The Ultimate Culinary Tour of India

By Skye McAlpine

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On a bustling Mumbai street corner, knee-deep in tiffin boxes, I stand with Alice Waters, owner of Berkeley’s Chez Panisse , and photographer Andrea Gentl, mesmerized by a flurry of men in white cotton caps who are stacking the tin boxes onto bikes with military precision. We sidestep awkwardly, trying not to get in their way as they work in busy silence to ensure that each box is delivered to its rightful owner. These are the dabbawalas , the couriers who each day ferry some 200,000 hot lunches to workers across the city from kitchens in the countryside where wives and mothers make food each morning for their loved ones. The scene is arguably not as Instagrammable as many other moments on our trip, with little of the color of the intricately painted murals at the Jaipur City Palace, or the yellow marigolds spilling from hot-pink silk sacks at the flower market. Yet each humble tiffin box (a typical one might include spicy vegetables, dal, rice, yogurt, bread, chutney, and dessert) is, in its way, a deeply moving celebration of culture and tradition—a defiant triumph of the freshly cooked over the fast or convenient.

In India, death, life, and the next meal go hand in hand.

Like the hectic fish market we’ve just come from, hidden away in Mumbai’s naval base, a visit to the dabbawalas is not a standard stop on the itinerary of the naive tourist in India. But we’re traversing the country with David Prior, an anything-but-naive explorer and founder of Prior , who’s test-launching a series of custom-designed trips drawing on his unrivaled little black book of contacts and an uncanny instinct for sussing out unique experiences in any locale. He has led us off the well-worn tourist path and brought us to places from Mumbai to Maheshwar in search of something different—a taste of modern-day Indian food culture in all its rich, complex, and enigmatic glory. David gathered an eclectic group of friends for this trip, many of them alums of Chez Panisse (where he worked with Alice for a few years), including winemaker Cristina Salas-Porras Hudson and food writer Fritz Streiff, along with chefs Seen Lippert and Gilbert Pilgram, now of San Francisco’s Zuni Café . Australian environmentalist Judy Stewart and New York photography duo Andrea Gentl and Martin Hyers also joined. For all of us, food is a lifelong passion—and for many of us, it is our first experience of India.

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A room in the City Palace of Udaipur.

It is perhaps no surprise, then, that our days played out as a sequence of meals. Or rather, it is the meals that monopolize my recollection of our trip. From the dabbawalas we proceed to Kyani & Co., one of a handful of cafés opened in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by Parsi settlers—Zoroastrian immigrants from Iran. Improbably little has changed since the restaurant first opened its doors in 1904. The intimate interior is all dusty, faded grandeur, the walls lined with shelves of glass biscuit jars, each labeled in neat cursive with flavors that read like something out of an Enid Blyton children’s book: milk biscuits, banana cheese wafers, badam or coconut jam biscuits. The smell of freshly baked bread that permeates the café is not only sweet relief from the polluted bustle of the city’s streets but intoxicatingly wistful. Huddled around a few wooden tables, we indulge in mugs of milky sweet chai tea, biscuits, and soft buttered white bread, and delight in the eccentricity of the vintage signage that adorns the restaurant’s walls: NO LAPTOPS and NO FLATULENCE allowed.

It was, however, an unexpectedly good lunch at a working-class thali café that proved the highlight of our time in Mumbai. We would never have found the no-frills spot on the second floor of a cinder-block building—nor thought to eat there—had it not been for our guide that day, the celebrated Mumbai restaurateur and chef Rahul Akerkar. “McDonald’s clean” is how David describes the restaurant as we clamber apprehensively upstairs to a sterile room with Formica tables and strip lighting. At first glance, it certainly has the soullessness of a McDonald’s . But we eat so much and so well (Gujarati thali platters laden with creamy lentils, saffron-scented basmati rice, and bhakri —flatbreads made with sorghum flour and laced with ghee) that when we are done, Alice asks to see the kitchen. There, behind closed doors, we discover a culinary whirlwind: pans of steaming-hot dal and rice; baskets of fresh coriander and red chilies; the overwhelming, deliciously foreign scent of spice ; and a gaggle of women clad in saris, sitting on the floor, chatting away and deftly making naan on the boards at their feet. It is unlike restaurant kitchens any of us have ever seen, and the beautiful informality and conviviality of the cooking here goes a long way toward explaining the excellence of our meal.

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Left: Overlooking the blue city of Jodhpur from the Amber Fort; Right: A village girl in Mandu.

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I had joined the group late, along with Suzanne Goin (chef-owner of the Los Angeles restaurant Lucques ) and her husband, David Lentz (chef-owner of the Hungry Cat in Hollywood), at Ahilya Fort , an 18th-century palace set in the 4,000-year-old town of Maheshwar, in Madhya Pradesh. Formerly a private home, Ahilya has operated as a boutique hotel since 2000, a bohemian oasis in a part of India otherwise untouched by tourism. With no other guests staying there, it feels like a relaxed house party. On arrival, we are whisked off onto the Narmada River in wooden boats by Prince Richard Holkar, the son of the last Maharaja of Indore, who now runs the hotel. As the sun sets, a thousand flickering candles float peacefully on the water. We each place a votive nestled in a leaf holder into the current, adding our wishes to the cluster of glimmering flames.

We spend our days at Maheshwar lounging by the secluded pool, strolling through the fort’s shady organic gardens, and exploring the majestic ruins of the nearby abandoned 13th-century city of Mandu. If we travel to escape the mundanity of our own worlds, to experience that elusive magic of elsewhere, then in Maheshwar we find a fairy tale. On our last night at Ahilya, we dress for a banquet—the men in red turbans and women in rainbow-hued silk saris, each beautifully woven by women in a nearby cooperative we visited that morning. Standing in the palace’s turret at sunset, Judy, Cristina, and I, in blushing pink, deepest black, and ice blue, are princesses in a tower, if only for a night.

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A thali at Shree Thaker Bhojanalay, a Gujarati vegetarian restaurant in Mumbai.

Dinner is served at a long, lantern-lit table in the fort’s garden, the hum of cicadas trilling in the background. Our guide, Sameer, talks us through the plentiful and unfamiliar flavors on the thali plates in front of us, and he regales us with stories of his own family’s kitchen. His mother, he insists, makes an even better curry—in fact, she makes the best curry. We observe that the kitchen at Ahilya, like the one at the lunch joint in Mumbai, is utterly basic. And yet out of it comes dish upon dish of exquisite beauty: duck in pomegranate sauce, jackfruit biryani, banana in smoked yogurt, tomato curry, many varieties of naan and chapati, still warm to the touch. Our various meals in India have excited us with the possibilities of new spices and preparations. At the same time, the food tradition’s emphasis on family and history, as well as its seeming contradictions—deriving complex flavors from elemental ingredients, eating with your hands in even the finest settings—is a useful reminder to us all of what we have long believed in: the value of simplicity and humility in cooking.

Varanasi, where we fly next, is another ancient river town, on the banks of the Ganges in the north of India. But whereas Maheshwar is dreamy, Varanasi electrifies. Open pyres burn along the waterside, their bright flames dancing in the air with all the drama of a scene from Game of Thrones . It is here, the holiest place in India, that the Hindus burn their dead; and, as tradition dictates, it is here that many come to die, believing that death on the Ganges will free their souls from the bonds of reincarnation. Yet life—vibrant and raw—is what most defines Varanasi: the children playing cricket along the ghats; the boisterous monkeys who unashamedly steal into your bedroom should you leave the window open; the cows and the stray dogs that amble through the streets; the heaving crowds; the busy shopkeepers; and the saffron-robed priests who congregate along the water’s edge, washing, praying, and selling their blessings under the shade of faded umbrellas.

On our last afternoon, a small group of us take a boat to the burning ghats. We moor a few feet away from the pyres—no cameras, no iPhones , just us and the fire. As we watch, a gaggle of men carry a body, laid out on a bamboo stretcher and bound in ceremonial yards of brightly colored silks, and set it onto the flames. I’ve never been so physically close to death. “At the end of the day,” our guide tells us, “the locals take the embers from the pyre and use them to cook their chapatis.” In India, death, life, and the next meal go hand in hand.

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Boats on the Narmada River in Maheshwar.

How They Did It

The group traveled with David Prior, who has just started rolling out a series of bespoke Indian travel experiences for the wider public under the banner of Prior ( priorknowledgetravel.com ). Next year, there will be trips to India, Spain, Ireland, and Japan, as well as a membership component that, besides giving members first dibs on trips, will get them entrée to hard-to-book hotels and restaurants. Here are a few highlights from his inaugural tour. —The Editors

Easing into India Most visits to this tourist hub begin and end with the Taj Mahal , but before joining the crowds there, the group went to see Itmad-ud-Daulah, a 17th-century white-marble mausoleum known as the “Baby Taj.” That evening there was a visit to the 16th-century Mehtab Bagh (Farsi for “moonlight garden”), where the group’s first glimpse of the Taj was at sunset from across the Yamuna River.

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Left: Dyeing threads in Jodhpur; Right: Antique spice tins in the kitchen at Ahilya Fort, Maheshwar.

The Cultural Deep Dive After a private tour of the Mehrangarh Fort, the travelers exited through the lesser-known back gate and went on a walking tour of the oldest part of the city, winding their way through its warren of markets. They stopped for chai and picked up hard-to-find spices like black cardamom. On another day, they saw the twirling Rajasthani sword dancers perform at the World Sacred Spirit Festival , the leading Sufi cultural event, then a private concert from the Mirasi boy singers, the keepers of the region’s oral-storytelling tradition.

A Crash Course in City Life Day one started at dawn at the historic Crawford Market as wriggling fishnets from the Indian Ocean were hauled onto the stone dock, followed by traditional Iranian sweets at Kyani & Co ., a 1904 café and a rare window onto old Bombay. Next, they headed to Churchgate Station to see dabbawalas deliver thousands of tiffin boxes of homemade lunches—a frenetic scene that epitomizes the organized chaos of India. Lunch was at Shree Thaker Bhojanalay , a working man’s canteen deep in Mumbai’s labyrinthine backstreets where barefoot waiters served brilliantly nuanced curries (lunch—at $2 per person—was unanimously voted the meal of the trip, and, for some, their best in years). The day concluded on the balcony of the peacock suite at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel, as they watched boats bobbing in the harbor, margaritas in hand (no small feat to drum up tequila during a religious festival–mandated dry period).

Low-Key and Local David rented out the entire Ahilya Fort , a centuries-old citadel turned hotel overlooking the holy Narmada River. The stay in this temple town in the rural state of Madhya Pradesh (it’s not uncommon to see caravans of camels and shepherds in bright-red turbans herding sheep) took on the feel of a four-day retreat. Meals were prepared using organic produce from the fort’s garden. One evening, guests took a boat to the Baneshwar temple; they left at sunset to discover that David had arranged for 1,000 candles to be floated down the river. Another day, the women in the group visited Rehwa Society, a nonprofit that helps locals earn an income weaving and selling exquisite Maheshwari gossamer saris—each guest had a bespoke one made. The next day, they checked out Mandu, an immense Mughal city abandoned 400 years ago, a sort of Indian Angkor Wat .

Left Precious stones at the Gem Palace Right Lakshmi a rescued elephant at Dera Amer outside Jaipur.

Left: Precious stones at the Gem Palace; Right: Lakshmi, a rescued elephant at Dera Amer, outside Jaipur.

Artisanal and Over-the-Top The entire group toured the Royal Family’s quarters in the city palace, then some went on targeted shopping expeditions (vintage copper utensils, Rajasthani miniature art), while others had appoint-ments with tailors or Siddharth Kasliwal, scion of Gem Palace . There was a candlelit dinner in a pale-pink tent at the Suján Rajmahal Palace as peacocks strutted along the lawn; a private lunch hosted by Barbara Miolini of the beloved Bar Palladio Jaipur ; a sunrise visit to the flower market with its endless bundles of marigolds, roses, and tuberoses; and a stop at the milk market, where dairy farmers sell their yield in giant pails. Another dinner was arranged in the wilderness outside of the city, at Dera Amer , where rescued elephants roamed and guests like Gilbert Pilgram and Alice Waters (who pioneered wood-fire oven cooking in the States) worked the tandoor.

Spiritual Immersion David timed the February visit to India’s holiest city—where Hindu pilgrims come to wash away their sins in the Ganges and cremate their dead—to coincide with Maha Shivratri, the festival of Shiva. The guests arrived and walked through the city as wrapped bodies were being carried through the streets. They then boarded a boat and were transported to the Brijrama Palace , a maharaja’s home recently converted into a hotel. Over the next few days, faculty members from the local university led the travelers around the city, explaining Varanasi’s deep relationship with life and death by taking them to observe different pilgrim rituals and to view the burning pyres. One night, a special Sattvic dinner was arranged, each dish meticulously prepared according to Ayurvedic principles.

A Calm Retreat The travelers based themselves at the Taj Lake Palace on the tiny island of Jag Niwas, in Lake Pichola. (Built from white marble, it looks like a floating castle.) They visited less-touristed Hindu temples Sas-Bahu in Nagda and Eklingji, and, the next morning, toured the wildly ornate City Palace before stopping to see a performance of Jal Sanjhvi, a religious ritual in which artists paint on water, layering colored powder to create fleeting images. There was an afternoon cooking class taught by a local woman, who went deep into the principles and flavors of Indian cuisine before this illustrious culinary team cooked a meal together.

This article was originally published in October, 2017 and has been updated

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Culinary Tour of India

( 13 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis ) Delhi, Udaipur, Mumbai, Chennai

On this private culinary tour, explore the flavors of three of India’s most gastronomically intriguing regions—the tandoori and naan of the north, the seafood and coconut milk dishes of the west, and the dosas and stews of the south—while staying in the most luxurious hotels and enjoying private touring of the cultural highlights of each destination.

Begin in  Delhi , the vibrant capital of India. One morning, visit a local market, followed by a private cooking lesson. Also walk through a fragrant spice market, and, if desired, sample snacks at a street stall (your guide will suggest the best and safest places). During private cultural touring with your expert local guide, experience the best of Old and New Delhi: ride a rickshaw through bustling markets and bazaars overflowing with bangles and saris; browse fashionable districts filled with galleries and boutiques selling beautiful Indian crafts and decorative items; tour historic attractions and UNESCO sites such as the Red Fort, Humayun’s Tomb, Qutb Minar and Jama Masjid; and visit the Gandhi Memorial Museum, Crafts Museum or other specialty museums. Other options include personalized shopping tours, visiting the Lodhi Gardens and more.

Continue to  Udaipur , a beautiful city built around lakes and hills. One day, Artisans of Leisure will arrange an insider culinary experience at the home of a prestigious local family. During private cultural touring, enjoy a private cruise on Lake Pichola, tour the City Palace and Jagdish Temple, visit Saheliyon Ki Bari Garden, see decorative arts highlights, walk through whitewashed backstreets, browse local bazaars, and visit local studios specializing in miniature paintings and folk art. Another day, take a private excursion to see interesting local temples and enjoy a memorable lunch in an 18th-century palace with amazing views. During leisure time, enjoy the luxurious facilities at the lavish Udaivilas resort.

