It’s really tough to decode ‘INDIA’ in words, India is among the most sought-after travel destinations in the world because of various reasons.
You need to plan your tour to India according to your favorite weather and climate. Being situated at between 8 degrees N and 37 degree N latitudes, the southern part of India lies in the Torrid Zone and the northern part of India lies in the Temperature Zone. That’s why India is the country of all seasons – summer, autumn, winter, and spring. The country welcomes you with the varied beauty of nature, food, holiday activities, and other diverse characteristics which differ from one season to another. Due to proximity to various landforms, latitude, and longitude, stark differences prevail in how you are going to experience seasons in different regions.
While you will experience extreme precipitation and incessant rainfall in Mawsynram, located in the northeast in Meghalaya, in other parts of the country, rains last until September and average, not as much as 10 meters of precipitation per year as in Mawsynram.
In October, the temperature begins to drop and a cold breeze takes place of winds that blow from the sea to the land from June to September. India welcomes winter from October and continues till March and this is the best time to visit India. Though winter is mild in most parts, you will experience the extreme chilly wind in the Northern regions of India. In southern coastal parts, rainfall continues from October to December, with a considerable amount of humidity that fills in the air.
The hot summer season takes on from the end of March and gets hotter until June when the monsoon hits. In April, the temperatures may rise up to 35°C and further reaches up to 49°C in some parts of the country, mainly desert regions. If you are planning to visit India in summer vacations in May, then plan for hilly and mountain areas; otherwise, wait till the end of June when the monsoon season returns with storms and humidity. Hence, the most pleasant time of the year to visit India is between September and March when you can plan for any destination in India or between late March and mid-November if you are setting out for the Himalayas.
Indian cuisine
In India, you will taste a variety of foods as you will experience marked differences in cuisines of North India, South India, western parts, and eastern parts of India. If culinary adventures intrigue you, then a broad range of varieties are in store for you in India which you can learn and experiment by taking cooking classes in different regions. The colors of curries, the aroma of spices, the flavor of different herbs, vegetables as well as meat will fill your olfactory sense and tickle your taste buds. However, you can also order and taste continental, oriental, or other world cuisines in several restaurants and hotels during your stay in India.
North Indian cuisine
Apart from the flavor and aroma, the fashion in which North Indians food is served is splendid. Whether you order vegetarian or non-vegetarian food, they will serve you in a ‘thali’, a metal large round plate. This ‘thali’ consists of various food items including rice, lentils (more than 100 varieties), vegetables (green leafy vegetable curries usually made of spinach, squash, fenugreek, beans such as green beans, kidney beans, etc., sometimes served with potato or peas) and meat (either chicken or mutton); all these items are served in small cups which are called ‘Katori. This katoris are surrounding the thali, in no specific order. Usually, a thali consists of food of five flavors such as bitter, salty, sour, astringent, and sweet. A ‘thali’ will also include any bread item, whether chapati, paratha, puri, nan, or papad. Usually, sweet foods such as halwa (semolina wheat flour or lentils), kheer (rice pudding flavored with cardamom and decorated with dried fruit), kulfi (ice cream), jalebi, gulab jamun, or other delicacies are served at the end of the palate.
South Indian Cuisine:
South Indian foods are also served in ‘Thali; which differs considerably in the type of plate used and types of foods served in them. Rice is the staple food of people residing in southern parts of India and food is mainly cooked in coconut oil. A huge variety prevails in south Indian cuisine and dishes are usually spicy as they use lots of pepper in them. Despite the variety, common food items of South Indian cuisine are chutney which is a sauce created with coconuts, lentils, tamarind, and groundnuts, lemon rice served with sambhar (a curry cooked with lentil and vegetable), idlis (which are rice cakes), dosas (crepes with your choice of stuffing). The cuisine to be found on the western coast of South India include various types of seafood and fish such as “Bombay duck” (a curry made of fried fish) pomfret (Indian salmon), different types of prawns. In Kerala, you will find a rare specialty called ‘Parsi Dhan Sak’ which is cooked with meat, either lamb or chicken, with lentils and prepared in a curry sauce; another specialty is “Vindaloo” which is cooked with chicken or fish that are marinated in vinegar.
Himalayan Cuisine:
Cuisines of Himalayan regions are greatly ruled with a specialty called ‘Momo’ that are either fried or steamed dumplings. Other than that, you will find this special beverage called ‘Chang’ which is a local beer made of barley, ‘Goor Goor’ which is Tibetan salted butter tea, and this soupy food item called ‘Thukpa’ wherein vegetables, meat, and noodle cooked in a soup.
Feisty Festivals of India
Indian Festivals mark intriguing culture, rituals, and heritage of the country. Similar to food and weather, festivals largely vary depending on the regions, religions, seasons, and culture of various regions of India. Colors, lighting, rituals of celebration, foods are served are strong elements, and the spirit of Indians are major highlights of Indian festivals. While some festivals are observed to welcome New Year, some observe harvesting season, full moon, birthdays of Gods and Goddess, Gurus, or respective saints of different religions. Festivals being celebrated in distinguished fashion at different times of the year, different parts of the country attract a huge mass of tourists to India across the year.
If you are visiting India during any festival, you will be astonished by the customs, prayers, spirit of people, clothes of vibrant colors people don, foods, gifts, music, rhythm, and dances that Indians perform as part of the celebration. Hence, if you want to experience the lights and fireworks of Diwali, visit India at the end of October or the beginning of November, head to West Bengal during Durga Puja or fly to North India during Holi, a special festival celebrated with colors. Some festivals are exclusive to special parts of India, such as Pongal or Onam are celebrated in Southern India. It is best to ask your favorite tour planning expert at India Dream Holiday if you have a specific festival in mind. We, at India Dream Holiday, provide extensive tours and travels services to help you in finding the best tour package to match your expectations to enjoy any specific fair, festival, or event.
Shopping
If vacations or traveling are synonymous with shopping for you, then India is where you should head to. India is a Mecca of shoppers wherein you can find a myriad range of handicraft items that reflect the quintessential beauty of the Indian heritage and culture. You can buy a varied range of options in textiles such as shawls, silk, etc., jewels, accessories, and home décor items depending upon regions. Just make sure you keep space for things in your luggage! The most recommended place to shop and find authentic items is from Government Emporia. Many large stores and boutiques will deliver your purchases to your doorstep.
Here are some tips you need to remember:
- Carry your shopping items and do not leave it with anyone
- You can book your purchase as baggage
- Make sure you have covered as many shops as you can so that you can buy stuff at actual rates
- Take occasional rest in between shopping and sightseeing places.
Diversity in religions in India
Indians follow different religions in different parts of the country. This includes Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Christianity. Different experiences, beliefs, and rituals in spirituality have resulted in different schools and teachers of those schools. Ramayana and the Mahabharata are considered major sources of beliefs and integral parts of Hindu worshipping. People of other religions follow their individual epics and sources to find beliefs, teachings, and rituals. This diversity in religions has resulted in different forms and places of worship in the form of temples, mosques, and monasteries which attract tourists in India.
