India’s Last Cafe: Gorgeous Pit Stop enroute Lamang, Arunachal Pradesh

If you are headed towards Arunachal Pradesh’s Lamang – the unknown snow covered paradise of India, you should definitely know about this gorgeous pit stop. Referred to as India’s last cafe, this eatery joint is the last place to find something to eat and drink before you head deeper into the army camps and into Lamang, the last place where civilians are allowed and before the actual line of control on the Indo – China border.



Located by the Jang Bahadur waterfall amidst the pine forests and surrounded by the tall mountains of the Himalayas, this last cafe of India offers the perfect environment for a hot cup of coffee/tea/chocolate milk with some cookies and/or cake. First, the cool weather makes you ache for something warm and sweet and what better than a hot cup of mocha and some fresh cake to satiate this hunger.



Second, India’s last cafe offers not just a stunning view of pristine nature, but it also allows you to indulge in its many sounds. During the rainy and the summer seasons, you can hear the waterfall thundering in front of you while you sip on your drink and drown away all your worries. And during the winter season when the water flow reduces, you can hear the many birds chirping in the forest.



This place is a hot favourite with visitors for taking selfies and photographs. Nature lovers and bird watchers can keep refilling their coffee cups and just immerse themselves in nature’s divine bounty. And people who are simply hungry can indulge in a quick snack while enjoying the picturesque location.



However, if the light food and beverages served here are not enough for you, I would recommend that you head down to the Gurudwara Shri Tapo Ashtan Sahib for some hearty meals served at their langar. Even this place enjoys a fabulous location and is surrounded by many flowering trees too. Both these places are fantastic locations to grab a bite on your return road trip from Mechuka to Lamang. I really enjoyed both these places personally and both of them offer the perfect environment to walk and burn off all those calories that you will end up indulging in at these places.

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The Exotic Tropical Fruit Shops of Puliyarai

The climb to the top of the Western Ghat mountains begins at this village. It receives copious rainfall during both the monsoons and hence is full of lush greenery and rich agriculture. I am talking about the village of Puliyarai that connects the village of Shencottai in Tamil Nadu with Thenmala in Kerala. It basically connects Tenkasi district of Tamil Nadu with Thenmala, Punalur and Kollam of Kerala. It is a very popular pit stop for people traveling on this route. The reason being the exotic tropical fruits that are sold here.



This whole region in the Western Ghats is known for its locally grown exotic tropical fruits. Plantation owners in the region both in Kerala and Tamil Nadu grow exotic fruits like dragon fruit, mangosteen, pomelo (locally known as bumblimass), star fruit, passion fruit, plums, custard apple, cherries, berries, soursop, rambutan, longan, java plum, malay apple, rose apple, jelly fruit, strawberry, durian, jack fruit, beach fruit and many more. In addition, there are many fruits that grow wild in the mountains nearby. They are wild guavas, wild mangosteen and wild bananas.



The best fruit season is between May and November, but you can be rest ensured to get exotic fruits all round the year. In addition to these exotic tropical fruits, you will find many varieties of fresh locally grown vegetables too. So, if you are a sucker for tropical fruits like me, do not miss the opportunity to drop by these exotic fruit shops at Puliyarai if you happen to be in the vicinity. Some of these fruits are the best gifts you can give to your body and to your family’s health.

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The Vegan's Guide to Getting Fit and Strong

The vegan diet is often incorrectly associated with weak muscles and tiredness. There is a narrative around a lack of red meat and protein which leads to negative effects on the body. There is some truth here. Without essential protein, iron, and calcium, your body can’t function properly or be fit and strong. However, it is not the vegan lifestyle that causes this. The main cause is not doing it properly, safely, and wholeheartedly.

Take a Look at What You’re Eating

What you eat as a vegan is going to make or break your strength and fitness. Diet is so important when it comes to how your body functions and your capacity to retain optimal health levels. Your food choices will determine everything, so it’s good to take a researched, detailed approach to this core area. Take a look at the following in particular and find ways to incorporate a balance into your daily meals.

Iron



With incorrect iron levels, everything will feel out of sync. You will feel more tired, weaker, and like you can’t do much at all in terms of concentration, etc. Vegans are susceptible to low iron because of the lack of meat in their diet. So it needs watching!

Protein

There is a lot of protein to be found in specialist vegan products which are widely available in most food and health stores. You can also infuse protein into your daily meals through other food types too, like beans and legumes, peanuts, peas, or whole grains.

Calcium

Without milk in your diet, there will be a natural deficit of calcium. So, whether you take a vitamin, try to up your intake of green vegetables, or even try a milk alternative, make sure it’s factored in somewhere.

Green Food



Green foods are often called superfoods because of the amazing things they do for your body. The biggest bonus here is that green food (kale, broccoli, spinach) can be incorporated into any meal so you can eat them all day long.

B12



Vegetarians and vegans often suffer from B12 deficiencies. This can have a lasting impact on your nerves, and quite debilitating effects on your general life. Take a vitamin and don’t forget.

The Right Supplements are Helpful

For the majority of people, it is not realistic to maintain that level of dietary strictness and compliance every day for every meal. That is why supplements sometimes come in handy for maintaining the correct balance within your body and ensuring you have what you need to feel strong and build health resilience. There are supplements that are completely plant-based, as noted in this post on turkesterone.com, and therefore vegan friendly which will be the best option for your lifestyle.

