If you think Butter Chicken when you think Indian food, stop right there. Just stop. This is a country of over 1 billion people with regional specialties not the only distinguishing characteristic of their incredible gourmet calendar. Recipes are often passed down through family lines and expand well beyond slow cooked curries, explosive zesty chutneys, tandoor cooked meats and flat breads.
If you’re a food lover, India might just present the most all-encompassing and rewarding trip you could hope for. And considering that nowadays you can tailor your travel experience to include just about anything, why not go to India to immerse yourself in their food culture and discover tastes like never before with spicy street food, decadent restaurant banquets, and even trips to local spice plantations to enjoy a home-cooked meal by local farming families?
Glam has been scoping out the best package deal to give you all of these opportunities and more, so pay close attention. Transfer through Singapore and land in the South Eastern city of Chennai. Formerly known as Madras and situated in the Bay Of Bengal, this is the biggest cultural, economic and educational centre in South India. The Southern cities of India are also the most diverse, influenced by a vast array of cultural histories, with Tamils, Telugu, Urdu and Malayalam all contributing to the culinary melting pot. While still a majority Hindu population, the further south you travel the broader the variety of ingredients you’ll find, even cow meat which is of course impossible to find in the North due to the sacred reverence the animals are held in.
While the Taj Mahal may be the most famous destination for most first time travelers to India, the country is literally peppered with similarly structured temples and mausoleums, filled with intricate semi-precious stone work alongside incredible tiled murals and hand carved marble work.
Along the coastline of Tamil Nadu, the region which Chennai is part of, it is common to be able to watch fishing fleets along the coastline during the day, as well as enjoy the thriving beachside restaurant scene in the evening. Travel inland and you’ll have the tea country of Munnar capture your imagination with rolling lush green hills lined with plantations all arrange in perfect symmetry. Handpicked tea is not just a myth, it is a key employer in the region and the best way to preserve the flavours of the delicate leaves.
Head west to the coastal city of Kochi (formerly Cochin) and you’ll find Chinese, Dutch, Portuguese and English influences at play amongst their traditional spice bazaars. Also in the west lies the vast cultivated raised irrigated rivers of Kerela where boats are not only the main for of travel, but also a prominent choice of residence for locals. Traveling along in a houseboat overnight, you can soak in the truly tranquil experience of life along these incredible waterways.
With cooking classes and local experiences every other day as part of this 19 day package, you’ll have the option to go deep into the streets, or remain in relative comfort depending upon how adventurous you’re feeling. All in all, stop watching Masterchef and reading books, get on a plane and live the South Indian culture so rich in vitality, diversity and a true appreciation of flavour.
This package is offered by Peregrine Travel Centre for November 2016 dates, staring from $4080. For more information on the package, dates and to book, visit their website.
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