About Odissi

“Dance, when you're broken open. Dance, if you've torn the bandage off. Dance in the middle of the fighting. Dance in your blood. Dance when you're perfectly free.”

― Rumi

Odissi, an Indian classical dance, finds its origins in the ancient and medieval caves and temples of Odisha as well as the Natyashastra, the ancient Hindu Sanskrit text of performance arts. Scenes that are depicted in said caves and temples are given life by the accomplished dancers, mostly female, who, through their expressions, gestures, apt footwork and movement, regale all with stories of Gods and Goddesses. The art form is performed solo and in group. Dancers are decked in jewellery and are colourfully attired in traditional, local sarees (female performers) and dhotis (male performers) while their hands and feet are coloured with alta (a type of red dye). The 50s saw the revival of this classical dance-form and it was re-popularised in India and around the world by illustrious dancers like the great Kelucharan Mahapatra, Sanjukta Panigrahi, Sonal Mansingh et al.

Interestingly, Odissi has a pride of place in Michael Jackson’s popular song, “Black and White”.

Back to top

Gourmet Inspiration from Taj’s kitchen

Mumbai is a melting pot of cultures. Since centuries, the region has been oft-visited by foreigners from around the world. Cuisines of the region bear true testament to the fact. Even today, for business as well as for the purpose of pleasure, the city sees thousands of visitors willing to partake in the delights of its uniqueness. Keeping them in mind, our friends in The Taj Mahal Palace have shared two easy recipes. So what if you can’t travel to these parts at the moment? Try these preparations at home and take a culinary trip around the world.

A. Kolokithi

Ingredients:

Zucchini: 80 Gms | Yellow squash: 80 Gms | Baby brinjal: 50 Gms | Oil for frying | Corn flour: 100 Gms | Salt: 5 Gms | Celery salt: 3 Gms | Parsley: 3 Gms | Hung yoghurt: 20 Gms | Garlic: 3 cloves

(1 gm = 0.035 oz)

Preparation:

Chop the zucchini, yellow squash and baby brinjal into thin roundels. Sprinkle salt on it and keep it for around 20 min. Squeeze out all water from these vegetables and dust them with cornflour; fry them till they are crisp. Meanwhile, add salt and chopped garlic to the hung yoghurt. Assemble on the plate with garlic yoghurt form of a tower. Sprinkle celery salt and chopped parsley on it and served hot.

B. B'Stilla Au Lait

Ingredients:

Phyllo sheet: 4 nos | Cinnamon powder: 5 Gms | Icing sugar: 5 Gms | Almond flakes: 100 Gms | Sugar: 10 Gms | Milk: 50 Ml | Saffron: 1 Gms | Pista flakes: 3 Gms | Whipped cream: 20 Gms | Butter (clarified): 20 Gms

(1 gm = 0.035 oz)

Preparation:

In a mixer, add almond flakes and milk to make a fine paste; cook the mixture well. Mix the almond and milk paste, and whipped cream, and put it in a piping bag. In a pan, heat milk; add saffron, cooked almond mixture and sugar to it. Keep the milk mixture in the fridge for chilling. Fry almond flakes and dust it with icing sugar and cinnamon powder. Apply butter between two phyllo sheet, cut in circles and bake it in the oven till golden. Place the phyllo circle in a stacked manner on a plate applying swirls of almond cream and sweeten almond flakes in between. Pour the saffron milk around the circles and pista flakes into the plate. Serve cold.

Bon Appetit!

Back to top

Taj Mahal and other updates

The iconic Taj Mahal in Agra re-opened on the 21^st of September. For the moment, only e-tickets are valid with a cap on the number of daily visitors (5,000 in the morning and 5,000 in the afternoon). Other monuments in and around the city like the Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Itmad-Ud-Daulah, Sikandra etc have also begun welcoming visitors. Meanwhile, all other monuments that fall under the purview of the ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) have been open since the 6^th of July. Qutub Minar, Humayun’s Tomb among so many others saw ticket counters being replaced by boards displaying QR codes that have to be scanned to buy tickets. All these monuments are reiterating protocols of social distancing, wearing masks etc for the safety of the visitors. Our partner hotels and lodges, too, have been slowly but surely opening its doors for guests and they have outlined protocols to ensure good health and safety of guests. Domestic flights and trains are also operating quite smoothly following Safe Travel guidelines as prescribed by the Government.

Write to us if you have more questions about this.

