India offers a wide variety of food. Similar to its culture the food is also vastly diverse. One of the foremost reasons is that it has been invaded by many foreign rulers such a Mughal, Afghans, Persians, Turks, Portuguese, English etc. The local cuisine in India developed more in Mughals era.

Indian spices were world-famous and it influenced International Trade. It was pretty popular in European Countries in the 15th century, especially in Greece. Scholars of that time even named it as “Yavan Priye” (Greek’s love). Indian cuisine reflects a 5,000-year history of various groups and cultures interacting with the subcontinent, leading to diversity of flavors and regional cuisines found in modern-day India.

Because of India’s vastness, let me divide it into four zones (North, West, East and South) and then categorize its cuisines of every city by its zone.

Read more: Spending 2 Days in Karnataka

Indian Famous Food in Northern Zone

1. Taste of Kashmir

– Rogan Josh

If you are traveling into Jammu Kashmir then here you will not forget three things – Kashmir’s Beauty, Indian Army, and Rogan Josh. Rogan Josh was introduced in India by Mughals in the early 15th century. It’s a lamb dish, full of completely spicy gravy.

– Muj Gaad

Muj Gaad is again a Kashmiri Dish made by fish. You can eat it anywhere in any hotel or restaurant. Or, if you are in the mood of camping and you are accompanying with any local then you can cook it yourself or take the recipe from the internet. This is fun !!

2. Punjab – The Sikh Land

– Butter Chicken

World’s most famous dish “Butter Chicken” has its root in Punjab. It is world wide available now but as Punjab is its motherland, its relatively cheap and tasty from other Indian states.

Read more: Eating in London on a Budget

– Sarso da Saag

Another, most famous dish of Punjab. Sarso da saag te Makke di roti is quite delicious when served hot. Besides these two dishes, many dishes are famous here. You may want to taste Dahi-Paranta-Achar too and don’t forget to eat Aalu Gobhi of Punjab.

3. Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh is famous for its Mughlai and Awadhi food. Nawabs ruling the region’s princely states during the Mughal Era introduced the rich Mughalai cooking techniques and today, the state is very much popular for its Nawabi foods. Awadhi Cuisine which has its origin in the city of Awadh, the modern-day Lucknow, is a type of West Central Uttar Pradeshi cuisine.

– Murgh musallam

It’s a non-veg dish again, made by marinating and cooking a whole chicken. This is often served with ghee rice. Salan is a gravy dish, made with meat or vegetable.

–  Lucknowi biryani

Biryani has two types vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian both. Here we are talking about the Non-veg one. It is made with mutton or chicken and cooked in the stock of meat is definitely a worthy treat for food lovers.

Famous Indian Food in Western India

1. The Royal Rajasthan Cuisine

– Dal Bati Churma

Rajasthan, the land of Kings, is famous for its royal culture and cuisine. Rajasthanis love their food and it is evident in their preparations. Dal Bati Churma. We have mentioned this into our last post of Eating and Drinking in Jaipur too. Every tourist or traveler must have tasted them at least once in their lifetime. Your trip to Rajasthan is incomplete if you haven’t experienced their scrumptious dishes.

Read more: Eating out in Manila

– Laal Maans

You cannot talk about Rajasthani dishes without mentioning the local’s favorite – Laal Maas. This spicy dish gets its color from the fiery red chilies. Best served with bajra rotis and a glass of Chaach, you’ll feel sleepy because of high-calorie intake.

2. Vibrant Gujarat

Gujarati people mostly prefer vegetarian cooking and their cuisine is delectable and lip-smacking. To taste the excellent vegetarian Gujarati cuisine is to have a Thali Meal – the ultimate delightful vegetarian fare. The traditional Gujarati Thali is one of the best ways to know Gujarati Cuisine. Beside the thali meal here two of its best dishes:

– Dhokla

A fermented batter derived dish from rice and chickpea splits.

– Khandvi

Again a traditional Gujarati Dish. But the only way I would like to recommend is to get a “thali”. You’ll get all the varieties in one thali (plate).

Famous Indian food of Southern India

1. Kerela – The Land of Spices

– Appam With Chicken Stew

Appam is an amazing food from Southern India. Not once did I devoid myself of the pleasure of its company. It’s got a soft and thick center and a paper-thin outside. It’s basically a rice pancake which you can pair with almost anything and it will still steal the spotlight. In a typical Southern stew, you’ll find chunks of chicken or meat bathed in a beautifully spiced and dreamy coconut gravy.

