From spiritual manifestations to adventurous sports, from inherently gorgeous monuments to finger-licking food dishes, from rustic roadside aesthetics to mesmerizing waterfalls, snow-capped mountains and deserts. In one word North India is nothing but a land of extremes.
Let us now delve deeper and comprehend the beauty of North India via certain postulates-
A GEOGRAPHICAL TRIP DOWN NORTH INDIA
Agra – Among The Most Romantic Destinations In India :
It is located in the Uttar Pradesh district of Agra and is known for its Mughal art and architecture. Once a Mughal capital it is home to one of the wonders of the world the Taj Mahal.
KEY ATTRACTIONS – THE TAJ MAHAL, AGRA FORT AND FATEHPUR SIKRI
Delhi – Political, Cultural And Food Capital Of India –
Capital of India it is known for its food, heritage and ancient warfare.
KEY ATTRACTIONS – LODHI GARDENS, HUMAYUN TOMB, ART MUSEUM AND RED FORT
Jaipur – The Royal Beauty –
Also known as the pink city since 1876, when it was painted pink in order to welcome the husband of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert. The majesty and royalty that is inherently imbibed in this city.
KEY ATTRACTIONS – HAWA ,MAHAL, NAHARGARH FORT, JAL MAHAL AND JANTAR MANTAR
Kashmir Circuit – Pahalgam, Sonmarg, Gulmarg, And Srinagar-
The heart of India, is a politically vulnerable state marred with conflict but embellished with snow reflecting the innumerable shades of sun.
KEY ATTRACTIONS – DAL LAKE, NAAGIN LAKE AND STRAWBERRY GARDENS
Dharamshala – Tibetan Charm-
Dharamshala is a city in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Surrounded by cedar forests on the edge of the Himalayas, this hillside city is home to the Dalai Lama.
KEY ATTRACTIONS- TSUGLAGKHANG COMPLEX, DAL LAKE, NADDI VILLAGE, KANGRA FORT, AND BHAGSUNATH
Dalhousie – A Peaceful Getaway –
It is a small town spread across 5 hills near the Dhauladhar mountain range. It is home to St. Francis and St. John’s churches.
KEY ATTRACTIONS – KHAJJAR, ST FRANCIS CATHOLIC CHURCH
Shimla – The Erstwhile Summer Capital Of British India-
This is famous right from the British era. Known for its lush conifers, mammoth churches and beautiful mountains.
KEY ATTRACTIONS – INDIAN INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED STUDIES, SCANDAL POINT AND JAKHO HILL
Kullu And Manali – Hub Of Adventure-
This is the ultimate trekking and honeymoon destination known for its adventure sports in Solang Valley and Parvati Valley.
KEY ATTRACTIONS – MUSEUM OF HIMACHAL CULTURE AND FOLK ART AND HIDAMBA TEMPLE
Nainital – A Mesmerizing Hill Station-
Very popular for its lake views and rich evergreen forests, Nainital was the very ultimate honeymoon capital for Indians in the 1990’s.
KEY ATTRACTIONS – NAINITAL LAKE, RAJ BHAVAN SNOW VIEW POINT, BHIMTAL AND NAUKACHIATAL
Dehradun – A Treat For Nature Lovers-
Dehradun district is a district of Uttarakhand state in northern India. The district headquarters is Dehradun, which has also served as the interim capital of Uttarakhand since its founding in 2000.
KEY ATTRACTIONS – SHIKHAR FALL, KHALANGA WAR MEMORIAL
Mussoorie
A Popular Tourist Destination is known for its rooftop cafes and the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy For Administration.
KEY ATTRACTIONS – KEMPTY FALLS, MUSSOORIE LAKE AND BENONG SANCTUARY
Varanasi – A Peace Seeker’s Haven-
This place is famous for its traditional vibes, occult practices, spiritual vibes and paan!