Next, visit exciting  Mumbai  (Bombay), the economic capital of India and the home of the Bollywood film industry. Rise early one morning to see fishing boats hauling in their catch, and watch the city come alive at the fish auction and wholesale vegetable markets. Enjoy a private cooking lesson of Parsi, Goan or seafood dishes. Also, help a Mumbai dabbawala (delivery man) sort and deliver tiffin lunches to office workers. During private cultural touring, explore the lively food and art scene, walk along the waterfront, visit the most interesting neighborhoods to browse boutiques or stop in cafes, visit Crawford Market, tour top cultural attractions such as Prince of Wales Museum and UNESCO-listed Victorian architecture, walk through bazaars dedicated to flowers and jewelry, tour contemporary art galleries or see Dhobi Ghat, a famous open-air laundry. Also take a private boat ride to Elephant Island and the Elephanta Caves, a UNESCO-listed site of rock-cut Hindu cave temples. Artisans of Leisure can also make reservations at Mumbai’s top restaurants or tickets for Bollywood shows.

End in Chennai  (Madras), the seaside capital of Tamil Nadu. Visit a local market with an expert culinary guide, and learn about the history and culture surrounding south Indian cuisine. Select ingredients, and learn about Indian herbs and spices such as cardamom, coriander, turmeric and ginger. During a private cooking lesson, learn to make several typical south Indian dishes, such as dosas and coconut chutney. During private cultural touring, learn about the history of Chennai, and see beautiful colonial architecture. One day, take a private excursion to two of the most important and impressive temple complexes in southern India: Kanchipuram, a major Hindu pilgrimage site with more than 100 active temples, and Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram), a UNESCO World Heritage Site of amazing rock-cut sculptures and temples created in the seventh and eighth centuries.

This tour can be customized based on individual culinary interests.

Booking Information >

All Artisans of Leisure tours are private and depart daily.

Please Contact Us for more information regarding the above tour, or to begin customizing your own itinerary.

The Artisans of Leisure Style of Travel:

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Testimonials

We absolutely LOVED India in every way! The cookery lesson and lunch in Udaipur was great…the lunch was delicious, the house was lovely and they were so warm and welcoming.  ~ R.L., Washington, D.C.

Japan was excellent—we all had a blast. Your attention to detail and your ability to be foodie-focused and find outstanding guides sets you apart. ~ R.S., St. Petersburg, FL

One of the highlights of the trip to Bali was the cooking class you arranged in Ubud. Our instructor was the owner of the restaurant and they were so accommodating to our tastes and created a menu just for us.  ~ T.J., Norfolk, VA

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Lila Travel India

Lila Travel India

Experience India's textile heritage and culinary delights on our immersive tailor made and small group tours

Lila Travel India

Culinary Tour of India

Savor the authentic flavors of india with our culinary tours and cooking classes..

Our Culinary Tour of India offers an immersive culinary experience, allowing you to savor authentic Indian flavors through cooking classes and food tours. This tour covers Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Delwara/Nathdwara, and Udaipur where you will have the opportunity to visit local markets, engage with Indian families, and try traditional Rajasthani and Indian home-cooked meals. Highlights of the tour include participating in the festival of Lights – Deepawali, visits to the Taj Mahal, Amber Fort, and City Palace, as well as a boat ride at Lake Pichola.

Duration : 12N/13D

Destinations covered : Delhi – Agra – Jaipur – Delwara / Nathdwara – Udaipur

Date : Contact us

Price : Contact us

Payment Terms : 40% Down Payment, 60% to be paid in Full, 1 Month from the date of the Trip.

Culinary Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Delhi

Upon your arrival in Delhi, you will be greeted and escorted to your hotel, where you will stay for three nights. The remainder of the day is at leisure for you to relax and unwind. In the evening, savor your first authentic Indian meal at a specialty local restaurant run by a famous fashion designer.

Day 2: Delhi

After breakfast, we visit Old Delhi. While we visit Asia’s largest wholesale spice market, Khari Baoli, to see where spices have been traded since the 17th century, we also experience the variety of street food old Delhi has to offer. Dinner tonight will be at your discretion.

Day 3: Delhi

Take a walk in colonial Delhi (president house, parliament building, India Gate, Connaught place etc. Afterwards, we will drive to an Indian home for a cooking demo of traditional Indian home cooking, learning to use local spices and ingredients in an informal, everyday way.

Day 4: Agra

Drive to agra where we stay for the night. Visit Agra Fort and Taj Mahal. In the evening, join and Indian family for cooking demo and dinner.

Day 5: Jaipur

Drive to jaipur where we stay at a Royal mansion for 3 nights. Explore the colorful markets of Jaipur, which is famous for block printing textile, and precious & semi-precious gemstones. Dinner in traditional  Rajasthani village theme.

Day 6: Jaipur

This morning we visit the sprawling hilltop Amber Fort and various monuments of Jaipur. In the afternoon we spend the time with elephants ‘Rhythm with Elephant’ followed by dinner in secluded location in the forest near Amer.

Day 7: Jaipur

Day at leisure to explore the city. Alternatively, we can visit one of the village famous for block printing. In the evening, we join a local family and spend some time learning intricacies of Indian cooking. You will eat what you cook.

Day 8: Delwara / Nathdwara

After breakfast, we head to Delwara / Nathdwara and check into a heritage or modern hotel (located in natural surrounds). Enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening at your leisure.

Day 9: Delwara / Nathdwara

Explore the local village and visit famous temple of Eklinji & Nagda. Afternoon at leisure to enjoy the spa and pool. Will explore the option of cooking demo with chef

Day 10: Udaipur

Today morning, we will drive to Udaipur and explore the City Palace. Check-into hotel near one of the lakes of Udaipur. Afternoon enjoy boat ride at Lake Pichola. In the evening, you are invited for cooking demonstration dinner with an Indian family.

Tonight dinner is arranged at a specialty restaurant on lakeside.

Day 11: Udaipur

Today morning, we proceed for excursion to world famous Jain Temple at Ranakpur. Lunch at Maharani Bagh Orchard. In the evening, you will enjoy the evening at “Bagore ki Haveli”. You are free to have dinner at any place you fancy. Dinner at a local specialty restaurant overlooking Lake Pichola or special dinner at Badi Mahal on request (additional cost and charges apply).

Day 12: Delhi

Fly to Delhi. This day is at leisure for you to visit some of the markets again to do some last-minute shopping based on your foodie expeditions. May be you would like to take some Indian spices back home.

Day 13: Depart Delhi

Breakfast at the hotel. Guests will be transferred with assistance to the International Airport for their flights to home.

End of Tour

Note: This is non refundable trip, it is highly recommended that you buy travel insurance.

Want a customized tour? We also offer Tailor made group tours of India (for 6 people or more). Let us know what you want and we will work out the details. Contact us: 206 919 8930.

INCLUDED IN PRICE:

  • Accommodation for 13 nights on twin-share (single occupancy at a supplement). Single Room Supplement $1500
  • Delhi – Udaipur flight in economy
  • Road travel by a private chauffeur-driven, air-conditioned vehicle
  • Assistance at airports
  • Service of accompanying English speaking tour manager cum guide
  • Local experts at workshop
  • Entrance fees at the monuments
  • Block printing workshop at Bagru
  • Visit to textile workshop at Akola, Jalore and Jodhpur
  • All currently applicable taxes

 NOT INCLUDED IN PRICE:

  • International flight and airport taxes
  • India Visa Fee
  • Travel Insurance
  • Any COVID related expenses
  • Meals (Lunches & Dinners) not included in meal plan
  • Expenses of personal nature like room service items, laundry, telephone calls etc
  • Camera fees at the monuments (nominal)

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Culinary Tours India

Culinary tours |special interest tours india |tours by theme india.

Culinary tours in India have become quite popular since the 1990s. The plethora of lip-smacking Indian Cuisines attracts the attention of food lovers from all across the world. Indian delicacies and food habits have evolved over the years and are molded by various customs, beliefs, religions, tribes, including topography and climate. As a result, in each region of India, you will find some specific dishes, just unique to that region. For food lovers, there are culinary tours where food becomes your main attraction for exploration and choosing a destination for a holiday. Food connoisseurs can book for Culinary Tours in India to explore the food habits of different regions of India. All these food tours offer an important understanding of the variegated delicious cuisines of our country. The Culinary Tour Packages in India by the tour operators of India take the food lovers to a journey of some of the most appetizing dishes in India. Let Truly India Tours, the best DMC for India be your travel partner to entice you to a gastronomic journey for a memorable vacation. India’s culinary tours have lot many food delicacies to offer to tourists, along with the regular sightseeing. There are food specialties in every region like as non-veg tandoor in Delhi, Punjab, Awadhi cuisine in Lucknow, spicy delights in Rajasthan, vegetarian snacks delight in Gujarat, Mughlai and Biryani in Hyderabad, plethora of south Indian dishes in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, sea food in Goa, fish delicacies in West Bengal and Assam, ethnic tribal foods in North East India, and so on.

Each region has so many palatable dishes to offer that a culinary tour in India is just a never-ending tour for food lovers. Such a food tour allows you take a walk into the food street lanes and see how the food vendors prepare their stuff. In some culinary tours, guides are provided to get you an insight into the origin and preparation of variety of foods. Especially for hotel management students, such a food tour is very helpful. Some Culinary food tours also allow you to attend one or two cooking class as a part of your tour package. For instance, if you plan a Goa Culinary Tour, you can take a cooking class at the colonial Siolim House in North Goa. Similarly, in Cochin, you can visit a local home to learn the basics of preparing a South Indian Thali. Mumbai Food Tour takes you to the exotic range of luxury restaurants, hotels, food joints, food stalls in the streets and historic cafés. Try the popular pani puri, bhel puri, and tasty pao baaji at the Chowpatty beach. Delhi-Jaipur-Agra Culinary Tour is one of the best ways to enjoy India’s mouthwatering food. Visiting Chandni chowk’s paratha gali is a must in Delhi food tour. Try the street foods and Mughlai delicacies of Delhi. Agra’s petha, dalmoth, Jaipur’s Dal baati churma, Laal maans, Gatte ki subzi are a variety of cookery delights. Gujarat culinary tour is also an awesome one when you can have the taste of food items exclusive to that state. Khandvi, Dhokla, Gujarati Kadhi, Dal Dhokli, Thepla are a must try. Culinary trip to South India take you to various destinations which are all about spices, herbs, coconut curries, dosas, idlis, masala pastes, and varied aromas. If you are opting for a North East Culinary Tour, the special local dishes that must be tried are Khar, Pitha, Fish Tenga from Assam, Smoked pork and momos from Nagaland, Thukpa from Arunachal Pradesh, Jadoh from Meghalaya etc. Culinary tours in India are very exciting and interesting tour packages that allow food lovers across the world taste the various food delicacies and also experience the culture and their historical significances. So experience the flavors of India by booking attractive culinary tour package with Truly India Tours. Let us take you to a food tour to a destination of your choice to enjoy regional culinary delicacies.

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Culinary Tours & Cooking Class in India

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India Real Food Adventure (from New Delhi to Goa)

  • Food & Culinary
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Places You’ll See

New Delhi

  • Indulge in puri bhaji of Delhi
  • Munch on delicious kambori at Amber Fort
  • Learn Rajasthani cooking techniques
  • Marvel at the Taj Mahal
  • Introduction
  • Day 1 Delhi
  • Day 2 Delhi
  • Day 4 Jaipur
  • Day 5 Jaipur
  • Day 6 Bijaipur
  • Day 7 Bijaipur
  • Day 8 Udaipur
  • Day 9 Udaipur
  • Day 10 Udaipur - Overnight Train
  • Day 11 Mumbai
  • Day 12 Mumbai

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What's Included

  • Accommodation
  • Additional Services

Where You'll Stay

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cooking tour india

Operated by Intrepid Travel

Back in 1989, two guys from Melbourne, Australia by the names of Darrell and Manch set off on an adventure to the other side of the world. They travelled to Africa and without air conditioning on their modified truck, they filled it with supplies, some beer, a bunch of aviator sunglasses, and some friends. On that trip, they came up with the idea that perhaps others may be interested in this style of travel too. Just like that, Intrepid was born. Intrepid has come a long way since then, now giving over 100,000 travelers a year the opportunity to experience small group travel across all 7 continents. They use local transport, sleep in local accommodation from Cambodian stilt houses to Moroccan riads, and employ 100% local leaders. With three different travel styles including basix, original and comfort, themes ranging from cycling trips to family holidays, and itineraries crafted with the perfect balance of must-see sights and free time, Intrepid caters to every type of traveller no matter their age, budget or travel style. The company has grown but their mission remains the same: to change the way people see the world through sustainable, experience-rich travel

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Customer Reviews

  • Overall Rating Excellent 4.7
  • Itinerary Excellent 4.7
  • Guide Excellent 4.9
  • Transport Excellent 4.7
  • Accommodation Excellent 4.5
  • Food Excellent 4.9
  • Tour Operator Intrepid Travel 4.6
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Intrepid Travel

  • A Michelle S · 18th September 2019 Shakti was very knowledgeable, flexible, helpful and attentive. The places we visited were generally interesting. The group all got along well and respected each other. Trip date: December 2018 Review collected by Intrepid Travel
  • A Siusan M · 18th September 2019 Shakti was a great guide ensuring that the clients were all comfortable knowing what was happening and he was always able to answer cultural and historical questions. Shakti also went out of his way to make sure the group was always satisfied. From the... Show more Trip date: December 2018 Review collected by Intrepid Travel
  • A Abigale S · 18th September 2019 This was my first Intrepid trip as well as my first trip to India and it was phenomenal! I loved having the opportunity to make new friends, learn about the country, try new foods, and have all the planning and organization taken care of! I plan to do... Show more Trip date: December 2018 Review collected by Intrepid Travel
  • A Kate C · 18th September 2019 Or your guide Chandrajeet, sites visited and events attended. Trip date: December 2018 Review collected by Intrepid Travel
  • A Kristian C · 18th September 2019 Overall just a fantastic experience. Chanderjeet was brilliantly knowledgable, open to any question and the itinerary worked well. Trip date: December 2018 Review collected by Intrepid Travel
  • A Mariah R · 18th September 2019 Our tour guide Chandrajeet was phenomenal. He helped to create a group and family whilst on tour, as well as ensuring our safety and comfort at all times. The places we visited were amazing; but the way in which they were brought to life by Chandrajeet... Show more Trip date: December 2018 Review collected by Intrepid Travel
  • A Norah F · 18th September 2019 Our guide Chandrajeet was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic about his country and culture, it gave me a true insight into this wonderful country which I truly appreciate and will never forget Trip date: December 2018 Review collected by Intrepid Travel
  • A Sheilagh R · 18th September 2019 Best Intrepid trip I’ve been on. Fabulous guide, balanced & enjoyable itinerary, brilliant group! Trip date: December 2018 Review collected by Intrepid Travel

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  • Upcoming departures
  • September 2024
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Frequently Asked Questions

Intrepid will do their best to accommodate certain dietary requests such as vegetarian, gluten-free etc, however, sometimes it is not always possible. Please let our team of travel experts know your special meal requests at time of booking to ensure Intrepid have enough time to cater for you.

