The invasion of Malwa by Peshwa Bajirao and Chimaji Appa on the advice of Sawai Jai Singh opened up new avenues for the Marathas and the Rajputs who were dissatisfied with the Mughals. The Bundelas in particular had been friendly with the Marathas for a long time and adopted their approach to fight for their independence.... Continue Reading →
Someshwara Temple, Bandalike, Shikaripura Taluka, Shimoga District, Karnataka
The lesser - known Someshwara Temple in Bandalike, the ancient capital of Nagarakhanda Seventy region of the Kadambas has one of the finest friezes depicting episodes from the Ramayana and Mahabharat. The carved screens are on either side of the entrance doorway extending from the ground to the lintel level. What is most remarkable about the... Continue Reading →
Banarasi Khajur (Thekua)
Thekua or khajur as it is known in Uttar Pradesh is a traditional deep - fried sweet offered as prasad during Chhath Puja, Saraswati Puja and Navaratri. Though the dish originated in Bihar, it is now hugely popular in Jharkhand and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Thekua is made from wheat, jaggery or sugar, desi ghee, spices and nuts. It has a... Continue Reading →
Nagarkurnool Mango based Products
Kollapur on the banks of the Krishna River in Nagarkurnool district in Telangana state is famous for its different mango varieties. In fact, mango ranks among the top eight surplus fruits grown in Telangana and is hugely popular among the locals and surrounding states. Kollapur has been cultivating its special Benishan mango (also known... Continue Reading →
On the history trail: Battle of Amjhera
The military stratagem displayed by Peshwa Bajirao under difficult conditions in Palkhed proved his ability to take on a war veteran like the Nizam with relative ease. This notable victory helped the Peshwa secure the confidence of Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj and others. Peshwa had already formed his own group of faithful followers both in the... Continue Reading →
Bherundeshwara Temple and Vijaya Stambha, Balligavi, Shikaripura Taluka, Shimoga District, Karnataka
Bherundeshwara Temple located in the ancient city of Balligavi is a glorious Vijaya Stambha (Victory Pillar) installed by the governor of Banavasi, Chamunda Raya erected in front of the Lord Jagadekamalleswara in the year 1047. According to the locals, the governor who was also given the title of Gandabherunda made a gift of land for... Continue Reading →
Someshwara Temple, Balligavi, Shikaripura Taluka, Shimoga District, Karnataka
A lesser - known edifice of the Western Chalukya period is the Someshwara Temple in the ancient city of Balligavi. This temple according to the locals was built by a merchant named Sovisetti (spelling is unclear) in 1054 CE. The Shiva Linga consecrated in the garbha griha is of the same period. The temple was... Continue Reading →
Banarasi Doodh Peda
A delicious milk sweet of Kashi that has been served as prasad in most of the temples for centuries is the humble doodh peda. Made from full fat milk that is in abundance in Varanasi and Ghazipur districts and areas around the Ganga River, this simple milk innovation is hugely popular among locals and visitors and makes... Continue Reading →
Wanaparthy Groundnut Products
Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is one of the most important oilseed crops cultivated across India. Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Telangana are the top eight states in the country in terms of production and area under cultivation. In Telangana alone, groundnut is cultivated in the districts of Nagarkurnool,... Continue Reading →
On the history trail: Battle of Palkhed
With opposition building on all fronts, Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj was at his wit's end. Peshwa Bajirao was still in the Karnatak and those close to him advised him to effect a compromise with the Nizam. Shahu Raje accepted their advice and instructed his Pratinidhi and Sumant to negotiate a peace treaty with the Nizam. The Pratinidhi proposed a... Continue Reading →
Balalingeshwara Temple, Balleshwara Village, Honnali Taluka, Davanagere District, Karnataka
A little-known architectural gem of the Hoysalas is the Balalingeshwara Temple (also known as Ballalingeshwara Temple) in Balleshwara village, north of the Honnali town which is situated on the bank of the Tungabhadra River. This temple might have been built by Maharaja Veera Ballala II in the late 12th century - early 13th century as... Continue Reading →
Trimurti Narayana Temple, Bandalike, Shikaripura Taluka, Shimoga District, Karnataka
Bandalike in its time would have been a splendid city being the capital of the Nagarakhanda Seventy region of the Kadambas. This ancient city has a rich history and is dotted with stunning temples though a sizeable number of them are in ruins. A marvellous edifice of the former royal city built by the... Continue Reading →
