Categories: Here & There

Garam Masala Tuesdays: My India trip so far!

Since the last post was a breeze to write (there was very little writing and more of pictures), I thought of continuing the same for this post.

Another reason for a more pictorial post is that I haven’t been cooking….at all!! I know I am going to have it real tough when I get back to the US. But, that we will talk about another day.

Today, I thought, instead of posting a recipe for GMT, I will share some pictures of my trip so far. That way, you also don’t have to hear me rant, and I too won’t be required to think about what to write. A win-win situation for everyone! Be warned, though, there are a lot of pictures. 🙂

Jai Mahal Lake Palace, Jaipur, Rajasthan

Temple near the Lake, Jaipur

Yes, you do find elephants on the road, but mostly at tourist spots. This is NOT the common mode of transport.

Papad Mangori soup- part of the Rajasthani Thali at Lakshmi Mishtan Bhandar, Jaipur

Rajasthani Thali at LMB, Jaipur. If you thought vegetarian food is healthy, Rajasthani food will surely clear all your misconceptions.

Ranthambore Fort at Sawai Madhopur Town in Rajasthan. The fort lies within the famous Ranthambore National Park which was formerly the hunting grounds for the Maharajahs of Jaipur before Indian independence.

A peacock at the National Park's non-functional guest house. The Government discontinued the Guest House after it found that guests were poaching tigers at night.

Sambar Deer at Ranthambore National Park. Although the National Park is famous for tiger sightings, we were not so lucky and just managed to see a tiger paw print, but no tiger.

Spotted deer at the Ranthambore National Park

Inside the Ranthambore fort

At the bathing pond for the Palace Princess', Ranthambore Fort

32 pillared chhatri, Ranthambore Fort. This monument has 32 umbrella shaped domes.

The place where we stayed in Ranthambore: Tiger Machan.

From the western part of India to the southern most tip-yup, I traveled a lot! The Vivekananda rock Memorial, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu

Thiruvalluvar Statue, next to the Rock Memorial

Kanyakumari!

Kerala!

Sambhar at Arul Jyoti, Kerala. I just love South Indian cuisine!

Dosa Sambar!

Different coconut chutneys to have with your dosa!

Sambar-vada. Making this when I get back!

And the best way to end a South Indian meal- hot filter coffee!

After two days visiting my parents in Kerala, V and I came back to Delhi for Diwali!

The festival of light- DIwali 2011

After the festivals, the wedding celebrations began. The first in Pune, Maharasthra.

And weddings, of course meant dancing. At another wedding in Simla, Himachal Pradesh.

The celebrations were also a time to catch up with friends!

And yes, there was food...lots of it!

Once back to my in-laws' place in Delhi, I hit the road again- this time to the villages of Uttar Pradesh- to V's ancestral place. It was a great experience to see the life of the people in smaller towns.

It's amazing how people in India make the best of the little means they have. These people earn only $2 per day and that too only on days they are employed. Still there is so much life in them. Guess money really can't buy happiness!