One of the great things about travelling with Intrepid is that every single one of their departures is guaranteed. So if you book, you're going!

The following meals are included on this tour - 13 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 4 dinners.

Intrepid will need your travel insurance details at least 6 weeks prior to departure in order to issue your vouchers. A comprehensive travel insurance also covers you in case anything happens between now and the time you travel, not just on your trip. But that again depends on the type of travel insurance you get.

This trip with Intrepid does not really have an age cap, 70 is more of a guideline but if you feel you are physically fit to take the trip, there should be no issues at all.

If you are a solo traveller you will be paired with another solo traveller of similar age and same gender. However, if you would like the privacy of your own room there is a single supplement fee, please contact our team of travel experts to arrange this for you.

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Good to Know

  • Currency ₹ Indian Rupee India

As a traveller from USA, Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand you will need an adaptor for types C, E, F, D, M. As a traveller from South Africa you will need an adaptor for types C, E, F.

  • These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
  • Typhoid - Recommended for India. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
  • Hepatitis A - Recommended for India. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
  • Cholera - Recommended for India. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
  • Tuberculosis - Recommended for India. Ideally 3 months before travel.
  • Hepatitis B - Recommended for India. Ideally 2 months before travel.
  • Yellow fever - Certificate of vaccination required if arriving from an area with a risk of yellow fever transmission for India. Ideally 10 days before travel.
  • Japanese B encephalitis - Recommended for India. Ideally 1 month before travel.
  • Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
  • Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
  • For any tour departing before 9th July 2024 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after 9th July 2024, a minimum payment of €400 is required to confirm your booking with Intrepid Travel. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 60 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
  • Some departure dates and prices may vary and Intrepid Travel will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
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  • Insurance Unless otherwise mentioned, TourRadar does not provide travel insurance. We do however recommend purchasing it through our tried and trusted partner, World Travel Nomads .
  • Accessibility Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveller, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team , who are ready and waiting to help you.
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cooking tour india

Food Culinary Tours India 2024 - 2025

Expert advice & Free custmization & Timely reply within 24 hours.

Food Culinary Tours India

India is a place of diverse culture and cuisines. Moreover, India owes its authentic taste of food to the ancient culture of the Maharajas and Nawabs. Nawabi dishes like Kebabs, Biryani, and Mughalai are world-famous dishes. The prime attraction in the food culinary is the Indian spices. Indian cuisine makes use of various spices to make some lip-smacking dishes. Besides, different regions of India offer different flavors in food. You cannot miss the delicious Dosa, Idli, and Sambhar in South India. The mouth-watering Rasgulla in Kolkata is a must-try. The special Hyderabadi Biryani in Hyderabad is also famous.

Delhi offers a variety of food dishes. You can relish the delicious parathas in Paranthe Wali Galli of Old Delhi. Also, the chaat items at Lajpat Nagar are quite famous. Besides, you can get the best kebabs at Jama Masjid and Nizamuddin. Hudson Lane has some of the best cafes in Delhi. Also, you can get authentic Indian food at dhabas opposite IIFT.

Lucknow – You can relish the taste of Nawabi food at Lucknow. Tunday Kababi offers the best kebabs. Also, get the taste of Lucknowi Biryani at Idris ki Biryani. Besides, try lip-smacking street foods at famous otlets. They are Basket Chaat, Jain Chat Wala, and Chowk.

Ahmedabad – While in India, you must taste the unique Gujarati food. InduBen, Das Khaman House, and Om Sai Parantha offer delicious street food. Also, try the authentic Gujarati thali at Vishala. Vintage Car Museum also offers yummy thali.

Jaipur – Dal-baati-churma, Laal maas, and Kulfi are famous in Jaipur. Masala Chawk is a famous place for foodies. Also, Al Bake’Kathi Rolls and Sethi Bar-Be-Que’s Chicken Tikkas are famous here.

Kolkata- Kolkata is famous for its spicy fish dishes and the world-famous sweets. You can try the famous sweets at KC Das. Also, you can try the authentic Bengali cuisine at 6 Place Ballygunj. Places like New Market, Gariahat, and Shyam Bazarhave several food stalls. Golbari at Shyam Bazaar is famous for its Kosha Mangsho(Muttoncurry). Not to miss the Phuchka andChaat near New Market. Besides, you can get some yummy Kathi Rolls at Nizam’s, Badshah, and Aminia.

Mumbai- Mumbai offers a wide variety of street food. Taste the best PavBhaji at several stalls at Tardeo and Crawford Market. KheemaPav of Gulshan-e-Iran is very famous. Besides, you can try Tandoori dishes at Jai Jawan and Café Noorani. Also, Churchgate and Malad have several food stalls that can soothe your taste buds. You cannot miss the Vatata Vada and Bombay Sandwich of Mumbai.

Hyderabad- Hyderabad is famous for its unique Biryani. You can get the best Biryani at Paradise and Jalpaan. Besides, you can try Idli and Dosa at Govind’sBandi and Golden Point. Besides, Lamakaan shop and Ohri’sChowpatti offer some yummy snacks.

Goa - You can get some tasty seafood dishes in Goa. You can try the authentic Goan meal at Mum’s Kitchen and Thalassa. You can try the Stuffed Crab and Pork Vindaloo at Venite Bar & Restaurant. Besides, you can get Chocolate Thali and Beef Carpaccio at La Plage. Also, some cafes serve the best Croissant, Waffles, and Risotto. They are Cafe Bodega and Cafe Chocolatti.

Chennai- Chennai offers the best South Indian Food. You can try the famous South Indian thali at several food outlets in Chennai. Also, you must visit the famous restaurant Robot. Everything starting from taking order and serving the food is taken care of by the robots here. Besides, there is this special restaurant with a jungle theme. It is called the Animal Kingdom. They serve delicious thali.

All in all, Food Culinary Tour in India will amaze you. Besides, it will satiate your hunger for exquisite food.

Food Culinary Tours & Itineraries

Here is a collection of tours and itineraries for your next Food Culinary trip to India.

Old Delhi Food Tour Chandni Chowk

Old Delhi Food Tour Chandni Chowk

  • 2 Nights / 3 Days

Chandni Chowk (Old Delhi)

9 Days Food & Culinary Tours itinerary

9-Day Culinary Journey India: Mumbai to New Delhi

Mumbai - Jaipur - Pushkar - Ajmer - Jaipur - Agra - Delhi

8 Days Golden Triangle with Culinary Tour

8 Days Golden Triangle with Culinary Tour

Delhi - Jaipur - Agra – Delhi

Agra Tour with Taj Mahal and Cooking Class

Agra Tour with Taj Mahal and Cooking Class

Delhi - Agra – Delhi

FAQs for Food Tour India

cooking tour india

Q. Why food tour with Tusk Travel?

Ans. Tusk Travel tour company that specializes in offering food-related tours and experiences in India. They showcase the local food culture and cuisine of India by taking travelers on guided tours of food markets, street food stalls, and local restaurants.

Q. What type of tours does Food Tour India offer?

Ans. Food Tour offers a variety of food-focused tours, including street food tours, market tours, cooking classes, and food-themed walking tours. They aim to provide an authentic and immersive food experience for travelers.

Q. What are some common spices used in Indian cooking?

Ans. Some of the common spices used in Indian cooking include cumin, coriander, turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, mustard seeds, and cayenne pepper.

Q. What is the traditional way of eating Indian food?

Ans. In traditional Indian cuisine, it is common to eat with your hands using roti or naan to scoop up the food. Eating with utensils like forks and knives is becoming more common, but it is still considered traditional to eat with your hands.

Q. What is the traditional drink in Indian cuisine?

Ans. The traditional drink in Indian cuisine is usually buttermilk or mango lassi, which is a sweet and refreshing yogurt-based drink. Chai tea is also a popular beverage in India.

Q. Are the tours available in different cities of India?

Ans. Yes, Food Tour India offers tours in several cities across India, including Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, and more.

Q. What is traditional Gujarati food?

Ans. Traditional Gujarati food consists of many items. They are Dhokla, Thepla, Khandvi, Gathoya, Fafda, and Khakhra. Also, there are SevKhamni and Ghughra.

Q. Are the tours suitable for vegetarians?

Ans. Yes, Food Tour India offers both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options on their tours, and they can accommodate dietary restrictions and preferences.

Q. How long are the tours and what is included?

Ans. The length of the tours varies, but they typically last between 3-5 hours each destination. The tours include a guide, food tastings, and transportation (if necessary). Additional details can be found on their website..

Q. What are some popular vegetarian dishes in traditional Indian cuisine?

Ans. Some popular vegetarian dishes in traditional Indian cuisine include aloo gobi, chana masala, palak paneer, baingan bharta, and dosa.

Q. Is it necessary to have a good knowledge of food to participate in the tours?

Ans. No, a good knowledge of food is not necessary to participate in the tours. Our food itinerary goal is to provide an enjoyable and educational experience for everyone, regardless of their food knowledge or experience.

Q. How do I book a tour with Food Tour India?

Ans. You can book a tour with by contacting with enquiry form. We will provide details on available pricing, including guide, car, hotel and tour options.

Learn More About Indian Food

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  • This data will only be used by our team to contact you and no other purposes.
  • India Culinary Tour : Delhi , Agra, Jaipur and Rajasthan
  • India Culinary Tour – Golden Triangle
  • India Culinary Tour : Golden Triangle & Varanasi
  • Cooking Class With Chefs
  • Half Day Food Tour Old Delhi & New Delhi
  • Full day food tour of old delhi and new delhi
  • New Delhi Food Tour
  • Old Delhi Food Tour
  • Wine Tasting
  • Tea Tasting
  • Chef Gautam Chaudhry
  • Chef Rajeev Goyal
  • Chef Osama Jalali
  • Chef Shikha Gupta

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India Culinary Tour offers detailed culinary tours of India for tourists who wish to explore the culinary heritage and history of India in a detailed way. Apart from dozens of travel companies offering different types of food tours, we excel in custom designed culinary travel itineraries which provide the complete immersive India experience. We have multi-day culinary travel plans of India which help you get a taste of multiple cuisines across multiple locations as well as specialised short duration activities like food walks, cooking classes, tea tasting, wine tasting, farm tours and various others in multiple cities across India.

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  • Travel Planning Guide

The Best Food and Culinary Tours in India

Udaipur, India

Are you ready to dive into a world of culinary delights and indulge in the most exquisite flavors? We've scoured through a variety of food and culinary tours in India from highly reviewed companies, meticulously analyzing key criteria such as service, price, guest ratings, enticing destinations, and immersive activities. Join a delectable journey through India, where you'll have the opportunity to savor local delicacies, embark on food tastings, explore bustling markets, and even participate in hands-on cooking classes. Whether you're a seasoned foodie or simply curious about local cuisine, these tours are sure to satisfy your appetite for adventure!

  • 3 Days Private Taj Mahal Tour with Indian Cooking Class 3 Days, $390.00
  • 7 Days Cultural heartlands of South India tour(All INCLUSIVE) 7 Days, $600.00
  • North India Food Adventure Tour [10 Days ] 10 Days, $1252.82

What are food and culinary tours like in India?

India

Here are the important factors:

  • 4 trip options analyzed
  • $106 average price per day (USD)
  • 3 to 10 days in length
  • 4.93 of 5 average rating
  • 12 people or less on average

Curious about the diverse range of culinary tours? Prepare to be amazed by the array of options available to suit every traveler's preferences. It comes as no surprise that visitors adore these tours, given their exceptional average guest rating of 4.93 out of 5 stars. When it comes to group sizes, the average maximum capacity stands at 12 people, allowing for a comfortable and sociable experience. The shortest tour is 3 days, while the longest is 10 days. With a comprehensive analysis encompassing 4 culinary tours, you can rest assured that India has something tailored to your interests and preferences, promising an unforgettable experience for all.

(All tour prices are in US Dollars before taxes, and come from a base price that is reported by TourRadar. Peak season prices can vary significantly, particularly in destinations where seasonal travel fluctuates dramatically.)

So, let's get to it and see...

The 4 Best Food and Culinary Tours in India

3 days private taj mahal tour with indian cooking class.

  • On Sale: 50% Off See Prices
  • Great Value: the daily price is lower than average for culinary tours.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Check out this incredible trip that has received a 5 out of 5 rating from previous guests. You're in for an epic adventure with a strong emphasis on family-friendly activities and local cuisine. With a duration of 3 days, this journey ensures an intimate group size of 12 people, and is good for travelers from 1 to 90 years old. New Delhi will be both the start and end of your journey. This fantastic option, organized by Raj Tour & Travel , presents an unbeatable value at just $65 per day. Act now to take advantage of the special sale price!

  • Food & Culinary

7 Days Cultural heartlands of South India tour(All INCLUSIVE)

Spanning over 7 days, this trip has a maximum size of 10 individuals. Welcoming travelers from 5 to 90 years old, it is organized by Travel Con , a very popular company with plenty of great reviews. With 4 destinations to explore, you'll get the chance to see Mysuru and Ooty, and more. Beginning in beautiful Bangalore, you'll have a terrific journey that ends in Kochi (Cochin). You'll love the emphasis on local culture, family-friendly activities, and local cuisine, too. Available at an unbeatable price of only $86 per day, this option also has a rating of 5 out of 5 stars from previous guests.

  • In-depth Cultural

North India Food Adventure Tour [10 Days ]

Here's your chance to take off on an exceptional journey that has garnered a 5 out of 5 rating. With a duration of 10 days, this jouney will have 10 participants, and it warmly welcomes travelers from 10 to 90 years old. With an emphasis on family-friendly activities and local cuisine, you know you'll have an amazing adventure. Expertly organized by Travel N Tours India , this amazing trip is an incredible value at just $125 per day.

A Taste of Southern India - Temples and Tea Plantations

This memorable trip is offered by Explore! which has received plenty of positive reviews. The trip itself has a guest rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars, and is priced affordably at $148 per day. This itinerary covers 4 captivating destinations, with stops in Munnar and Thekkady, among others. Begin and conclude your remarkable journey in the gorgeous destination of Kochi (Cochin). The maximum group size is 16 people, welcoming travelers from 16 to 85 years old.

See also The Best Family-Friendly Tours to India , The Best Wildlife Tours to India , The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in India , The Best Historical Tours in India , The Best 10-Day Tours in India , The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in India , The Best 3-Day Tours in India , The Best 2-Week Tours in India , The Best 3-Week Tours in India , The Best 4-Week (1-Month) Tours in India , The Best Extended Trip Tours in India, One Month or Longer , The Best Bicycle Tours in India , Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in India , The Best Christmas & New Years Tours in India , The Best Adventure Tours to India , The Best Eco Tours in India , The Best Train & Rail Tours in India , The Best Art History, Museums, and Cultural Tours Tours in India , The Best Sightseeing Tours in India , The Best Cultural Tours in India , The Best Music Tours in India , The Tours for Animal Lovers in India , The Best Volunteering Tours in India , The Best Photography Tours in India , The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in India , The Best Safaris in India , The Best Budget Safaris in India , The Best Religious Tours in India , The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in India , The Best Holi Festival Tours in India , The Best Honeymoon Tours in India , The Best Tours Under $1000 in India , The Best Luxury Tours to India , The Best Budget Tours to India , The Best Tours for Seniors to India , or The Best G Adventures Tours to India for more tour ideas. With so many options, there's a guided tour or vacation package for every type of traveler.

