DDLJ, Fondue & The Swiss Alps, Courtesy Engelberg.

Engelberg is small resort town in Obwalden area of Switzerland.It's fairly small and quiet, and the locals are usually asleep by 8 in the evening! 

The town has picturesque views of the Swiss alps on all sides and is the home to the famous Mt. Titlis. 

Tourists and travelers usually miss staying a few days in this town as its not always part of a travel package as such, but a stay here over before you head to Lucerne is highly recommended to experience the old world charm of a small Swiss town, as well as spending a day at Mt. Titlis. So, post you stay in Zurich, do make some time for Engelberg. 

Getting There: Take a train from Zurich to Lucerne. Lucerne to Engelberg is very well connected via hourly trains.

Day 1

Upon arriving at Engelberg from Zurich, check into your hotel (I stayed at The Central Hotel) and take the day off to explore the town.

Visit the lake which is quite close to the cable car station and it is bound to bring out the photographer in you. A walk down the trail by the lake is sure to leave you pleased. Have a cup of deliciously frothy swiss coffee and some cake at any of the numerous small restaurants and cafes in the area and include a visit to Coop; a supermarket that has a variety of Swiss groceries. Take your pick of cheese, preserved meats and chocolates to carry back home.

Dinner is best had in the hotel itself if you want to eat late, as most independent restaurants shut down early.

Day 2

Wake up to see the beautiful play of the sun over the mountain peaks as it rises. It's a sight to be relished, watching the gleaming sunshine on the mountain top.

Post breakfast at your hotel, the entire day should be dedicated for a visit to Mt. Titlis. Walk down to the cable car station from your hotel and take a ride to the top of the world! The breathtaking views of the Swiss Alps are best experienced from the Rotair- the world's first revolving gondola.

Once you reach the base, you are greeted by none other than Raj and Simran aka Shahrukh Khan and Kajol! Before you get ecstatic let me tell you that its just a carboard cutout of their characters from Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, nevertheless as an Indian I felt really happy seeing some kind of representation there. 

Choose from a number activities that are on offer. Skiing is quite popular in this region during the winter, if you are not experienced, you can try a number of other snow activities like the cliff walk and the ice flyer for a rush of adrenaline, toboggan rides and a walk through the glacier cave. Head down for some delicious lunch at the restaurant post which you can enjoy some Movenpick ice creams at the parlor there.Had you fill of the snow, then take back the gondola ride to Engelberg to enjoy a leisurely stroll in the evening or just sit in you hotel balcony reading a book while the splendid Swiss Alps surround you.

The next morning take a train from the station and head out to Lucerne for some serious shopping. You can choose to spend the night at Lucerne itself or if you aren't done with the beauty of Engelberg, take a train back here again!

Must Dos

Try some authentic cheese fondue

Take a ride on the Ice Flyer at Mt. Titlis

Have a scoop of Movenpick ice cream, the Swiss claim it to be the one of the best ice creams you will ever have

7 Countries That Do Not Require Visas From Indian Passport Holders!

To travel is a wonderful thing and as The Dalai Lama once stated, every year go some place you have never been before. While there a many beautiful sights to see in India itself, it always interesting to know what lies beyond, and to satiate this curiosity we often go through quite a few formalities before we can legally enter another country. Visas have for a long time discouraged travelers from taking that last minute vacation abroad. While getting a Visa for a lot of countries isn't really a hassle, its great to know that there are still a few destinations where Indian citizens are allowed to set foot without a visa. So the next time you want to go abroad and are looking at avoiding a visa, try any one of these.

1. Bhutan:

Lush greenery, the mighty Himalayas and quaint monasteries welcome you to Bhutan with open arms, minus a visa if you are an Indian passport holder. What better place to rush off to for a little break! Bhutan is one of the remotest places in the world and somewhere this makes it an ideal vacation destination for city folks who are looking at disconnecting from the world for a few days. The sole airport at Paro can be reached via only Druk Air from Delhi and Kolkata. One can also drive down if flying isn't working out. Places to visit include Paro, Thimpu, Dochu La Pass, Taktsang Lakhang and Gangtey.

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2. Dominica

Dominica is not the short form for Dominican Republic but is another island in the Caribbeans. Island, sea, Caribbeans; these are all the right words for a perfect beach vacation and its even better when we say that its visa free for Indian citizens! Thinking of a longer stay? Well guess what, Dominca allows Indian citizens to stay as long as 22 months without a visa! Ideally meant for those who want to sit back and relax while taking in the views of the gorgeous sea and the occasional snorkeling. The island is rich with lush forests, mountains, as many as 300 rivers and even houses the world's second largest hot spring - Boiling Lake! There are no direct flights to Dominica from India and yes a round trip fare would cost as much as INR 2,00,000. Steep I would say but if cash flow is not an issue, then go for it. 

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3. Mauritius

I cannot stress enough on the fact that Mauritius is much more than a honeymoon destination, its also a great destination for family trips as well as a trip with friends. Things you can do in Mauritius? Well lets see, Snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, big game fishing, big cat interactions at Casela Nature Park, Sky Diving at Skydive Mauritius, Shopping at Port Louis, enjoy the nightlife at Grand Baie, shopping at outlets of luxury brands rejects and watch some of the most spectacular sunsets of your life as you soak in some of the good life! Mauritius is easily accessible from India and a comfortable trip for 7 days with a stay in a star hotel would cost roughly around INR 1,00,000 per head.

Hotel Le Meridien, Mauritius

4. Jamaica

Think Jamaica and the instant picture that comes to my mind is a lazy day by the beach, sipping on some Pina Coladas while some Reggae music plays in the background. Jamaica is the perfect picture of a tropical island. Lush mountainous forests, reef lined coasts and great nightlife. Its as if Jamaica was created so that the world could have a perfect place to visit for a break. I mean Bob Marley was born here, shouldn't that be reason enough anyway?! When in Jamaica do stay at one of the fantastic resorts at Montego Bay, go for some snorkeling at Negril and get your fill of the legend Bob Marley at Kingston which houses the famous Bob Marley Museum.

