Goa is well known for its long beaches and unique culture. A perfect blend of Portuguese and Indian culture only exists in Goa. Even the Goan cuisine is heavily influenced by the Portuguese, their former colonial masters. Goa has transformed itself into a prominent holiday destination. The tourists of Goa not only include Indians but foreigners as well. The night life in Goa is unmatched across all of India. But, Goa can be witnessed in all its majesty when visiting during the Christmas to New Year Period. Places to visit in North Goa Being a Holiday destination, Goa has a lot of spots for tourists to travel and visit. Some of these situated in the Northern Goa are: Aguada Beach: Aguada beach is a popular destination for the tourists to visit. The highlight of the beach is the fort that stands son the cliff and overlooks the beach. This beach is perfect for a stroll while enjoying the golden hour of sunset. One can relax in the cafés that are situated by the beach, shop for memoirs or indulge in water sports. Baga Beach: Situated at the end of the stretch of Calangute beach, Baga beach is one of the most famous beaches across India. Its fame makes it bustling with crowd and to cater to the crowd there is an uninterrupted chain of shacks serving Goan food and shops offering souvenirs to the tourists. Paragliding is perhaps the most famous sport present on the beach. Even the nightlife is happening at the beach. The crowd mostly comprises of fun loving people drinking at the bars, dancing to great music and having Goan food from the shacks. Calangute Beach: Calangute beach is the beach that continues into forming the Baga beach. The separation point of these two beaches is unknown to even the locals of the area. Calangute beach is said to be the more adventurous among the two beaches. This beach is also subjected to much fame. The sunset here is picture perfect and the seafood that the shacks, situated by the beach, serve is unmatched in both taste and freshness. Goa State Museum: Goa State Museum is the ideal place for the history lovers. It is basically home to a collection of archaeological artefacts and items. This archaeological museum is maintained and regulated by the state. The museum helps the tourists to get an insight into the Goan culture and heritage. It has an impressive collection of relics that may reach eight thousand on counting.Relics like rock statues, items made up of wood, bronze items, artwork, manuscripts, numismatic selection, unique silver coins and anthropological collection. Religious relics belonging to the Hindu and the Jain communities can also be found in the museum. Chapora Fort: The Chapora Fort served as the fort for the Portuguese who are believed to have ruled over this fort for over 150 years. The tunnels that were used by the Portuguese for emergency escape from the fort are still there. The fort lies in ruins in present days but can serve as a vantage point. From Chapora Fort the beaches of Anjuna and Vagator are clearly visibleand offer great scenic beauty. The Church of Our Lady Immaculate Conception: This church was built in the year 1514 and went through renovation in 1619. This church is believed to be a prime example of simple architecture. But, it boasts two flanking altars. The altar to the left is dedicated to Jesus Crucified and the altar on the left is dedicated to Our Lady of Rosary. There are marble statues of St. Paul and St. Peter that are subjected to much decorative carvings. There is also a statue of St. Francis Xavier that is encased in a glass structure. North Goa Hotels for an unforgettable stay Goa as a whole attracts a lot of tourists both from within India and outside India. It has established itself as a must visit destination for the travellers of India. Its rich heritage and culture attracts several tourists. But, the North Goa Hotels face much more traffic as compared to the Southern part of Goa. This is mainly down to the fact that the Northern Goa has far more famous beaches as compared to the Southern part. Hence the Northern part of Goa has to handle more tourists. For this purpose the hotels in the Northern part are of paramount quality and they are numerically much stronger to handle more tourists. Some of these hotels are: Goa State Museum | Image Resource : wikimedia.org Nagoa Grande Resort and Spa Nagoa Grande Resort and Spa: Nagoa Grande Resort and Spa is a 4 star hotel that offers 62 superior rooms and spa facility.It has 24x7service and offers great food in the in- house buffet of Baywatch. A free beach shuttle, a spa and an outdoor swimming pool are few of the activities for the guests to enjoy. The famous Calangute beach is located 5km from the hotel. Reaching the hotel is also quite hassle free. The hotel is located 44km from the Goa airport and 15km from the Thivim Railway Station.
The Regalia Luxury Resort: The Regalia Luxury Resort offers comfort and care for both the business and leisure travellers. Their beautiful blue pool and their luxury treatment of their guests are the main highlights of the hotel. Located on the white sands of Ashvem, the hotel rooms provide uncompromised view of the beautiful and majestic Arabian Sea. There are 5 categories of rooms to choose from in this hotel: Regalia Executive King Bed, Regalia Pool View King Bed, Regalia Bay View King Bed, Regalia Bay View Twin Bed and Regalia Suite. Vagator Retreat: It is a resort having 12 rooms and lush green garden that surrounds the resort. There are children playing area, a small garden and an in-house multicuisine garden restaurant. The resort is a 10 minute walk away from Vagator Beach. This resort is ideal for the people looking for some calm and to relax in a quiet resort. Deltin Suites: Deltin Suite is a 5 star hotel, located near the Candolim Beach. It is a relaxing hotel with gym present for full care of its guests. This is one of the top North Goa Hotels attracting a lot of visitors. Pick any of your favourite North Goa Hotels and enjoy a great stay.