Also, if you're departing from a specific destination, see The Best 3-Day Tours from New Delhi , The Best 3-Day Tours from Bangalore , The Best 3-Day Tours from Mumbai , The Best 3-Day Tours from Delhi , The Best 3-Day Tours from Hyderabad , The Best 3-Day Tours from Chennai (Madras) , The Best 3-Day Tours from Pune , The Best 3-Day Tours from Kochi (Cochin) , The Best 3-Day Tours from Varanasi , The Best 3-Day Tours from Goa , The Best 3-Day Tours from Jaipur , The Best 3-Day Tours from Dehradun , The Best 3-Day Tours from Amritsar , The Best 3-Day Tours from Bhubaneswar , The Best 3-Day Tours from Kolkata (Calcutta) , The Best 3-Day Tours from Ahmedabad , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New Delhi , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Kochi (Cochin) , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Delhi , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Leh , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bagdogra , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Mumbai , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Jaipur , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Kolkata (Calcutta) , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Chennai (Madras) , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Srinagar , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Ahmedabad , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Nagpur , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Hubballi , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Udaipur , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Chandigarh , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bangalore , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Port Blair , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Hyderabad , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Kozhikode , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Goa , The Best 10-Day Tours from New Delhi , The Best 10-Day Tours from Delhi , The Best 10-Day Tours from Mumbai , The Best 10-Day Tours from Kochi (Cochin) , The Best 10-Day Tours from Kolkata (Calcutta) , The Best 10-Day Tours from Chennai (Madras) , The Best 10-Day Tours from Bangalore , The Best 2-Week Tours from New Delhi , The Best 2-Week Tours from Delhi , The Best 2-Week Tours from Mumbai , The Best 2-Week Tours from Chennai (Madras) , The Best 2-Week Tours from Bangalore , The Best 2-Week Tours from Kochi (Cochin) , or The Best 2-Week Tours from Kolkata (Calcutta) for more package tour options.

How much do food and culinary tours in India cost?

Visitors will find a large range of terrific options for culinary tours when planning a visit to India. The price of these specific trips can vary according to length, destinations, and travel style. The average price of culinary tours in India based on data from 4 options is an affordable $106 per day. If you're interested in more information about tours here, see our guide to tour prices in India .

And for more information on India, see India Travel Costs and India Hotel Costs .

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Tour Overview

There’s no such thing as Indian cuisine. In a country with such mind-boggling culinary diversity it is almost preposterous to use the term.  India boasts of not one or two but about as many cuisines as the number of communities. Food of India can be categorized into North Indian and South Indian for the purpose of simplicity. But that is a simplistic categorization, for even within every state in India one finds great culinary variation.

And the best way to learn the cuisines is at home of local. We have food experts at each touristic destination who will showcase you the history of the regional cuisines and you can also learn the cooking and try yourself at home. They will explain you about the importance of various Indian spices. A cooking demonstration experience combines hands on learning Indian cuisine followed by indulging the tummy and heart with the delicacies cooked.

Here are some broad idea of cuisines at famous touristic destinations :

DELHI: There is one thing you will find common in all the Delhiites is that they love their for food. Delhi’s food culture is a potpourri of different traditions and cultures from the past. As people from different places came and settled in, the city acquired identity of all the types of people living in it. All the rulers and emperors have left some taste of their food behind. The most famous being the Mughlai cuisines from the Mughal era. Now Mughalai cuisines are cooked in all parts of the country but the best cuisines are prepared in Delhi. And Delhiites will always be thankful to the Mughals for leaving behind their food recipes.

So here are some dishes which are prominent in Delhi; Tandoor - It was the Mughals who introduced tandoor in the country, it is basically a kind of bread, which is made in earthen oven. Kababs are quite common in this part of the country. Kababs are small pieces of meat or chicken marinated in different spices. Thereafter, it is cooked over coal tandoor. Other that Mughali cuisine Butter Chicken is one of the most delightful dishes of the country. It originated in the 1950s in Moti Mahal Restaurant in Delhi.

PUNJABI CUISINE: The food of Punjab is meant for the strong-hearted. It is rich in flavours and has a liberal dose of ghee (clarified butter) and spices. Punjab has an abundance of milk and therefore milk products are an important part of daily diet. No meal is complete without large glassfuls of butter milk or lassi (yoghurt drink). The people of this region are largely wheat eaters and have developed variations of breads including the stuffed aloo paratha (potato bread) and the makke ki roti (maize bread). Vegetarian delights such as sarson saag (mustard leaf curry), rajma-chawal (kidney beans with steamed rice) and kadhi (gram flour and yoghurt curry) are the most popular Punjabi dishes . Punjabis have also created a combination of the northwest frontier cuisine and Mughlai recipes to present rich poultry and mutton dishes. The ubiquitous "tandoori chicken" is a great favorite!

UTTAR PRADESH CUISINE: The cuisine of Uttar Pradesh is just as diverse as its geography. The people of Uttar Pradesh love to cook, to eat and to feed! Difference in communities notwithstanding, as a people, they are very warm and hospitable. For most of them, the ultimate in hospitality means you feed your guests till they beg for mercy. Many Hindu communities are staunch vegetarians and they have created a vast variety of vegetarian dishes ranging from the all time favorite puri-aloo (potatoes and fried wheat bread) to savouries and divine desserts and sweetmeats.

The Muslim cuisine , of northern Uttar Pradesh is very different from the Mughlai food of Delhi. The Nawabs of Oudh (now Lucknow) were great gourmets and encouraged their master chefs to create new styles of cooking like the famous Dum Pukht where the food is sealed in large pots called "handis", placed over a slow fire and left to cook in its own juices. When opened, these dishes release the most fragrant and delicious aromas. Lucknow and its neighboring towns were put on the culinary map of India thanks to these rich curries, melt in the mouth kebabs, fragrant rice biryanis and pulaos and an eclectic collection of leavened and unleavened breads.

RAJASTHANI CUISINE: In the desert areas of Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Barmer the scarcity of water and fresh green vegetables had- its impact on the creativity of the cooks. Instead of water, the womenfolk of the herdsmen used milk, buttermilk and clarified butter that was available in plenty, as well as dried lentils and beans from native plants. Gram flour is a major ingredient and is used for preparing delicacies like gatta ki sabzi, pakodi and khata. Bajra and corn, the staple grains, go to making rotis, rabdi and kheechdi. And various chutneys prepared from locally available spices like coriander, garlic, mint and turmeric round off the regional flavor. The food owes much to the demands and ingenuity of the lifestyle of the people. For example, the universal favorites Dal-baati (lentil curry with wheat dough balls roasted in hot coals) and choorma (dry. flaky, wheat bread crumb pudding garnished with raisins and almonds) were food items that could be carried for days in the hot desert climate by warriors. Baalis could be buried in the hot desert sands and slowly baked till required. Non-vegetarian dishes include soola or barbecued meats marinated to succulent tenderness and grilled on open coal fires. Its origins lie in the yesteryear hunting expeditions of the nobility.

However, it is sweets that the Rajasthan really excel in, each region having its specialty. So Jaipur is famous for its mishri mawa and ghevar, neighboring Pushkar for its malpuas, Ajmer for its "sohan halwa", Jodhpur and Jaisalmer for their "laddoos, Bikaner for its "rasgullas" and Udaipur for its "diljam”. And you can find mouthwatering, crisp and syrupy “jalebis” everywhere. Being constantly on the move, the Rajasthanis required foodstuff that could last several days and be easily carried. So, a large number of savory snacks were developed - "dal-moth", " bhujia", “khatta-meetha sev”, which are popular to this day.

BENGALI CUISINE: Bengali food consists of a lot of fish, lentils and rice. Breakfast could be milk and rice flakes eaten with gur (jaggery) or luchi (fluffy wheat pancake) with aloo dum (a dry spicy potato dish not to be mistaken for the Kashmiri dum aloo). Lunch and dinner are elaborate affairs. The first course is rice and daal (lentil curry) with vegetables, pickled mangoes and fresh salad.

It is followed by rice and meat and yet another course of rice and-fish: Great fish eaters, the true blue Bengali is the one who can crunch fish bones without letting them stick in the throat! The "hilsa" fish is a specialty when cooked in mustard sauce.

Bengalis love sweets. A vast array of milk based "mithai" (sweetmeats) originated in Bengal. The light and spongy Rosogulla, the mouth-watering Sandesh are available all over India, but nowhere do they taste as they do in Kolkata. Sweetshops in other parts of the country just have to call themselves "Bengali Sweet House" and their reputation is established. If you are ever in Kolkata do try the delectable Mishti Doi (rich sweet yoghurt).

GOAN CUISINE: Goan cuisine is the end result of the blending of local Konkani and Portuguese food styles. This culinary amalgamation and adaptation has created fiery coconut based curries and stews using pork and beef and rich cakes and pastries, as well as an interesting range of port and red and white wines.

Goans famous Pork Vindaloo is the fiery local specialty, cooked in hot red chilli peppers and vinegar - it is hot and tangy. Other specialties of Goan cuisine are equally well known: Xacuti (a chicken or meat dish), Chourisso (spicy Goan sausages), Sorpotel (a pig liver dish) and Prawn Balchao. A meal should be rounded off with delicious, much relished desserts- Dodol and Bebinca. Fresh seafood is an absolute must for Goan cooking, which includes dishes of prawns, crabs, mussels and fish cooked in local styles and mouth-watering creations of lobster cooked in wine and cheese.

Feni, the local cashew fruit or coconut brew hits all the right spots. For the less adventurous, there are some local ports and red and white wines or the cool, refreshing coconut water drunk straight from the tender green coconut.

TAMILIAN CUISINE: The food of Tamil Nadu is what passes for "south Indian cuisine" everywhere else in the country. Idli, dosa, vada, sambar, uppama as with all Indian food, a meal centres on a base of rice or semolina preparation. Eaten alongside is the sambar, sour hot dal souped-up with vegetables. The Brahmins are vegetarian, but others consume sour-hot fish, mutton and chicken with gusto.

Of the Tamilian cuisines it is Chettinad food that is on the ascendance on the popularity charts. The cuisine belongs to the money-lending community of Chettiars who were originally from the deep south of the state but whose trade links took them far and wide into South East Asia. The wealth of the community is reflected in its food, which is liberal in its use of oils, meats and spices. Of course they cook the usual chicken and fish, but they also have dishes for such exotica as Japanese quail. They do a variety of vegetarian dishes. The basic terms are varuval, poriyal and kuzambu. A varuval is a dry preparation where meats or vegetables are lightly fried with onions and spices, the poriyal is a rich hot curry, and kuzambu is a stew of meat or vegetables in spiced up coconut milk.

The drink of choice through the state is coffee . Grown in the plantations in the Nilgiri Hills , the coffee is brewed with great care and filtered such that it is guaranteed to deliver the days caffeine fix with one flavorful punch.

KERALA CUISINE: Rice is the staple of the Kerala diet Various preparations form the base of the meal; curries of fish, meat and vegetable accompany it Most dishes bear the flavor of coconut, curry leaves and mustard seeds, and the tastes of coconut milk and tamarind. All communities except the Namboodiris- a community of orthodox Brahmins, consume meat.

Kerala cuisine is distinguished by its regional and religious variations. The food of the Malabar Coast is distinct in its use of red chillies, pepper, mutton and beef preparations and the fondness for the famed Malabari "barolha" a many-layered fried bread made from unleavened dough. The Travancore region is staunchly Hindu so beef is taboo but pork is not. Rice is still the staple; but while the curries are less spicy there is a strong flavour of coconut oil. Kerelan relishes sea fish, mussels, pork, beef, mutton and fowl, and these may be stewed, fried or curried. Usually Muslims won’t eat pork and Hindus won’t eat beef. The influence of the Middle East is unmistakable-in the richness of the meat dishes.

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Ayur culinary 14 days, yoga culinary, culinary carnival, yoga delights, ayur culinary 7 days, authentic culinary, relax & rejuvenate.

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Authentic Culinary Package 14 Days, 13 Nights Cooking Demo/Tours All meals included

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Culinary Package with Yoga 14 Days, 13 Nights Cooking Demo/Yoga/Tours All meals included

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Explore Kerala Culture & Cuisines 30 Days, 29 Nights Cooking Demo/Ayurveda/Yoga/Tours All meals included

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Culinary Package with Ayurveda 7Days, 6 Nights Cooking Demo/Ayurveda/Tours All meals included

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Authentic Culinary Tour Package 7Days, 6 Nights Cooking Demo/Tours All meals included

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Guest is the King! You are always the king and we serve the best for you. We never compromise on quality and professionalism.

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The tour as well as the firm is owned and guided by a 17 years experienced professional Chef with international exposure.

Hands-on sessions - not just demo!

Experience practical sessions on a wide variety of Indian cuisines with our experienced Chefs in a classic resort with great ambience!

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You will be accommodated in top-class village/beach& backwater resorts with Yoga & Ayurveda to rejuvenate yourself. Sight-seeing tours to explore Kerala!

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Food & Culture - Planning for a Culinary Trip?

Authentic India Tours

Culinary Tour to India

12 day – private tour with air-conditioned car and driver, from £2490 low season & £2990 high season, abta and atol protected holidays.

Our Culinary tour to India offers a way to experience the authentic flavours of the region, all while enjoying some of the most exclusive Indian retreats around. You’ll meet local people who’ve cooked and grown their produce the same way for generations, and learn the truth behind Kerala’s most delectable dining – all among some of the most beautiful and secluded surroundings in the country.

Please remember all our private tours are designed to meet your exact requirements, and this tour is just an example to help inspire you. If you would like we can also arrange your flights for a fully ATOL protected holiday. Contact the team for more information on 01792 315499 or email [email protected]

Highlights of the Culinary Tour to India

Spice Village Organic Farm, Periyar, Kerala

  • A visit to the Cochin fish market
  • Kerala cookery demonstration followed by dinner
  • Kumbalanghi fishing village and home cooked lunch
  • Kathakali dance performance
  • Munnar tea museum and  tasting
  • Cookery demonstrations in Periyar
  • Guided tour of the spice plantations
  • Trek in Periyar National Park
  • Lake Periyar boat trip
  • Sunset cruise on Vembanad Lake
  • Overnight Kerala Backwaters cruise on a private houseboat
  • Day of leisure on Mararikulam Beach

Culinary Tour to India Itinerary

Culinary Tour to India

Arriving at Cochin Airport, you’ll be met and transferred to Brunton Boatyard, a beautiful Victorian waterfront property. Its breezy interior boasts high ceilings and low-hanging fans, while it’s super spacious thanks to its legacy as a boat building facility in years gone by.

It’s here that you’ll settle in for a couple of days, but you’re in for a lively evening to begin with. Your first night will see you touring the local fish market to see today’s catches, before heading to the home of Paul and Nimmy for an authentic home cooked meal. Nimmy has over 20 years’ experience as a cooking instructor under her belt, and she’ll take you through the secrets of cooking Kerala food the true Indian way.

Accommodation: Brunton Boatyard, Cochin

Meals included: dinner.

