Wah Raj! Delectable dishes to make you drool instantly

The Times Passion Trail, a TOI initiative, is back and this time it is all set to celebrate Rajasthan. In partnership with Rajasthan Tourism, we present the ‘Times Rajasthan Cuisine Trail’ – a journey that will enable participants to savour the rare and rich flavours of one of India’s most visited states.
We at TOI realise that travel is much more than mere sightseeing and cannot be limited to selfies at heritage sites.We appreciate the need of the discerning traveller to delve deep into a destination, experience it almost as a local resident would and understand its nuances. And in keeping with the aspirations of the new-age traveller, Times Passion Trails seeks to bring out precisely these nuances.
As a globally acclaimed tourist destination, Rajasthan is celebrated for its architectural heritage, its folk music and dances, its ethnic wear etc. It is acknowledged as the home of fabled warriors, with a million accounts of history, known for the subcontinent’s largest hot desert. But coming from this unique combination of history and geography is an aspect of culture that is truly special – its cuisine.
The food of the state has been deeply influenced by the spirit of innovation. In the past, hunting expeditions of warriors gave birth to an entire range of dishes, using ingredients that were lasting for long periods. Lentils and beans are commonly used; milk, buttermilk and curd replaced water as basic elements in cooking. Oil and red chillies help preserve the food. Each region and every city of this great state has its own signature dish.
Describing the Rajasthani cuisines, Gayatri Rathore, principal secretary, department of tourism, said, “Rajasthani cuisine is a splendid array of colourful, spicy and unique fare of dishes. From the street food to the royal kitchens, the fabulous variety ranges from soothing and spicy to tangy and mouthwatering, having excellent digestive properties. ”
Participants in the Times Rajasthan Cuisine Trail will commence their journey at Jaipur on August 31st. Following an orientation session in the afternoon, they will sample the city’s street food – but that is merely a trailer. The real show begins in the evening with a formal inauguration of the trail, followed by dinner. The trip will flag off the next day, with Mandawa being the first stop. Along with a delectable lunch will be a visit to the region’s speciality, a painted haveli.
An overnight stay and dinner will be at Bikaner with breakfast the next morning at one of the city’s most-visited outlets, known for both its kachories and mirchi wadas as well as its sweets. The journey from Bikaner to Jodhpur will take participants via Deshnok – home to the legendary Karni Mata temple and a lunch pit-stop at Khimsar. Dinner in the Blue City of Jodhpur will be at one of its wonderful resorts, and participants will experience the fabled non-vegetarian dishes of the Marwar region. Local specialities will continue to engage them through the next day, with dishes such as gulab jamun ki sabzi and chakki ki sabzi being impossible to leave without a second helping.
The Lake City of Udaipur will be the last stop on the trail, the experiences here including a visit to the hilltop monsoon palace at Sajjangarh and a traditional Rajasthan thali meal. A truly fitting climax to a cuisine trail, which ends on Sep 5th!
Threading this set of experiences together is an experienced architect who combines the state’s traditional culture with contemporary tastes. Dushyant Singh is a restaurateur, gourmand, and traveller. Moving beyond traditional Rajasthani cuisine, he has introduced the people of Jaipur to true continental flavours, with his own bistro.
Singh said, “The variety of cuisines in Rajasthan is amazing. The various princely states made their unique recipes. That’s why, each region has its unique fare of cuisines. ” As Experience Architect of the Times Rajasthan Cuisine Trail, he promises to bring to the participants an exciting journey, showcasing not just the delicacies, but also talking about the ingredients of the dishes, the history and traditions behind their creation and the innovation that has given them new shape and form.
Join this unique trail as it swings through the Shekhawati, Marwar and Mewar regions of the state, sampling everything from street food to its main dishes to the delectable desserts and drinks. All this in the backdrop of some great heritage.
To know more, visit www. timespassiontrails. com