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Rogan Josh Rogan Josh, a dish that has managed to win many hearts since the time it was originated. Undoubtedly, it can conquer the world self-handed or should I say that it has already conquered. The dish is not only limited to kitchens but, is also a part of films. Yes, a short film is made in dedication to all those who lost their people in 26/11 terror attacks.
But, do you know where was the dish actually originated? Many of you must have thought that it is India, but no, you are wrong. So, let’s take a look at the history and origination of Rogan Josh. I know how boring it is to read such a big blog and that too history in the start. But, trust me when I say this, you will be amazed to know about the some of the interesting facts about our very own ‘Rogan Josh’. And, you can definitely read about your favourite dish that you have been eating all this while. I mean itna toh banta hai yaar. Origination and the history of Rogan Josh: Since many of you don’t know, it was Mughals, who invented our very own Rogan Josh. The dish is said to have its roots in Persia but, the got some perfection in Kashmir. Kashmir is one of the Mughals’ favourite destinations for summer holidays. The presence of the Mughals encouraged the blossoming of Kashmiri cuisine, and it was here that Rogan Josh, familiar to all, was perfected. The word Rogan, in Persian, means clarified butter or oil and Josh, refers to passion. Thus, the dish is all about cooking an oil-based sauce with intense heat and so, the name Rogan Josh. All about the flavours: In Kashmir, the dish is flavoured with some regional spices, and the best part is that the spices vary as per the religion of the cook. I think you didn’t understand the statement and so, for better understanding, I would put the statement in this way. So, if the cook is a Kashmiri Brahman, then they avoid onions and garlic, and instead, use fennel seeds and asafetida to flavour the lamb. Now, if the cook is Muslim, then that particular version of Rogan Josh is made using loads of onions and garlic along with the dried flower of the cockscomb plant. This particular plant imparts a bright red colour to the food. And so, this is also one of the reasons behind the name as Rogan, in Kashmiri means red. Rogan Josh is also a part of the Wazwan. So, if you don’t know, then Wazwan is a 36-course ceremonial and traditional Kashmiri feast. Amongst these 36 dishes, 7 dishes are permanent dishes, and Rogan Josh is one of them. The other six dishes on the menu include Rista, Tabak Maaz, Daniwal Korma, Aab Gosht, Marchwangan Korma and Gushtaba. It was in the 14th century when Wazwan came into the picture along with the arrival of Timur-e-Lung. Like every other dish, Rogan Josh also has one variation, and that is Chicken Rogan Josh. Let’s take a look at the recipe. Rogan Josh/ Mutton Rogan Josh - Recipe A Kashmiri delight that is usually relished during winters. The Rogan Josh is a dish that is made using a blend of warm spices and that too cooked on a low flame. The dish can also be prepared using some authentic spices, and it tastes best when served with Naan, Roti, Rice, Biryani or Raita and is a perfect dish for that family gatherings. So, here’s the recipe of the famous Mutton Rogan Josh. Ingredients:
For Garnishing:
1. Making of Mutton Rogan Josh: Take a non-stick pan or large bottomed pan and heat some oil in it on a medium flame. Once the oil gets heated, add asafoetida, cumin seeds, cinnamon stick, cloves, cardamoms, peppercorns, and red chillies. Saute all these spices on a low flame. 2. Now, add the mutton pieces and let them cook on a medium flame for about 10 minutes. Then, add some water and cover the pan with a lid and let the mixture cook. 3. When the mutton pieces are soft or half-cooked, add red chilli powder, ginger powder, and saffron. Mix well and then again cover with a lid and cook for further 2-3 minutes. 4. Then, add the salt, hung curd and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Now, add the garam masala powder, grated khoya, kewra water, and almond paste. Mix well and let the mutton cook on a low flame until tender. Turn off the gas and garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves and red chillies. Appetising Rogan Josh is all set to serve with Naan, Roti, or Rice. Chicken Rogan Josh- Recipe A variant of Rogan Josh that is made using chicken and is also worth trying. Here is the recipe to lip-smacking Chicken Rogan Josh. Ingredients:
Making of Chicken Rogan Josh: 1. Take a wide non-stick pan and heat ghee in it on a medium flame. Once the ghee gets heated, add the whole spices and fry them until aromatic. Then, add the chopped chicken pieces and mix well. Cover the pan with a lid and let the chicken pieces cook for about 5 minutes. Make sure you keep the flame medium. Now, add the whisked yoghurt and mix well. 2. Add all the powdered spices and cook until all the moisture is absorbed. If you want your chicken to get cooked fast, then keep the flame high. Fry till the oil starts to separate. Now, add a cup of water and let it simmer. 3. At last, add the red chilli powder and some more salt if required. Turn off the gas and garnish as per your choice. Serve this yummy Chicken Rogan Josh along with Naan or Roti or plain rice. And that’s it! It was definitely fun writing about Rogan Josh and watching the short film as well. Oh, yes I did watch it and would recommend you guys as well to watch it if you haven’t already. |
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September 2019
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