WHY IS MCLEODGANJ THE IDEAL BUDGET ROMANTIC DESTINATION

For a long time, Mcleodganj has been overshadowed by the more popular hill stations like Shimla, Manali and even Nainital. What couples tend to miss is that Mcleodganj along with Dharamshala has a lot more to offer in terms of things to do as well as see. While it has some claim to fame as far as adventure tourism is concerned, its scenic beauty, quaint cafes, spiritual atmosphere deserves a special mention.

To begin with, most hotels and home stays in Mcleodganj are adorned with beautiful rooftop terraces. It is the perfect way to spend hours lazing over a delicious breakfast. In the evening, the balconies that open out into the hills prove to be the ideal place to spend some quality time with your loved one. An impromptu round of antakshari can also be fun. Those who want to explore the place better can head on a directionless walk around the town. You will find many warm cafes with happy music awaiting you.

Some interesting ways to spend time with your beloved are summed up below.

A tourist taking a closer look of the Dhauladhar at the Naddi View Point

Dharamshala Stadium flanked by the Dhauladhar Range

Take a day trip to Dharamshala Stadium – If your better half is into sports, he or she will totally dig this. On the other hand, don’t worry if you, yourself aren’t much into sports. The sights at the top of the stadium will more than make up for everything. Situated 1,457m above sea level and set against the backdrop of the picturesque Dhauladhar range, this is a stadium you will never forget. No wonder Dharamshala is Aussie cricketer Mathew Hayden’s favourite holiday destination.

A small section of the stadium is open to tourists and offers a delightful view. You can spend a couple of hours in the gallery, simply gazing at the lush green field and the snowy mountain tops. By the end of it, don’t be surprised if your partner ends up thanking you profusely for suggesting this place.

Learn a skill together at Norbulingka Institute – For couples who love trying out new things together, a day trip to Norbulingka is a must. Named after a palace of the same name in Tibet, Norbulingka Institute brings together the best of Tibetan hospitality, spirituality, craftsmanship, tours and workshops. Within its premises, you will be able to enroll together for different short courses, right from wood crafting to finishing your own thangka painting. You can also take guided tours of varied types, visit a doll’s museum, sample local delicacies at their restaurant, shop artifacts and spent some peaceful moments in their monastery.

The Golden Buddha at the Norbulingka Monastery

Tribal Tibetan couple at the Doll's Museum, Norbulingka

Spend a day in the open, War Memorial – Built in memory of Indian soldiers who martyred in 1971 war with China and the Kargil war, War Memorial is placed within a pretty park in Dharamshala. The place is lined with beautiful trees and small artificial rivulets. Spend a couple of hours sitting on the benches doing absolutely nothing. Try the canteen for basic snacks.

Pray for something nice at St John’s Church in the Wilderness – Little outside the market of Mcleodganj is the beautiful neo gothic Church of St John, built in dedication to John the Baptist. This is a perfect place to spend some quiet leisurely time, resting in the dreamy sunlight. Stroll around the campus, click some photographs at sunset and walk back to the town at dusk.

Conquer a waterfall at Bhagsu – If you are the kind of couple who love hitting the gym together or playing a sport together, this is for you. Set out early for the Bhagsu Falls located right beside the Bhagsunath temple. Come prepared to walk a bit and be surrounded by a touristy crowd. At the top of the falls, you can dip your feet in the water and savour piping hot Maggi.

Spend a night under the stars at Triund – The trek to Triund can easily be one of the highlights of the trip. The best way to reach Triund is to save some energy by taking a taxi till Galu from Mcleodganj and then start on the 7km trek. The trek is medium to easy except for the last 1km. It can be a delightful way to spend time with your loved one. There are many places to spend the night at top, be it a bungalow with modern facilities or a camp with basic amenities. But it is better if you plan something ahead. 

A woman at the Mcleodganj Market

Few hours before sunset at the Naddi View Point

 Complete a kora around the Monastery – Mcleodganj being the home to the 14^th Dalai Lama, most visitors and pilgrims embark on a kora at the Tsuglagkhang complex. A kora is a clockwise walk around the complex beginning at the end of the Temple Road, passing through excellent views of the valley, buzzing of sound of Om Mani Pad Me Hum, a forest strewn with prayer flags and Tibetan shrines.

