Indian Culture Before Your Trip: Food for Thought

Diwali, the Festival of Lights

When it comes to culture, few countries can claim a more storied history or a more diverse present than India.  Though it’s unlikely that you’d try to learn a new language or make a religious pilgrimage on your trip to India, there are still many aspects of this magnificent country’s culture in which you can partake during your journey.  From festivals to cuisine to the performing arts, here is some information regarding Indian culture that may help you to make plans for your trip:

1. Festivals

Though the majority of India’s biggest festivals are religious in nature, respectful foreigners are always welcomed with open arms.  Perhaps the grandest festival of them all is Diwali—India’s festival of lights.  Depending on the year, Diwali occurs either in October or November.  Nearly every town celebrates with fireworks and by lighting itself up for five nights straight, while many also have their own unique traditions associated with the festival.  If you can’t make it for Diwali, there are many different festivals all year round—just do your research before you head out!

Gulab Jaamun

2. Indian Cuisine

A quick disclaimer: there really is no “Indian” cuisine—every region and state has its own unique culinary history.  That being said, there are some commonalities throughout the country.  Due in large part to Hindu and Buddhist religious influences, most Indian cuisine is vegetarian—with beef being the rarest meat of all.  Of course, the very popular curry dish is found throughout India, containing complex blends of herbs and spices that vary greatly by style and region.  If you’re in the mood for street food, try Kati—a sort of wrapped sandwich containing vegetable, egg, and kebab.  When it’s time for dessert, make sure to try gulab jaamun—balls of dried milk cooked in a sugary syrup that are sure to blow your taste buds away.

Bharatanatyam Dance

3. Performing Arts

India’s artistic traditions are of course widely varied as well.  Perhaps at the forefront of the Indian performing arts is dance, whose roots on the subcontinent go back millennia.  Classical dance forms include Bharatanatyam, Kathak, and Odissi, while folk dancing spans a wide number of traditions as well.  Traditional Indian music is just as expansive and goes way beyond the sitar popularized in the West by hippies during the 1960s.  You owe it to yourself to check out a live arts performance during your trip to India at least once!

Before You Go... 

Pick up our India map. This GPS map will give you turn by turn directions to your destination using a point of interest (POI), city point, and/or latitude and longitude, with the ability to preplan driving destinations before getting into your car.

The easy to follow instructions allow you to download and install the map into Garmin BaseCamp desktop software and transfer it to your Garmin GPS in minutes. This installable map is compatible with ALL Garmin GPS units .

It's like having your own personal travel guide with you on your trip!

Screen Capture from our India GPS Map

Screen Capture from our India GPS Map

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The Joys of True Mexican Food

Beautiful Tamales!

There’s no denying it—Americans love Mexican food.  That being said, there seems to be a lot of confusion north of the border (and throughout the world) regarding what Mexican food actually is.

But first, let’s be clear—we’re certainly not knocking Tex-Mex, a perfectly valid and frequently delicious cuisine.  However, what many foreigners assume to be Mexican food is only peripherally related to what’s really happening in the kitchens and on the streets of that country.

For example, the option of a “hard taco” simply doesn’t exist in Mexico—it’s a wholly American invention dating back to the early 20th century.  And burritos?  Their story is a bit less clear, but what’s certain is that they were popularized in Los Angeles and remain much more popular in the U.S. than in Mexico itself.

Woman Making Mole Negro

Now that we know what Mexican food isn’t, let’s take a look at some true Mexican cuisine that is less than well-known outside of the country:

Tamales
Plenty of non-Mexicans have heard of tamales, but considerably fewer are actually familiar with the dish.  Before we begin, let’s make something clear—in proper Spanish, a single unit of this dish is not a “tamale,” but rather a tamal.

The history of the tamal goes back thousands of years to pre-Hispanic times.  The dish consists of a corn-based dough steamed in either a banana leaf or a corn husk depending on regional tradition.  They are commonly filled with a meat, mixed vegetables, mushrooms, red or green sauce, or mole.  What’s mole?  Funny you should ask…

Mole
There are many variations on this traditional Mexican sauce whose roots can be traced back to the early Spanish colonial period.  All moles include chili peppers—frequently blends of many different varieties—and most include chocolate as an ingredient.  The end effect is a sweet and spicy sauce that can taste strange at first to foreign pallets but that in time is guaranteed to win over any foodie.

Delicious looking Tortas.

Tortas
If you plan to ask for a sandwich in Mexico, you’re going to have to be more specific.  Generally speaking, a sándwich refers to one served on bland white bread (“pan bimbo” in Mexico) while a torta refers to the version that you probably actually want to eat.  Tortas vary wildly by region, with one of our favorite takes being Guadalajara’s torta ahogada (“drowned sandwich”), a basic torta served completely doused in a spicy red sauce.

Before You Go... 

Pick up our Mexico map. This GPS map will give you turn by turn directions to your destination using a point of interest (POI), city point, and/or latitude and longitude, with the ability to preplan driving destinations before getting into your car.

The easy to follow instructions allow you to download and install the map into Garmin BaseCamp desktop software and transfer it to your Garmin GPS in minutes. This installable map is compatible with ALL Garmin GPS units .

It's like having your own personal travel guide with you on your trip!

Screen Capture from our Mexico GPS Map.

Screen Capture from our Mexico GPS Map.

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
You can also connect with us on Google Plus, see our travel guide pictures on Pinterest, and view some of our videos on YouTube.