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 →
Fossil-rich grounds of Ariyalur in Tamil Nadu
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 →
Naga Tree Tomato
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 →
Odisha Rasagola
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 →
Uttarakhand Tejpat
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 →
Brij Raj Swamy Temple at Nurpur Fort, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh
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 →
Bhunga House – A Traditional Mud House of Kutch
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 →
Varanasi Wooden Lacquerware and Toys
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 →
Etikoppaka Toys of Andhra Pradesh
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 →
Nirmal Toys and Craft of Telangana
Nirmal craft draws its name from one of the most famous rulers of the 17th century namely Nimma Naidu who was a great patron of arts. Seeing the exquisite detailing and craftsmanship of the toys, He encouraged the art of toy-making that thrived during his reign and brought fame to the town of Nirmal in... Continue Reading →
Krishnabai Temple, Old Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra
Kshetra Mahabaleshwar is very famous for three temples namely Panchaganga, Mahabaleshwar and Krishnabai. Panchaganga temple is probably the most well-known of the three as the waters of five rivers Koyna, Krishna, Venna, Savitri and Gayatri come together in this temple. Close to the Panchaganga temple is a well-marked trail that leads to the beautiful Krishnabai... Continue Reading →
Warli House of Maharashtra
Ancient history has showed us that paintings have been used as a means of communication be it the cave paintings of early man or the archaeological finds of many great civilizations or the pictographs seen in later settlements. The origin of Warli art can be traced back to about 15,000 years ago. Warli house is... Continue Reading →
Shahi Litchi of Bihar
Litchi or lychee was initially introduced in Bengal and gradually spread to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. The humid conditions and alluvial soil which is rich in calcium in Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga as well as nearby areas proved ideal for litchi cultivation in Bihar. In fact, litchi has been an important fruit crop of Muzaffarpur... Continue Reading →
Jeeraphool Rice of Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh, traditionally known as the rice bowl of India is home to over 20,000 varieties of indigenous rice. The somewhat wild types, cultivated types, aromatic and non-aromatic rice have a vast diverse presence throughout the state. Each district in Chhattisgarh has a unique aromatic rice variety that has been in existence for hundreds of years.... Continue Reading →
