India by MasterChef Travel
India’s culinary traditions are as numerous and complex as its languages, religions and customs.
Drawing on influences from such diverse sources as oriental traders, Islamic invaders from central Asia and European colonialists, India’s food is above all a celebration of the colours, scents and flavours of the great spices.
The spices also epitomise the colours, vibrancy and energy of Indian culture and a journey to any region of India is always a revelation to all the senses and often a life-affirming experience.
Enjoy a banana leaf banquet
In Kerala where bananas are abundant, meals can be served in tasty dollops on a green banana leaf. A novel way of eating, the aroma from the leaf also adds an extra touch of flavour.
Cool down with a kulfi
The Indian version of ice cream, kulfi is denser and creamier, meaning it melts at a slower rate. Enjoy traditional flavours like refreshing mango, rose, pistachio, or distinctive cardamom or saffron.
Feast on Mughlai cuisine
Eaten in the north of the country, and characterised by its richness, a meal is often an elaborate buffet – Indian kebabs, kofta, nihari, pulao and biryani rice are all on the menu.
Explore the spice bazaars
Wander the local bazaar, with bags stuffed full of fragrant spices and the scent of cardamom, cloves and cinnamon in the air. Meet chai wallahs who use these spices to create a delicious, warm milky tea.
Indulge in Bengali dishes
Fresh seafood is a common ingredient in Bengal due to its ponds and river systems. Dine on jhol, a tasty and light fish stew, or paturi, fresh fish steamed in a banana leaf.
Five Great Buys in India
Spices in Kochi
Kochi, formerly known as Cochin, is a historic port on the Malabar Coast in the southern state of Kerala. As a centre of the spice trade for centuries, it has long been a cultural and religious melting pot and to this day it remains a wonderful place to buy the aromatic spices that are so central to all Indian cooking.
Chikan in Lucknow
Set in the heart of northern India, Lucknow is one of the most significant culinary cities in India, with a rich history reflected in its magnificent 18th-century Islamic and Raj-era architecture. It is also the home of ‘chikan’, a beautifully intricate form of embroidery that is incorporated into many different kinds of garments.
Fabrics in Kolkata
The Bengali city of Kolkata, formerly Calcutta, is a vibrant mass of humanity and home to many of the greatest monuments of the British Raj. It is also an exciting centre for shopping and a particularly good place to seek out beautiful fabrics, including fine silk, so widely used in saris and other garments.
Jewellery in Jaipur
The beautiful Rajasthani city of Jaipur, known as the ‘Pink City’ due to its distinctive red sandstone buildings is a delight for shoppers. All manner of fabrics and handicrafts can be found there, but it is particularly notable as a centre for diamond and emerald cutting and offers superb opportunities for buying stunning jewellery.
Marble in Agra
Agra, best known as the home of the stupendously beautiful Taj Mahal, is one of the great centres for traditional Indian crafts, notably leatherwork. The tradition of intricately inlaying semi-precious stones into marble, known as pietra dura, used so magnificently on the Taj Mahal, also lives on and can be purchased in various forms.
Location: India, located in south Asia, is the second-most populous country in the world behind China. It shares land borders with Pakistan to the west; China, Nepal, and Bhutan to the north-east; and Burma and Bangladesh to the east.
Capital: New Delhi
Religion: Hindu (83%), Muslim, Sikh, Christian & Buddhist minorities.
Etiquette:
- Remove all footwear when entering houses, temples or places of religious significance
- Women should not wear tight or revealing clothing and men should dress respectfully
- Indian women generally prefer not to shake hands
Languages: Hindi (national language), English and 14 other official languages.
Population: 1,210,193,500 (approx.)
Size: 3,287,590 sq km
Time zone: GMT +5.5
Currency: Rupee (INR / Rs)
Visa requirements: Holders of British citizen passports require visas for entry into India and these must be obtained in advance of travel.
History: After hundreds of invasions and the rise and fall of numerous empires, India’s rich and colourful history has been formed by a number of colonisers. Perhaps the most well-known if not the most influential coloniser was Britain. India fought alongside British forces in two world wars but it was during this time that the notion of Indian independence started to gain some support. The leader of this movement was Mahatma Gandhi and in August 1947 the country became independent and the partition of India began in an attempt to separate the nation into Muslim and Hindu territories, forming Pakistan. India remains a melting pot of cultures and language; it’s an assault on the senses with an incomparable depth of history and influences in every region. It is projected that by 2026 India will be the most populous country on the planet.
What to read
The Story of India
by Michael Wood
An accompaniment to the BBC television history series of the same title, this beautifully illustrated book details the history of India over the last 10,000 years, looking at its culture, regions, religions and important historical figures.
The Idea of India
by Sunil Khilnani
Addressing India’s modern history, this book considers India’s image of itself as a modern, technocratic, egalitarian and secular society through politics, culture and identity.
What to watch
Slumdog Millionaire
Danny Boyle’s hugely acclaimed and multi-award-winning story of the boy from the slums in Mumbai who, with fate on his side, takes his chance to appear as a contestant on the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
The Rising: Ballad of Mangal Pandey
Based around the Indian mutiny of 1857, this biographical historical film traces the story of Mangal Pandey and his involvement with British commanding officer William Gordon after he saves Gordon’s life while fighting in the Anglo-Afghan Wars.