Category: Destination of The Month

The month of June has arrived, so have the sweltering summers. And there is no doubt that we Delhites experience it a bit hotter being the residents of a hustling crowded capital of the country. But one relaxing thing the month of June brings is summer break. If not for the working professionals other than the educators, then at least for school going kids and for college going youngsters. Parents must be ready for insistence of the first and for the already ready plans with friends
of the second. Yes, I am talking about the insistence and plans for a trip to some cooler places. Delhi has many hilly and snow clad places to travel around its vicinity. Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir are the top neighboring states which provides a perfect summer getaway. Srinagar in Jammu & Kashmir has been an all-time favorite not only for us Indians, but foreigners as well. In this regard I feel I have been extremely lucky that at least once in a life time I had an opportunity to live in such a place which is known as ‘the paradise on earth’.

The two years when I was posted in Kashmir valley were perhaps the most peaceful and beautiful days of my life. When you have beautiful ‘outside’, it becomes peaceful ‘inside’. Taking a limited trip to some place of your choice is one thing, but living there instead for a considerable amount of time becomes an entirely different game. A limited duration of tour can provide you a glimpse of an overall scenic view, local culture, and local cuisines but a fixed long stay makes you an integral part of that space and you become a localite yourself, at least till the time you are stationed there. The best part of becoming a localite is you are not bound by a time limit for visiting the places around. You can go out for a daylong getaway with colleagues, friends or family members, and can get back home and plan another day-long outing next week or month. It facilitates the deeper understanding of the place rather than a tour around its skin and an exploration to the lesser known places.

Kashmir is best known for Srinagar’s lakes, Mughal gardens, and a few historical monuments and nearby places like Sonamarg, Gulmarg, and Pahalgam etc. Srinagar city doesn’t provide larger landscapes which includes grasslands and waterfalls, for that one has to go to either Gulmarg or to Pahalgam. But Srinagar is the central stay point if one wants to travel to all these places, as the city has better accommodation facilities and an airport. Pahalgam is the place which provides views of mountains, meadows and river falls at some broader level which is about 92 kms from Srinagar. If one has less time to travel and stay but wants to experience an essence of all of these at once, I would suggest they visit Doodhpathri. Doodhpathri, literally means ‘a valley of milk’ is located in Budgam district of Jammu & Kashmir and 42 kms from Srinagar. Doodhpathri lies in a bowl shaped valley in the Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas. It is an alpine valley of mountains and the meadows of Pine Fir and Deodar. The natural meadows, which are covered with snow in winter, allow the growth of wild flowers such as daisies, forget-me-nots and butter cups during spring and summer.

It is said that the famous saint of Kashmir, Sheikh-ul-Aalam had prayed here. Once when he was in search for water in the meadows to offer prayers, he hit at the ground with his stick in search for water. However, milk came out instead. He addressed the milk, “you can only be used for drinking and not performing ablution.” Hearing this, the milk at once changed
its state to water and the meadow got its name, Doodhpathri. The water which is at present flowing through the meadows has a milky appearance from distance and remains very cold throughout the year.

I went there in the beginning days of June along with colleagues (also friends), and still remember while writing this, as to how chilled the water and weather were. It was a rainy day and my colleagues were in their woolen jackets. I was somehow without any woolens and was literally shivering. The lush greens over the vast meadows and silver shining streams running over the large stones were further adding to its beauty.

Doodhpathri has no permanent settlement and is inaccessible during winter due to heavy snowfall. Because unlike Sonamarg and Gulmarg there is no governmental effort to make it a tourist destination. That is the reason Doodhpathri is a fresh discovery
in Kashmir tourism, beauty of which is still untouched. The thing you should bring into notice before you packs your bags for Doodhpathri is, you won’t find any proper restaurant there so make sure you pack some food items along with you. However, the benefits to this place are, no left over garbage, no trouble from vendors and very less crowd. All that you will get is a vast expanse of natural beauty and nothing to distract you from taking it all through your eyes.