A brisk morning jaunt will see you heading to the fishing village of Kumbalangi. Here you’ll see crab farmers and fishermen practice their craft, before settling in for lunch in those beautiful backwaters Kerala does so well. As the afternoon draws in, you’ll have the chance to explore Fort Cochin and Mattancherry, complete with experiencing the Dutch Palace, the Jewish synagogue and St Francis Church, each superb examples of multicultural old architecture in India.

In the late afternoon, you’re free to make your own way through the heritage quarter of Cochin and its surroundings. Relish in the freedom that comes with seeing Kerala your way, before reconvening come the evening. You’ll also have the chance to watch the dramatic dance performances of traditional Kerala, the Kathakali.

Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch

You’re on the move again, on a lazy two hour drive from Cochin to Kothamangalam. This is a beautiful landmark featuring swarthy tropical heat and abundant natural plant life. The River Periyar weaves its historic path through this territory, and your lunch will be enjoyed with authentic flavours at a bungalow surrounded by 100 acres of plantation, dedicated to crops of all kinds.

After your meal, it’s on to exploring the tea plantations of Munnar after two relaxed hours on the road. You’ll be spending the first of your two nights at the Windermere Estate, with the freedom to walk the grounds and gardens in the evening.

Approximate travel time and distance: 4 – 5 hours, 150 kms

Accommodation: windermere estate, munnar.

Today be prepared for stunning views and scenery. In the morning you can enjoy a Lockhart tea trail experience. Lockhart tea estate is situated 8 kms from Munnar town and will take about 30 minutes to reach

Depending  on what you choose, you can take part in walks lasting from 30 minutes to 4 hours. As you explore this area, you’ll be rewarded by breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. There may also be an opportunity to interact with the ladies picking tea leaves.

A scenic drive or a visit to Munnar and its busy market can easily be arranged if you prefer.

Later you can visit a tea museum and tea factory, where you’ll gain a fascinating insight into the region’s tea production, from crop-picking to flavour adjustment.

As the evening draws in,  enjoy a tea tasting experience where you will be shown the various types and grades of tea ( both produced locally and elsewhere) You will be taught how to tell if the tea is of good quality and how to brew your own perfect cuppa.

Meals included: Breakfast

It’s tempting to doze off after the filling breakfast you’ve enjoyed before the three hour drive to Periyar, but you’ll be missing the views if you do. You’ll arrive at one of the best national parks and sanctuaries of India – Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary..

Your next two nights stay will be something magical. The thatched roofs and traditional buildings of the Spice Village make it among the most beautiful hotels in India, as well as Eco-friendly. Once settled in your own private cottage, you’ll get a tour of the spice plantation and a glimpse into how it’s produced and marketed in the region and beyond.

Approximate travel time and distance: 3 – 4 hours, 100 kms

Accommodation: spice village, periyar.

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the best places in South India to spot wildlife, and if you’re lucky, you may catch a glimpse of elephants, Sambar deer and Indian bison.

It’s an early start to head to Lake Periyar, where you can try bamboo rafting and have a go navigating a raft. Then grab your binoculars and camera and spend time in the Reserve where there is an abundance of wildlife to discover.

There will be time this afternoon to discover the local town or hotel facilities, and then in the evening learn to cook with spices at the evening cookery class at your resort. The focus is on Kerala cuisine, with accent being on the effective use of spices.

You’re travelling India in style today. The morning’s four hour drive features an enchanting tour of tea and rubber plantations aplenty, ending with you boarding your personal houseboat for an overnight cruise, sailing to Vembanad Lake. Built from coconut fibres and bamboo, these houseboats have a timeless appeal that makes them as handsome as they are welcoming.

Approximate travel time and distance: 4 hours, 150 kms

Accommodation: private houseboat, alleppey, meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

A big, locally sourced breakfast sets you up for a trip to the island that houses Philipkutty’s Farm. This is an organic, sustainable farm that grows bananas, coconuts and plenty of other fruits and vegetables. The island is large enough that you can enjoy lakeside views all round while surrounded by authentic Indian cuisine.

Accommodation: Philpkutty’s Farm, Kumarakom

Today’s treat is a cooking demonstration from your host family, bringing with it all the finest spices and flavours in Kerala. Rice and string hoppers form the staple of the dishes you’ll be enjoying, while duck, chicken, fish and fresh vegetables all round off the flavours. Of course, because you’re enjoying our bespoke tours, these are family recipes you won’t find anywhere else and come embellished with little touches perfected over generations.

Come the evening, you’re free to enjoy the scenery as you see fit.

Perched on the pristine beaches of the Arabian Sea, Mararikulam is home to the Marari Beach Resort. It’s an Eco-friendly retreat where you can enjoy authentic Ayruveda therapies, or spend your day relaxing by the beach. You’ll be transferred here late in the morning, giving you a full day to make the most of the serenity.

Approximate travel time and distance: 45 minutes, 30 kms

Accommodation: marari beach resort, mararikulam.

Today you’re free to enjoy what many call the best beach Kerala can offer, as well as sample any number of therapies, treatments or ways of pampering yourself at Marari Beach Resort. As the evening draws in, you’re encouraged to partake of the grand finale to your Kerala Culinary Adventure, heading out to the farmland to join top chefs in picking vegetables and herbs to add to a bespoke dish you’ll plan, prepare and eat together tonight. Joining the head chef as his guests of honour, you’ll sit at the best table in the house and enjoy an authentically cooked dish made with the love and secret tips they do so well here.

A timely transfer to the airport sees you reflect on your adventures as you board your flight and go home, enriched and rejuvenated.

Approximate travel time and distance: 2 hours 30 minutes, 10 kms

Culinary tour to india images.

Santa Cruz Basilica Church, Cochin (Kochi), Kerala

Santa Cruz Basilica Church, Cochin (Kochi), Kerala

Chinese Fishing Nets, Cochin (Kochi), Kerala

Fishing Boats, Cochin (Kochi), Kerala

Fish Market, Cochin (Kochi), Kerala

Kumbalangi Fishing Village, Cochin (Kochi), Kerala

Jewish Synagogue, Cochin (Kochi), Kerala

Kathakali Performance, Cochin (Kochi), Kerala

Shopping in Jew Street, Cochin (Kochi), Kerala

Street Vendor, Cochin (Kochi), Kerala

Dhobi Khana, Cochin (Kochi), Kerala

Brunton Boatyard Hotel, Cochin (Kochi), Kerala

Stunning Western Ghats, Munnar, Kerala

Tea Estates, Munnar. Kerala

Tea Plantation Workers, Munnar, Kerala

Bamboo Rafting, Periyar National Park, Kerala

Cardamon Selection, Periyar, Kerala

Periyar National Park, Kerala

Cardamom Plantation Worker, Periyar, Kerala

Cookery Demonstration at Spice Villlage Resort, Periyar

Spice Village Organic Farm, Periyar, Kerala

Spice Village Private Garden Villa, Periyar, Kerala

Serene Lake Vernadamen, Kumarakom, Kerala

Village Life, Kerala Backwaters, Kerala

Evening Chai, Kumarakom, Kerala

Tranquil Backwaters, Kumarakom, Kerala

Private House Boat, Kerala Backwaters, Kerala

Typical Houseboat Bedroom, Kerala Backwaters, Kerala

Canal Boat Ride, Kumarakom, Kerala

Woman Transporting Water, Kumarakom, Kerala

Ayurveda Treatments, Kumarakom, Kerala

Coconut Groves, Mararikulam, Kerala

Mararikulam, Kerala

Refreshment at the Marari Beach Resort, Mararikulam, Kerala

Fishermen, Mararikulam. Kerala

Marari Beach, Mararikulam, Kerala

Places on the Culinary Tour to India

Kathakali Performance, Cochin (Kochi), Kerala

Culinary Tour to India Hotels

Brunton Boatyard Hotel, Cochin (Kochi), Kerala

Pricing and Inclusions

Price guide for this 12 day Kerala Culinary tour is

  • £2490 in low season (May – September inclusive)
  • £2990 in high season (October – April inclusive)

The prices do not include flights.

Authentic India Tours is a member of ABTA and ATOL. All the holidays on this website are ABTA protected. If you would like us to arrange your holiday including flights we will be happy to provide a quote and your holiday will also be ATOL protected.

This is a private tour and can be tailor-made to meet your exact requirements. Prices will vary depending on the number of people, length of tour, accommodation & season. Reductions are normally available for groups of three or more. Some hotels operate an additional peak pricing rate during busy times which is normally from mid December to mid January.

Please get in touch with your dates and we will be pleased to provide you with your personal itinerary and accurate quote.

Included with this Culinary Tour to India are the following :

  • Meet & greet assistance on arrival
  • All transfers and sightseeing tours using an air-conditioned vehicle
  • Accommodation for 11 nights on a twin sharing basis
  • Standard category rooms at all hotels unless otherwise mentioned
  • Meal plan: Houseboat and Philipkutty’s farm on full board; bed & breakfast elsewhere
  • Cooking class & dinner at Nimmy Paul’s residence, Cochin
  • Kumbalangi village visit and lunch in Cochin
  • Tickets for Kathakali dance show in Cochin
  • English speaking guide for sightseeing tour of Cochin
  • Lunch at Mundackal plantation bungalow Kothamangalam
  • Guided day trek in Letchmi Hills Munnar
  • Spice plantation tour in Periyar
  • Nature trek with tribal trackers in Periyar tiger reserve
  • Tickets for boating on Lake Periyar
  • Interactive farm kitchen with the chef at Marari beach resort
  • Entrances at all national parks, museums and monuments as per the itinerary
  • Mineral water on all days of travel

Price does not include:

  • International flight tickets
  • Travel insurance
  • Expenses of personal nature like laundry, tips, beverages etc
  • Meals other than mentioned in the above meal plan
  • Camera & video fees at national parks, museums & monuments

Prices mentioned above are per person based on two people sharing a twin room. The prices which were valid at the time of publication may be subject to change, based on your date of travel and local market fluctuations. You will be informed of any price differences prior to booking.

For a quote based on your dates of travel, any alternative accommodation or changes to this itinerary, please call us on 01792 315499 or email us at  [email protected]

Please remember all our private tours are designed to meet your exact requirements, and this Culinary India tour is just an example to help inspire you.

For more information please email  [email protected]  or call our India specialists on 01792 315499.

And if you fancy trying your hand before you travel take a look at our Indian Food to Cook on the Barbecue guide

ABTA and ATOL Protected Tour Package

Authentic India Tours is a member of ABTA and ATOL . All the holidays on this website are ABTA protected. If you would like us to arrange your holiday including flights we will be happy to provide a quote and your holiday will also be ATOL protected.

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Everyone should go on a Deccan food tour at least once in their life, especially the foodies out there, who can’t seem to help their cravings or curb it for good. In a South India food tour, the culinary delights are indescribably good. South Indians love to infuse their meals with spices, and Malayalees, the natives of Kerala can’t do without coconut, which makes their gravies thick and lends their food an incredible taste and smell.

The South Indian culinary expedition covers locations that excel in the culinary department, thus offering you a lifetime opportunity to experience the goodness of South Indian meals and indulge in the sumptuous cuisine of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

  • Sampling a traditional Thali meal
  • Visiting the temple complex of Kanchipuram
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  • Experiencing a bullock-cart ride in Chettinad
  • Meenakshi temple visit at Madurai
  • A houseboat cruise on the backwaters of Alleppey with lunch onboard
  • A cooking session with Mrs Nimmy Paul

ITINERARY - 15 Days

Best season: January - December

Tags: Architecture , City Trails , Culinary Tours

Best season: September - April

Best season: October - April

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  • Travel Guide
  • Food Travel

A Vegetarian’s Culinary Tour Of India

Published: August 20, 2023

Modified: January 3, 2024

by Clio Luce

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a-vegetarians-culinary-tour-of-india

Introduction

Food and travel go hand in hand, and for food lovers, exploring the culinary delights of different regions is an enriching experience. One such fascinating destination for food enthusiasts is India. Known for its diverse culture and vibrant flavors, India offers a plethora of culinary experiences.

When it comes to food travel in India, there’s something for everyone. From the fiery spices of North Indian cuisine to the light and aromatic flavors of South Indian dishes, the country’s culinary landscape is as diverse as its people. Whether you’re a vegetarian or a meat lover, India has a rich repertoire of food that will tantalize your taste buds.

One of the unique aspects of Indian cuisine is its strong vegetarian tradition. With a large population following vegetarianism for cultural, religious, or health reasons, the country has perfected the art of vegetarian cooking. From dishes made with a variety of lentils and vegetables to innovative creations using dairy products like paneer and ghee, vegetarian food in India is anything but boring.

In this article, we will take a comprehensive culinary tour of India, focusing on the regional cuisines that cater to vegetarian preferences. We will explore the distinct flavors and specialties of each region, highlighting the must-try vegetarian dishes and street foods.

So, pack your bags and get ready to embark on a mouthwatering journey through the flavors of India. From the bustling streets of Delhi to the serene backwaters of Kerala, each region has its own culinary gems waiting to be discovered. Get ready to indulge in a gastronomic adventure that will leave you craving for more.

North Indian Cuisine

North Indian cuisine is famous for its rich flavors, aromatic spices, and hearty preparations. This region encompasses the states of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, and parts of Bihar and Haryana. The cuisine here is known for its robust flavors, generous use of dairy products, and a wide array of vegetarian dishes.

When it comes to North Indian vegetarian cuisine, one cannot miss out on the iconic dishes like chole bhature, a combination of spicy chickpea curry served with deep-fried bread, or the creamy and indulgent paneer tikka, grilled cubes of cottage cheese marinated in a spicy yogurt marinade. The use of aromatic spices like cumin, coriander, cardamom, and cloves adds depth and complexity to the flavors.

The region is also famous for its bread varieties, such as naan, roti, and paratha. These breads are usually made with wheat flour and are enjoyed with a variety of curries and chutneys. The popular stuffed parathas, like aloo paratha (potato-stuffed bread) or paneer paratha (cottage cheese-stuffed bread), are a breakfast staple in many households.

North Indian cuisine is also known for its rich and creamy gravies. Dishes like shahi paneer, butter paneer masala, and malai kofta are made with a base of cashew or tomato-onion paste, seasoned with aromatic spices and finished with a dollop of fresh cream. These indulgent dishes are often enjoyed with freshly made pulao or fragrant biryani.

For those seeking street food experiences, North India has a lot to offer. Aloo tikki, a popular street food snack, is a crispy potato patty served with spicy chutneys. Another must-try is the famous golgappa or pani puri, which consists of crispy hollow puris filled with a tangy and spicy water, accompanied by a mixture of potatoes and chickpeas.

With its flavorful curries, fragrant rice dishes, and irresistible street food, North Indian cuisine is a vegetarian’s paradise. Every bite is a burst of flavors that will leave you craving for more.

South Indian Cuisine

South Indian cuisine is known for its unique flavors, extensive use of rice and lentils, and a wide range of vegetarian dishes. The states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka are the primary regions where South Indian cuisine flourishes.