Do the Correct Exercises

There is only so much you can achieve in terms of strength and fitness if you neglect your physical exercise routine. Exercise exists to make us more healthy, stronger, and fitter. There are two key paths to take for anyone subscribing to the vegan way of living: strength and cardio.

Building Muscle Strength



Muscle strength is not something to take for granted. It is often one of the first things to deteriorate when you stop moving and don’t eat right. Try a few different strength focused exercises to boost resilience and give your physical profile a lift.

Focus on Cardio



Cardio is always beneficial to maintaining general levels of fitness. Any form of decent movement can count towards cardio activity, for instance, a brisk walk to the shops and back. It is good for the heart, the brain, and your muscles too.



Getting fit and strong is more than attainable for the vegan lifestyle. Aside from the obvious approach to looking at your diet and food intake, you can throw in some strategic exercise practice as well. When working together, these two things build strength and fitness too.

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Don’t miss having this best thali meal in Aurangabad during your Ajanta Ellora trip

The cave temples and monasteries at Ajanta and Ellora are some of India’s best heritage wonders and they deserve to be in everyone’s travel bucket-list, that is if they are not already there. However, be ready to spend a lot of energy walking long distances, climbing stairs and ascending different view points in the sun. Is spending energy bad? Certainly not! But, then it gives you the perfect excuse to gorge on some delicious food.

While you are exploring the caves of Ajanta and Ellora, you cannot be bothered to have a proper meal as you need a walk a good amount in the sun. Hence, what works well is a light meal and lots of liquids. But, when you return to your accommodation in Aurangabad after your day trip, that is when you can look to recover all those lost calories by indulging in the best vegetarian thali meal in the whole of Aurangabad. And the perfect place to have such a great thali meal is Bhoj Thali restaurant, an iconic name in the Aurangabad dining circuit. Serving a mix of Rajasthani and Gujarati cuisines, their colorful, tasty and rich thali takes you on a quick trip to culinary heaven. Their menu seems to change every day, but the number of items on your plate usually remain the same. My favorites in this thali meal are the sweet kadhi, jowar roti with jaggery and ghee, masala khichdi and the rich ghee dessert. These items and the entire meal are a perfect way to celebrate your day and prepare yourself for another action packed day in the sun climbing historic sites and gorgeous locations. A highly recommended meal during your Ajanta Ellora trip.

If the thali is a bit too heavy for you, you can try out these other iconic food joints of Aurangabad.

1) Gayatri Chaat bhandaar at Gulmandi for some delicious Halwayi foods like Kachori, Samosa, Aloo wada and Moong bhajiya.

2) Lucky juice centre at Paithangate for milk shakes, juices and faloodas, and

3) Tara paan centre at Usmanpura for one of Aurangabad’s famous paans

Location: There are 2 branches of Bhoj Thali restaurant. One is called Bhoj Thali restaurant and it is located near the Central bus stand in Samarth Nagar. The other branch is called Shahi Bhoj restaurant and it is located near CIDCO bus stand.

Price: INR 250 per thali plus taxes

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Traditional Malenadu Cuisine: Lip Smacking Experience

Are you a foodie? Do most of your holidays and trips revolve around the local food experiences? Well, they certainly do for me! What better way to know a place and culture than by their local cuisine. I think food is an integral part of getting to know people and their culture and while it is extremely enlightening, it is at most times, a treat to the senses and to the palate. A beautiful combination indeed.



Every year during the monsoons, I make it a habit to visit the Western Ghats. While the consistent pitter patter, the lush green environment and the abundance of nature are the popular reasons for visiting the Western Ghats during the monsoons, I have a hidden reason. And that reason is delicious Malenadu food that is absolutely heavenly to gorge on during cold, damp and misty days.



One of my favorite places for such a rich gastronomic experience in Malenadu is a traditional home located somewhere between Bisle Ghat and Sakleshpur. They grow their own produce (vegetables, fruits, spices and greens) and even have their own poultry and cows for a healthy daily source of eggs and milk. And most importantly, the lady of this traditional home cooks an unbelievable array of lip smacking dishes that trigger happiness via each of our senses.



Be it the traditional Kadubu served with fresh coconut chutney, soft Akki roti served with kessa (a nutritious green that grows wild during the monsoons) and Kachampuli, Shavige with sweet coconut milk, young bamboo shoot salad, fermented jackfruit with coconut milk steamed (Halasanahannu hittu) and served with home made ghee, majjige huli, bas saru and rasam served with steaming hot fresh red rice, horse gram salad, fresh veggies with grated coconut or so many other dishes, this Malnad food experience keep getting richer and richer.



While the vegetarian certainly enjoys his vegetarian Malenadu fare, it is the meat lover who is absolutely spoilt for choice with an assortment of pork, chicken, fish and egg dishes. The Malnad pork like the one at Kodagu enjoys legendary status and is enjoyed during all important events and get togethers. And for evening snacks there is freshly roasted jack fruit seeds with piping hot coffee (with fresh cow milk and home grown coffee). Pure trip to heaven! What more does a foodie need?



Delicious Malnad food where the ingredients are all locally sourced along with the some of the best nature in Karnataka and my favorite season of the year makes the Malenadu region of Karnataka one of my favorite go-to destinations for a monsoon holiday. Do you have any such favorites where you go simply for the food?

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