The famous Tosa Maidan lies in the west of Doodhpathri and has been officially opened to visitors from 30 May 2016. During summers shepherds from the plains of district Budgam bring cattle for grazing and remain in Doodhpathri seasonally for about six months. The routes of Doodhpathri are from Srinagar to Budgam, Budgam to Khansahib and Khansahib to Doodhpathri. Total distance of about 42 kms. This route is near to Srinagar airport. Another route is from Srinagar Gulmarg road, the route starts from Srinagar to Magam, Magam to Beerwah and Beerwah to Arizal. Total distance is about 50 km. Before you reach Doodhpathri, a beautiful place of small valleys welcomes you. This place called ‘Tangnar’ is filled with deodar and pine trees on small hills. As you reach to the place Doodhpathri, from the parking area, you can reach the river ‘Shaliganga’ by pony or by walking. Cars may also reach this place in summer, when there is no snow. But until March-April, when roads are covered with heavy snow, commuting happens through pony ride which takes about 20 minutes, and walking which takes around 30 minutes. It’s a beautiful spot with flowing river-which you can cross over a wooden bridge. There is a small hamlet called ‘Mujpathri’ on the banks of river Shaliganga. The other side of the river includes picturesque landscapes with lot of pine trees and a beautiful meadow called ‘Diskhal’ on top of the mountain and overlooks the Ashtaar glacier. It’s approximately a 10 kms long trek from Shaliganga nallah.

While returning back from the Doodhpathri, there is another treat for the eyes at ‘Palmaidan’. The name of this place is after the ‘Big Stones’ because there are huge stones all around the ground. It situated at a distance of about 5 km from Doodpathri and is the favorite spot of shepherds and cow herders, where they gather in large numbers in summer and graze their cattle and livestock. It is beautiful place with a small stream running on one side of the ground. You can find some ruined structures made of bricks, a place which may provide you nice backgrounds for clicking away!

Photo courtesy: googleimages

Located in the hills of Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh, the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlingam was built around 1234 AD by the Hoyasala King Vira Narsimha. Built in typical Dravidian style architecture, intricately carved scenes from Ramayana and Mahabharata adorn the walls of the temple. Such was the sculptural genius of the Hoysala artisans.

According to the Shiv Puran, once it so happened, that Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were finding it hard to decide which one of their sons should get married first. Ganesha wanted to marry first, and Kartikeya claimed preference for being the elder one. Consequently, the divine couple decided to test their sons. Both Kartikeya and Ganesha were asked to go around the entire world. The one who would make the earliest return would obtain eligibility of marrying first.

Photo courtesy: googleimages

Kartikeya immediately set flight on his peacock, while Ganesha stared at his little mouse wondering the obvious!

However at the end of the day, Ganesha won the hearts of his parents by choosing to take a round around them, saying they were his world. Immensely pleased, Shiva and Parvati arranged his marriage with Viswaroopan’s daughters Riddhi and Siddhi.

When Kartikeya returned from his trip and learnt what had happened, he was extremely embarrassed. Deciding he would never marry again, he went to the Kravunja mountain and started living there in isolation. On learning of their elder son’s sorrow, Shiva and Parvati went to visit him; Shiva on a no moon day and Parvati on a full moon one. Thus became the location where the temple is situated today.

The divine Mallikarjuna (God Shiva) and mother Bhramarambha (Goddess Parvati) reside over this temple; this perhaps being the only place in India which consists of a Jyotirlingam and Shakti Peetha in the same campus.

Photo courtesy: googleimages

Temple tips:

• The temple opens at 4:30 am every morning, and closes at 10:00 pm at night.
• Car parking is very near to the temple.
• The free darshanam queue is usually a long one, and may take about 2-3 hours whereas the “sheeghra darshanam” charges are Rs 150/- and takes about 30-45 minutes.
• There are counters for keeping luggage and a separate counter to keep mobile phones. Shoes are kept free of any charge.
• No photography is allowed inside.
• This Jyotirlingam is one of the only few where one can actually touch the Shivalingam. Touching the idol is however prohibited on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays.
• The closest airport is located at Hyderabad at a distance of about 232 kms from Srisailam. The taxi fare from Hyderabad to Srisailam is approximately Rs. 2500.
• Nearest railway station to Srisailam is the Markapur Road, in the Guntur-Hubli metre gauge rail route. The major broad-gauge railway station nearby is at Hyderabad at a distance of 232 kms. Taxi cars and call taxis are available at the railway station.
• Srisailam is well connected by Devasthanam buses and State owned APSRTC buses.
• There are ample lodging and dining facilities around, affordable and clean.
• An additional benefit that the temple provides is their own bus service called the “Somnath Tirth Darshan”, at very reasonable rates, that enables the visitors to see the major temples around along with some local sightseeing.
• There is severe rush during weekends and holidays. So hotel bookings need to be done minimum two months in advance.
• Dress code for the temple is traditional wear. Women need to be in a salwar kameez or sari. Draping a dupatta is deemed mandatory.
• Carry sufficient cash because cards are not accepted in most places over there.