– Fish Molee and Fish Curry

Fish molee and Fish Curry both are different. Don’t get confused!! Kerela’s fish curry is quite different. It has a coconut flavor that tastes delicious.

2. Tamil Nadu

– Fish Vepuddu

All fish items in Tamil Nadu are worth to eat. All tastes delicious.

– Chettichand Chicken

Chettinad cuisine is a specialty of Tamil Nadu and will be a delight for those who like hot and spicy non-vegetarian food.

East Indian Famous Food

1. West Bengal

– Chingri malai curry

This dish is also known as Prawn malai curry. It is full of protein, made from prawns and coconut milk and flavored with spices. You don’t wanna miss this.

– Machher Jhol

This dish is in the form of a very spicy stew that is served with rice. It is liberally seasoned with turmeric, garlic, onions, and grated ginger. Potatoes are added to the stew as a thickening agent.

2. Nagaland’s food

– Bamboo shoot

If you are a pork lover then Nagaland is going to serve heaven for you. Bamboo Shots are one of the most famous dish of Nagaland. Bamboo shoots are cooked with pork.

P.S. – I was doing lip smacking all the time during this post !! 😉

As soon as Delhi – Naypyidaw – Bangkok Highway became operational, my fellow amateur and professional travellers have started making plans. Going from India to Thailand by road has never been easier than it is today.

Everyone is just making plans and dreaming driving 4,350 kms long mega road trip via Myanmar, full of adventure, driving in Guwahati between the clouds, crossing down mighty Brahmaputra river, taking a nap close to the highway, passing by the signboards that say “welcome to India-Myanmar friendship road”.

Well, It all looks adventurous!! Indeed it is but not as easy as it looks. There are many disappointing aspects of this road trip too.

Myanmar

Let’s just talk about Myanmar first.

1. You will still need an Agent prior to the Road Trip

It’s not like to pack your bags, start your bike and start riding. You will still need to contact local agents. While entering into Myanmar, you will need to get a special overland permit and for that, you will have to start preparing for this 40 days prior to the trip. A road trip could be dangerous too if it is raining there especially from May to October. So watch out!! There are many chances that you will constantly have to stay in contact with your agent.

2. It sucks when your IDP doesn’t work

Myanmar is a country that will not allow either of your licences. Neither your Indian licence nor your International Driving Permit (IDP). So, what now? Go ahead, get through with all the formalities and attain a temporary driving licence. Once you get a temporary licence then drive carefully. It’s because according to Myanmar’s law if you hit any pedestrian or any pedestrian hits you then no one is going to hear your excuses. Myanmar’s law is made in their favour.

3. Be prepared, Your International GSM might not work

Be advised International GSMs doesn’t work in Myanmar. I am just not sure about Indian GSM cards. So, if you are a travel blogger, freelancer programmer or someone who continuously needs to stay online then arrange to get their local card. Or if you have any card from Thailand or Singapore then it will work well.

Read more: Is it safe to travel to Bangkok right now?

4. Locally licensed tour operator is mandatory

If you are thinking that after attaining licence now you can travel without any hassle then you are wrong. Locally licensed tour operator is mandatory. The Burmese government charges high prices if you travel there with your own vehicle. These prices can be reduced significantly if enough SUVs/bikes (people) can be found to join the convoy.

5. Forget Couchsurfing here

You are not entitled to stay at any place other than the registered hotel. Couchsurfing is not legal here. So, if you are looking to save some money by staying with locals then you might get disappointed here again.

Read more: 10 Solo travel hacks to turn you into a fearless adventurer

Thailand

Those were some reasons that could disappoint you in Myanmar. Now take a turn for Thailand.

6. Get ready to pay 200 per cent Carnet fees

You will have to apply for Carnet De Passage. A carnet is simply a document that allows you to take your personal vehicle into a particular foreign territory. What sucks is – its carnet fees. To enter Thailand you will have to deposit an amount equal to two hundred per cent of your vehicle’s value. It hurts, though it is refundable. Contact automobile association of India in this regard.

