The quintessential sweet for festivals, social gatherings and religious ceremonies across India is the hugely popular laddu made with a variety of local ingredients and desi ghee. The most iconic laddu that has made its way to Russia, USA, UK, Asia and Europe is the sinfully rich Thaggu Ke Laddu from Kanpur. Thaggu Ke Laddu... Continue Reading →
Banana fibre is one of the oldest materials widely used in Asia since the ancient times as per archaeological evidence discovered. In Akhanda Bharat specially, banana is referred to as the kalpa vriksha, with every part used for either culinary purposes or household uses or to make shelters. As India is the largest producer of... Continue Reading →
Just as the Marathas looked poised to reclaim their lost lands and begin the final battle for Akhanda Bharat, tragedy struck. Chhatrapati Rajaram Maharaj who had fought tirelessly against the Mughals found the strain of camp life unbearable and his health began to fail rapidly. He became so ill during the march that he had... Continue Reading →
Another beautiful example of the artistic, architectural and sculptural perfection of the Chandelas is the Sahastralingeshwar Temple Group in the revered site of Chandpur – Jahajpura. Chandpur – Jahajpura now in ruins was perhaps one of the most important seats of power of the Chandelas between the 9th - 12th century. The majestic Sahastralingeshwar... Continue Reading →
Sultani Dal, a sinfully delicious Kanpur and Lucknow speciality is a unique preparation of the Awadh region. Though "eminent historians" of the British Raj claimed that this dish was an innovation of the Mughals and later refined by the Nawabs of Awadh, the truth is this dish has been in existence for centuries. Dal... Continue Reading →
Chhatrapati Rajaram Maharaj managed to elude the Mughal parties stationed around Jinji and proceeded to Vishalgad. He had sent offers of peace directly to Aurangzeb which were declined. As war raged on relentlessly, Rajaram Raje reached the Maratha land and decided that a new seat of power needs to be established. As both Raigad... Continue Reading →
Chandpur - Jahajpura is revered by historians, archaeologists, architects and artists for its exemplary artefacts dating back to the 9th - 12th century. This heritage site is a fine example of the architectural, artistic and engineering prowess of the Chandelas. The east and north-west parts of this complex in particular have innumerable broken sculptures, architectural... Continue Reading →
For centuries, Kanpur or Cawnpore as the British called it has been a food connoisseur's haven. Traditional dishes made in the age-old methods, on wood fire and using excellent local ingredients were much sought-after by weary travellers from distant kingdoms and lands across Akhanda Bharat. Even today, the Kanpur Railway Station has some of... Continue Reading →
It is perhaps not known to many that Akhanda Bharat has the largest collection of paintings, literary texts, historical journals and scientific records in the world dating back to the Vedic Period. This treasure trove of our ancient culture, art, history and heritage was painstakingly documented using the humble wooden pen. Since the ancient... Continue Reading →
The tragic death of Santaji Ghorpade brought great joy to the Mughal camps who had lived in constant fear of him and his wrath on the battlefield. Santaji Ghorpade is undoubtedly one of the greatest masters of guerrilla warfare Akhanda Bharat has ever seen. His brilliant tactics, unwavering courage in the most perilous situations and... Continue Reading →
Chandpur - Jahajpura located near the Betwa River is a lesser-known treasure trove of ancient temples of the 9th - 12th century built by the Chandelas. This magnificent heritage site has five groups of temples along with a number of independent temples built over three centuries. The five groups are the Sahastralingeshwar Temple, Varaha... Continue Reading →
The temples, halls, dharmashalas and tanks built by the Chandelas across North India is an excellent example of their architectural grandeur, engineering precision and sculptural beauty. The Chandelas were a devout dynasty who took great pride in abiding by the age-old wisdom and tenets laid down in the Hindu texts. Every building they designed conformed to... Continue Reading →
It is perhaps not known to many that India has a thriving footwear industry and is the second-largest footwear producer in the world. The main clusters are Bahadurgarh, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Karnal and Ambala in Haryana, Jalandhar and Ludhiana in Punjab, Kanpur, Agra and Noida in Uttar Pradesh, Kolkata in West Bengal, Mumbai in Maharashtra, Hyderabad... Continue Reading →
The architectural brilliance, engineering ingenuity and artistic excellence of the Chandelas is best appreciated in their capital city of Mahoba. Their contribution to art, sculpture, architecture and literature is expressed in their unique style, technique, structural features and design elements in every edifice they built in Mahoba, Kalinjar, Ajaigarh and Khajuraho. It is greatly... Continue Reading →
Though Kampilya Nagar has always been one of the holiest places in Akhanda Bharat since the ancient times, it grew in stature and prominence in the Dwapura Yuga. The Panchala Kingdom reached its zenith in the Mahabharat Period and the birth of both Dhrishtadyumna and Divya Janani Draupadi is undisputedly its most glorious chapter. According... Continue Reading →
The scrumptious kanji wada is a traditional dish made for the auspicious festivities of Holi. According to locals and several food connoisseurs, this spicy dish that is both a drink and a light snack is best enjoyed in Khurja. This dish is very simple to prepare and has a lightly flavoured kanji and wada made of... Continue Reading →
The Bastar region in the state of Chhattisgarh is famous for its rich forest reserves, Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and Minor Forest Produce (MFP). This region has a large tribal population who are revered for their expertise and knowledge in natural and organic farming. Kondagaon, a part of Bastar region has been making massive... Continue Reading →
The primary aim of the Marathas during this perilous period of war with Aurangzeb was to convince their Hindu brothers who had joined the Mughal service to return to their king to defend the Maharashtra dharma. Hindavi Swarajya, the ambitious goal of the late Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was designed to throw out the Muslim invaders... Continue Reading →
It is perhaps not known to many that Chhattisgarh is one of the few states in India where one can truly appreciate the natural progression of brick art and temples from the 7th to 16th - 17th centuries. This region of Central India has always been an important seat of power for successive dynasties from... Continue Reading →
Kampilya Nagar is an extraordinary heritage city dotted with Vedic Period temples and religious structures. This ancient city was coveted by successive Muslim invaders from the 10th century for its precious stones, jewels, gold and grand temples. The city owes its glorious name to the Panchala Kingdom and specifically Raja Drupad and Divya Janani Draupadi.... Continue Reading →
A little-known milk sweet that is perhaps one of the greatest finds of North India is the delicious khurchan. Traditional sweetmakers have been churning out this innovative dessert since centuries. It is unclear who created this dish first, but, locals of Khurja take pride in their version of khurchan that is deemed to be nothing short of... Continue Reading →
Balod district in Chhattisgarh has for years been a treasure trove of rare medicinal plants, spices, agricultural produce and exotic flowers. The rich plant diversity seen in this district has not been found anywhere else in Central India. This district has a sizeable tribal population who have perfected the art of living harmoniously with... Continue Reading →
With the Mughals hot on their trail and mounting pressure every day, the Marathas focussed on their primary goal to create a safe passage for Chhatrapati Rajaram Maharaj from Gingee and save him from a fate similar to his brother's and liberate the Maratha lands from the Mughal control. Aurangzeb was not one to... Continue Reading →
Deogarh, situated on the banks of the Betwa River is dotted with stunning temples dating back to the 5th century. Besides the world-famous Gupta Period Dashavatara Temple, there is the lesser-known Kuraiya Bir Temple seated in the dense forest close to the Varaha Temple. This east-facing temple sits majestically on a low platform and has a... Continue Reading →
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