During the period of 7^th century BC, a magnificent temple was being constructed, all in pure gold and jewels. Little did the Maitraka kings of Vallabhi know this superlative creation of theirs would see destruction and renovations seven times in a row.

Present day Somnath Temple, in full glory                Photo courtesy : Wikimedia Commons

Legends say, the temple was originally created by Chandra, the Moon God himself. Chandra had married all twenty seven daughters of Daksha.  However, his inclinations lay solely on the youngest one, Rohini. He showered all importance on her while the other Daksha kanyas grew increasingly lonely and indignant. Upset, Daksha cursed him, and almost immediately he became lightless. As a result the whole world became dark. The Gods were in a fix, and they decided to pursuade Daksha to forgive Chandra. After a lot of request from the gods Daksha advised Chandra to start worshiping Lord Shiva, because His blessings alone could cede his radiance back. Chandra immediately reached the region of Prabhas and started his sacrament. In the night of Aridra Nakshatra, impressed with the Moon God’s penance, Lord Shiva manifested himself in the Somnath Jyotirlingam and blessed him by modifying the curse to only periodic waning each year. Regaining his brilliance, the Moon God erected the Somnath temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, and perhaps this is how Lord Shiva got the name of Sommeshwar. It is believed that even today on moonless nights Chandra comes to take a dip in the holy waters of the sea there and begins to shine again.

The Lingam                                 Photo courtesy: www.thedivineindia.com

Located in Prabhas Kshetra near Veraval, Somnath Mandir falls in Saurashtra region that lies on the western coast of Gujarat. Built in the style of Chalukyan architecture, the Somnath temple stands 155 feet tall, approximately seven storeys high. The architectural beauty of Somnath Temple essentially mirrors the masonry skills of Sampuras: Gujarat’s master masons. Breathtaking stone carvings and sculptures adorn the walls, inside out. In 1024, the temple faced its first raid by Mahmud of Ghazni, who looted camel-loads of jewels and valuables. With time, the Paramara King Bhoj of Malwa and the Solanki King Bhima of Gujarat took the initiative to rebuild the temple during 1026-1042 approximately. By the temple’s fifth reconstruction, the wooden structure was replaced with a stone structure. Couple of centuries of peace later, the temple was mercilessly destroyed in 1297 by the Sultanate of Delhi, and yet again in 1394. Emperor Aurangzeb’s attack in 1706 was the last blow. What remains now seems to be only a shadow of what this great architectural genius may have been. However, invasions like these may have stripped the temple off its wealth, but its piety continues to remain unscathed.

In ruins: What the temple had become                        Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

At present, the temple got renovated by the Shree Somnath Trust in 1995 in the company of the Government of India, and is under the maintenance of the Trust. This is when our Dr. Rajendra Prasad’s words ring true:

“Somnath Temple signifies that the power of creation is always greater than the power of destruction.”

Temple tips:

• The temple opens at 6:00 am every day, and is left open for the entire day until 9:00 pm.
• Aartis happen thrice a day: 7:00 am in the morning, 12:00 pm at noon and 7:00 pm in the evening.
• Cameras and mobiles are not allowed inside.
• At about 8:00 pm, a light and sound show is conducted, which delivers the history and significance of the temple.
• The nearest airport is in Daman & Diu, which is almost 100 kms from the Somnath beach.
• The nearest railway station is the Veraval station.
• Best time to visit is the month of October as the climate remains cool and breezy. Month of August may be slightly overwhelming for tourists because of overcrowding.
• there are ample lodging and dining facilities around, affordable and clean.
• An additional benefit that the temple provides is their own bus service called the “Somnath Tirth Darshan”, at very reasonable rates, that enables the visitors to see the major temples around along with some local sightseeing.

Amidst the usual farmhouse frills and deafening DJ dos, here’s a Holi event that holds potential to reclaim the fun and festivities back to the streets.

Dear Delhi,

Put on your brightest, yellowest smile, and start filling your water balloons with the reds, blues and greens! Spring awaits its arrival, and as customary to each year, Holi brings with it this colourful shift of season.