7. Keep in Mind that a Return Road Trip could be boring

It is always exciting to explore the unseen but when you start your return road trip then it gets a little boring. Especially if it is 15 days, 4500 kms long Road trip. Plan your itinerary in such a way so that you find it exciting during your return trip too. I mean you can leave natural places like national parks, wildlife sanctuaries for the return trip and just watch historical monuments at the beginning or vice versa. Or maybe keep watching all the places and once you reach to Bangkok, you may want to get a mobile phone service and just ship your bike or SUV back to the Indian port. (Hit me a mail for custom made itinerary)

Useful links for this Road trip

Well, those were some reasons that could disappoint you for this road trip but I must also say that it is once in a lifetime road trip that you must do. If you are a desperate traveller then those obstacles can’t stop you. Here I am mentioning some links for your help –

1. Myanmar Tourism’s official site

2. Myanmar Embassy

3. Thailand Tourism’s official site

4. Customs Department of Thailand

P.S. – Don’t forget to make a checklist for carrying the essential items before the road trip. And we don’t want to discourage you to take the trip but always know that you have an option to take a budget airline like AirAsia too.

As in my previous article, I wrote about a beautiful destination ideal for camping, sightseeing, photography, and videography. This article was on Devil’s garden in Utah. The whole idea of this post came from a video filmed by a Bollywood movie.

A few days back I was having conversation cum debate with a so-called “Indian Nationalist” on Youtube. According to him India or Bollywood should not promote International destinations and should promote only the national destinations. Well, this friend of mine has kind of forgot that we are living in the world of globalization where one’s thinking process should be global, not local. The Internet has removed all the boundaries and barriers between countries. What if Hollywood starts producing movies within the boundary of LA or America? Then half of the world would miss the opportunity of watching great destinations. What if Bollywood’s greatest hit DDLJ was shot within the boundary of India? then, no one among the population of 1.2 billion would ever come to know about the beauty of Switzerland nor movie would have been such a hit. Its just B2B business.

Well, allow me to share some facts based on Bollywood’s Impact on Tourism Destinations (a report based on my primary and secondary research).

Countries around the globe offer various type of incentives to encourage film producers to use beautiful locations to shoot films. They generally provide benefits such as easy processing of visas, discounts in accommodation and travel, location tariffs to facilitate road or shooting permits, assistance in identifying locations, etc. In turn, such benefits generate revenue for the local communities in the form of employment opportunities and boost to tourism.

The Ministries of Information & Broadcasting and Tourism have now signed an MoU to provide incentives to the film industry. According to the MoU, the Ministry of Tourism will provide budgetary support for identified film festivals and offer single window clearance for permission for shooting film. Promoting India as a great films destination will garner it much positive attention from producers worldwide.

Globally, travel and tourism have emerged as one of the fastest-growing industry that demonstrates continued expansion and diversification. The industry is perceived as a key driver of socio-economic progress, providing large-scale employment, promoting infrastructure development and serving as a key source of foreign exchange earnings.

In 2011, India’s travel and tourism industry contributed US$1.7 trillion (or 2.8% of the global GDP), which is expected to rise to 4.2% (US$2.9 trillion) by 2021. Furthermore, investments in the global travel and tourism industry are expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.4% to reach US$1.5 trillion by 2021 from US$0.6 trillion in 2010.

Emerging economies have left a great Impact on Tourism Destinations, including China, India, and Brazil are expected to outpace the travel and tourism growth in developed markets, driven by rising disposable incomes and improving infrastructure.

The share of emerging markets in foreign tourist arrivals has increased from 31% in 1990 to 47% in 2010. India has not been an exception in this strong growth story, with foreign tourist arrivals growing at a CAGR of 7.7% between 2000 and 2010 to reach 5.5 million in 2010. In 2010, the domestic travel and tourism industry contributed US$42 billion (3.1%) to the country’s GDP and was positioned as one of the largest employers in India, employing 18.6 million people in 2010. The sector has evolved over the years and has witnessed the convergence of traditional stakeholders such as hotels and travel agencies and new stakeholders including online tour operators.

Read more: Tourist Places Near Bangalore Within 50 Kilometres

Traditionally, India’s travel and tourism industry have been largely unorganized and fragmented. However, in the last few years, it has witnessed a rise in M&A activity, which has resulted in some consolidation. Not only has this attracted more visitors to India, but has also increased the output of its own globe trotters. This is also evident from the fact that MakeMyTrip had one of the most successful IPOs on NASDAQ in recent history and global majors such as Expedia have set up a shop in India. M&A activities have picked up pace in the country in the last few years, although the ease of doing business continues to be a challenge. The complexity of indirect taxation is one of the factors adversely affecting industry growth. Currently, there are multiple indirect taxes levied on the travel and tourism industry in India. This has resulted in cumbersome compliance procedures and increased the cost of operations in the industry as a whole.

