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 →
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 →
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 →
Kodaikanal is known for its thriving organic farming community and excellent agricultural produce. Garlic, coffee, pepper, citrus fruits, hill banana and cotton have been grown in the lush green hilly terrain of Kodaikanal for decades. Avocado, the latest entrant has truly been the surprise package for small and marginal farmers of this region. Avocado... Continue Reading →
This will probably come as a big surprise to many, but Bharat in fact produces some of the finest artisanal cheese in the world. Since the days of yore, Bharat is known to prepare the best and most innovative sweets and dishes from milk and its products. Cheese was introduced in the 1960s by... Continue Reading →
Periya Puranam, a Tamizh magnum opus of sixty-three Nayanars (poet saints of Lord Shiva) compiled by Sekkizhar in the 12th century is a literary masterpiece evoking a wide range of emotions from tears of joy to astonishment to bliss. Chidambaram or Thiruchitambalam, one of the pancha sabhas which witnessed the tandava of Lord Nataraja is a mesmerizing tirthasthala with... Continue Reading →
It is well known that India is not only the largest producer of ginger in the world but is also a treasure trove of ginger diversity with more than fifty indigenous varieties grown since the ancient times. Each and every district in each and every state has its own local variety that has a distinctive... Continue Reading →
One of the most popular fasting meals of South India is vella dosai (jaggery dosa). This scrumptious dosa is made by Tamilians on the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivaratri, Ekadasi and Shasti. Vella dosai, as the name suggests is made from wheat flour, jaggery and spices. Three-quarter measure of powdered jaggery is dissolved in hot water on low flame. The jaggery water... Continue Reading →
A delightful spicy yet tangy accompaniment to curd rice, adai, dosa and chapati is veppilakatti. Veppilakatti is a truly masterful innovation of the Palakkad Iyers (Palghat Iyers) that is loved by people from Kerala and Tamil Nadu. One naturally will think that veppilakatti is made from neem leaves (veppila means neem in Tamizh and Malayalam) but is actually made... Continue Reading →
It is perhaps not known to many that Panruti taluka in Cuddalore district in Tamil Nadu produces one of the finest variety of cashew nut in the world. Such is the demand for the Panruti cashew across the globe, that it has been titled as the 'goldmine' of Cuddalore. Cashew nut cultivation and cashew... Continue Reading →
Pollachi, known in Tamil as Pozhil Vaitchi meaning land blessed with stunning natural beauty, wealth and prosperity is famous for its innumerable cocoa plantations and delicious world-famous bar chocolates. Owing to its proximity to the Western Ghats, Pollachi has the ideal climate (hot summers, cool winters and adequate annual rainfall) to grow cocoa. Cocoa (Theobroma cacao... Continue Reading →
The geo-climatic condition of Mizoram has contributed largely to the wide variety of rich and assorted flora and fauna seen here. With agriculture being the mainstay of the people of Mizoram, exotic fruits, vegetables, spices, rice and others are grown here using the age-old method of jhum cultivation. Orange, banana, tomato, beans, brinjal, peas, squash,... Continue Reading →
One of the best midseason mangoes is Totapuri that is found largely in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Interestingly Totapuri also known as Ginimoothi Mavinakayi in Kannada literally translates to parrot's beak (face)! Totapuri is cultivated in the Rayalaseema region (Chittoor, Kadapa, Anantapur and Kurnool districts) of Andhra Pradesh, Krishnagiri in Tamil Nadu and... Continue Reading →
One of the most famous produce of Kerala is its indigenous Palakkadan Matta rice that has been grown in the lush green belt of Palakkad for centuries. According to historians, Matta rice was partaken only by the members of the royal family of the Cholas and Cheras. This rice was exclusively cultivated for the royals... Continue Reading →
उत्तराखंड राज्य के नैनीताल, चमोली, टेहरी, बागेश्वर, अल्मोरा, पिथौरागढ़ और चंपावत जिलों में करीब १००० से २००० मीटर की ऊंचाई पर नम और छायादार स्थानों पर उगाए जाने वाले सुगंधित तेजपत्ता सन २०१६ में भौगोलिक सांकेतिक टैग (जी आई) प्राप्त करने का अधिकारी हुआ। राष्ट्रीय और अन्तर्राष्ट्रीय बाजारों में उत्तराखंड का सुप्रसिद्ध तेजपत्ता मीठी... Continue Reading →
जिसे देखते ही मुंह में पानी आ जाए, वो है, "ओडिशा का रशोगुल्ला" इसकी उत्पत्ति का इतिहास आठ सौ साल पुराना है। भगवान जगन्नाथ को रशोगुल्ला भोग के रूप में अर्पण करने की परंपरा सदियों से चली आ रही है। ऐसी मान्यता है की १२वी शताब्दी से यह अद्भुत मिष्ठान्न, जगन्नाथ मंदिर में नीलाद्री बिजे... Continue Reading →
The quaint village of Sukharia located on the busy Somrabazar railway line in Hooghly district has some of the finest terracotta temples and old mansions that you will find in Bengal. Somrabazar has historically been the home of some of the oldest Zamindar families whose wealth, grandeur and affluence has had a significant influence on the culture... Continue Reading →
One of the most mysterious forts of India is located in the sleepy village of Tikamgarh about 70kms from Orchha. A curious aspect about this fort is that the entire fort is clearly visible at a distance of 12 kms but completely vanishes as you near the assumed location of the fort! Even if this... Continue Reading →
One of the earliest examples of the exemplary craftsmanship of the 'Lock City' of Dindigul, famous for its unique handmade locks is seen on the door of the Dindigul Malai Kottai (Hill Fort). This lock on the fort's door is at least 400 years old if not more and was commissioned by the Madurai Nayak king Muthu... Continue Reading →
One of the most unique crops of Tamil Nadu are the Hill Bananas of Sirumalai and Virupakshi grown extensively in the eastern parts of the Western Ghats and lower Palani hills, Sirumalai and other parts of the Eastern Ghats. The aromatic and delicious Hill Bananas have been grown here for centuries by marginal farmers. ... Continue Reading →
हालांकि भागलपुर के जर्दालू आम का उल्लेख भारत की उच्च कोटि की आम की श्रेणियों जैसे: दशहरी, लंगड़ा, हापुज में कहीं नहीं पाया जाता, परंतु इस सौंधी खुशबू वाले आम को अब धीरे धीरे वह पहचान मिल रही है, जिसका यह अधिकारी है। असल में, जर्दालू आम का अपना रोचक इतिहास है, कहा जाता है... Continue Reading →
The capture of the hill forts of Purandar, Kalyan and Bhiwandi and the death, ruin and defection of feudatories like the Mores of Javli and the Sawants of Wadi respectively effected by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his able aides brought the crippling Bijapur kingdom to its knees. The construction of the new hill fort of... Continue Reading →
An interesting fort complex built during the glory days of Bengal relegated to obscurity is the Kurumbera Fort which is at a little distance from Kharagpur. Kurumbera Fort which derives its name from kurum which means stone and bera which means fence and collectively means an area fenced by stone in the local language is located in the historically... Continue Reading →
One of the most exquisite weaves in cotton and silk is found in the Bengal heartland of Shantipur - Phulia. Called as Shantipuri, this centuries-old tant (traditional Bengali saree) derives its name from Shantipur in Nadia district. The ancient handloom industry in Shantipur has been mentioned in manuscripts glorifying the life of Advaita Acharya as... Continue Reading →
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