Recommend May 2012 - (Page 39)

CULTURAL HIGHS: fair. To view is the spectacle of Rajasthani men and women in their colorful traditional attire, saffron-robed Holy Men, and thousands of bulls, cows, sheep, goats, horses and camels in richly decorated saddles. The fair includes camel races and various cultural entertainment programs. thirst quencher, the sweet lime tang of a nimbu panni is India’s most popular drink, along with lassi (a cold, frothy yogurt) or a good Indian beer. Of course, since tea is the national drink, anytime is time for a cup of chai…except if you are in southern India where coffee is the number one drink. Cities on the Rise ■ Chennai, formerly known as Madras and capital of Tamil Nadu, is famous for classical music (Carnatic) and dance (Bharata Natyam), as well as the textile arts and a booming movie industry. Here’s the place to take in a performance at the Music Academy or Kalakshetra dance academy; shop for fabrics in the market or new malls, and eat South Indian snacks like vada (lentil fritters). ■ Hyderabad, capital of Andhra Pradesh, is known for its pearl markets, and is the place to taste signature local dishes like biryani and qubani ka meetha (a dessert made with dried apricots). ■ Pune, located in Maharashtra (north of Mumbai), enjoys a thriving arts and culture scene, including classical music and theater; it’s also the home of Iyengar yoga, attracting students worldwide, the Aga Khan Palace, now a memorial to Gandhi, and the unique artifacts in the Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum. ■ Chandigarh, capital of both Haryana and Punjab, was designed in part by famed architect Le Corbusier. The town is recognized for its vibrant culture of festivals, its arts and handicrafts on display in the Cultural Complex in sector 10. ■ Ahmedabad, capital of the western state of Gujarat, is famous for its impressive architecture, ancient step wells and shaking minarets, and Sabarmati Ashram where Gandhi lived. October is the time to see Garba dance performances during the 9-night Navaratri Festival, dedicated to the Goddess Durga. Tastes of India Gastronomic experiences are high on the list of Indian pleasures and few visitors are disappointed. Historically, many of India’s classic regional cuisines owe their origins to the royal courts. The Mughal rulers were great patrons of the culinary arts and helped introduce pilafs, creamy gravies, marinated kebabs and the tandoor oven to India. The Nizam rulers of Hyderabad developed the famous biryani, a simmering concoction of rice, meat, yogurt and spices, while the Chola kings of southern India presided over the growth of Tanjore and Chettinad cuisine, noted for their use of ground masalas, coconut, tamarind and lentils. Of course, at the heart of all Indian cooking are those spices: black Malabar pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, cumin, ginger, turmeric, nutmeg and others, all of which grow on the fertile slopes of the Western ghats. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Western countries fought wars over the spice trade and spices far exceeded gold in value. South India, more strongly Hindu than the north, has a predominantly vegetarian cuisine, accompanied by rice flavored with coconut or lime. The typical southern appetite calls for a tasty thali, the all-purpose, all-you-can-eat, vegetarian plate made up of a variety of curry vegetable dishes, relishes, bread (papadams, puris or dosas) and a mound of rice. Thalis, of course, are eaten with fingers (of the right hand). A favorite southern snack is a masala dosa, a puffy rice pancake filled with potato and spiced vegetables, and the fish is “deelish:” pomfret, shark, kingfish, prawns, crab and lobster. North India has a tradition of very rich cooking, much influenced by Mughal cuisine and characterized by the use of yoghurt (dahi), cream, fried onion, nuts and saffron in meat dishes. Mildest of all is biryani, rice cooked with saffron or turmeric, lamb or chicken and dried fruits. Typical sweets in India range from kulfi, ice cream flavored with cardamom, pistachio nuts and saffron, to firnee, a richly flavored rice pudding. When it’s time for a Crafts of India Handicrafts are among India’s greatest visitor attractions and with thousands of bazaars, boutiques and markets, India has long been the destination of choice for shopping. Travelers departing for India should pack light, leaving plenty of suitcase room to acquire some fine silk, cotton and wool textiles—from Varanasi brocades to Rajasthan cotton; to shop for stunning carpets and rich Indian walnut carvings in Kashmir; to find just the right piece of beautifully carved sandalwood in Karnataka, rosewood in Kerala and Madras, and for inlaid marble and alabaster in Agra; a bronze statue of dancing Siva or an inlaid sandalwood box from Mysore. The finest-quality goods usually find their way to the bazaars and emporia of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. But the main centers of large-scale production are in Rajasthan, producing fabrics, jewelry, glass, pottery, miniature paintings, rugs, brass and wood inlay, camel-hide products and embroidered slippers, and Kashmir, the main source for fine carpets, shawls, embroidery and decorative papier-mache objects. Some of India’s most intriguing crafts are produced by its many tribal communities. These include the fine wireanimal tarakashi of Orissa and Nagaland’s larger bronze sculptures. Assam is known for its tribal weavings, Mizoram its bamboo hats and the Khachchhi for its mirror embroideries and copper bells. In the Himalayas, the best buys are Tibetan and Ladakhi silver, turquoise and coral jewelry. No crafts emporium beats those at one of the countrywide melas, or fairs held annually. One of the best-known and most accessible (five miles from South Delhi in Faridabad) is the Surajkund Crafts Mela, which celebrates the finest handlooms and handicrafts traditions of the country. Beneath thatched roof platforms, master crafts persons from many regions are on hand to personally display their work during the fair, generally held during the first two weeks in February. Meet the People India’s guests can experience local traditions, meet with villagers, learn to make local crafts and prepare local foods, and enjoy the country’s warmth and hospitality. There’s the opportunity to visit important rural tourism sites like Hodka (Gujarat), Samode (Rajasthan), and Raghurajpur (Orissa), where the local people have shaped a new kind of tourism that welcomes visitors into their homes and their lives. In lesser-traveled areas there is a richness of life that, in terms of memorable experiences, is guaranteed to rival the opulence of the Taj Mahal. recommend.com I-17 http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend May 2012

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk: Salamander Hotels & Resorts
Tour Talk: Worldwide Traveler
Viking Longships Invade European Waters
In Chile: Going to Extremes
India Travel Planner 2012
Devon & Cornwall: England's Peerless Destinations
Israel & Jordan: The Wellspring of Spirituality
Top Golf Resorts: North America
Top Golf Resorts: Caribbean & Bermuda
Top Golf Resorts: Mexico

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