Back to top

Akorn Favourite Travel Moments

Akorn Favourite Travel Moments is a series of favourite travel moments from Akorn India staff sharing their own unique experiences and insights from their past travels, whether from the places they call home, the places they are looking forward to returning to or memorable FAM trips, along with expert travel tips. One day, we will travel together again and experience the unique rewards of exploring in person, side by side. Until then, keep an eye on this space for an inspiring view of our beautiful India at this unforgettable moment in time, as only Akorn's team can reveal it to you.

In this edition, we quizzed Rakesh Kumar, Vice President – Tours, on his Favourite Travel Moments.

Favourite Indian destination and why

There are so many of them but if I have to pick one, then I will happily go with Kolkata. The erstwhile capital of India was called Calcutta. It has been renamed Kolkata in 2001 but the locals, Bengalis, have always called it Kalikata. What I love about the city is it binds people from different ethnicities and culture in one soul; it is to be experienced as much as it is to be seen. The City of Joy lives and celebrates life like none other where the heart rules over the head. It is regarded as an artistic and cultural capital of India and home to a number of intellectuals and renowned literature.  It was developed as a European capital by the colonial British and carries a well-balanced fusion of East and West, which can, also, be very well experienced in the life and works of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. You can find the colonial past dotted all over the city, but it is the combination of historical remnants, tradition and modern that makes this place undeniably a unique Indian experience. The experience of visiting crowded small bylanes of Mallick Ghat flower market, tasting fresh sweets from one of the numerous sweet shops at every corner of the city, visiting the busy Kumartuli Potters’ quarter, indulging in a serene cruise over Hooghly river in a local country boat, going for a curated colonial walk in the Dalhousie Square area - all are unparalleled to-dos. The famous journalist, author and columnist, Vir Sanghvi has very aptly described Kolkata in a few lines which sum up everything about the city – “Calcutta is not for everyone. You want your city clean and green, stick to Delhi. You want your city rich and impersonal, go to Bombay. You want them hi-tech and full of draught beer, Bangalore’s your place. But if you want a city with a soul, come to Calcutta.” 

Apart from this, for repeat guests, I highly recommend Jodhpur, Udaipur, Lucknow, Kerala and Ladakh in India; for avid trekkers, Pokhara in Nepal is a must.

Favourite place in your city/hometown

I live in Delhi and, undoubtedly, “Rajpath” is one of my favourite places in the city. The walk on this road in the heart of Delhi from Rashtrapati Bhavan (President House) to India Gate is pure nostalgia and a walk down memory lane. I get immersed in a feeling of pride about India and its great democracy walking along this road. Rajpath is, also, a very important ceremonial boulevard in Raisina Hill and this is where the annual Republic Day parade takes place on 26th January every year.

The best trip in India for first-time visitors

Of course, it has to be Delhi-Agra-Jaipur for Taj Mahal, Forts and Palaces combined with Varanasi and Amritsar for spirituality, Ganges, Golden Temple and cuisine.

Best meal you have had during your travels in India and favourite restaurants in your hometown

I still remember the nice lunch at Dev Shree, Deogarh (Rajasthan) where the menu is curated by the host, Bhavna Kumari, herself for all the guests. I must mention another nice dinner at the top terrace of Bhainsrorgarh fort in Rajasthan overlooking the majestic Chambal river in the company of the owner, Hemendra Singh, from the royal family. Like many other royals from the state, he has revived several recipes and continues to reincarnate many others.

My favourite restaurants in Delhi

• Saravana Bhawan, Connaught Place
• Olive Bar & Kitchen, Mehrauli
• Qla (next to Qutab Minar)
• Karim's Restaurant, Old Delhi

Best wildlife experience so far

It was in Ranthambore where we had a very close and clear sighting of Royal Bengal Tigers (mother and cubs) for almost twenty minutes. It, indeed, was an amazing and chilling experience watching the big cats in their natural habitat.

An activity/experience guests cannot leave India without doing/experiencing

1. North India- A visit to Golden Temple in Amritsar and a game drive in Bera, Rajasthan to look for leopards - One can find leopards in many wildlife parks around the world but Bera is different. In India, leopards and humans increasingly clash especially in the hills of Uttarakhand as wild spaces disappear and human-populated areas grow—but not in Bera. It is interesting to know that the locals (Rabari community) who mainly herd sheep and goats have co-existed peacefully with the leopards for many centuries now. It is home to the maximum density of leopards in the world.

2. South India- Stay in Hampi (city of ruins) in north Karnataka - It is classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and this historic town is also the “World’s Largest Open-air Museum”. Hampi is an absolute paradise for history lovers and one of the most significant UNESCO world heritage sites in India.

Back to top