Image courtesy: Flickr

This year add more adventure to your festivities with an exciting twist organised by the Reality Tours and Travel.  Spend the day scouring through the bustling gullies of Sanjay Colony, learn about the life and activities of its residents and witness how despite the challenging living conditions it remains an area charged with positive energy and strong community.

Towards the end of the tour, you will get to visit a local family and then walk to a local park to play Holi! You will be joined by the staff from Reality Tours and Travel and Reality Gives, all their inhabitant friends and partners from the community, and the children in their various programs!

Just in case you were wondering about safety issues, the Reality Tours team ensures taking every precaution to ensure everyone’s safety and comfort.

EVENT DETAILS:

Date:

1 March 2018

Meeting Points:

9.30 am from Connaught Place

10.30 am from Harkesh Nagar Okhla Metro Station

Duration:

3 hours, including the Holi party

Colours provided:

Specially purchased natural powders

What to wear:

Please wear modest clothing (for women: no sleeveless shirts, short shorts, or low tops) and closed-toed shoes. It’s recommended you buy a cheap white outfit for the day. You won’t ruin any clothes and you will look much more colourful!

Price:

Rs 1,400 per person at Harkesh Nagar Okhla Metro Station

Rs 1,400 per person at Connaught Place

(Includes drinks, snacks and a white t-shirt)

Start/End Points:

Starts at Connaught Place or Harkesh Nagar Okhla Metro Station.

Ends at Harkesh Nagar Okhla Metro Station.

(Visit: http://realitytoursandtravel.com/holi-delhi.php)

Please Note: Space is limited, so early booking is strongly encouraged.

No Photography Policy for the entire tour. This policy helps ensure that the tours are done respectfully and that strong relationship is maintained between with the organizers and the community. Photography is allowed at during the Holi party but be sure to protect your camera!

Do check their website out (http://realitytoursandtravel.com/holi-delhi.php) and get acquainted with their mission, vision and lovely team; and do show support for the wonderful work they are doing! 

Did you go? How fun was it ?  Share your experience with us in the comments section below.

There is only one way to find out. Go, visit, explore.

Dear Delhi, wake up and smell the pepperoni! As we speak, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium hosts an International Food Festival and “holds the world on a platter for us to taste.”

Photo courtesy: eattreat.in

Featuring signature platters from all the seven continents, cuisines from more than 30 countries, and a World Bar that features a range of liquors from the crafted breweries of Belgium to the Vineyards of Argentina, this food festival is not to be missed.

With the entire venue divided into 7 sections for the different continents, and over 100 food stalls to explore from, you’ll catch whiffs of the traditional Indonesian spices, the rich and starchy African fufu, the classic Australian fish & chips and meat pies, traditional European puff pastries and Italian pizzas, thick cheesy burgers, ketchup loaded French fries and spicy Mexican tortillas from North America along with Feijoada from the South America, and many more exotic culinary wonders from all around the globe! Apart from food and drinks, the festival features the “World Flea Market” as well as a number of Live Music Performances. Salivating already? I empathize.

Tickets begin from Rs. 250, which will let you access all the continents, live music performances and the World Flea Market for one day. With an upgrade of Rs. 350, you can additionally skip the queues at the ticket counter and security check counters, again for one day. The premium ticket will cost you a whopping Rs. 2999, but will ensure special VIP parking, access to the VIP lounge, liquor worth Rs.2999, along with skipping ticket counter and security check queues; all of this, however for only one day.

Days: 17th and 18th February, 2018

Time: 11:00 am to 10:00 pm

Venue: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Gate no.2

Did you go?  How was your experience?  Let us know in the comments section below!

I did not know anything about the powers of Giza before 17^th April 2017. …but then I got a chance to enter the most mysterious structures on earth…I want to share, what happened inside…

I entered the chamber with our group through the inclined passage reaching up to it. The walls inside are built out of huge rocks. There is no opening on any of these walls except the entrance. We slowly climbed up with anticipation and soon reached the majestic King’s chamber.

We had planned to meditate on music and not speak a word. I was given the responsibility to turn off the music after exactly 45 minutes.

We switched the one single light in that chamber OFF. Everybody was sitting comfortably in that pitch dark room and nothing was visible. The music began to play and I sat there with my eyes closed.

After a few minutes I started feeling a strong vibration inside me. It felt like a strong spring of liquid was flowing through my body and I could feel it from head to toe.

