India is the world's leading producer and exporter of turmeric with a staggering average of 46,500 tons of turmeric exported each year valued at approximately Rs 4,689 million! Besides, the established varieties grown in different parts of the country, there are at least seventeen known variants that have an impressive curcumin content ranging from 2.8... Continue Reading →
A truly exotic organic crop from the hilly state of Nagaland renders a fiery experience of massive proportion! Nagaland’s interesting folklore mentions Chüdi (Angami language, “King of Hotness”) and Chaibe (Zeliangrong language, “Leader/Chieftain”) – the regional titles conferred on the famed Naga mircha holding it in great esteem. The traditional Naga chilli is considered to be a variant of the... Continue Reading →
The famous Malihabad in the Lucknow district of Uttar Pradesh is synonymous with mangoes. Popularly known as the mango capital of India, it is home to over 700 varieties of mangoes which on an average fetch about 150 crore every season! There is an eternal bond between mangoes and Awadh. The mangoes were not... Continue Reading →
The spectacular Borra Caves located in the lush green Ananthagiri Hills at an elevation of 2310 feet is considered to be one of the largest caves of the country. This natural wonder nested in breathtaking terrain holds great ecological, geological, religious, anthropological and archaeological significance. These caves were discovered by a British geologist, William... Continue Reading →
Generally, there are stories weaved into every temple about its heritage and history. Some are references in the Hindu scriptures, some are based on travellers descriptions, some are based on research on inscriptions and well, some others range from an emotional thermometer of jaw-dropping to shivers down your spine! The Kakanmath temple is tucked... Continue Reading →
There are many stories swirling around the origin of the legendary Dharwad pedha. One story suggests that the jahagirdars (zamindars) of Hebballi, a village near Dharwad brought Ayodhya Prasad Mishra from Varanasi back in 1895. The jahagirdar used to visit Uttar Pradesh frequently to buy horses and thus, along with Ayodhya Prasad, started the migration of the Thakurs to Dharwad.... Continue Reading →
Himachali Kala Zeera or black cumin is one of the most economically important medicinal plant and spice that grows largely in Himachal Pradesh. Generally known to be found as a wild plant in the forests and grassy slopes of the North-Western Himalayas, kala zeera thrives in the high mountainous regions of Kinnaur, Kullu, Chamba, Shimla,... Continue Reading →
Kalanamak (‘Kala’ means black derived from the husk and the suffix ‘namak’ means salt) is one of the finest quality aromatic rice grown in India. This scented variety has been cultivated since 600 BC i.e., since and probably before the Buddhist era. It is also known as ‘Buddha rice’ as it is believed that Mahatma... Continue Reading →
The ancient Sangameshwar temple of Swayambhu Mahadev at the confluence of two rivers namely Karha and Chambali (Bhogwati) is situated in the historically significant city of Saswad in the state of Maharashtra. Saswad is known to be deeply entrenched in history, spirituality, religion, culture and architecture from time immemorial. It is believed that the... Continue Reading →
Scientific research has shown that of the fourteen years in exile, Lord Rama spent twelve of them in the state of Chhattisgarh. Historians have painstakingly identified the journey from Ayodhya to Rameshwaram and then to Sri Lanka during which Lord Rama received education from many saints, ascetics and performed penance and this has been supported... Continue Reading →
Gulbarga or Kalaburagi as it is known now is often called the ‘red gram bowl’ of Karnataka. Coined as the ‘land of tur dal’, Gulbarga accounts for the highest red gram production in Karnataka and roughly about a tenth of India’s total production. The tur dal or pigeon pea grown here is of superior quality... Continue Reading →
Kandhamal in the southern-central part of the state of Odisha is famous for its aromatic turmeric called as Kandhamal turmeric after the region where it is cultivated. Haladi as turmeric is known in Odia has been grown in this region for centuries by the tribals. About 60 - 70 percent of the area is hilly with... Continue Reading →
Ratlam, now a small town in the Malwa region in Madhya Pradesh was actually a princely state with great culture and heritage. Formerly known as Ratnapuri, Ratlam now is an important junction in Madhya Pradesh and most of the long-distance trains from West and South of India pass through this junction while travelling northwards. The... Continue Reading →
The Ariyalur district located on the busy highway between Chennai and Trichy unknown to many is a geologist's treasure trove. In 1843, 'strange stone objects' were collected by the British in the Ariyalur region. Soon, geologists from all over the world descended upon this small town to discover much to their amazement a rich fossil... Continue Reading →
Nagaland is a North eastern Indian state rich in vegetation and famous for its organic farming. The unique traits of the fertile soil, subtropical climate and average annual rainfall ranging from 1800 mm – 2500 mm has aided the production of organic crops as well as traditional farming methodology. Naga tree tomato according to... Continue Reading →
Historical records of the origin of the mouth-watering Odisha Rasagola dates back to at least 800 years. There is a sacred tradition of rasagolas offered to Lord Jagannath as part of bhog for centuries. It is believed that the culinary delight formed a significant part of the age-old rituals of Niladri Bije of the Jagannath temple... Continue Reading →
The aromatic Indian Bay Leaf is one of the oldest and most popular spices used in most cuisines of the world. The active ingredient Cinnamaldehyde is found in high quantity in the famed Uttarakhand Tejpat also known as Meetha Tejpat and used in the preparation of Chyavanprash, Ayurvedic medicines and in the spice industry. Uttarakhand Tejpat... Continue Reading →
Nurpur formerly known as Dhameri in the ancient times is located in the scenic Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. The beautiful fort of Dhameri was built by Raja Basu Dev, the then ruler of Pathankot of the Pathania clan in the late 16th century. The historic fort offers a mesmerizing view of Jabhar Khud, a... Continue Reading →
After the devastating earthquake of 1819, the people of Kutch came up with an innovative circular design of bhungas to minimize the damage to their lives as well as properties. The reworked design of bhungas that is about 200 years old stood very firm during the earthquake of 2001 when it was very close to... Continue Reading →
For many years, Varanasi in the state of Uttar Pradesh was considered to be one of the largest toy-making centres in India. This ancient craft is believed to have received great patronage from many kings as well as from the Mughals and British. There is not much information available about the origin of this craft... Continue Reading →
The art of making traditional wooden Etikoppaka toys, popularly known as Lakkapidathalu is more than 400 years old. The quaint village of Etikopakka located on the banks of the river Varaha is renowned for its lacquer coated wooden toys and this art of toy-making also known as turned wood lacquer craft was patronized by affluent landlords... Continue Reading →
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