop you while passing this area.

Graveyard Noises at The Jamali Kamali Tomb
Another famous haunted site is Jamali-Kamali Masjid, which is situated inside the Mehrauli Archaeological Park. The place is named after two well-known sufi saints, who were buried in 1535.

Once you enter the tomb, you will get the unusual notorious feeling. It is said that you will also get to hear various kinds of disturbing sounds calling out to you. These sounds supposedly come from the graves of the sufi saints. It is not safe to visit the tomb at night.

Near Dwarka, Sector 9 Metro Station
Employees working in call centres have encountered an unsettling energy slapping them while returning from their work near New Dwarka sector 9 metro station. They have also seen a lady appearing and vanishing suddenly and also travelling along with the speed of their vehicle. Many people find it creepy but again it is not fictional.

White Lady Ghost at Sanjay Van
A long 10-km stretch of greenery near Vasant Kunj area of south Delhi known Sanjay Van is said to be haunted. This area has many majaars (mausoleum) of sufi saints and you will also find broken embankments of Qila Rai Pithora in the middle of the van.

Many have experienced vulnerable noises like crying and screaming of kids and many others have seen a female dressed in white costume and walking around the bushes.

Sanjay van has the oldest banyan and peepal trees, which are ideal inhabitation for ghost.

Khooni Nadi (Bloody River)

Khooni Nadi, the name itself is enough for someone to get the scary feeling. This river flows across Rohini area in west delhi This flows across Rohini in Delhi and many says that people get into the river is sucked inside by a bizarre power. Several people died in this river that appears to be suicide, however the actual reason behind the deaths are still a mystery.

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Fast Facts About Indian Food

Now on to the main course – these morsels of Indian food knowledge will not only introduce newbies to this exotic cuisine, but also just might surprise those people out there who thought they had a good understanding of it. Either way, hopefully we can simply teach you something new, and in the process, convert a skeptic or two.

Most Americans are used to the less spicy cuisine of north India, in which red and green chilies, saffron, yoghurt, and ghee, or clarified butter, are used, but there are 28 states in India, each with its own culinary style and history. In the south, black pepper, tamarind, and coconut are widely used, and in the east, mustard and fish are popular, with the cosmopolitan west enjoying a combination of all the others.

Curry is synonymous with Indian food, but moss people don’t even know what curry is. It’s a blend of spices that the Indians refer to as garam masala, and it will typically contain tamarind, cinnamon, black and white pepper, cloves, cumin, and cardamom. Many westerners think it permeates every Indian dish, but it’s only added to some dishes, along with other spices, and the proportions differ, making each dish unique.

Modern Indian food can trace its roots back to the Harappan civilization, dating back to 3000 BC, and vegetables have always been an integral part of this food, including potatoes, okra, spinach, cauliflower, green bean, tomatoes, and green peas. If you’d like to incorporate more veggies into your diet, this course on vegetarian done right will help you start eating healthier.
Like in the United States, breakfast, or nashta, is important to Indians. In the north, it may consist of a type of bread, either roti or paratha, vegetables, pickles, and curd. In the south, chutney and a crepe-like food called dosa are popular. In all cases, either coffee or tea will accompany the meal. Chances are, you’re a coffee fan, and this coffee crash course will tell you everything you need to know about this sweet, caffeinated nectar.

Not only are there tons of different ingredients that Indians use in their food, there are many different ways to prepare them. They might roast, steam, grill, or boil the ingredients, and not only are they used for their flavors, but many things are added to the food for medicinal purposes.

Indians like the sweet stuff, too. Halwa fudge, which contains carrots, and pudding are enjoyed on a daily basis, as are gulab jamun, a dessert of fried milk balls and syrup, kulfis, which is frozen sweetened milk or cream that’s been flavored, and sandesh, which is cheese kneaded with sugar or molasses.
According to Indian food theory, there are six different tastes: sweet, sour, salty, spicy, bitter, and astringent. A proper Indian meal attempts to balance each of these flavors, with one or two of them standing out, but no one dish containing all six.

Junk food in India is only slightly healthier than here in the U.S., with the junk food of choice for Indians being gobi-Manchuri, or “Manchurian cauliflower”. It consists of cauliflower, onions, garlic, and spices, combined together and fried in a batter that’s colored orange. Other popular junk food includes omelets, veggie fried rice or noodles, and cup-noodle.