South Indian cuisine is centered around rice-based dishes like idli, dosa, and uttapam. Idli is a steamed rice cake made from a fermented batter of rice and lentils, served with coconut chutney and sambar (a tangy lentil soup). Dosa, on the other hand, is a crispy, savory pancake made from fermented rice and lentil batter and is often accompanied by coconut chutney and various types of spicy chutneys.

Another popular dish is Vada, a deep-fried lentil donut that is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. It is typically served with coconut chutney and sambar. Pongal, a flavorful combination of rice and lentils, seasoned with black pepper, cumin, and ghee, is a traditional breakfast dish in Tamil Nadu.

The use of coconut, tamarind, and curry leaves in South Indian cuisine adds distinct flavors to the dishes. Sambar, a lentil-based vegetable stew with tamarind and spices, is a staple accompaniment to idli, dosa, and rice. Rasam, a tangy and spicy soup-like dish made with tamarind, tomatoes, and spices, is also commonly enjoyed.

South Indian cuisine offers a wide variety of vegetable curries and stir-fries. The popular dish avial is a medley of mixed vegetables cooked in a coconut and yogurt-based gravy. Poriyal, a dry sautéed vegetable dish tempered with mustard seeds and curry leaves, is an essential part of a South Indian meal.

When it comes to desserts, South India has some unique offerings. The classic sweet dish, payasam, is a pudding made with rice, milk, jaggery, and flavored with cardamom and dry fruits. Another popular dessert is the traditional Mysore Pak, a rich and buttery sweet made from gram flour, ghee, and sugar.

South Indian cuisine is not limited to just vegetarian options, but it undoubtedly offers a plethora of delectable vegetarian dishes that showcase the rich flavors and culinary traditions of the region.

East Indian Cuisine

East Indian cuisine is a treasure trove of flavors, influenced by the states of West Bengal, Odisha , Bihar, Jharkhand, and parts of Assam and Chhattisgarh. The cuisine of this region is characterized by its use of mustard oil, panch phoron spice blend, and a unique balance of sweet and savory flavors.

One of the popular dishes in East Indian cuisine is macher jhol, a light fish curry made with mustard oil, onion, ginger, and spices. This region is known for its love of fish, and various fish curries and preparations, like paturi (fish marinated in mustard paste and wrapped in banana leaves) and shorshe ilish (hilsa fish in a mustard sauce), showcase the rich seafood tradition.

Vegetarian dishes in this region often feature the use of mustard greens, known as shorshe shaak. These greens are cooked with spices and served with steamed rice. Alu posto is another popular dish made with potatoes cooked in a poppy seed paste, creating a creamy and flavorful combination.

Rice is a staple in East Indian cuisine, and dishes like pakhala (fermented rice) and khichdi (a one-pot dish of rice and lentils) are commonly enjoyed. Pitha, a type of rice dumpling, is a delightful sweet or savory treat that is often prepared during festivals.

Sweets play a significant role in East Indian cuisine. Rasgulla, round cottage cheese dumplings soaked in sugar syrup, and sandesh, a sweet made from paneer (cottage cheese) and flavored with cardamom or saffron, are popular sweet treats. Chhena poda, a unique cheesecake-like dessert made with caramelized sugar and cottage cheese, is a specialty of Odisha.

East Indian cuisine reflects the diverse culinary traditions of the region and draws influences from neighboring countries like Bangladesh and Nepal. With its distinct flavors and a plethora of vegetarian options, East Indian cuisine offers a delightful culinary experience for those seeking to explore the flavors of the region.

West Indian Cuisine

West Indian cuisine is a vibrant fusion of flavors influenced by the states of Gujarat , Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and parts of Goa and Madhya Pradesh. Known for its diverse range of vegetarian dishes, this region offers a delightful culinary experience with its robust spices, unique preparations, and indulgent flavors.

Gujarati cuisine, a significant influence in West Indian food, is known for its extensive use of lentils, vegetables, and dairy products. The thali, a traditional Gujarati meal, comprises a variety of vegetarian dishes served on a large platter. Popular dishes include dal, a spicy lentil curry, and shaak, a mixed vegetable curry with aromatic spices.

Maharashtrian cuisine introduces a unique mix of flavors with dishes like misal pav, a spicy sprout curry served with pav (bread roll), and vada pav, a deep-fried potato fritter sandwiched in a bun. The region is also famous for its street food delights like pani puri, pav bhaji, and batata vada (potato fritters).

Goan cuisine, heavily influenced by Portuguese culture, offers a delectable range of vegetarian dishes. Popular Goan vegetarian dishes include vegetable vindaloo, a tangy and spicy curry made with vegetables and a special blend of spices, and Goan fish curry, where fish is replaced with vegetables like cauliflower or mushrooms.

Rajasthani cuisine, known for its royal flavors, showcases a variety of vegetarian dishes made from locally available ingredients. Dal baati churma, a dish made with lentil curry, baked wheat balls, and a sweet crumbled wheat delicacy, is a classic Rajasthani specialty. Gatte ki sabzi, a curry made with chickpea flour dumplings, is another popular vegetarian dish.

The West Indian region also offers a range of delectable sweets and desserts. Mohanthal, a rich and decadent sweet made with gram flour, ghee, and sugar, is a popular dessert in Gujarat. Maharashtrian desserts like puran poli, a sweet flatbread stuffed with lentil and jaggery filling, and modak, a sweet dumpling filled with coconut and jaggery, are enjoyed during festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi.

With its diverse range of vegetarian dishes, rich flavors, and indulgent desserts, West Indian cuisine offers a culinary journey that is bound to leave food lovers wanting more.

Central Indian Cuisine

Central Indian cuisine is a delightful amalgamation of flavors influenced by the states of Madhya Pradesh , Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and parts of Maharashtra and Rajasthan. This region boasts a diverse range of vegetarian dishes that showcase the unique culinary traditions of the area.

One of the highlights of Central Indian cuisine is its street food culture. Cities like Indore are renowned for their street food delights like poha, a savory flattened rice dish cooked with onions, spices, and peanuts, and sev puri, a crispy snack topped with chutneys, onions, and sev (crunchy chickpea noodles).

Dal bafla, a popular dish from Madhya Pradesh, consists of baked or boiled wheat dough balls served with spicy lentils and ghee. The dish is similar to the Rajasthani dish dal baati but with a unique twist. Another must-try is Bundelkhandi cuisine from the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, which offers a range of vegetarian dishes like khasta roti, kachori, and stuffed parathas.

Central Indian cuisine is also known for its unique meat substitute called soybean. Soybean is extensively used to create vegetarian versions of kebabs, curries, and snacks. It is a popular source of protein and adds a meaty texture to dishes.

Uttar Pradesh, known as the land of nawabs, offers a rich culinary heritage with dishes like tehri, a fragrant rice dish cooked with vegetables and spices, and subz biryani, a vegetarian version of biryani packed with aromatic flavors. The region is also famous for its sweets like peda, a soft and sweet milk-based fudge, and the iconic sweetmeat, petha, made with ash gourd and dipped in sugar syrup.

Central Indian cuisine brings together a blend of flavors from different regions, creating a delightful assortment of vegetarian dishes that are both flavorful and satisfying.

Jain Cuisine

Jain cuisine is unique in its principles and restrictions, as it follows the dietary guidelines of Jainism, an ancient Indian religion. Jainism emphasizes non-violence and the avoidance of harm to living beings. Hence, Jain cuisine is strictly vegetarian and excludes ingredients like onions, garlic, root vegetables, and certain spices.

Despite these limitations, Jain cuisine is a testament to culinary creativity and innovation. It focuses on purity and simplicity, highlighting the natural flavors of grains, vegetables, and dairy products. The cuisine often incorporates a wide variety of lentils, beans, and legumes as sources of protein.

Jain cuisine is known for its emphasis on freshness and purity of ingredients. One popular dish in Jain cuisine is the Jain pav bhaji, a flavorful vegetable curry served with buttered dinner rolls. The dish is prepared without onions and garlic and is often enjoyed with batata poha, a flattened rice dish cooked with potatoes and spices.

Another key feature of Jain cuisine is the concept of “no waste.” In Jain kitchens, utmost care is taken to minimize food wastage. Leftovers are often used creatively to craft new dishes or repurposed into snacks and accompaniments.

Jain sweet dishes are also a highlight of the cuisine. Sweets like shrikhand, a luscious yogurt-based dessert flavored with saffron and cardamom, and modak, a steamed or fried dumpling filled with sweet coconut and jaggery filling, are popular options.

Jain cuisine caters to the principles of ahimsa (non-violence) and reflects a deep respect for all living beings. It showcases the ingenuity of Jain cooks who have managed to create a wide range of delicious and satisfying vegetarian dishes within the constraints of their dietary guidelines.

Gujarati Cuisine

Gujarati cuisine, from the western state of Gujarat in India, is renowned for its distinct flavors, colorful presentations, and wholesome vegetarian dishes. It is influenced by Jain and Vaishnavite traditions, and the cuisine is predominantly vegetarian.

Gujarati cuisine is known for its unique blend of sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors. The thali, a traditional Gujarati meal, is a perfect representation of the diverse dishes that the cuisine has to offer. It typically includes dishes like dal (lentils), kadhi (yogurt-based curry), various shaak (vegetable curries), roti or puri (bread), rice, and an assortment of sweets and pickles.

Gujarati cuisine is characterized by the use of vegetables, lentils, and dairy in abundance. The preparation of dishes like Undhiyu, a mixed vegetable curry cooked with spices and peanut-coconut paste, and dhokla, a steamed fermented rice and gram flour cake, require intricate techniques and attention to detail.

The cuisine also features an array of snacks and street food. Popular snacks like fafda and khandvi are made from gram flour and are crispy, savory, and enjoyed with tangy chutneys. Gujarati street food also includes dishes like dabeli, a spicy potato filling in a bun, and sev puri, a mixture of crispy papdi, chutneys, and sev (crunchy chickpea noodles).

Gujarati sweets are an integral part of the cuisine. Traditional desserts like shrikhand, a sweet and creamy yogurt preparation flavored with saffron and cardamom, and the indulgent Gujarati thali’s finishing touch, the sweet dessert called doodh pak, made with milk, rice, and nuts, are highly popular.

Gujarati cuisine is known for its harmonious blend of flavors, careful use of spices, and attention to maintaining the balance between sweet, salty, and tangy tastes. It truly offers a unique and delightful culinary experience.

Rajasthani Cuisine

Rajasthani cuisine, from the royal state of Rajasthan in India, is a reflection of its rich history, vibrant culture, and vivid flavors. Known for its opulent and indulgent dishes, Rajasthani cuisine is a treat for the senses.

Rajasthan’s arid climate has greatly influenced its cuisine, leading to the use of ingredients that have long shelf lives, such as pulses, grains, and dried spices. Dal baati churma is a signature dish of the region, consisting of flaky wheat dough balls (baatis) served with piping hot lentil curry (dal) and a sweet and crumbled wheat delicacy (churma).

The cuisine of Rajasthan is also famous for its mouthwatering meatless delights. Popular vegetarian dishes include gatte ki sabzi, where besan (gram flour) dumplings are cooked in a spiced yogurt gravy, and ker sangri, a delectable preparation made with dried desert beans and berries.

Another unique aspect of Rajasthani cuisine is its emphasis on utilizing desert plants and ingredients. The cuisine showcases the use of ingredients like kair (desert dates), sangri (beans from khejri tree), and panchmel dal (a combination of five different lentils).

Rajasthani thali, a platter that offers a wide array of dishes, is a culinary feast. It includes an assortment of dal, curry, rice, bread, snacks, and desserts. The thali often features dishes like dal baati churma, bajra roti (millet bread), pyaaz ki kachori (onion-filled crisp bread), and sweet treats like malpua and ghewar.

Rajasthan is also famous for its savory snacks and street food. One cannot miss out on trying the fiery snack called mirchi vada, which consists of deep-fried green chili peppers stuffed with potato filling. Other popular street food items include pani puri, samosa, and mawa kachori, a sweet and rich pastry filled with milk solids.

Rajasthani cuisine pays homage to the royal traditions and rich heritage of the state. With its flavorsome dishes, royal hospitality, and incredible variety, it offers a culinary experience that is fit for kings and queens.

Maharashtrian Cuisine

Maharashtrian cuisine, from the state of Maharashtra in Western India, is a delightful blend of flavors, spices, and diverse culinary traditions. With a range of vegetarian dishes that showcase the region’s agricultural abundance, Maharashtrian cuisine offers a rich and flavorful dining experience.

The cuisine of Maharashtra is known for its vibrant street food and lip-smacking snacks. Vada pav, often called the “poor man’s burger,” is a popular street food item consisting of a spicy potato fritter served in a bun with chutneys. Misal pav, a spicy mixture of sprouts, lentils, and spices, is another street food delight that satisfies taste buds with its explosive flavors.

Maharashtrian cuisine also features a variety of bhakri, which are flatbreads made from grains like rice, jowar, and bajra. Bhakri is often enjoyed with traditional accompaniments like pitla (a gram flour-based curry) or the spicy garlic chutney.

The region is famous for its aromatic spice blends, such as goda masala and kala masala, which add depth and flavor to Maharashtrian dishes. These spice blends are used in popular dishes like bharli vangi (stuffed brinjal), matki usal (spiced sprouted moth beans), and batata rassa (spicy potato curry).

Seafood is also a prominent part of Maharashtrian cuisine, especially in coastal areas like Mumbai and Konkan. Popular seafood dishes include the delectable bombil fry (crispy fried Bombay duck fish) and kolambi bhaat (prawn rice).

Maharashtrian sweets are equally delightful, with dishes like puran poli (sweet flatbread stuffed with lentil filling), modak (sweet dumpling filled with coconut and jaggery), and shrikhand (a luscious yogurt-based dessert flavored with saffron and cardamom) being local favorites.

Whether it’s the spicy street food, hearty traditional meals, or mouthwatering sweets, Maharashtrian cuisine truly reflects the vibrant and diverse flavors of the state and offers a culinary journey that will leave you wanting more.

Bengali Cuisine

Bengali cuisine, from the eastern state of West Bengal in India and Bangladesh, is a culinary delight that showcases the rich flavors and cultural heritage of the region. Known for its love of fish, use of mustard oil, and sweet and spicy flavors, Bengali cuisine offers a unique and unforgettable gastronomic experience.

Fish is an integral part of Bengali cuisine and is prepared in a variety of delectable ways. Mustard fish curry, or macher jhol, is a popular dish where fish is cooked in a tangy and mustard-flavored gravy. Another signature dish is shorshe ilish, which features the prized hilsa fish cooked in a tangy mustard sauce.

Vegetarian dishes in Bengali cuisine are equally enticing. The cuisine boasts an incredible variety of vegetable preparations, such as shorshe begun (eggplant in mustard sauce), alu posto (potatoes in a poppy seed paste), and moong dal with coconut. The use of panch phoron, a Bengali five-spice blend, adds a distinct and aromatic flavor to these dishes.

Rice and fish are an inseparable combination in Bengali meals. Steamed rice is often enjoyed with maach bhaja (fried fish) or maach er jhol (fish curry), accompanied by various vegetarian side dishes and chutneys. The Bengali meal is incomplete without the sweet note of chutney made from fruits like mango, tomato, or pineapple.