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5. Fiji

Blue lagoons, palm trees and some of the best beaches in the world come at a no visa requirement for Indian passport holders. Now isn't that something! Fiji is the perfect picture of an exotic island and maybe only 2nd to Seychelles for the same. Apart from the obvious there is a lot more to see in Fiji, visit Denarau island, Mount Tomanivi, Sawa-i-lau (a limestone island),Bouma National Heritage Park, Navala village, and the Sigatoka sand dunes,yup you heard that right!

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6. El Salvador

El Salvador is a small South American country which is usually not on most people's mind when they are planning a vacation, but this little country has a lot to off for the beach bums and surfers and if you are Indian, then please go ahead and surf past the visa process! The capital San Salvador has a flourishing nightlife and an equally great arts and culture scene, spend a lazy afternoon at the outdoor markets hunting for a good bargain and follow it up with a night of revelry, all this with an imposing backdrop of volcanoes, exciting isn't it?! Other places of interest are Juayu which is known for it's weekend food festival, Alegria which is a beautiful mountain town which is rich in flowering plants and last but not the least The Maya Ruins at Tazumal. 

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7. Hong Kong:

Yes, Hong Kong has a visa free stay period of 14 days for Indian passport holders if you are flying to Hong Kong directly from India. Basically accessibility to the nearest Disneyland just got a lot more simpler. Hong Kong is one the most vibrant Asian countries and has a thriving nightlife and is also a great destination for shoppers. The best thing about Hong Kong is that it can be enjoyed with both family and friends and 14 days is more than enough to explore what it has to offer. Hong Kong is connected via all major airports in India.

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So pack your bags and leave your visa woes behind!

An Authentic Lepcha Meal In Sikkim:Hot Beer, Wild Fern, Mustard Leaf Soup & More!

During my last visit to the beautiful state of Sikkim I had the opportunity to try out some authentic Lepcha cuisine. Before I get into the details of the spread, it's important to understand the ethnicity that makes up the population of Sikkim. 

View from the hotel

Sikkim mainly consists of  three broad categories of ethnicity; people of Nepalese origin, people of Tibetan origin and the original inhabitants; the Lepchas. Owing to the different sets of people that live here, the cuisine too is broadly divided into 3 categories- Nepalese, Tibetan and Lepcha.

In addition to the Lepcha spread, I did try a few Tibetan dishes during my stay as well, such as Chicken and Vegetarian Momos, Pork Shyapale and Thenthuk, but these were things that I had had before, although I must admit that the momos here were the best I have eaten till date.

Chicken Momos at The Bamboo Retreat

Pork Shyapale at Taste Of Tibet, Gangtok

I was staying at this beautiful property called The Bamboo Retreat which is located in Rumtek and is a 45 minute drive from the heart of Gangtok city. The property is set amidst lush paddy fields and herb and vegetable gardens, the produce of which is used to prepare fresh meals in the hotel kitchen. Hospitality, location and service apart, the food here was absolutely fantastic. This now brings me back to the Lepcha spread that I had here. 

Dining area at The Bamboo Retreat

After a long and adventurous day at Natu La and Tsongmo, I headed back to the hotel thinking of the Lepcha food that I was going to try. Before dinner was laid out, I was given a tumbler of Chi. Chi is a local brew made out of fermented millet and hot water! The drink is served in bamboo tumblers and is to be sipped through thin bamboo straws. Not something that you would instantly like considering its actually hot beer, but its worth a shot and who knows, the taste might just grow on you!

Chi (Millet Beer)

Two tumblers of Chi down, I got ready for a spread of a lifetime that consited of the following dishes:
Gundruk - A soup made out of fermented mustard leaves. While it may not sound appetizing, believe me it was more than that. Light and delicious, I loved the tangy taste.
Then came in an array of dishes each better than the other.

Phapar - Buckwheat rolls filled with seasoned mustard leaves, these delectable little rolls made for a perfect starter. Not necessary that the be stuffed with mustard leaves, any other seasonal vegetable can be used as well. The rolls were served with a spicy green chili and garlic chutney.

Iskus Munta - A dry vegetarian dish made with season squash leaves. Tasted good and seemed perfectly healthy. I love having green vegetables and hadn't ever tried any squash leaf preparation before, for the first time, I would say this was pretty tasty.

Sauteed Bamboo Shoots - While I have had bamboo shoot in some pan asian preparations, this was the first time I had a dish where it was the core ingredient. Freshly plucked from the vegetable garden in the hotel property, this was soft, juicy and tender and tasted almost like mushrooms. a simple seasoning of Indian spices is all it took to turn this into one of my favorite dishes from the spread.

Ningro Churpi- Now this one is pretty interesting, its basically wild fern with Churpi (cheese). I had no idea that ferns form an integral part of Sikkimese cuisine. This preparation was by far the top pick from the entire menu. The fern wonderfully blended with the cheese and tasted incredible. I wish I could get this somewhere apart from Sikkim too.

Pahadi Mutton Curry- Very similar to the eastern style of mutton curry, maybe a few different spices but tastewise it was brilliant.

Phing Mushroom - A preparation of glass noodles with wild mushrooms.

All of the food was served with dal, red rice and chapattis.

Authentic Lepcha spread

All in all I would definitely rate this as a perfect 10 meal especially since I tried an all new cuisine and didn't really dislike a single item on the menu! If you are ever traveling to Sikkim, do go for a traditional Lepcha meal at The Bamboo Retreat, you wont regret it!