No discussion of Indian food would be complete without mentioning rice. It is a staple of the entire country, and is eaten every day. Some popular types of Indian rice include Basmati, which has over a dozen variants, Ponni, used in Indian breakfast food idli, and Patna, a long grain rice similar to Basmati.

Indian food is popular the world over, and has even influenced its neighbors’ cuisine in Thailand, China, and Pakistan. Indian restaurants started popping up in the U.S. in the 1960s, and today there are about 8,000 Indian restaurants in the country, with California and New York containing the lion’s share of those.

Hopefully these facts about Indian food either shined a bit more light on the food you already love, or made this potentially intimidating cuisine a bit less scary – and even if it didn’t, then that leaves more for us Indian food lovers. As you can imagine, we’ve only scratched the surface when it comes to this rich, delicious, and sometimes healthy food. The best way to learn more about Indian food isn’t to point and click, but to get out to your town’s local Indian restaurant, and take a culinary tour across this huge and ancient country. To learn more about the country, this course on the history of India covers 5,000 years of history in 90 minutes.

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Wednesday, 20 July 2016

7 Facts About The Himalayas You Never Knew

It’s still Growing!
The Himalayas are considered to be the tallest and youngest mountain ranges (only 70 million years young), which were caused by a continental collision between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, resulting in the development of the Himalayan mountain ranges.

Various geological tests conducted by scientists have confirmed that this great mountain range still moves approximately 20mm every year.

Because of this restless or continuous movement of the plates, the whole Himalayan region is prone to various natural disasters like earthquakes, tremors, and landslides.

There are Fossilized Sea Creatures
Although the Himalayan Mountains formed 60 million years ago, Everest’s history actually goes back a lot further.

The limestone and sandstone rock at the summit of the mountain was once part of sedimentary layers below sea level 450 million years ago.

Explorer Noel Odell first discovered the fossils embedded within Everest’s rocks in 1924, proving that the mountain had once been below sea level.

The first rock specimens from Everest were brought back by Swiss climbers in 1956 and by an American climbing team in 1963.

A God
In Hindu religion, the Himalaya is known as the Giri-raj, which means the “King of the Mountains”.

The Hindu people consider the Himalayas as a sacrosanct place and believe it to be the dwelling place of Gods.

It has got mention in the epic Ramayana, Mahabharat, Rig Veda, Skanda Purana and many other Puranas.

Many saints regard the Himalayas as the land of holy practices where perform the penance and worship the Lord.

Exotic Animals
The Himalayas serve as a natural habitat to some exotic species of animals like the snow leopard, wild goat, Tibetan sheep, musk deer and mountain goats.

To watch the majestic snow leopards, you have to climb the higher altitudes of the mountain.

Besides the animals, there are even many diverse and beautiful species of birds

Two Men Climbed It 21 Times
Two Sherpas, Apa Sherpa and Phurba Tashi, hold the joint record for most Everest ascents.

The pair have each managed to reach the summit an impressive 21 times.

Phurba reached the top of the world three times in 2007 alone, and Apa has successfully summited the mountain almost every year between 1990 and 2011.

A Multitude of Religions
You can find people of various cultures and religions, including Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and Buddhism in the Himalayas.

The Himalayan people are known to be very friendly and help the tourists visiting the region in every possible manner.

There are plenty of beautiful Buddhist Monasteries in the Himalaya region that really captivate the attention of the visitors.

The prominent Hindu pilgrimage destinations such as the Amarnath, Kedarnath and Badrinath are nestled in the Himalayas.

Himalayas doesn’t mean what You Think it Means
The term Himalaya also means abode of snow.

This is because the mountains of the Himalayas are covered with the deposit of ice and snow.

The upper portion of the Mount Everest (above 5,500 km) is draped with snow that never melts.

The glaciers situated around this mountain range are a reservoir of crystal-clear fresh water.

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Agrasen ki Baoli

Agrasen ki Baoli (also known as Agar Sain ki Baoli or Ugrasen ki Baoli), designated a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act of 1958, is a 60-meter long and 15-meter wide historical step well on Hailey Road near Connaught Place, Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, India. Although there are no known historical records to prove who built Agrasen ki Baoli, it is believed that it was originally built by the legendary king Agrasen during the Mahabharat epic era and rebuilt in the 14th century by the Agrawal community which traces its origin to Maharaja Agrasen.