I then felt like I was in some vast, open space and it was heavenly. It was psychedelic,  I had visuals of various colors and shapes merging into each other as if I was in a galaxy. I was literally shaking and tears were rolling down my cheeks continuously.

Without any idea of time and space,  I got spaced out. I hardly realized that it was already 45 minutes till my facilitator tapped on my shoulder.  I opened my eyes and the music had stopped. I remembered that I had asked my facilitator to remind me of lying down in the Sacrophagus. It is a stone built tomb kind of structure. The only object inside that chamber.

So, I got up and went inside it and lay down. Surprisingly,  the vibrations inside me did not stop or even fade during this activity of mine.

It kept speeding up and in about a few minutes a loud chanting began. It was too loud and all of us were shocked to our bones. The group thought that we played the music again, but I knew that it was not the music. Just then, I got up and saw that my facilitator was trying to find out if the music was coming from the phone and she switched it OFF to be sure. I lay down again and she whispers, Guys! It’s not my phone! And I whispered-  I Know!

The chant kept going on for about 20 minutes and I was shaking inside out with a high frequency energy flowing through me. By now my shirt was wet with tears all over. But, let me tell you, it was not at all scary or sad. I was ecstatic and full with high vibrations of joy inside me.

The chanting was an unfamiliar sound and was echoing very very loudly. It seemed to be coming from those walls.

It was as a feminine voice chanting something like ‘aaaayeeemmm…’ It kept repeating but not with equals gaps in between. Sometimes it stopped for about a minute and sometimes for just a few seconds and then continuously…

Then someone coughed and it suddenly STOPPED.

We all kept quiet and in about 5 minutes, it started again and went on and on.By now, we had exceeded our 60 minutes in that chamber and so, a care taker started walking upstairs to ask us to leave. As soon his footsteps were audible to us, it STOPPED again and then we had to leave.

We went to the queen’s chamber and another secret chamber below that and then come out to continue with our day’s program.

That whole day, the vibration in my body remained at the same level and I was like a completely new person. I did not speak to anyone throughout the day and just enjoyed that High Trip!

There have been many specific changes in me after that day which I cannot explain here.
I can just say that Life looks much more simple and beautiful to me since that day and I live it upto my full potential. It was an eye opening experience that I had that day.

Now, I believe that every single person who can, should be in that chamber atleast once in his/her life. You have to have that experience and see what it’s like to just be there. I am immensely fortunate to have been there and so can YOU be…

I urge you to not listen to that little voice of yours for once and just step up to achieve something, only a few can…

For a limited time only Annu Bala of SoulCentric is giving you the chance to experience this phenomenon for yourself, offering this experience at a highly discounted price at RS. 89,900 for the first 10 travelers who sign up, instead of the original price of RS. 1,25,000.

Due to the rise of prices in Egypt she is only able to offer this until the 15^th of February 2018, so it’s advisable to make bookings fast. Send her an email at journey@soulcentric.in and visit this link  https://retreat.speakingtree.in/events/egypt  to know more. 

If you’re a foodie based in Delhi, and could really do with some good gastronomy to end the working week, you’re in for a treat this weekend…

Lalu Bhai Collective is a newly formed group of 4 young, energetic people brought together by a passion for food and creating value through work. 

In their own words:

We want to create an ecosystem that spans across dividing lines such as those between who are established & those who are upcoming and also those with an artistic bend & those crazy business geniuses. All our projects are carefully engineered so that  they tie back at the roots and act as a catalyst for a blooming tree, that is the Lalu Bhai & Co family. We consider all our customers, partners, investors, associates as our family and aim to provide the best for them. We specialize in curating personalized dining options, the charm of old school with the excitement of contemporary techniques. Being bitten by the entrepreneurial bug at a comparatively young age, we realised how difficult it is to start

anything without the right kind of contacts and thus the value of creating collaborative communities. Les Paradis is our such attempt at creating communities of highly passionate people who believe in bringing about a positive change in their respective spheres of interest. Les Paradis is hosted over evenings of fantastic food, exquisite cocktails and soulful music. We use the same communities to enrich travel for those traveling to India through our project i8india.

