Thiruvananthapuram, also called as Trivandrum is the capital city of Kerala. Apart from being an important IT hub and academic center, Thiruvananthapuram is an attractive tourist place as well.
The local food of Itanagar is inspired by the Tibetan cuisine. Rice is a staple food here and is accompanied with fish, meat, and green vegetables. People of Itanagar have preserved the traditional style of cooking. The food favoritism varies largely over the tribal community. Let’s have a look at some of the popular and distinct dishes of Itanagar.
Apong
Apong is a rice beer and a popular beverage of Itanagar and entire Arunachal Pradesh. It is made by fermenting rice or millet. It is alcoholic in nature.
Pika Pila
It is a type of pickle made from the bamboo shoot and pork fat. It is specifically popular among the Apatani tribe of the region. Pika Pila is hot and spicy, so we suggest starting to eat in a small amount on your Itanagar trip.
Chura Sabji
Quite distinct from the taste of other parts of India, Chura Sabji is a curry and usually accompanied with rice. It is made from the fermented cheese, that is why it might not suit the traveler’s taste. The cheese used in this dish is made from yak’s milk.
Lukter
Lukter is a simple meat dish. The meat is dried and grilled with hot king chili (Bhut Jolokia). It is a great example of the northeastern cooking tradition of sun-drying meat.
Thukpa
Thukpa is a popular Tibetan dish. It is a hot noodle soup made from meat. You can also get the vegetarian and eggitarian version of this dish. Though it sounds like a starter dish, yet it is fulfilling and sufficient for an average meal.
Here is Aditya Bal’s take on the traditional Thukpa recipe.
If you are planning a northeast India tour, you can also book a cab in Itanagar for sightseeing and hopping around places, trying different food.
The cuisine of Patna is a mix of Bihari, Bhojpuri, Maithil, and Magahi cuisine. The natives are mostly vegetarian here because of the influence of Buddhism and Hindu values of non-violence.
Among the non-vegetarian dishes, fish is very common because of the presence of a number of rivers in the region.
People like to eat seasonal food in Patna and rest of Bihar. Let’s discuss some of the traditional delicacies of Patna.
Litti Chokha
Litti Chokha is a traditional dish of Bihar and Jharkhand. There are two main components of this dish- Litti and Chokha. Litti is made from wheat flour and dry roasted in firewood. Chokha is the minced vegetable. Generally, people make chokha from brinjal. Cooking over firewood gives an exceptional taste to this dish.
Kesar Peda
Kesar Peda is a sweet dish made from thickened milk and saffron. The Bihari version of this dish is mildly sweet and mostly the sweetness is because of milk only. It is a must-have dish in Patna.
Chana Ghugni
It is a dish made from black chickpeas. Chana Ghugni is mainly prepared during winter as the chickpeas give warmth to the body. People make both dry and curried version of this dish. It is usually served as a side dish with chapati or rice.
Posta-dana ka halwa
Posta or Khus is a seed from lemongrass family. It is a nutritional plant with use in medicine, food, flavoring, skincare, perfumes, etc. The locals make a sweet dish from the Posta or Khus seeds by adding milk, sugar, butter, and dry fruits.
The dish imparts a minty feel in the throat, which distinguishes it from other types of halwa.
Sattu Paratha
Sattu Paratha is a very common dish of Bihar. Roasted gram flour along with local spices are stuffed in Paratha and then shallow fried. People prepare this dish in both sweet and savory variant.
A fast-growing city on the banks of Brahmaputra river, Tezpur is also the cleanest city of Assam. One can spend countless days in the peaceful and green environment of this city, but if you have only a days time, you can visit the following places-
Bhairabi Mandir
It is an ancient hillock steeped in Hindu Mythology. You can find here many ancient sculptures and viewpoints.
Address:Mahabhairab, Tezpur, Assam 784001, India
Time to spend: 1 hour
Next destination: Padum Pukhuri, 12 minutes drive
Padum Pukhuri
Padum Pukhuri is a lake park and recreational area. It is a good place to eat and relax in a natural environment.
Address:Chowk Bazar Road, Mahabhairab, Tezpur, Assam 784001, India
Visiting time:09:00 AM to 06:00 PM
Time to spend: 1 hour
Next destination: Agnigarh, 6 minutes drive
Agnigarh
Agnigarh is a fortress built by Banasura to keep his daughter Usha in isolation. People believed that anyone who tried to approach this place was burnt into ashes and that is why it is called Agnigarh (Agni meaning fire and Garh means fort).
Address:Mahabhairab, Tezpur, Assam 784001, India
Time to spend: 1 hour
Next destination: Chitralekha Udyan, 5 minutes drive
Chitralekha Udyan
Also known as Cole Park, Chitralekha Udyan is a picturesque park located amidst the city center.
Address:Mahabhairab, Tezpur, Assam 784001, India
Visiting time:10:00 AM to 07:00 PM
Time to spend: 1 hour
Next destination: Mahabhairab Temple, 10 minutes drive
Mahabhairab Temple
People believe that the Mahabhairab temple by King Bana during the prehistoric time. The temple is located on a hillock with a mesmerizing surrounding.
Kollam is a beautiful city in the Kerala state of India. It has been serving as an important port for international trade for centuries. Apart from being an important trading center, Kollam is an also a great tourist destination.
If you are planning to visit Kollam, here is the discussion about possible options to reach Kollam and which route is suitable.
Reaching Kollam by air
There is no direct airport in Kollam. The nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram international airport which is about 75 kilometers far from the city center.
If you are an international traveler, you can choose to reach Kollam by air and land at Thiruvananthapuram airport. From here, you can book a taxi to reach Kollam.
If you are a domestic traveler, you can directly reach the Kollam via road or railway route from your city.
Reaching Kollam by train
Kollam is well connected with major cities of India via train. There are regular trains to Kollam Junction (QLN) and Eravipuram (IRP) railway station. You can halt at either of the stations and take local transport (taxi or auto-rickshaw) to reach your stay.
Reaching Kollam by road
The road to Kollam is pretty good and you get to see the coastal region en-route. There are frequent state transport and private tour buses heading to Kollam. You can also choose to self-drive or hire a private cab to reach Kollam.
We suggest preferring private cab because if you are not familiar with the local language (Malayalam), you might find difficulty in communicating with natives.
Impressive sites in Kollam
Here are some great sites which you must visit on your Kollam trip-