Origin of the word Baoli
Baoli or bawdi, also referred to as baori or bauri, is a Hindi word (from Sanskrit wapi or vapi, vapika). In Rajasthan and Gujarat the words for step well include baoli, bavadi, vav, vavdi and vavadi. Water temples and temple step wells were built in ancient India and the earliest forms of step well and reservoir were also built in India in places like Dholavira as far back as the Indus Valley Civilisation.

Architecture
This Baoli, with 103 steps, is among a few of its kind in Delhi. The visible parts of this historical step well consist of three levels. Each level is lined with arched niches on both sides. From an architectural perspective, this step well was probably rebuilt during the Tughlaq period. However, the oldest existing Baoli in Delhi, the Anangtal Baoli located in Mehrauli which was also known as Yoginipura, was built in the 10th century by the Rajput King Anang Pal II of Tomar Dynasty. Anang Tal literally means reservoir provided by Anang Pal of the House of Tomar.

Agrasen ki Baoli Agar Sain ki Baoli or Ugrasen ki Baoli) Haily Road Iran embassy Road.Persian architecture
Regarding the name Agrasen Ki Baoli it should be stated that in 1132 AD an Agrawal poet named Vibudh Shridhar mentions, in his work Pasanahacariu, a wealthy and influential Agrawal merchant of Dhilli named Nattal Sahu who was also a minister in the court of King Anang Pal III. Rebuilding the old Agrasen Ki Baoli would have been within the means of a well established and wealthy Agrawal community during the 14th century.

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Tuesday, 19 July 2016

Feroz Shah Kotla

The Feroz Shah Kotla was a fortress built by Sultan Feroz Shah Tughlaq to house his version of Delhi city called Ferozabad. A pristine polished sandstone pillar from the 3rd century B.C. rises from the palace's crumbling remains, one of many pillars of Ashoka left by the Mauryan emperor; it was moved from Pong Ghati Ambala, Punjab (currently in Haryana) to Delhi under orders of Firoz Shah Tughlaq of Delhi Sultanate, and re-erected in its present location in 1356.

The original inscription on the obelisk is primarily in Brahmi script but language was prakrit, with some Pali and Sanskrit added later. The inscription was successfully translated in 1837 by James Prinsep.This and other ancient lats (pillars, obelisk) have earned Firoz Shah Tughlaq and Delhi Sultanate fame for its architectural patronage. Other than the Ashokan Pillar, the Fort complex also houses the Jami Masjid (Mosque), a Baoli and a large garden complex.

History
Feroz Shah Tughlaq (r. 1351–88), the Sultan of Delhi, established the fortified city of Firuzabad in 1354, as the new capital of the Delhi Sultanate, and included in it the site of the present Feroz Shah Kotla. Kotla literally means fortress or citadel. The pillar, also called obelisk or Lat is an Ashoka Column, attributed to Mauryan ruler Ashoka. The 13.1 metres high column, made of polished sandstone and dating from the 3rd Century BC, was brought from Ambala in 14th century AD under orders of Feroz Shah. It was installed on a three-tiered arcaded pavilion near the congregational mosque, inside the Sultanate's fort. In centuries that followed, much of the structure and buildings near it were destroyed as subsequent rulers dismantled them and reused the spolia as building materials.

In the pre-independence era, due to lack of auditoriums in the capital, most classical music performances were staged here or at Qutub complex. Later Ebrahim Alkazi, then head of NSD, staged his landmark production of Dharamvir Bharati's Andha Yug here and its premiere in 1964 was attended by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

Jami Masjid (Mosque)
Jami Masjid is one of the most ancient and largest surviving mosque and monument, still in use. Architecturally it was built on a series of underground cells and made of quartzite stone, covered with lime stone. It is surrounded by a large courtyard with cloisters and a Prayer Hall. The Prayer Hall now in complete ruins, was once used by the Royal Ladies. The mosque and its architecture is an example of Tughluq architecture.

The entrance of Jama Masjid lies on the northern side. It is connected by a causeway to the pyramidal structure of the Ashokan Pillar. This mosque was visited by Sultan Timur in 1398 AD to say his prayers. He was spellbound by its beauty and constructed a mosque in Samarkand in Iran imitating the design of this Masjid. This mosque is also known to be the place where Imad ul Mulk, a Mughal Prime Minister, was murdered by his own Emperor Alamgir Sani in 1759 AD.