Happy New Year from all of us at Travel and Deal!
Hopefully you all had a wonderful festive season, and are looking forward to the year ahead. With new years beginnings comes new years resolutions, and the new year is always a good time for a detox. So if you’re looking for some suggestions for a long weekend of detoxing, then look no further, we have compiled a list of potential get-away’s and ideas:

1) Somatheeram Ayurveda Resort, Kerala

Ayurveda, also known as India’s native ‘Science of Life’ and  is a perfect route into detoxification for both the body and mind. There are many locations throughout the country which specialise in Ayuvedic tratement and detoxification programs, however Somatheeram Ayurveda Resort in Kerala is one of the countries most renowned. Located in the state known as ‘Gods own country’ Somatheeram has been operating since 1990, and has grown in reputation ever since. The resort is built in traditional South Indian style, and most of the bungalows at the resort have a magnificent sea view.

Tailored packages are available at the resort such as ‘Body Purification Package’, ‘Stress Management Package’, ‘Body Immunization’ and ‘Beauty Package’

Take a look at their website for booking information: http://somatheeram.org/en/somatheeram/philosophy

2) Devaaya Ayurveda and Nature Cure Center, Goa

The Devaaya Ayurveda and Nature Care Center is situated at Divar Island, Goa, on a lush 5 acre property amidst tropical palm trees. Devaaya which means ‘divine healing’ consists of 60 luxurious rooms built in true Goan style cottages. The ambiance, the serenity and the spiritual vibes make Devaaya a paradise. Goa is an incredibly popular holiday destination for Indian’s and foreigners alike, offering a wealth of different experiences. Although well known for the beach and party scene, Ayurvedic wellness is also readily available in this coastal paradise.

The Devaaya Ayurveda Center has a range of packages available as well as stand alone treatments. As part of the packages all meals are planned according to an Ayuvedic health professional – a perfect remedy for the festive seasons over indulgence.

As well as Ayurvedic experts, the Devaaya Ayurveda and Nature Care Center also offers Naturopathic remedies. The specialists at the center can advise on which treatment would best suit the particular individual, offering the opportunity for tailored Naturopathic Wellness care.

Visit their website for more information and booking: http://www.devaaya.com/

3) Himalayan Yog Ashram, Uttarakhand 

In this small scale ashram, there are 6  simple but comfortably furnished bedrooms promising for a peaceful and pleasant stay. There are a set number of programs starting each Monday which consist of either 6, 13, 20 or 27 nights. This is definitely an option for those who wish to opt for a more serious, immersive, detoxifying and yogic lifestyle experience.

The experts at Himalayan Yog Ashram offer a program with daily guided meditation, inspirational teachings, a healthy Ayurvedic lifestyle and optional Ayurvedic treatments. The surrounding area is rich in natural beauty and close to the river Ganga.

Visit their website for more information and booking: http://www.himalayanyogashram.com

4) Athreya Ayurvedic Center, Kottayam.

Surrounded by paddy fields of the famous Kerala Backwaters, the Athreya Ayurvedic Center offers a varied range of treatments whether you want to return to a former state of health and vigor or to simply relax and take a step back from the daily grind. The Ayurvedic treatments at this center are customised to meet the specific needs of the individual, and to help each client make the most of their time there. As well as treatments for the body, the Athreya Ayurvedic Center also provides dental and yogic treatments.

The facilities include 16 sustainable built cottages in traditional Keralan architectural style, many of which provide a direct view to the rice paddy fields. The Athreya Ayurvedic Center is run by a family of doctors with over 5 generations of experience in both academic Ayurveda and that which has been passed down through generations of the family.

Take a look at their website for more information about the services on offer and booking: https://theathreya.com

5) Kairali Ayurveda Center, Delhi

If you’re in Delhi and looking for a day retreat, the Kairali Ayurveda Center could be your oasis of calm within the city itself, and perfect for those with work commitments forbidding travel away from the city. The Kairali franchise has grown substantially since the opening of its first treatment center in Delhi, however the treatment centers continue to be the backbone of Kairali. 

The trained Ayurvedic doctors at Kairali offer a range of treatments and services including Ayurvedic weight loss treatment, lifestyle coaching, massage, nutritious cooking classes, beauty treatments and more. 

Visit their website to find out more about treatments, hospitality and booking : http://www.kairali.com 

For those of you who have never heard of Mulled Wine, this drink is a firm Christmas Holiday staple with it’s origins almost as old as time itself.