The monastery can provide a tranquil escape for those couples for whom rejuvenation is a priority. But do keep in mind that this is a religious place, and the best way to enjoy it is to sit on one of the sheltered benches, under the canvas awning, and listen to constant chants of the monks. All in all, it is the perfect place to get nostalgic and weave new memories.

Drive into the tea gardens of Palampur - What could be more romantic than driving down to a picturesque tea garden? The journey itself is the destination in this case. Plan a surprise trip for your beloved without revealing the destination. You can pack your picnic basket in advance and set up your little corner amidst the gardens. However, make sure not to dirty the beautiful surroundings. Spend the day enjoying your surrounding and clicking some wonderful pictures. End the trip by gifting your partner a pack of exotic tea sold at the garden itself. For those who can’t make it to Palampur, Dharamshala too has its own tea garden.

Watch the sunset at Naddi View Point – Away from the hustle and bustle of the town, Naddi offers a beautiful view of the Dhauladhar Mountain range. Consider it as an evening date idea to spend a couple of hours before heading for dinner. You can either trek down to Naddi, a 3km trek or take a ride on one of the taxis plying that way. On arriving, do catch the view with one of the telescopes for just Rs 10. It is amazing to discover what lies hidden on the mountains. And afterwards don’t forget to compare notes with your partner.  

Verdant tea gardens of Dharamshala

Buddha at the Norbulingka Monastery

Constantly spinning Buddhist prayer wheels 

Witness a witty debate at Tsuglagkhang Complex – A great way to strike a conversation to remember is to listen to the monks debate at the Tsuglagkhang Complex. On any given afternoon, you can find them sitting in groups and engaging in a stirring debate in the courtyard. These debates done in good humor are usually conducted with energetic gestures, shouts, clapping and stomping of the foot. While it may not be possible to follow what the debate is actually about, watching the monks in action is an experience in itself.

Embark on a gastronomic journey – Mcleodganj is known to be a food lover’s paradise. Apart from the famous roadside potato and chicken momos, the town has a number of cafes which serve delicious Tibetan, Bhutanese and Nepali fares. A few good options would be - the Shiva Café, Khana Nirvana, Café Moonspeak, Café Mc’llo and Café Hummingbird. Head over to Khana Nirvana, located in the main market of Mcleodganj for dinner and listen to lively music as you enjoy a delicious meal. For vegetarians Café Hummingbird at the Norbulingka Institute offers a great spread of Continental and Italian food along with local delicacies. Most of the cafes at the main market have free Wi-Fi too.

Monk with a Mission

Mutton in Apricot Gravy, served hot at Cafe Moonspeak

Stay

Chonor House – If you don’t mind spending a bit of money for traditional Tibetan hospitality, book your room way in advance at the Chonor House. It is a branch of Norbulingka Hotels and set amidst tall cedar trees very close to Dalai Lama’s residence.

Norling House – Located within the Norbulingka premises, this guest house provides many advantages. You get easy access to cultural workshops, a chance to be part of many organized tours, access to the in-house monastery and a taste of local life. However, the guest house is located off Dharamshala and main Mcleodganj market.

Deodar Villa – Situated bang at the centre of the Mcleodganj market, Deodar Villa is your best bet for great views in medium budget. Most rooms are accompanied by balconies and the hotel also boasts of a rooftop restaurant.

Mcleodganj Home Stay – If you want to stay in a beautiful private house that has modern amenities yet an earthy feel, go for Mcleodganj home stay. You again need to book your room way in advance to ensure that you actually get one. The place also serves organic home cooked food and has a stand-alone hill-top wooden hut with stellar views.

Note: This article was first published in Zee News India

SORRY, NO SNAKES AND LIZARDS FOR DINNER

Among other things, people do have the strangest of questions on their mind when it comes to food from north east (of India, just in case you got confused with the north east of China, Africa or the antipodes). In fact, I have often replied the polite enquiries of my colleagues of what I was cooking for dinner with a cold glare. I was bored of explaining time and again that Assamese food also  consisted of dal chawal, arguably the most common Indian meal.