KEY ATTRACTIONS – DASHASHWAMEDH GHAT AND VISHVANATH TEMPLE
Allahabad
UP’s Pride, Prayagraj is an ancient city most popular for its High Court and Sangam.
KEY ATTRACTIONS – SWARAJ BHAVAN AND TRIVENI SANGAM
Haridwar And Rishikesh – Beautiful Twin Cities-
These are the spiritual capitals of India, known for their ashrams, cafes, rivers and pure vegetarian food.
KEY ATTRACTIONS- MANSA DEVI TEMPLE, YOGA SESSIONS
Mathura And Vrindavan – Catch Some Soul Delight-
The land of Lord Krishna, this city is very near to Agra and known for its temples, Mathura Veterinary College and also Mathura refinery and of course the pedde ( round sweet balls ).
KEY ATTRACTIONS – PREM MANDIR, BANKE BIHARI TEMPLE AND DWARKADESH TEMPLE
FOOD IN NORTH INDIA
Undoubtedly North India is known for its scrumptious food, and so when one is wandering around this part of the country missing out on good food is not at all a choice
Let us categorize these via their geographical roots of origination-
Punjab and the fever of Makke Ki Roti and Sarso Ka Saag! –
Punjab and Punjabis in India are essentially known for their amazing food taste and authentic food recipes which are locally grounded. Makke ki roti made out of corn flour and sarso saag made of leafy green veggies relished with home-prepared white butter and jaggery is the absolute winter delight.
The Rajasthani Gatte –
Made out of gram flour, steamed till they get softened then mixed with lots of spices and tomatoes, this gravy is best tasted when served with roti. Even Daal Baati Choorma and Laal Maas are other Rajasthani options that are extremely flavorful.
The Dilli ( Delhi ) Ki Chaat –
Delhi has been famous for its street food for probably forever so whenever you visit Delhi don’t forget to relish sweet, spicy and tangy gol – gappe and dahi paapdi. Even tokri chaat served with crispy potato baskets, filled with tomatoes, coriander leaves, curd, chutneys and pomegranate seeds is a delight for Delhites and every Indian at large
Agra Ka Petha-
Agra’s sweet Petha is famous in each and every Indian state. It is available in a number of flavours, however, the chocolate and coconut ones are the tastiest!
North–Eastern Momos –
You will get to eat momos in almost every corner of India but what North-Easterns serve are nothing but a platter of authenticity. Chicken, Vegetable and Cottage Cheese Momos are the various options present to all foodies out there.
Nowadays even healthier options are available in momos such as momos with whole wheat coverings and diet momos with fillings fried in air fryers.
Cultural Walk across the North Indian Paradigm
The cultural heritage of the seven states of North India Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh (Union Territory), Delhi, Haryana and Punjab together represents the culture of North India. The other states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar which are considered as North Indian states for their cultural and linguistic similarities are not formally part of North India.
The cultural diversity of India has allowed invaders ranging from Aryans to Afghans to settle themselves within the boundaries of this essentially diverse place.
Today the vibrancy is such that as one moves down from Kashmir to Rajasthan, Salwar Kameez and Pashmina Shawls change to headgear and Ghaghara Choli and as one moves from Punjab to Delhi, Amritsari Jutiyan change to modern-day sneakers. Undoubtedly the historicity of these places has impacted not only the way people speak and communicate but also what they eat, how they behave and how they dress.
One can safely conclude that India is a beautiful land, it is an amalgamation of diverse beliefs and values. The Mughals, the Aryans and also the Britishers have left indelible imprints on its face. But in spite of being a multicultural land what unites it are the bonds of love, spirituality and humanity. Lately, though these ties are becoming weaker due to the politicization of Indians. Stereotypes are lingering around and possible threats of conflicts are on the rise, but still, we can rise above them and make our country the Golden Bird of the East again.
Having stated this we will be discussing stereotypes in India in our next blog and will also try constituting means to end these institutionalized mediums of indoctrination and dehumanization.
