Category - All Things Food

Places to See in Nainital

October 15, 2015

All Things Food, Destinations, Travel Tips

Naina Lake

The meaning of ‘tal’ is lake and also the city of Nainital is called after this lake. The lake is pear formed and is encircled by green mountains. It is the key attraction of this hill station. The lake attracts lots of tourists who come back and luxuriate in boating, yachting, or paddling n the lake. As night descends the lake reflects the lights from houses and hotels surrounding the lake making it appear magical.

Naina Devi Temple

The Naina Devi temple is a necessary place of worship in Nainital. Placed atop the Naina hill, it attracts lots of devotees annually. It’s believed that Goddess Sati’s eyes fell at the exact same spot where this temple is constructed. The temple is reached by mounting to the highest of the Naina hill. Apart from the main idol of Maa Naina Devi, inside the temple there are two idols, one of Mata Kali Devi and the other of Lord Ganesh.

Naina peak or China peak

Placed at an altitude of 2611 m, it is the highest peak of Nainital. About 6 km from the town, a horse ride or trek can take you to the Peak. The Naina Peak gives magnificent panoramic view of the snow capped Himalayas and an excellent view of the Nainital city.

The Mall Road

The Mall road stretches from the north end to south end of the lake and is the famous and busiest road of the town. The road has many street shops, shopping centers, banks, hotels, restaurants etc. During peak season vehicles are not allowed to enter mall road so that commercial activities keep going on smoothly.

Dorothy’s Seat

Placed on Ayarpatta hill at 2292 m, Dorothy’s seat is dedicated in the memory of Dorothy Kellet. After her death in a plane crash, her husband built a memorial for her at this place. As her favorite spot, the hill spot was chosen and stonework was built here, hence the name ‘Dorothy’s Seat’. The local name for this spot is Tiffin Top as it used to be popular for picnics during the British Raj. From here the visitors can view the beautiful green neighboring countryside.

Snow View Point

Located at an altitude of 2270 m, one will reach here by foot or taking an option of the ropeway. From the top one will see the breathless views of snow capped mountains and may conjointly visit the small temple dedicated to Dev Mundi. Further ahead is the Gadhan Kunkyop Ling Monastery.

The Governor’s House

Built for the Governor of North West Province, presently it is the residence of the Governor of Uttarakhand and additionally is a house to state guests. A prior permission is mandatory for the stay. It is a well maintained lovely property with swimming pool, golf links and a grand garden.

Enjoy the fantastic places to see in Nainital!

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Travel to Almora

October 12, 2015

Chris

All Things Food, Destinations, Travel Talk, Travel Tips

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Almora could be a district set in the Kumaon region of the Himalaya, towards the eastern side of the state of Uttarakhand. The name of the town originated from a plant name “Kilmora”, found in the region. Supported in 1568, Almora is considered as the cultural centre of the Kumaon hills.

Due to a range of altitudes and therefore the nature of valleys, it sees wide climatic variations in temperature and precipitation, therefore giving a range of vegetation. The flora in the region is classified as tropical, Himalayan sub-tropical, sub alpine and alpine. It is a well known fact that alpine and sub alpine zones offer the most effective environment for a large number of medicinal plants.

Almora Tourism

With picturesque views of snow-capped Himalayas in the backdrop, Almora is enclosed by thick pine and fir tree forests. The town incorporates a list of religious spots, that are among the most attractions for tourists from across the planet. With the exception of a number of the most effective views, hill station offers choices for adventurous treks. In fact, Almora turns into an ideal honeymoon destination throughout winters.

Almora offers a chance for an opportunity for travellers from their busy town lives. Apart from the sightseeing and traveller spots to be confirmed, numerous festivals may also be tried out like the Nanda Devi Fair and the Uttraini festival of Bageshwer.

Location

Almora is situated at an average elevation of 1,638 metres, and is a hillock of the shape of a horse saddle. The rivers Koshi and Suyal flow alongside the Almora city.

The city is surrounded by the Pithoragarh district bordering Tibet on the East, the Garhwal district on the West, Bageshwar district on the North, and the district of Nainital on its South.

Best Time to Visit

Surrounded by the Himalayas from all sides, Almora mostly experiences a pleasant weather throughout the year. The temperature in summers varies between 28° C to 12° C, which during winters varies between 15°C and as low as 2°C. Monsoons last from August to October and the city experiences moderate rainfall, making it look greener and beautiful, apt for sightseeing. Though, winters can be harsh, months from April to June, and September to November can be the best time to visit Almora.

Plan a Travel to Almora and have fun!

Image by sumpsimus,R. Mitra Under Creative Common License.

Places to Visit in Haridwar

October 9, 2015

Chris

All Things Food, Travel Tips

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Ask any Indian about the most effective holy places in the country, and Haridwar are going to be mentioned doubtless. Settled in Uttarakhand, Haridwar is the place where the Ganges River enters the Indo-Gangetic plains in North India after descending from Gaumukh in the Gangotri Glacier. Haridwar has great historical and mythological significance in Hinduism.