But when I pondered over this topic deeper, I realised this lack of information was actually a lack of the availability of the food itself in other parts of the country. Rosang Café is an exception in this regard. For all those who have no clue what food from north east is like, do head to Rosang Cafe. Located near Upahar Cinema in Green Park, it brings the finest food of the seven north eastern states.

Jokes apart, despite being an Assamese, I myself have limited knowledge about the north eastern cuisines. I am desperately trying to rectify this problem by visiting Rosang frequently. While I would highly recommend the place to everyone, here are a few things to keep in mind before trying out food from north east.

#1. North eastern food is light on your taste buds and tummy. Not excited? Then try the piping hot dry fish chutney!

#2. Some of the dishes may have strong aromas, often not so pleasant if you aren't used to it. Come prepared.

#3. All the dishes are extremely healthy. Do tell your trainer about it.

#4. It’s not only about noodles and momos. What were you expecting a chocolate momo or a paneer one?

#5. Do not expect it to be spicy and oily. But count on it to be flavoursome.

#6. For God's sake don't come and ask for a roti or naan. Didn't you know the best thing on earth is rice?

#7. You think it will be like Chinese and Thai. You couldn't be more wrong. The spices, herbs and process of preparing the dishes are all different.

#8. Vegetarians are welcome too. We don’t sit at the slaughterhouse 24 x 7.

#9. The curries won’t look red; turmeric is not a favourite here. Did you say you already knew it?

#10. Taste a new vegetable like kol posola (banana stem). You’ll soon realise vegetables go beyond cauliflowers and peas.

·        

While trying food from north east, please do remember that they are seven states not one. This is another problem I want to deal with it. But let’s just stick to the food here. Being neighbouring states the cuisines of the north eastern states do have similarities, however, they are as varied as the seven states and the people living in them are. Thankfully, Rosang Café picks some of the best dishes from the seven states.

Go with an open mind. Do try the spicy Dry Fish Chutney, Aksa Meh a delicious chicken curry, Fried Fish in Burmese paste and Dohneiihong, a Meghalayan pork dish cooked in black seasame seeds. Yes, the names are difficult. But admit it they can’t be more difficult than that of the Thai, Mexican or French dishes.

Enjoy the hospitality of the super friendly owner, Mary. And hopefully you’ll get to understand that part of the country slightly better.

P.S. These pictures have been taken on a mobile phone by a not so great photographer. The food actually looks much better than this.

A TRIP FOR THE TASTE BUDS

Those who have been thinking of visiting Karims in Old Delhi, there is another option to try out. Many of you might already be aware of it. The eaterie referred to here Al Jawahar. It is located in the same lane as Karims, opposite Jama Masjid and is much more pocket friendly.

I happened to be in Old Delhi last week and couldn't return without visiting Al Jawahar. I strongly recommend the vegetarians to stay away from the place. As the way to the restaurant is lined with not so appetizing sights of non veg food.

The restaurant has three floors, the 2nd floor of which has been marked for families. I and my friends decided to settle in the 2nd floor. They have all the regular Mughlai food from Chicken Jahangiri to Mutton Roganjosh from Sheermaal to Shami Kebabs.

Not much can be said about the ambience and the presentation. The crockery looked old and dirty, the paper napkins were of the poorest quality possible. However, the food more than compensated for the lack of everything else. We ordered Shami Kebabs, Chicken Qorma, Palak Gosht and Roomali Rotis. The portions were good. Ordering half plate makes sense as it allows you to try two dishes in the price of one full plate. They also served complimentary salad.

EASY PEASY THREE COURSE MEAL

This is a continuation of my post on my other blog Santa Comes With A Cake. I intended this three course meal to be pan Asian but because of paucity of time had to make improvise. Again not everything has been cooked by me like the Marble Cake and the Shami Kababs.

The Menu

Starters – Spicy Prawn Schezwan & Mutton Shami Kabab

Appetizer –Thai Noodle Soup

Entrée- Chilli Chicken and Chicken Sausages fried Rice

Dessert – Marble Cake in Chocolate Sauce

So let’s start where it starts, that is the starters. I brought a packet of ready to cook  Mutton Shami Kababs from Green Chick. However, had I made it, this is how I would have done it.

