Best Places of Interest - Page 113 of 184

January 30, 2017 Travel, Within India

Where Should You Visit In India This Holiday?

India is aptly called incredible as it has all the elements to satisfy the heart of a wanderlust. From magnificent monuments to breathtaking scenic beauty; from lip smacking cuisines to colourful souvenirs, you can never get enough from this country.

Let us check out some of the top 5 tourist destinations in India.

1. The Beautiful Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal Agra, destinations in India — Taj Mahal Agra

This is one of the several wonders of the world. Built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, Taj Mahal is a memorial made of pure white marble. The most amazing feature of the monument is it changes colour with every phase of the day. Taj Mahal is encircled by lush green gardens and is studded with semi-precious stones and decorated with motifs.

Nearby Tourist Spot: The Red Fort is another impressive structure lying very near to Taj Mahal. This is completely made from red sandstone and has numerous palaces, halls and mosques within it.

Location: Agra, near New Delhi

2. The Lively Gateway of India

Gateway of India is situated on the shores of the Arabian Sea.This place is a chatting ground for the locals and an ideal spot to relish the world-famous pav bhaji. If you can surf the local markets, you can buy silk shirts or luxury leather goods at an affordable price.

Nearby Tourist Spot: Visit Bollywood to watch the filmmaking process or spend some time relaxing at the Juhu Beach, listening to the wild waves.

Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra

3. The Golden Temple

Golden temple in Amritsar, India — People at Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab, India.

If you want to be away from the hustle and bustle of city life and enjoy the spirituality of India visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar. With domes made from pure gold and treasuring the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikh religion, this place is one of the tourist hotspots of India. Do not miss the meal arranged at the temple, as it is not only delicious but also exhibits the simplicity of life. If the Golden Temple inspires you, take out some time and plan a trip to the other exquisite shrines of India, which range from the rock cut temples of South India to the Hindu, Jain and Buddhist temples of Khajuraho.

Nearby Tourist Spot: The Jalianwala Bagh is famous for its importance in the history of Indian independence and the Wagah Border is the Line of Control (LOC) between Indian and Pakistan. Last but not the least; relish the ghee-drenched parathas and tall glasses of lassi here.

Location: Amritsar, Punjab

4. The Mind-blowing Jaipur

City Palace Jaipur, India — City Palace Jaipur

Now you cannot avoid the Pink City of Jaipur when on an India trip. Visit the Amber Fort on a decked-up elephant like a king or explore the royal belongings, old coins, arms and accessories at the City Palace museum. The Hawa Mahal can surprise you with its 983 windows while the Jantar Mantar has the largest sundial of the earth. Jaipur is also an ideal destination to shop your heart out; from boutique apparel to leather shoes, from costume jewellery to handicrafts, you have a lot to fill your bag. Evenings are entertaining with puppet shows and folk song and dance programs.

Nearby Tourist Spot: You may also visit the other cities of Rajasthan, like Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur; each famous for its monuments.

Location: Rajasthan

5. The Exotic Beaches of Goa

Beaches of Goa, destinations to visit in India

Last but not the least; the fun capital of the country invites you with its wilderness. Goa is a resort for the stressed hearts who want the warm sun rays to fill in their ached body; it is a paradise for people wanting to rejuvenate with Ayurveda SPA massages and for the young hearts who want to dance through the night. The SunBurn Festival, which takes place from Christmas to New Year, is a celebration of life and the best start to a new year.

Nearby Tourist Spot: Besides the above activities, you can visit the old churches of Goa and spend some solitary time at the moonlight cruises with your beloved.

Location: Goa, lying at a short distance from Mumbai.

If you want to have more from this country, plan safari rides to the national parks of the country or if you want to boost your adrenaline, the trekking and water sports of India are just for you.

Author Bio

Ademar Arau, A Mexican guy staying in Gurgaon India from last 3 years, translator by profession. Love to do capture the moments, writing and blogging, currently associated with olaviajes.com as Spanish – English travel blogger.