Banaras Lal Peda
Kashi's most iconic milk sweet is the centuries-old Lal Peda that has been praised to the hilt by travellers, food connoisseurs and historians. This traditional dairy product of Kashi is offered as prasad in the Kaal Bhairav Temple, Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple. In the olden days, the abundance of milk in the... Continue Reading →
Mizo Vegetable Mustard
The hilly state of Mizoram is considered by many to be a pioneer in organic farming and is one of the few states in India that barely uses chemical pesticides and inorganic fertilizers. The farming community has for centuries adopted jhum cultivation and relied heavily on indigenous varieties of agricultural and horticultural produce. Mizoram is blessed... Continue Reading →
On the history trail: Nizam-ul-Mulk challenges Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj
The three years from February 1725 to February 1728 (Battle of Shakar Kheda to Palkhed) fairly established the nature of the relationship between the Marathas and the Nizam that would eventually be subjected to the paramountcy of the British. The Marathas were determined to enforce the rights granted to them in 1719. However, the... Continue Reading →
Bhuvaneshwari Temple, Udaipur, Gomati District, Tripura
The Bhuvaneshwari Temple (Bhubaneshwari Temple) situated near the Gomati River in Udaipur, the ancient capital of Tripura is a fine example of the hugely popular 17th century Bengali style of architecture. The temple is located close to the old royal palace that has fallen into disrepair. This temple was built by Maharaja Govinda Manikya... Continue Reading →
Aghoreshwara Temple, Ikkeri, Sagara Taluka, Shivamogga District, Karnataka
The fall and eventual disintegration of the mighty Vijayanagara Empire in the Battle of Talikota led to the establishment of an independent kingdom by the Keladi Nayakas. Keladi was chosen as the capital for 14 years after which Ikkeri was nominated as the capital and remained so for more than hundred years. It is... Continue Reading →
Banarasi Tirangi Barfi
One of the most iconic and celebrated sweets of Kashi is Tirangi Barfi. Also known as Rashtriya Barfi, this unique creation is the handiwork of Shri Raghunath Das Gupta of Shree Ram Bhandar in Thatheri Bazar. The British from the late 1700s right up to the mid - 1940s had managed to successfully loot the ancient... Continue Reading →
Mizo Hatkora
The endangered hatkora (Citrus macroptera Mont.) that grows in the hilly areas of Mizoram is perhaps one of best kept secrets of this exotic state. Known to be a semi-wild citrus variety, this native fruit is revered by locals for its medicinal, healing and nutritional properties. Hatkora is used in traditional medicine to treat fever,... Continue Reading →
On the history trail: Peshwa Bajirao’s expedition to the Karnatak
The decisive win for Nizam-ul-Mulk over Mubariz Khan in the Battle of Sakhar Kherda established his undisputed dominance over the Deccan. The Marathas had been watching the battle on the sidelines with keen interest knowing full well that the Nizam's victory would dent their prospects of expansion in the south. Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj was... Continue Reading →
Hanuman Tok, Gangtok, Sikkim
One can truly experience the blessings and energy of Lord Hanuman, revered as the protector of the sacred land of Sikkim and the Indian Army at Hanuman Tok located at a little distance away from Gangtok. Legend has it that Lord Hanuman rested here briefly while returning to Lanka with the Dronagiri Parvat after failing to... Continue Reading →
Kedareshwara Temple, Balligavi, Shikaripura Taluka, Shimoga District, Karnataka
The spiritual centre of the south known as Dakshina Kedara is the ancient city of Balligave. Also referred to as Balligavi, Belagami, Balligamve, Balligame, Ballegavi, Belagavi, Balligrama, Ballipura and Balipura in several inscriptions, this city derives its name from Chirañjīvī Mahabali who was sent to the nether world by Lord Vamana. This city was ruled... Continue Reading →
Banarasi Aloo Tikki
One of the best chaats of Varanasi is its very own stuffed aloo tikki served at Kashi Chat Bhandar. This delicious chaat is unbelievably flavoursome with a bit of everything - crunch, spice and wholesomeness. Potatoes are first boiled and divided into two portions. One portion is grated when hot and mixed together with... Continue Reading →
Mizo Maize
Maize (Zea mays L.), the third most important crop in India after rice and wheat is grown across the country throughout the year. In fact, it is perhaps known only to a few that India is the fifth largest producer of maize in the world. Though each state cultivates both indigenous and hybrid varieties,... Continue Reading →
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