The Harki Pauri in Haridwar is one among the most sacred ghats. The Brahma Kund is found at this ghat and it’s believed that it’s the spot wherever the ‘amrit’ (nectar) fell while being carried by Garuda after the Samudra Manthan. The Kumbha Mela at Haridwar must be mentioned because it could be a grand honest with individuals coming back from everywhere India and world. Apart from this, the rush of pilgrims never abates in Haridwar, as people come to wash off their sins by taking a dip in the holy Ganges.Check out the following places to visit in Haridwar.

Best time to visit

The location of Haridwar makes the weather conditions favorable nearly throughout the year. The Shivalik Hills in the northeast and north, and therefore the Ganges River flowing in the south of Haridwar offer the town a cool and pleasant weather. Temperatures in summers rise up to 45 degrees, making it quite hot. In winters, temperatures drop down significantly. During monsoons, Haridwar faces heavy rainfall. If you are making a plan of visiting Haridwar, the best time to do so is from September to April. Carrying significant woolens is usually recommended for the winter months.

Food

You will be spoilt for choice when it comes to food in Haridwar. There are different kinds of lip-smacking delicacies available in the city. However, almost all of them are vegetarian in nature. Since Haridwar is one of the leading pilgrimage destinations in India, strictly vegetarian dishes are cooked here. Puris with potato curry, kachoris, chapattis with vegetables, etc., are some of the popular foods in Haridwar. The vegetable dishes are
done with spices and are extremely tasty. Sweets of Haridwar are also very popular.

Popular Things

It is quite obvious that once you visit Haridwar you need to understand of the favored things that the place offers to travelers and tourists. And Haridwar won’t let down you in any manner. Since it is a religious place, you’ll get completely different types of record like beads, Rudraksha, prayer things, etc. Apart from these, you’ll look out for numerous types of glass bangles and other imitation jewelry items. Some of them are quite trendy and help in making a style statement. There are lots of Places to visit in Haridwar that must not to be missed when you plan a visit to this fantastic destination.

Brass and copper utensils are obtainable in lots in Haridwar in several sizes and shapes. These can be used for pujas additionally for general functions. Baskets made of cane are also very popular. If you’re fond on pickles and Ayurvedic medicines, there’s no higher place to buy for them than Haridwar. Last but not the least, in the winters you can buy some really good woolen garments from the place.

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Enjoy a taste of Christmas at the Tobacco Dock

October 29, 2013

Chris

All Things Food

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If you’re a foodie at heart, you’ll love the Taste of Christmas event held annually at the Tobacco Dock. It starts on November 21st and runs until November 24th. Over 30,000 people flock to this event every year and once you’ve been you’ll see why.

For many people, Christmas is all about food. There are so many festive flavours to be enjoyed. This event allows you to get tips from some of the best chefs in the UK. You’ll find out what makes the perfect Christmas dinner and you’ll come away ready to cook the family the best Christmas food they’ve ever tasted……or at least you’ll have the tips to give it a go!

What to expect from the event

There will be plenty to keep you entertained at the Taste of Christmas event. You’ll get to take part in a live cooking demonstration. There will also be seasonal ingredients at the fair too. You’ll find out how to spruce up family favourites and you’ll also get the chance to taste many different Christmas treats.

Top restaurants in London will have their own stalls with small tasters of their products.

Some of the highlights of this event are set to include:

Electrolux Taste Theatre
Laurent Perrier Feature Bar
Explore World Beer
Electrolux Chef Tips

The Electrolux Taste Theatre brings together some of the UK’s best chefs including Michel Roux Jr, Tom Kitchin, Mark Hix and Monica Galetti. They will be using the Electrolux Inspiration appliances in their cooking demonstrations.

You’ll pick up plenty of useful tips if you attend the Electrolux Chef Tips feature. As places are booked up on a first come, first served basis it would make sense to order your tickets as soon as possible. This is one event that often books up quite early.

Of course it’s not all about food. There’s some great alcohol features to be enjoyed too. The Laurent Pierre Feature Bar is a great example. This excellent brand of Champagne will have you in the festive spirit within no time. It’s a worldwide brand that is sure to tantalise the taste buds. If champagne isn’t really your thing, you can always opt for the Explore World Beers instead.

The Taste of Christmas event occurs every year and it’s definitely worth checking out.

From the Cave to the Kitchen

October 1, 2013

Chris

All Things Food

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For me, there’s nothing quite as comforting as a home cooked meal – even ahead of a night out in some of most fabulous cities in Europe. Yes, eating out is delicious but I find the daily act of preparing and creating a dish immensely rewarding, particularly if it’s for someone else. I’m a savory sort and love to mash my potatoes and grill my chicken. My food might be simple, but it’s wholesome and made with love.

Up until recently, I rarely gave a second thought to the single most important tool in my kitchen: my oven. Just like many of the technologies we take for granted, I use my oven every single day but never stop to imagine what life would be like without it.

Thanks to this neat interactive infographic from Leisure, I can now safely say that without the oven, human life would be pretty barbaric. According to historians, the discovery of controlled heat and cooked food put our ancestors at the top of the food chain – making us the sentient species we are today.

But how could a good cooked meal have such a massive impact on civilization? Take a look at the infographic to learn more.