Bengali sweets, or mishti, are famous for their mouthwatering flavors. Rasgulla, soft cottage cheese dumplings soaked in sugar syrup, and sandesh, a sweet made with paneer (cottage cheese) and flavored with cardamom or saffron, are classic examples of Bengali mishti. The festival of Durga Puja brings the joy of indulging in popular sweets like roshogolla, mishti doi (sweet yogurt), and patishapta (sweet rice crepes filled with coconut or jaggery).

Bengali cuisine is not just about flavors; it is deeply intertwined with the cultural fabric of the region. Every dish tells a story and evokes a sense of nostalgia. From the sizzling fish curries to the delightful mishti, Bengali cuisine offers a journey into the heart and soul of the region’s culinary heritage.

Assamese Cuisine

Assamese cuisine, from the northeastern state of Assam in India, is a reflection of the region’s rich biodiversity and cultural diversity. With its distinct flavors, use of indigenous ingredients, and unique cooking techniques, Assamese cuisine offers a delightful culinary experience.

Rice is a staple in Assamese cuisine, and a traditional meal will typically include a variety of rice dishes accompanied by curries, dals (lentils), and stir-fried vegetables. The region is known for its aromatic red rice, which is often enjoyed with dishes like khar, a unique preparation made with banana peels or raw papaya cooked with alkali made from banana ash.

Assamese cuisine features an abundance of fish and other seafood. Fish curries like masor tenga, a tangy and sour fish curry made with tomatoes and lemon, and ou tenga, a tangy curry made with elephant apple, are popular dishes. The region’s rivers are home to a diverse range of fish species, and the traditional methods of cooking ensure the flavors shine through.

The cuisine also includes a variety of meat dishes. Pork is widely consumed in Assamese cuisine, with dishes like pork with bamboo shoot (khorisa) and koldil bhaji (banana flower stir-fry) being local favorites. The diverse influence of neighboring states and tribes brings about the inclusion of meat dishes made with chicken, mutton, and duck.

Assamese cuisine incorporates a wide range of fresh herbs, greens, and vegetables. Dishes like xaak bhaji, a stir-fried preparation of leafy greens, and tenga anja, a tangy curry made with ridge gourd, showcase the use of local and seasonal produce.

For dessert, Assamese cuisine offers a variety of sweet treats. Pitha, a traditional Assamese sweet made from rice flour and filled with coconut or jaggery, is a popular choice during festivals. Narikol paat or coconut pancakes and til pitha, made with sesame seeds and jaggery, are also enjoyed as traditional Assamese sweets.

Assamese cuisine is a celebration of simplicity, local ingredients, and the vibrant flavors of the region. With its diverse range of dishes, Assamese cuisine offers a unique culinary experience that is deeply rooted in the traditions and culture of the land.

Odia Cuisine

Odia cuisine, from the eastern state of Odisha in India, is a delightful culinary experience that combines flavors from the land and sea. With its emphasis on fresh ingredients, unique cooking techniques, and distinct flavors, Odia cuisine offers a diverse range of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

Odia cuisine is known for its love of rice and fish. Rice is a staple and is enjoyed in various forms, such as steamed rice, rice cakes (pitha), and fermented rice (pakhala) served with curries. Fish plays a significant role, and popular dishes like macha bhaja (fried fish), macha besara (fish in mustard sauce), and chingudi tarkari (prawn curry) showcase the region’s coastal influence.

Vegetarian dishes in Odia cuisine celebrate the produce of the land. Dalma, a flavorful lentil and vegetable soup, is a popular traditional dish. It features a variety of vegetables, pulses, and spices cooked together to create a hearty and wholesome meal. Saaga bhaja, a stir-fried dish made with leafy greens like spinach or amaranth, is a simple yet delicious accompaniment to rice.

Odia sweets are a highlight of the cuisine. The iconic rasgulla, sweet cottage cheese dumplings soaked in sugar syrup, originated in Odisha. Chenna poda, a unique cheesecake-like sweet made with caramelized sugar and cottage cheese, is another famous delicacy from the region.

Odia cuisine is also famous for its street food. Bara ghuguni, a luscious combination of lentil fritters and a spiced yellow peas curry, is a popular street food dish. Chhena jhili, a deep-fried cottage cheese dessert soaked in sugar syrup, is another tempting sweet street food treat.

The region’s rich cultural heritage, agricultural abundance, and coastal resources come together to create a vibrant and diverse culinary experience. Odia cuisine celebrates local ingredients, simple yet mouthwatering flavors, and a deep connection to the land and sea.

Kashmiri Cuisine

Kashmiri cuisine, from the beautiful region of Kashmir in the northernmost part of India, is a culinary delight that reflects the rich cultural heritage and natural abundance of the area. Known for its aromatic flavors, use of exotic spices, and unique cooking techniques, Kashmiri cuisine offers a sumptuous and unforgettable gastronomic experience.

Kashmiri cuisine is greatly influenced by the region’s climatic conditions. The cuisine offers a rich tapestry of flavors, featuring an array of meat and vegetarian dishes. Traditional Kashmiri meals often begin with a platter of fragrant and saffron-infused basmati rice.

One of the cornerstones of Kashmiri cuisine is the use of aromatic spices, such as fennel, cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon. These spices bring depth and warmth to dishes like Rogan josh, a flavorful lamb curry, and Yakhni, a delicate yogurt-based curry.

Vegetarian dishes in Kashmiri cuisine are equally delightful. Dum aloo, potatoes cooked in a flavorful yogurt and spice gravy, and Nadru Yakhni, lotus stem cooked in a creamy yogurt sauce, are popular choices. The cuisine also celebrates the use of local greens and vegetables, such as haak (collard greens) and kohlrabi, in various preparations.

Kashmiri cuisine is also famous for its breads, especially the iconic Kashmiri naan. Made with all-purpose flour, yogurt, and a generous topping of poppy seeds, Kashmiri naan is a delicious accompaniment to the rich curries.

When it comes to sweets, Kashmiri cuisine offers indulgent treats like phirni, a creamy rice pudding flavored with cardamom and saffron, and shufta, a dry fruit and nut dessert. These sweets are enjoyed during festive occasions and celebrations.

Aside from its mouth-watering dishes, Kashmiri cuisine is also known for its Kashmiri tea, or kahwah. This fragrant tea is made with green tea leaves, saffron strands, cardamom, and other spices, lending a unique, refreshing taste.

Kashmiri cuisine is a celebration of flavors, spices, and culinary artistry. It captures the essence of the Kashmiri culture and the bountiful offerings of nature, creating a truly memorable dining experience.

Punjabi Cuisine

Punjabi cuisine, from the vibrant state of Punjab in India, is renowned for its rich and robust flavors. Known for its hearty and indulgent preparations, Punjabi cuisine offers a delightful culinary experience that reflects the energetic and hospitable spirit of the Punjabi people.

Punjabi cuisine celebrates the use of ingredients like wheat, rice, dairy products, and a variety of spices. This region is famous for its tandoori cooking techniques, which result in flavorful and smoky dishes. Tandoori chicken, marinated in a blend of yogurt and spices, and roti (Indian bread) freshly baked in a tandoor (clay oven), are iconic examples.

Punjabi cuisine is also known for its rich gravies and curries. Dishes like butter chicken, made with succulent pieces of chicken in a creamy tomato-based gravy, and palak paneer, where cottage cheese cubes are cooked in a silky spinach sauce, are immensely popular.

The cuisine features a variety of vegetarian dishes as well. Rajma chawal, a comforting combination of red kidney beans and rice, is a classic Punjabi dish. Chole bhature, spicy chickpea curry served with deep-fried bread, is a favorite street food indulgence.

The use of dairy products like ghee (clarified butter), butter, and cream is prevalent in Punjabi cuisine, contributing to its rich and flavorful taste. Traditional Punjabi desserts, such as kulfi (cardamom-infused ice cream) and gajar ka halwa (carrot pudding), are made with generous amounts of ghee and sweetness.

Punjabi cuisine is also known for its addictive snacks and street food. Amritsari fish, crisp-fried fish marinated in a blend of spices, and samosas, savory pastries filled with spiced potatoes and peas, are popular choices. The street food culture in Punjab thrives with options like pav bhaji, golgappe (pani puri), and tikki chaat.

Punjabi cuisine captures the essence of generous hospitality and exuberant flavors. With its hearty preparations, vibrant spices, and delectable street food, Punjabi cuisine offers a gastronomic experience that will leave you wanting more.

Vegetarian Street Food

Street food is a vibrant and integral part of the culinary scene in many cultures, offering quick, affordable, and flavorful options to satisfy hunger pangs. Vegetarian street food, in particular, showcases the creativity and diversity of vegetarian cuisine from around the world. From savory snacks to indulgent treats, vegetarian street food offers a delectable culinary experience.

One popular vegetarian street food is the mouthwatering Indian chaat. Chaat is a combination of various ingredients like crispy puris (fried bread), tangy chutneys, yogurt, potatoes, and a variety of spices. Dishes like pani puri, sev puri, and bhel puri are bursting with flavors and textures, creating an explosion of taste in every bite.

Mexico offers a range of vegetarian street food delights. Tacos, filled with an assortment of vegetables, beans, salsa, and cheese, are a favorite. Quesadillas, tortillas stuffed with melted cheese and vegetables, are another popular choice. And of course, who can resist the sweet and savory flavors of elote, grilled corn on the cob smeared with mayo, cheese, chili, and lime?

In Southeast Asia, vegetarian street food is a treasure trove of flavors. Pad Thai, stir-fried rice noodles with tofu, vegetables, and peanuts, is a classic choice in Thailand. Fresh spring rolls, filled with vegetables and served with a peanut sauce, are a refreshing and healthy option. And let’s not forget about the flavorsome dosas and idlis in South India, served with sambar and chutneys.

The Middle East has its share of vegetarian street food delicacies as well. Falafel, made from mashed chickpeas and spices, is a popular choice. Served in warm pita bread with fresh veggies and tahini sauce, it’s a filling and satisfying option. Hummus, topped with olive oil and served with warm flatbread, is another beloved Middle Eastern delight.

Vegetarian street food is also a highlight in East Asian cuisines. In Japan, takoyaki, savory octopus-shaped balls made of flour-based batter and filled with vegetables, is a popular street food snack. Vietnamese banh mi, a baguette filled with pickled vegetables, tofu, or mock meat, offers a delightful mix of textures and flavors.

From around the globe, vegetarian street food delights offer a wide variety of choices to cater to different tastes and preferences. These quick and flavorful bites are a testament to the creativity and culinary skills of street food vendors, delivering an enjoyable culinary experience for vegetarian food lovers everywhere.

Food travel is a delightful way to explore the culinary traditions and flavors of different regions. From the spicy curries of North India to the delicate flavors of South Indian cuisine, from the vibrant street food of Mumbai to the royal dishes of Rajasthan, each region offers a unique and memorable food experience.

For vegetarian travelers, the culinary journey becomes even more exciting. India, with its rich vegetarian traditions, provides an extensive array of dishes to satisfy every palate. From the vegetarian street food delights of pani puri and bhel puri to the comforting lentil curries and vegetable biryanis, vegetarian options abound in Indian cuisine.

Exploring the diverse regional cuisines of India allows us to appreciate the wealth of flavors, ingredients, and cooking techniques that have evolved over centuries. Each region brings its own distinct character and contribution to the tapestry of Indian cuisine, creating a harmonious blend of spices, textures, and aromas.

So, embark on a food journey through the streets of Delhi, the alleys of Kolkata, or the markets of Mumbai. Indulge in the savory chaats, aromatic biryanis, heartwarming curries, and delectable sweets of the respective regions. Immerse yourself in the culinary traditions and savor every bite of these gastronomic delights.

Remember, food travel is not just about satisfying your taste buds; it’s about immersing yourself in the culture, traditions, and history of a place. Each dish tells a story and reflects the values and identity of a region. Embrace the diversity of vegetarian food, try new flavors, and experience the joy of food travel.

Whether you’re a vegetarian or simply someone who appreciates good food, India’s food travel journey will captivate your senses, broaden your culinary horizons, and leave you with unforgettable memories of the flavors and aromas that make Indian cuisine so unique.

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India Real Food Adventure

15 days | got an appetite for adventure explore india one mouthful at a time.

India Real Food Adventure with Intrepid Travel

Dig into the sights, sounds and flavours of India on a 15-day food adventure. From Delhi to Goa via Rajasthan and Mumbai, experience everything from street food to home cooked meals, the Taj Mahal to the Amber Fort, and temples to thali. Relax on Goa’s beaches, see Jaipur’s breathtaking Palace of the Wind, explore the vibrant street food scenes of Delhi and Mumbai, and spend time in rural Rajasthan living it up in a 17th-century fort. With a taste of India’s vibrant markets and the chance to cook up a storm yourself, this unforgettable journey will take you to the cultural and gastronomic heart of India. 

Trip overview

  • Get a true taste of some of India's finest culinary traditions – Mughal, Rajasthani, and the Portuguese-tinged flavours of Goa – while feasting in local restaurants, street food stalls, rural homes and cooking classes. 
  • Leave with authentic recipes under your belt after you take part in a plant-based cooking class in a Jaipur home, learn how to make thali in Udaipur and find out how to cook Malvani cuisine in Goa.
  • See the rich tapestry of India’s culture and history on display, meeting chai wallahs in local markets, visiting local farming communities and spice growers, and dining in Sikh and Jain temples.  
  • Bask in the ivory glow of the inspiring Taj Mahal in Agra, explore Old Delhi and Jama Masjid, and stand in awe of the Hawa Mahal and Amber Fort in Jaipur.
  • Grab a fork and dig in – this trip introduces you to some of India’s most iconic dishes like kachori, kulfi, chai, paratha, chaat, thali and heaps more.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, Positive Change for Marine Life. Donations help them to nurture ocean health with community-led conservation initiatives that inspire coastal restoration, sustainable fishing practices and waste-management.
  • India is a great food destination for vegetarians. With wonderful fresh produce and many delicious local dishes, you'll have a great time on this trip. For vegans we recommend reviewing the itinerary and inclusions to ensure that you will be able to fully participate and enjoy this trip. We also have many other trips to India which can accommodate a range of dietary requirements.
  • India is a big country and there are some long travel days on this departure. Use these as an opportunity to relax, witness everyday life from the window of your vehicle and get to know your fellow travellers.
  • This trip travels by overnight train from Udaipur to Mumbai. While the overnight train can seem a little daunting, it is a very efficient way to travel long distances and maximising time in each place. Long distance and overnight trains can often be delayed and occasionally cancelled due to heavy fog between December and February.
  • This trip stays in a mix of accommodation to experience a variety of Indian life. Standards can vary though – there will be hot water in most but not all hotels.
  • The climate in India can vary in the different states – be prepared for hot sticky days and cooler evenings. Layered clothing is the best way to tackle this disparity in weather.
  • Old Delhi can be very busy and crowded. While it’s an exciting place to see local life moving around you, be aware that on the walking tour you’ll need to navigate through people, tight spaces and walkways.