Ashokan Pillar
The Ashokan Pillar that lies within Feroz Shah Kotla is perfectly placed towards the north of Jama Masjid [Mosque]. The Pillar was first erected by King Ashoka between 273 and 236 BC in Topra, Ambala, Haryana. In fact there was another Ashokan Pillar, that is seen installed near the Hindu Rao Hospital, also erected by King Ashoka in Meerut. This pillar, however was unfortunately broken into five pieces after it was damaged during an explosion. The pillar was neglected for a century up till 1838, when Hindu Rao took charge to transfer the Ashokan Pillar's broken pieces to Kolkata's Asiatic Society. Within a year, the structure was put together and re-established.

Both the Ashokan Pillars were carefully wrapped with cotton silk and were kept on a bed of reed made of raw silk. These were hence transported on a massive carriage attached with 42 wheels and drawn meticulously by 200 men from their original places to Delhi by Feroz Shah Tughlaq to avoid any damage during the journey. Upon reaching Delhi, they were then transported on huge boats to their final destination, one within Feroz Shah Kotla and the other on the ridge near Delhi University and Bara Hindu Rao Hospital.

Script on stone
The Sultanate had wanted to break and reuse the Ashokan pillar for a minaret. Firoz Shah Tuhglaq, however decided to erect it near the mosque instead. At the time of re-installation of the obelisk in Delhi, in 1356, no one knew the meaning of the script engraved in the stone.

About five hundred years later, the script (Brahmi) was deciphered by James Prinsep in 1837 with help from scripts discovered on other pillars and tablets in South Asia.

Baoli (The Well)

The circular Baoli, which means 'step well', lies towards the north western side of the Ashokan Pillar. It lies in the heart of a large garden constructed in the form of subterranean apartments and a large underground canal built on its eastern side through which the water runs into the well. This Baoli served as a summer retreat for the Royalties, where they spent time cooling off and bathing in the water of this well.

Prayers at the Fort
Every Thursday there is a huge crowd at the fort. It is popularly believed that Jinn(s) descend down at the Fort from the Heavens and accept requests and wishes from people. A lot of wishes, penned down on paper, can be seen on the walls within the premises.

The association to Jinn(s) seems to be not too old. It is only since 1977, a few months after the end of the Emergency, that there are first records of people starting to come to Firoz Shah Kotla in large numbers.

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Sunday, 17 July 2016

Gali Paranthe Wali

Gali Paranthe Wali

Gali Paranthe Wali or Paranthe wali Gali is the name of a narrow street in the Chandni Chowk area of Delhi, India, noted for its series of shops selling paratha, a fried Indian bread, and now a popular culinary destination that has now even ventured into the e-commerce space by partnering with a famous online food retailing website www.chandnichowkfood.com

History
Chandni Chowk was established in 1650 and was built along with the Red Fort under the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan.
Earlier this lane was known only for its silverware shops, before the Parantha shops moved in, first in the 1870s, like Pandit Gaya Prasad Prasad Paranthewala shop, was established in 1872, though many sari and jewellery shops are still in this lane.

Paranthe Wali Gali ("lane of parantha-makers") in Old Delhi is a famous gourmet locality in the world. The famous Mela restaurant in the UK has imitated this famous gali and in Bombay the "Only Parathas" restaurant group is trying to copy the ambience of the Delhi lane.

Of the 20 parantha shops in the late 1960s (all belonging to branches of the same family), three remain: Pt Kanhaiyalal Durgaprasad Dixit (estd 1875), Pt Dayanand Shivcharan (estd 1882). Pt Baburam Devidayal Paranthewale (estd 1886). By 1911, this area, known as Chota Dariba or Dariba Kalan, got the name Paranthewali Gali.

In the years just after the independence, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit came to take their parantha meals in this gali. The "Pandit Dayanand Shivcharan" shop proudly displays the photograph of the Nehru family eating in their shop. The late Jayaprakash Narayan was a regular visitor.

In the late 1980s many of them closed shop and moved out, though today this place is experiencing a revival and some shops are being run by the sixth generation of the same family.

The famous Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar used to live in the area.[12] Flight lieutenant Tapan Kapoor of the Indian Air Force who martyred in a rescue operation at Uttarakhand on 25 June 2013 Was also the resident of Paranthe Wali Galli .