In the last decade, new technologies have improved the way in people from around the world communicate. The travel and tourism industry has also benefitted from this and there have been some major changes in the way it currently functions.

Read more: Famous Temples in Bangalore to Visit

Over a period of time, there has been a sharp increase in the number of avid travelers. Most middle-class families, including the young and the old, are increasingly opting for unexplored and diverse travel destinations. With the heightened impact of urbanization and a rise in disposable incomes, traveling families have become more decisive, well-informed and open to experimenting with innovative holiday packages, which has led to a rise in leisure travel in the country. The number of outbound visits by Indian nationals increased by 13% to 12.5 million in 2010 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12% by 2015. Tour operators have begun offering special packages for different age groups since this growth in outbound visits is witnessed across all ages.

If you’re reading this you have probably heard about the amazing and affordable beach life that Thailand has to offer. Pale sand is so fine that it almost feels like golden dust. Gorgeous sunsets, cheap food, and drinks. The good life.

However, you may have also heard about how the beaches are trashed. Some of that is true. Many of the beaches are a great way for the locals to cash in on the tourist craze. Just notice the lack of locals swimming around you. And this is part of the problem. The infrastructure to handle large amounts of trash is not there. In Tonsai, much of the trash just gets dumped into the surrounding jungle and inevitably ends up on the beaches.

Read more: Best Thai Destinations to Visit Alone

Copious Use of Plastic. Everywhere.

Another part of the problem is the amount of plastic that gets used. Every time you order an item you get at least 2 plastic bags. One bag that contains your food. One bag that contains your bag of food. Bags are given for disposable drink cups. Bags are given for Styrofoam food containers. So the lack of infrastructure mixed with all this plastic creates the perfect storm.

Read more: Lithuania’s Finest Beach – Palanga Beach

Careless Tourists Add to the Problem

The problem is made worse by careless tourists. Many people come to Thailand to relax and unwind from their busy and hectic lives. And they should, it’s an awesome place! So they live in the moment. Not caring about dates, schedules, timetables, plans. This “living in the moment” also breeds carelessness. Too many tourists will leave their empty plastic bags/trash where they last sat on the beach. Assuming someone will pick it up. They won’t. Others will just carelessly toss trash on a trail or the street. Then fellow tourists will follow suit thinking it’s a trash pile; which it is but no one picks it up.

Is It Worth Visiting Thai Beaches Given the Trash?

YES! Absolutely. Definitely. Thailand’s beaches are popular for a reason. Gorgeous. Warm. Inexpensive. There is plenty of beauty to see. Cool people to meet. And epic beaches to chill out on. You will have the time of your life.

Read more: July Destinations that Won’t Break the Bank

4 Simple Steps YOU Can Take to Help the Problem

There’s plenty you can do to help…

1. Minimize the trash you create.  If you have the means, bring a plastic container (a nice one with clasps) with you.  Use it to for all your take out food.  This way you will avoid Styrofoam and plastic. If you don’t have a reusable container, ask if you can borrow one for a deposit, and bring it back.
2. Dine in the restaurant and avoid takeaway. Do this as much as possible. Almost all places that give you the option of taking away have a place to sit. It’s perfect because you’re on vacation. So sit down and relax. You will not create any trash because the restaurant will give you plates and glasses.
3. Get water from the dispenser (self-serve refill stations that charge 1 THB/liter)  or buy a 20L cistern.
4. Become part of the solution. Pick up trash that you see and place it in a trash bin. Make comments to your hotel/hostel and the locals. Ko Phi Phi requires a 20 THB “environmental fee”; about $0.75; this is a good step.  If beaches get trashed no one will want to come. Educate other travelers. Be polite and tell them that they should be responsible for not creating and picking up trash. Picking up their trash within eyesight sends a strong message!

So, yes there are problems with Thai beaches. But you should go, it’s amazing. And having a conscious person such as you stay at home will only make the problem worse. Tourists created this problem and travelers can also fix it.