January 28, 2017 Recipes

Recipes – Roasting

It is a continuation to my earlier post on ‘Roast and boast‘. Following are 2 roasting recipes

Roast leg of lamb with onions and potatoes in white wine

leg of lamb-roasting — leg of lamb
Image credit -Pinterest

Ingredients–

1 kg of mutton,

6 cloves garlic cut into slivers,

2 tbsp. olive oil,

1 tsp each salt and pepper,

1 tbsp. tenderon powder + 2 tbsp. tabasco sauce if you like it spicy.

3 each large potatoes and onions, peeled, halved and cut into thin slices rubbed with ½ tsp each salt, pepper, and thyme.

1 cup white wine, juice of 1 lemon and a few sprigs of thyme or rosemary.

Method:

Make a few cuts on the leg of mutton and insert a sliver of garlic into each slit reserving the remaining. Make a paste with salt, pepper and tenderon and olive oil and rub all over the leg. Cover and leave overnight. In a large, non-stick pan, brown the piece of leg on both sides to have a nice browned crust. Preheat the oven to 250c/ gas mark 9. Grease a large oval baking dish and line with the potatoes and remaining garlic slivers on the bottom of the dish too. Place the leg of mutton over this, arrange a few sprigs of thyme or rosemary around the meat and drizzle 1/ 2 the wine and lemon as well as some freshly cracked pepper all over and cover with foil and roast for 20 minutes. (If you like a little heat and spice, sprinkle some chilly flakes or add some tabasco to the initial paste.)

Reduce the heat to 200c/gas mark 6, pour the remaining wine and lemon juice and cook covered for the first hour and then uncovered for 45 minutes until well browned and done to your liking. Baste with the pan juices every 20 minutes during the cooking process to keep the meat moist. After you remove from the oven, let it rest for 10 minutes before carving.

Whole roast chicken with rosemary, garlic and lemon

Ingredients: 1 whole chicken (1.5- 1.8 kg),

2 tbsp. butter,

1 tbsp. garlic paste,

1 tsp each salt, pepper,

2 tbsp. fresh rosemary leaves chopped,

Rind of 2 lemons,

½ cup of whole garlic pods,

2 lemons,

Few sprigs of rosemary,

olive oil,

salt and pepper as required,

juice of 1 lemon.

Method:

Preheat oven to 200c/ gas mark 6. Wash and clean chicken and pat dry. Make a paste with the butter, garlic paste, salt, pepper, chopped rosemary and lemon rind. Loosen the skin and rub this mixture evenly all over.

Stuff the cavity of the chicken with the garlic pods, 2 lemons cut in half and a few sprigs of rosemary. Seal with tooth picks or metal skewers. Rub the chicken all over with some olive oil, salt and pepper and tie the chicken, folding the wings, behind. Grease an oven proof dish; sprinkle the remaining garlic pods and rosemary around the chicken, drizzle with juice of 1 lemon, cover with foil and bake for 40-45 minutes.

Reduce the oven to 180c/ gas mark 4. Baste with some more lemon juice or with the pan juices and bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes until done. Test by inserting a sharp knife into the thigh area and if the juices run clear, it is done.

Serve with mashed potatoes or roast potatoes.

January 26, 2017 Events and Festivals, India

Republic Day

26^th January is among the most significant occasion celebrated in India. On 26^th January 1950, the constitution of India was enforced and India achieved its pledge of becoming a totally sovereign, democratic and republic nation.

Many grand events and programs are organized throughout India depicting love and patriotism. Not to forget the most alluring grand celebration in the capital city of India, New Delhi. A massive parade is held which begins from the President’s Palace and walks past the Rajpath and India Gate, terminating at the Red Fort in the Walled City of Old Delhi.

On this day, the sacrifice of the martyrs is remembered for the freedom of the country and the succeeding wars.

PM on Republic day — PM at India Gate on Republic Day
Image credit- विकिमेडिया कॉमन्स

The following are some of the patriotic songs played on Republic Day that remind us and motivate us to remember these great people

Vande Mataram- Vande Mataram is the national song of India. The song was written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee.