Food
The food is old fashioned, strictly vegetarian, and cooked dishes do not include onion or garlic, since the owners are Brahmins, and traditionally their clientele has included Jains in the neighborhood. Varieties include exotic fillings like kaju, badam, matar, Mix Paranthas, rabri, khoya parantha, gobhi parantha, Parat parantha, etc. The parantha is usually served with sweet tamarind chutney, mint chutney, mixed vegetable pickle, paneer and potato curry, potato and fenugreek curry, and a sauteed mash of sweet pumpkin.
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Top 10 Most Beautiful Royal Palaces and Forts of Rajasthan

1. Umaid Bhavan Palace, Jodhpur

Umaid Bhavan Palace is the the largest royal palace in Rajasthan. It is also considered as one of the largest private residence in the World. It is currently under management of Taj Hotels Group by Tata. Still, It is being used by the Jodhpur royal family as their official residence. Umaid Bhavan Palace has total 347 rooms which makes it one of the largest royal palace in India.

2. Lake Palace, Udaipur

Lake Palace is the most beautiful heritage hotel of Udaipur which is situated on Lake Pichola. Lake Palace gives you complete experience luxury living of royal family. Due to its beautiful location, many films used this palace as their shooting location. For example, The Jewel in the Crown, Octopussy, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and others.

3. Hawa Mahal, Jaipur

Hawa Mahal Palace is also known as “Palace of Winds” or “Palace of the Breeze” due to more than 950 small windows in the palace. These small windows are known as “Jharokhas” in local language. This palace was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh. Its design is very much unique. Main objective behind building so much small windows to allow royal ladies to look in the street without being seen by anyone.

4. Rambagh Palace, Jaipur

Rambagh Palace is the most luxurious royal palace which is now converted into heritage hotel. It is located at Bhawani Singh Road, Jaipur. It is now managed by the Taj Hotels Group and named as “Taj Palace Hotel”. Rambagh Palace Hotel is considered as the best heritage hotel in the World and preferred by celebrities.

5. Devi Garh Palace, Delawara

Devi Garh Palace is one of the leading luxury hotel in Rajasthan. It was named as one of the best luxury hotel in India by New York Times in 2006. It has total 39 suits and one restaurant with parking facility. It is currently managed by Boutique Hotels India Private Limited. This beautiful royal palace is visited by many celebrities like Liz Hurley, Arun Nayar, Amitabh Bachchan, Fardeen Khan, Mukesh and Anil Ambani, Saif Ali Khan and others.

6. Gorbandh Palace Hotel, Jaisalmer

Gorbandh Palace Hotel is located at Ram Kund, Sam Road in Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. This palace is the perfect place for royal retreat which includes lush greenary, historical rooms, state of the art spa, fountains and blue waters swimming pool. Sam sand dunes is nearby place to enjoy party or overnight stay.

7. Jag Mandir Royal Palace, Udaipur

Jag Mandir is one of the beautiful royal palace which was built on Lake Pichola island in Udaipur. This palace construction was started in 1551 and completed in mid 17th century. Mughal and Rajput architectural styles are used in the construction of this palace.

8. Jal Mahal, Jaipur

Jal Mahal royal palace is located on the middle of Man Sagar Lake in Jaipur city. Its total area is about 300 acres and max. depth of about 15 ft. Due to its location, Jal Mahal looks very beautiful royal palace. Restoration works has been started in 2000 year to make it tourist place in the city. This work has been completed in 2011 with restored work into beauty.

9. Udai Bilas Palace, Dungarpur

Udai Bilas Palace is another beautiful royal heritage hotel near Udaipur in Rajasthan. It is one of the oldest palace in the state which dates back mid 19th century. Its location makes palace more beautiful and remarkable stay. There is also private reserve forest as well as Gaibsagar lake. Both increase the beauty of heritage hotel at highest level.

10. Neemrana Fort, Neemrana

Neemrana Fort is situated in the historical as well as ancient town of Neemrana of Alwar district in Rajastha state. Neemrana Fort was constructed from 1464 which is located on the high hills which makes it wonderful place. It was the royal palace for the royal family, now it is converted into heritage resort and hotel. It is also one of the oldest heritage hotel and resort in India which was converted into 1986.

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