Namaste! Welcome to India. Delhi is an exciting and chaotic capital city filled with historical sites, museums, galleries, shops and endless bazaars. There’s plenty to see, do, and eat. Your adventure begins with an important welcome meeting at 6pm where you’ll meet your local leader and fellow travellers. Afterwards, celebrate the start of a memorable food adventure with a short stroll to a local restaurant. Here you'll enjoy your first taste of North Indian cuisine over a delicious (and completely vegetarian) thali feast. A thali is an assortment of small dishes put together on one platter – the perfect way to sample a range of flavours. After dinner, your leader will take you to a hole-in-the-wall eatery where you may like to sample some of Delhi’s best kulfi falooda, a delicious ice cream-style dessert. 

  • Hotel (1 night)
  • Delhi - Welcome dinner

It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

Ready your appetite and venture out to Old Delhi, wandering through alleyways for an authentic Delhi street food breakfast. Perhaps pick up some deep fried kachori, potato curry, sweet fried jalebi or paratha flatbread. Keep your eye out for the local chai wallah, renowned for his delicious milky tea. Next, jump on the city's metro system and head to Jama Masjid, Delhi's oldest mosque. After some time to marvel at this ancient building, hop aboard a rickshaw and head to Chandni Chowk, one of the oldest and busiest markets in Old Delhi. Visit the spice warehouses in the back alleys of Khari Baoli and meet a seller to learn about the spice mixes they take to market. Visit the Gali Paranthe Wali (lane of parathas), which has been in operation since the 1870s. Parathas are one of the most popular unleavened flat breads in Punjabi North Indian cuisine, so taste some delicious variations with fillings like potatoes, cauliflower and paneer. While Hinduism is the dominant religion in Delhi, there is also a significant Sikh population, which you’ll learn more about over a vegetarian lunch at a local Sikh temple. Tonight, you’ve got the option to visit a local family for a home-cooked meal. This provides an insight into the day-to-day life of Delhites, so find out some secret recipes, get involved in the meal or just chat with your welcoming hosts. 

  • Delhi - Leader-led Old Delhi walking & rickshaw tour
  • Delhi - Street Food Breakfast
  • Delhi - Visit to the Jama Masjid Mosque
  • Delhi - Lunch at a Sikh Temple
  • Delhi - Spice warehouse visit
  • Delhi - Dinner with local family - INR3000

Jump aboard a local train for an air-conditioned ride to Agra. Famed for the evocative Taj Mahal, Agra is a city of fascinating history, rich in Mughal heritage, lush gardens and exquisite architecture. Agra is also home to one of the finest looking forts in India – Agra Fort. Enter the dark red sandstone stronghold and search through throne rooms and tiny but ornate mosques. For lunch, join a Mughlai cooking demonstration. Influenced by Central Asian and Islamic recipes, Mughlai cuisine is unique and fragrant. Meet a passionate cook who'll teach you how to prepare classics such as malai ki sabzi (vegetables cooked with cream) and onion paratha (flatbread stuffed with onions and potato), depending on the season. Afterwards, head to the Taj Mahal to explore the grounds and take in the changing scenes as day turns to evening – a truly unforgettable experience. For dinner this evening, why not book onto a chaat crawl? This savoury snack is typically served from roadside stalls or carts and recipes, ingredients and flavours vary from place to place – the perfect excuse to try them all!  

  • Agra - Agra Fort
  • Agra - Taj Mahal
  • Agra - Mughlai Cooking Demonstration

Today’s train journey is approximately 3 hours.

Say goodbye to Agra and drive to the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur. Jaipur was designed by royalty and has delighted visitors for centuries with its pink-hued buildings and buzzing bazaars. Jump on a rickshaw and swing by one of India's most photographed buildings, the Hawa Mahal or 'Palace of the Winds’, to snap some pictures yourself. Then, visit an open air food court where you’ll have the chance to try some local favourites for lunch, like thali, pav bhaji (thick vegetable curry served with bread), masala dosa (a crispy savoury crepe) and plenty of sweet treats. In the evening, you may like to check out the extravagance of a Bollywood blockbuster, with all the Hollywood-style elements of action, romance, drama and music (sometimes all rolled into one), at the spectacular Raj Mandir Cinema. Your leader will also have plenty of dinner suggestions. 

  • Jaipur - Hawa Mahal photo stop
  • Jaipur - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Jaipur - Bollywood Movie at Raj Mandir Cinema - INR400

Today’s travel time is approximately 5 hours.

Travel out to the old capital of Amber and explore the hilltop complex known as the Amber Fort. Set in stunning surroundings overlooking Maota Lake, this opulent palace is the legacy of a fallen empire and a superb example of Rajput architecture. One of its most spectacular buildings is the Sheesh Mahal – with its walls completely covered with tiny mirrors, the hall becomes a dazzling fantasy with the light of a single match. For lunch, try a local favourite – kachori. Kachoris are deep fried bread stuffed with vegetables and lentils and are one of the most sought-after snacks in north India. If sweets are more your thing, try the mawa kachori – dried fruit and mawa (milk solids) stuffed kachori, deep-fried and coated in sugar syrup. Later on, head to a local home for a hands-on cooking class where you’ll learn how to make some seriously tasty plant-based Rajasthani dishes. One of the meals you might make is the fragrant and flavoursome ker sangri, using dried ker berries and sangri beans. Enjoy the fruits of your labour in the peaceful garden of your hosts, where they grow fresh greens.   

  • Jaipur - Amber Fort
  • Jaipur - Street Food Lunch
  • Jaipur - Rajasthani Cooking Class and Dinner
  • Jaipur - Balloon Safari - USD280

Leave the city behind and drive to a local heritage stay located in the Vindhyanchal Hills in the Mewar region of south-central Rajasthan – a great opportunity to learn about rural life and culinary customs. You’ll also stop en route to enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Your accommodation for the next two nights will be at 16th-century Castle Bijaipur, now a heritage hotel with domes, arched windows and doorways, all within the original fortified walls. Take in the palace’s blend of colonial and Mughal architecture as you relax by the pool or in the gardens, enjoying the famous Mewar hospitality. 

  • Heritage Hotel (1 night)

Today’s travel time is approximately 6 hours.

Today you’ll jump in a jeep and explore the surrounding farming communities. This is a major agricultural area and, depending on the season, you will pass through fields growing wheat, corn, maize, lentils, aubergine, spinach, fenugreek, okra, green chilies, tomatoes, potatoes, gourd, onion and garlic. Some of India’s most-loved spices, such as turmeric and cumin, are also grown here. Return to your heritage stay and join the estate's chef to discover how the ingredients you’ve seen today are used in Rajasthani cooking. Savour the results over a delicious lunch in the palace grounds with your small group – this is an experience you won’t soon forget! 

  • Bijaipur - Countryside jeep safari
  • Bijaipur - Rajasthani Desert Cooking Demonstration and Meal

Travel to Udaipur, a charming city known for its Hindu temples and palaces, and small but renowned Jain temples. Jainism is a minority religion in India and is considered among the most rigorous and spiritually motivated diets in India. On arrival, visit a Jain temple for lunch, where you’ll learn about the religion and the food connected to it. Jain cuisine is strictly vegetarian and excludes the eating of root vegetables like carrots, onion and garlic due to the belief that uprooting the plant kills it and the micro-organisms around the roots. Tonight, you’ll have a free evening for dinner. Udaipur has several inviting rooftop restaurants, so climb some stairs, choose a restaurant and settle in to watch the sun set over one of the city’s shimmering central lakes. 

  • Udaipur - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Udaipur - Lunch at Jain temple

Today’s total driving time is approximately 4 hours.  

Udaipur, also known as the 'City of Lakes', is built around the shores of Lake Pichola and full of fascinating temples, ornate palaces and impressive 'havelis' (merchant homes). Take some time to discover its winding streets and shops full of traditional Rajasthani wares. Visit the City Palace – one of the largest royal palaces in India – and check out the unbelievable treasures within, from vivid murals to antiques and royal utensils. The rest of the day is free for your own exploration. 

  • Udaipur - City Palace

Awaken your senses this morning with a visit to a local market to browse fragrant stalls and collect ingredients for a cooking class, where you’ll learn how to prepare a traditional north Indian thali meal. Thali varies depending on which region it’s prepared in, and as you’re in Udaipur, you’ll make a vegetarian thali. Typical dishes include rice, dahl, vegetables, roti, papad (deep-fried flat bread), curd (yoghurt), small amounts of chutney or pickle, and a sweet dish to top it off. After all that cooking, enjoy the fruits of your labour for lunch. Afterwards, transfer by private vehicle to the Abu Road train station. Tonight, you’ll board an overnight train bound for one of India's great cities – Mumbai. The train will depart late evening and arrive after midday tomorrow. 

  • Udaipur - Thali Cooking Class

Today’s drive time is approximately 3 hours, followed by an overnight train journey of approximately 16 hours.

Your sleeper train is clean and air-conditioned, and is a great way to travel long distances and maximise time in each city. Beds are padded berths with sheets, pillow and blanket provided, but some people prefer to bring their own sleeping sheet. You may be sharing with locals in a same gender or mixed gender cabin. Most trains have a dining carriage where snacks and meals are available.

Arrive in Mumbai after your overnight train, reaching your hotel by mid-afternoon. Known as Bombay until its name change in 1995, Mumbai is India's commercial capital and largest city. Some would say that Mumbai is also the food capital of India. This is the heart of Marathi cuisine, but you’ll also find huge culinary diversity that celebrates regional cuisines from across the country. In the late afternoon, wander down Marine Drive to Chowpatty Beach. Enjoy the sunset and snack on bhel puri (tangy puffed rice and vegetable chaat), pav bhaji and other renowned Mumbai street foods. 

  • Overnight train (1 night)

There are no meals included on this day.

  • Mumbai - Chowpatty Beach Street Food Crawl

Time for some sightseeing and soaking up the atmosphere of this incredible metropolis. Marvel at the remarkable Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat. At 140 years old, it's Mumbai's oldest laundry, and with over 1000 troughs, it’s also the world’s largest open-air, human-powered one. Next, take in some of the city’s key landmarks, including World Heritage-listed historic railway station, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, and the bustling Crawford Markets. For lunch, seek out a restaurant known for serving Parsi cuisine, whose community is largely concentrated in Mumbai. The Parsi peoples are descendants of Zoroastrians who are believed to have emigrated from Persia to India in the 10th century. Enjoy a post-lunch stroll to the Gateway of India, a monument built to commemorate the landing of King-Emperor George V, the first British monarch to visit India, followed by a browse of the Colaba street market. The rest of the afternoon and the evening are free for your own food adventures. Perhaps take high tea at the iconic Taj Hotel, or stake out one of the fabulous restaurants in this city which cater for all budgets. Your group leader will have plenty of suggestions on where to eat the night away!  

  • Mumbai - Leader-led Heritage Walk

Take a flight from Mumbai to Goa. The locals say that time moves more slowly in Goa, so this is a good opportunity to enjoy a bit of tranquillity in an often-frenetic country. Tinged with a Portuguese flavour, the state of Goa is blessed with lovely beaches, rich traditions, World Heritage-listed buildings and mouth-watering food. Goa's dense forested areas and favourable climate also make it a perfect location to grow the spices liberally used in its cuisine. Visit a spice farm and learn how they are grown, harvested, processed and prepared for use in food and Ayurvedic medicine. See how these spices come together over a freshly cooked lunch at the spice farm before returning to Goa.

  • Goa - Spice farm tour including lunch

Today’s flight is approximately 1 hour.

Start the day with a trip to Old Goa, an historic city sitting on the banks of the Mandovi River. While the city is home to around 2500 residents today, between the 16th and 18th centuries Old Goa was a booming spice trade hub with a population of nearly 200,000. Walk through streets lined with ancient churches and historic buildings and check out the local market. Enjoy some time to relax and revive this afternoon, before taking part in a cooking class to learn the secrets of Malvani cuisine, popular in the South Konkan region of Maharashtra and Goa. Find out how to make some classic coastal dishes then tuck into your creations for dinner.

  • Goa - Cooking Class
  • Goa - Old Goa tour

Your Indian food adventure comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you would like to spend more time in Goa, exploring more of the city, we’d be happy to arrange additional accommodation ahead of time (subject to availability). 

13 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 5 dinners

Plane, private vehicle, taxi, train, overnight train

Hotel (11 nights), Heritage property (2 nights), Overnight sleeper train (1 night)

Dates and availability

Important notes.

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 10 (Overnight Train) where you will be in shared accommodation, and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information. 2. While we endeavour to cater for specific dietary requirements, some meals and food activities are set in advance and may be difficult to adjust. Please advise us of any dietary requirements at the time of booking so that we can ensure you’ll enjoy this trip. 3. Please provide your full name exactly as it appears on your passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport) for transport tickets. Ticketing fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases, you will be required to cover the cost of issuing a new ticket if an amendment occurs. 4. This trip includes domestic flights. The luggage allowance is 15kg for check in luggage and 7kg for carry on.

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

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OTT releases to watch this weekend: Undekhi, Doctor Who, Cooking Up Murder and more

Ott releases to watch this weekend: from the third season of a crime drama to a british time travel adventure, there's something for everyone..

OTT releases to watch this weekend: There’s a lot to pick from this weekend right in the confines of your home. From mystery thrillers to exciting adventures, there’s something for everyone in various languages. Take a look at what’s on offer this weekend on OTT platforms like Prime Video and SonyLiv. (Also Read: Heeramandi budget, cast fees revealed; know who got paid the most for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's epic show: Report )

OTT releases to watch this weekend: From movies to shows, there's something for everyone.

Aavesham - Amazon Prime Video

Jithu Madhavan’s Malayalam film Aavesham tells the story of Aju (Hipzster), Bibi (Mithun) and Shanthan (Roshan), three young students who arrive in Bengaluru from Kerala to pursue aeronautical engineering. When they face issues due to the college bully Kutty (Midhutty), they seek the help of a famous gangster called Ranga (Fahadh Faasil) whom they meet at a bar. But what happens when they quest for vengeance backfires on them?

Undekhi (Season 3) - SonyLIV

Headlined by Harsh Chhaya, Surya Sharma, Anchal Singh, Ankur Rathee, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, and others, season 3 of this much-lived series continues to focus on the Atwals family, who are forced to reclaim their power. The shocking death of a dancer at a family event leads to chaos, and Papaji planning to announce his succession plans only adds to the melee.

Cooking Up Murder - Netflix

Catch up on a docuseries if that’s more your style, and give movies and shows a skip. This new docuseries, Cooking Up Murder: Uncovering the Story of César Román, tells the tale of a Spanish chef who has been accused of using fake identities and a web of secrets to climb their way to success.

Doctor Who - Disney+ Hotstar

Ncuti Gatwa of Sex Education fame takes the mantle of being the new Doctor Who. He is the fifteenth doctor, leading this series helmed by Russell T Davies. Millie Gibson will be joining Ncuti as his companion, Ruby Sunday, on this time-traveling adventure.

Pretty Little Liars: Summer School - JioCinema

This edge-of-the-seat horror, thriller, drama is centered around a group of teenage girls whose lives are upended when a mysterious assailant begins tormenting them. If the name of the series sounds familiar, it’s because it’s adapted from the Sara Shepherd novels of the same name, which also inspired the hit TV series.

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IMAGES

  1. Your Guide to Essential Indian Cooking Techniques

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