Ae Watan ae watan humko teri kasam– Performance by Lata Mangeshkar, evergreen singer of Bollywood.

Maa Tujhe Salam– Music video by A R Rahman performing Maa Tujhe Salaam. (C) SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (India) Pvt. Ltd

Mere desh ki dharti– Mere desh ki dharti, sonaa ugale, ugale hiire, moti
The soil of my country gives rise to gold, diamonds, and pearls [metaphor for the agriculture treasures]

Sara jahan se achha -Sare Jahan Se Acha ( सारे जहाँ से अच्छा ) is one of the most popular Patriotic Song. India is a unique place. Fly with these kids and travel India. See the beauty in south, Himalaya & many other places. 26 January Republic Day Song.

Jahan Dal Dal Pe Sone ki Chidya – Performance by Sonu Nigam

Little did anyone know that the original anthem composed by India’s wordsmith Rabindranath Tagore had 4 more verses to it. So stand up and sing the lyrics on-screen

I have compiled this list for Happy Republic Day. Enjoy.

Do share your favorite song in the comment section below and mention it if it is not in the above list.

Happy Republic Day to you all 🙂

January 25, 2017 Events and Festivals, International

Australia Day 2017

What it means for Australians

Every year, Australia Day is celebrated by millions of Australians on the 26th of January. This special day has lots of meaning to Aussies and it’s a day when we come together as a nation and celebrate what’s awesome about Australia and being Australian. It’s more than just a public holiday, fireworks and barbeques – it allows us to express our pride in being Australian.

The date of Australia Day was chosen as the anniversary of the First Fleet’s arrival at Sydney Cove in 1788. Despite this significant event, Australia Day celebrations have expanded to include much deeper meaning for Australians. For the Indigenous people of Australia, Australia Day marks the survival of their culture through all the years since European settlement. Each Australian will hold varying perspectives of Australia Day. However, looking back on how far Australia has come and shaped itself into a diverse society and made significant achievements, it is evident that Australia Day celebrates not just the past, but also the present and the future.

Australia Day Celebrations

On Australia Day, expect to see organized Australia Day events such as outdoor concerts, barbeques, sports competitions, festivals such as the Big Day Out, Triple J Hottest 100, the Australia Day Live Concert and fireworks. Lots of different communities often hold their own local celebrations for example you can see that there is a variety of Australia Day events such as the Australia Day in Newcastle. A sense of community is what fuels Australia Day. A very Australian thing to do on Australia Day is heading down to beaches such as Bondi and Cronulla for some fun in the sun.

There’s so much to do on the day. You can attend the Wugulora Indigenous Morning Ceremony at Barangaroo Reserve in NSW and celebrate the world’s oldest culture with dance and song! Come down to Darling Harbour in Sydney this year for fireworks at the Australia Day Spectacular and the Children’s Festival at Tumbalong Park which are both family-friendly events. There’s also the Australia Day 2017 concert that will be held at the Sydney Opera House on the night, with various celebrities lined up such as Guy Sebastian, Dami Im, and the Wiggles!

Not keen on heading out to the city or going anywhere? Get together with family & friends for a barbeque that includes snags, sangers, beef, pork, lamb and shrimp on the barbie. It’s a great time to relax and celebrate the national day of Australia. Have I mentioned barbeques yet? Aussies love the barbie. It’s also that time of the year when the MLA releases their annual Australia Day lamb ad, with this year’s one being extremely humorous but sending a strong multicultural message.

Australian of the Year Award

On the evening of Australia Day, the honorable title of Australian of the Year is announced. The winner of that award needs to have shown a “significant contribution to the Australian community and nation” and to be an “inspirational role model for the Australian community. It’s a great way to recognize achievements and contribution of Australians, inspiring more to challenge themselves to contribute to the positive growth of Australia.

For more info on Australia Day, please visit: https://www.australiaday.com.au/

*/A guest post by Olivia Bourke. /*