Food tourism–four Indian cities and the food they offer - Times of India

Posted: 18 Jul 2018 12:00 AM PDT

Do you know why Indians travel? Or, how Indians actually pick their travel destination? You would think it is done by the virtue of the destination's landscape, its history, and beauty, but the truth is quite different. A recent study has shown that Indians mainly travel in search for taste, which means that Indians pick their travel destinations in accordance to the cuisine of the destination. So, most Indian holidays are basically food tourism, and this got us thrilled about food. So, here we are with a list of Indian cities and the delicacies that they serve; it might just help you plan your next holiday accordingly.

Delhi

The National Capital Region is on everyone's bucket list for travel, mainly because of its cosmopolitan vibe and Mughal-era architecture. Here, in Delhi, you will find food luring you from all corners, whether you are in Old Delhi or New Delhi. Head over to Old Delhi if you want a taste of the Mughal era, at restaurants such as Karim's and Al Jawahar. Kebabs and biryanis galore, this is a paradise for food lovers. New Delhi, too, has numerous options for world cuisine, and you pretty much get any Indian cuisine that you can think of. You must head to Delhi Haat to get a culinary insight into other Indian states.

Mumbai

The commercial capital of India, Mumbai, is one of the main attractions of India, not to forget its glamorous side. In Mumbai, you can expect a whole range of different food, taste that would stick differently. There is the famed vada pav, which is a burst of flavours; and, if you are fan of seafood, do not forget to try Maharashtrian seafood. Mumbai is also known for its incredible Parsi food and that is something that you need to try, because it is rare to find.

Read more: the best restaurants in Mumbai

Kochi

If you think you know Indian cuisine, Kochi is there to change your perception. Kerala cuisine is all about wonderful non-vegetarian and vegetarian foods, most of which are spicy and alarmingly tasty. If you think you have had all types of biryani, try the Malabar biryani, also try fish moilee, appam, and the ultimate Kerala thali, sadya. Kerala also has a healthy dose of vada, dosa, and the rest of the mainstream South Indian foods, so you really have a range of food to choose from.

Read more: a guide to restaurants in Kochi

Kolkata

The epitome of seafood, Kolkata can surprise you to bits. One might think that the average Bengali is all about fish, but there are various layers to the city. You have the fish and mutton feast; then, you have the Marwari population with their incredible vegetarian foods; the classic Kolkata Mughlai cuisine, that is quite different from its north Indian counterpart; then you have Jewish bakers, and authentic Hakka Chinese food from the famed Kolkata Chinatown. But then again, the vegetarian fare in Kolkata, eaten by the Bengalis has a massive variety; surprisingly, this variety is not even found in the vegetarians' dominated Northern India.

While we have broadly covered the taste of India through four of its major cities, you can quite literally get a different taste in each part of the country. Unity in diversity is the motto of India, and Indian cuisine is an outstanding example of that.