The drink was popularized during both the Middle Ages and Victorian Era in England, but versions of the drink can be traced back to the time of the Ancient Egyptians and Ancient Romans. The drink itself as it is enjoyed these days is a hot drink with a red wine base, ‘mulled’ (meaning brewed over heat) with citrus fruits and warming spices such as cinnamon, clove and black pepper, usually with a dash of brandy included as the alcohol content of the red wine tends to burn off in the mulling process.

During the Middle Ages the additional spices and Citrus in Mulled Wine was believed to make people healthier, and after all, much of the water wasn’t drinkable in Middle Age England. On top of that there was the Black Death to deal with so they surely needed a good drink anyway…

Here’s an excerpt from the “Good Housewife’s Jewel” by British author Thomas Dawson in 1596:

“Take a gallon of white wine, sugar two pounds, of cinnamon, ginger, long pepper, mace not bruised galingall [sic]…and cloves not bruised. You must bruise every kind of spice a little and put them in an earthen pot all day. And then cast them through your bags two times or more as you see cause. And so drink it.”

It’s the Victorian Era version of the drink which is closest to the modern day version of Mulled Wine, with the drink being popularized in the novels of Charles Dickens such as the incredibly popular ‘A Christmas Carol’ where he mentions a brand of the drink called ‘Smoking Bishop’ and thus the connection of Mulled Wine with the Christmas Season was solidified.

For generations Mulled Wine has been a glorious excuse to drink steaming wine from large coffee mugs, as the sharp winter cold sets in and our bodies and spirits (excuse the pun) are in need of some warmth. On those frostbitten nights there really is nothing better, especially after having stood at the stove making your own, it really is incredibly simple. Make your own Mulled Wine to warm up the winter evenings with our recipe:

Ingredients:

1 Orange, thoroughly washed and sliced in half, unpeeled.

5 whole cloves

1 stick of cinnamon

1 inch cube of ginger

A few Black peppercorns or Long Pepper

200g Sugar

1 bottle of red wine (the quality really does not matter)

Brandy (to taste)

Method

1) Lightly crush all dry spices and finely slice ginger.

2) Pour the contents of half of a bottle of red wine into a heat proof pan and begin to warm over a low heat.

3) Add the sugar, orange halves and all spices to the red wine, turn up the heat and leave on a rolling boil for around 5 minutes. This is to create a thick, syrup type consistency which will be the flavorful base for your drink.

4) Turn down the heat and add the rest of the bottle of wine to your syrup base and gently warm for a few minutes, until steaming hot.

5) Turn off the heat and add a  dash of brandy, to taste, as a lot of the alcohol content will have burned off in the mulling process.

6) Strain into your favorite mug and enjoy while hot!

You can experiment with the spices and fruits, variations of this drink also include star anise, cardamom, lime, lemon, raisins… there really is no one correct way to mull your wine!

For other mythical and historic (and simple to make) Mulled Wine recipes, including Cleopatra’s Elixir  of Life, visit https://vinepair.com/wine-blog/8-delicious-mulled-wine-recipes-from-around-the-world/

December is upon us with its chill breeze and long dark nights; most of the world is fervently preparing for Christmas and embracing the festive season. Each corner of the globe has its own unique and wonderful way of celebrating Christmas, from the German Markets which illuminate the cold dark nights, the Midnight Mass held in churches across the globe to commemorate the birth of Christ, to the brewing of mulled wine to warm up the cold evenings.  It is a commonly held belief that Christmas is a Christian festival, which indeed it is for some; however the December winter solstice celebration held all over Europe has its roots set in pre-Christian times. Perhaps more interesting than Christmas customs are the myths and legends surrounding the time of the Winter Solstice and festival of Christmas. Travel and Deal take you on a journey through the ages as we explore some of the most interesting Christmas myths, legends and origins from around the globe.

Pagan Winter Solstice, The Origin of Christmas.

Yuletide was (and still is) a winter festival observed by the Germanic people and people of Northern Europe. Scholars have connected the celebration to the Horned God, The Wild Hunt and the god Odin in Nordic traditions at a time before Christianity had spread to Europe, and the indigenous religions of Europe were largely nature based with pantheons of Gods and Goddesses.

Centuries ago the winter months were a time of famine in Northern Europe and many livestock were slaughtered due to the shortage of grain to feed them, meaning this was a time when fresh meat was plentiful. The Winter Solstice is the day of the year with the shortest hours of daylight, and the longest darkest night, and after this day the days begin to lengthen, marking the end of winter. Yule was a celebration of the rebirth of the Sun and in pre-christian Scandinavia lasted for 12 days, and gave rise to the custom of burning the Yule log (the term in modern days often refers to a log-shaped chocolate cake popular at Christmas!)