Mutton Shami Kabab

Preparation Time – 45 mins

Difficulty Level – Difficult

Mix 200 gms minced mutton with chana dal soaked in water for half an hour. To this mixture add garam masala like cardamoms, cinnamon, cloves, a cup of warm water and salt to taste. Cook till dry. Remove from heat and add chopped ginger, chopped garlic, red chilli powder, garam masala powder, peppercorns, coriander powder and cumin powder. Grind to a fine paste and knead well. Divide the mutton mixture into lemon-sized balls, flatten each ball in the palm of your hand. Shape into kababs and dip in a beaten egg. Heat a tawa and shallow fry the kababs on both sides till golden.

Ideally Shami Kababs should be served hot with chopped onions and green chutney. But since

 I didn't have either of them, I grated mozzarella cheese on top of the kababs. The combination 

turned out to be pretty decent.

Next on the list is Spicy Prawn Schezwan. This was the first time I was making this dish 

and it turned to be surprisingly good. And considering the fact that it needed minimum effort,

 I was really happy with the outcome.

Spicy Prawn Schezwan

Preparation Time – 15 mins

Difficulty Level – Super Easy

Take 200 gms of cleaned and deveined prawns in a bowl and mix it with 3 tsps of Ching’s Schezwan Sauce,  2tsps of white sesame seeds, chopped green chillies and salt. The prawns could be the frozen ones or fresh. After half an hour, heat oil in a pan and break 3-4 dry red chilies in it. Add lots of chopped garlic 

and one onion to it. Saute till golden and then add the marinated prawns to it.

 Fry till the prawns become tender. Garnish with chopped spring onions and serve hot.

My appetizer was a Thai Noodle Soup. Again, I was making it for the first time. I realised that 

I had added too much of noodles to it and the soup was less. Another thing to keep in mind 

while making this dish is that it is better to add the noodles just before you are serving the soup, 

else the noodles tend to soak up the soup.

Thai Noodle Soup

Preparation Time – 30 mins

Difficulty Level – Easy

Boil Ching’s noodles in hot water for 2 mins leaving it Al dente. Run it under cold water and drain. Chop lots of juliennes of carrots, capsicums, onions along with peas, slit green chillies and spring onions. 

Fry 1 tsp of ginger garlic paste in a little olive oil. Stir fry the vegetables with salt and black pepper. Add some prawns tossed in salt and olive oil to the vegetables along with some mixed Thai herbs to it. 

Then mix 5 tsps of coconut milk in a cup of normal water. Add this to the vegetable and bring to boil. Cover and sim for 5 mins. Add the noodles and garnish with chopped coriander and sprind onions.

Next on the list is Chicken Sausages Fried Rice. This is something I thought of in the last minute. If you do not want to serve plain rice or want to avoid making a dal on any other day this recipe could come handy. It just needs three pieces of sausages.

Chicken Sausages Fried Rice

Preparation Time – 15 mins

Difficulty Level – Easy

Wash and soak rice for 5 mins. Drain it properly. Chop sausages in half cm wide pieces. Finely chop french beans, carrots and onions. Also keep a handful of peas ready and slit green chillies. In a pressure cooker add some vegetable oil. Fry the sausages till golden brown, then add the chopped vegetables, green chillies and peas. To this add 3 tsps of Ching’s Miracle Masala. Once the vegetables are done add the drained rice to it and fry for another 5 mins while continuously stirring it. Lastly add salt, pepper, aajinomoto, water, and pressure cook till two whistles. 

Next in line is the very popular and my personal favourite Chilly Chicken. This version of the recipe is easy to make and tastes as good as those served at eateries. I have used chicken wings for the recipe however, you can give it a shot with boneless chicken as well.

Chilli Chicken

Preparation Time – 45 mins

Difficulty Level – Easy

Marinate the chicken in 4 tsps of soy sauce, 2 tsps of all purpose flour, 2 tsps of cornflour, salt and pepper. Chop capsicums, tomatoes, onions, green chillies, ginger and garlic separately. In a pan add 2 cups of water with 4 tsps of Ching’s Chilly Chicken masala and bring to boil. I like a thicker gravy so, I have added more of the masala. Fry the chicken in olive oil and keep aside to cool down. In the same oil add few dry red chillies followed by the chopped vegetables. Add salt and stir fry for 2 mins. Then add the gravy mixture to it. Bring to boil. Finally add the fried chicken and cover for some time.