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Food and Drink
Curries are created from the subtle and delicate blending of spices such as turmeric, cardamom, ginger, coriander, nutmeg and poppy seed although these vary from region to region. Vegetable dishes are more common than in Europe, particularly in southern India.
Things to know: Bottled water is essential for visitors but make sure the bottles are properly sealed. Most restaurants serve alcohol with meals and most Western-style hotels have licensed bars. Various states impose prohibition and in some big cities certain days are observed as dry days when the sale of liquor is not permitted. Tourists may check with the nearest local tourist office for the prohibition laws/rules prevailing in any given state.
National specialities:
• Dal (crushed lentil soup with various additional vegetables).
• Kulfi (Indian ice cream).
• Gulab Jamuns (flour, yoghurt and ground almonds).
• Jalebi (pancakes in syrup).
• Pan (betel leaf in which are wrapped spices such as aniseed and cardamom).
National drinks:
• Chai (tea) is India's favourite drink. It will often come ready-brewed with milk and sugar unless ‘tray tea' is specified.
• Coffee is increasingly popular.
• Nimbu Pani (lemon drink).
• Lassi (iced buttermilk)
• Indian beer (in many varieties).
Tipping: 10 to 15% is usual in restaurants.
Things to know: Bottled water is essential for visitors but make sure the bottles are properly sealed. Most restaurants serve alcohol with meals and most Western-style hotels have licensed bars. Various states impose prohibition and in some big cities certain days are observed as dry days when the sale of liquor is not permitted. Tourists may check with the nearest local tourist office for the prohibition laws/rules prevailing in any given state.
National specialities:
• Dal (crushed lentil soup with various additional vegetables).
• Kulfi (Indian ice cream).
• Gulab Jamuns (flour, yoghurt and ground almonds).
• Jalebi (pancakes in syrup).
• Pan (betel leaf in which are wrapped spices such as aniseed and cardamom).
National drinks:
• Chai (tea) is India's favourite drink. It will often come ready-brewed with milk and sugar unless ‘tray tea' is specified.
• Coffee is increasingly popular.
• Nimbu Pani (lemon drink).
• Lassi (iced buttermilk)
• Indian beer (in many varieties).
Tipping: 10 to 15% is usual in restaurants.
Nightlife
India has generally little nightlife as the term is understood in the West, although in major cities a few Western-style shows, clubs and discos are being developed, and Western-style pubs are increasingly common. In most places the main attraction will be cultural shows featuring performances of Indian dance and music. The Indian film industry is the largest in the world, now producing three times as many full-length feature films as the USA. Mumbai (Bombay) and Kolkata (Calcutta) are the country's two ‘Hollywoods'. Almost every town will have a cinema, and large towns will have many, some of which will show films in English. Music and dancing are an important part of Indian cinema, combining with many other influences to produce a rich variety of film art. Larger cities may have theatres staging productions of English-language plays.
Shopping
Each region has its own specialities, each town its own local craftspeople and its own particular skills. For fabrics, silverware, carpets, leatherwork and antiques, India is a shopper's paradise. Bargaining is expected, and the visitor can check for reasonable prices at state-run emporia.
Fabrics: One of India's main industries is textiles. Of the silks, the brocades from Varanasi are among the most famous. Rajasthan cotton with its distinctive ‘tie and dye' design is usually brilliantly colourful, while Chennai cotton is known for its attractive ‘bleeding' effect after a few washes. The himroo cloth, a mixture of silk and cotton, often decorated with patterns, may be found throughout the country. Kashmir sells beautiful woollens, particularly shawls.
Carpets: India has one of the world's largest carpet industries. Each region will have its own speciality, such as the distinctive, brightly coloured Tibetan rugs, available mainly in Darjeeling.
Clothes: Clothes are cheap, and can be quickly tailor-made in some shops. Cloth includes silks, cottons, himroos, brocades and chiffons.
Jewellery: This is traditionally heavy and elaborate. Indian silverwork is world-famous. Gems include diamonds, lapis lazuli, Indian star rubies, star sapphires, moonstones and aquamarines. Hyderabad is a leading pearl centre.
Handicrafts and leatherwork: Each area has its speciality; the range includes bronzes, brasswork (often inlaid with silver), canework and pottery. Woven rugs and papier mâché (some decorated in gold leaf) are a characteristic Kashmir product. Inlaid marble and alabaster are specialities of Agra. Rajasthan is known for its colourful fabrics and silks. Leatherwork includes open Indian sandals and slippers.
Woodwork: Sandalwood carvings from Karnataka, rosewood from Kerala and Chennai (Madras).
Other goods: Pickles, spices, Indian tea, perfumes, soap, handmade paper, Orissan playing cards and musical instruments.
Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0930-1700 in most large stores.
Note: There is a veto on the export of antiques, art objects over 100 years old, animal skins and objects made from skins.
Fabrics: One of India's main industries is textiles. Of the silks, the brocades from Varanasi are among the most famous. Rajasthan cotton with its distinctive ‘tie and dye' design is usually brilliantly colourful, while Chennai cotton is known for its attractive ‘bleeding' effect after a few washes. The himroo cloth, a mixture of silk and cotton, often decorated with patterns, may be found throughout the country. Kashmir sells beautiful woollens, particularly shawls.
Carpets: India has one of the world's largest carpet industries. Each region will have its own speciality, such as the distinctive, brightly coloured Tibetan rugs, available mainly in Darjeeling.
Clothes: Clothes are cheap, and can be quickly tailor-made in some shops. Cloth includes silks, cottons, himroos, brocades and chiffons.
Jewellery: This is traditionally heavy and elaborate. Indian silverwork is world-famous. Gems include diamonds, lapis lazuli, Indian star rubies, star sapphires, moonstones and aquamarines. Hyderabad is a leading pearl centre.
Handicrafts and leatherwork: Each area has its speciality; the range includes bronzes, brasswork (often inlaid with silver), canework and pottery. Woven rugs and papier mâché (some decorated in gold leaf) are a characteristic Kashmir product. Inlaid marble and alabaster are specialities of Agra. Rajasthan is known for its colourful fabrics and silks. Leatherwork includes open Indian sandals and slippers.
Woodwork: Sandalwood carvings from Karnataka, rosewood from Kerala and Chennai (Madras).
Other goods: Pickles, spices, Indian tea, perfumes, soap, handmade paper, Orissan playing cards and musical instruments.
Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0930-1700 in most large stores.
Note: There is a veto on the export of antiques, art objects over 100 years old, animal skins and objects made from skins.