One of the most famous celebrations of winter solstice or Yuletide continues to this day, In England. Each year in the ancient sacred stone circle of Stonehenge, thousands of Druids and Pagans come together on the longest night of the year to chant, dance, sing, celebrate and wait for the glorious vibrant English sunrise and the rebirth of the Sun God.

 Saturnalia, the ancient Roman predecessor of Christmas. 

The ancient Roman celebration of Saturnalia was in honor of the god Saturn, who was an agricultural deity who is said to have ruled over the earth in the ‘Golden Age’, an age when humans enjoyed the rich bounty of the earth in a state of innocence and without labour divisions.

An ancient Roman historian Justinus relates the God Saturn to the first king of the pre-Roman Italians:

The first inhabitants of Italy were the Aborigines, whose king, Saturnus, is said to have been a man of such extraordinary justice, that no one was a slave in his reign, or had any private property, but all things were common to all, and undivided, as one estate for the use of every one; in memory of which way of life, it has been ordered that at the Saturnalia slaves should everywhere sit down with their masters at the entertainments, the rank of all being made equal.”

— Justinus, Epitome of Pompeius Trogus 43.3

In the festivities of Saturnalia, festivities were enjoyed by all and class barriers were not adhered to, as well as role reversal being part of the festivities. Gambling and dice playing, which were usually frowned upon activities, were openly played on Saturnalia by everyone regardless of class background. The giving of gifts was also customary, as was the appointed role of ‘King of the Saturnalia’ (Similar to the medieval Lord of Misrule) the King of the Saturnalia was a figure, appointed by lot during festivities, who’s capricious commands such as ‘Sing Naked!’ or ‘Throw him in cold water’ were obeyed by the other guests at the celebration. The purpose of this figure was to keep alive a spirit of chaos, absurdity and fun.

 Gruß vom Krampus!

‘Gruß vom Krampus’ meaning ‘Greetings from the Krampus’ was a frequently seen catchphrase on Christmas cards during the Christmas season in Northern Europe. The antithesis to the well known kindly Santa Claus figure, the Krampus is a mythical creature from the European yuletide traditions, most likely pre-Christian in origin. Krampus is a half man, half beast, often portrayed with a foot of a man, and the other a cloven hoof. While well behaved children would receive presents from Santa, the unruly ones would be at the receiving end of Krampus’s birch-wood switch! Ouch…

The origins of the Krampus were most likely pre-Christian; however it is a myth which has been incorporated into Christmas in many European countries.

While the Krampus myth isn’t so widely propagated in modern times, there continues to be fantastic and fun costumed processions which happen such as the Washingtom Krampusnacht Walk which takes place each year around the 5^th December, a family friendly event where performers and dancers sport elaborate Krampus costumes, and all money raised goes to charity organizations… perhaps the Krampus does have a nice side after all!

 La Befana, The Good Witch of Christmas

In Italian folklore, Befana is an old woman who delivers gifts to children on the night of Epiphany Eve (January 5^th) in a similar way to Santa Claus. Legend has it that Befana rides through the air on a broomstick with a bag full of gifts and sweets, wearing a black shawl and covered in soot; as the enters homes through the chimney shaft. Being a good housekeeper, she is said to sweep the floor after herself before she leaves, to some this symbolizes sweeping away the problems of the previous year.

Perchta

Perchta is another early Santa Claus type figure originating in Austrian Folkflore, and perhaps the most sinister of all the Santa archetypes. The exact origins of Perchta are somewhat unclear; rather there are several possible speculated origins from different European folk tales. According to some sources, Perchta was the female counterpart to ‘Perchtold’ the leader of the Wild Hunt, which was comprised of Elves, Fairies and Demons running around making mischief, and seeing the hunt in passing was thought to be an omen of misfortune.

Legend has it that Perchta, sometimes described as a tall, white robed woman, would visit houses on the 12^th night of Christmas (Feast of the Ephiphany) and leave pieces of silver in the shoes of well behaved children. Unruly children, according to the legend, had a fate far more gruesome. Perchta would punish them by gutting them alive and replacing their internal organs with refuse! So if a lump of coal in a stocking wasn’t enough to discourage children from behaving badly, the grim prospect of disembowelment by Perchta would have definitely done the trick…