10 Christmas facts from India

India is a blend of diverse culture and tradition. The people of this country have the capability of embracing different cultures and giving it a unique twist. The festival of Christmas is one such example. Christmas in India has a distinct flavour that paints a vivid picture of the community life in India. Want to learn more about this uniqueness? Here, we have compiled a list of ten Christmas related facts from India for you:

1. Christmas was introduced in India by the Britons.

2. Similar to the Western world, preparations for the Christmas week starts from the Advent Sunday. The Churches start planning for the midnight mass and other festivities. The families too start their preparations for Christmas.

3. Christmas is quite colourful in India. You’ll find the houses, streets and shops draped in the colours of Christmas.No Indian festival is complete without lights. During Christmas, you’ll find the Churches and the houses decorated with stunning lights.

4. Similar to other festivals in India, food and sweet delicacies are an integral part of Christmas celebration. Along with the traditional fruit cake, people prepare

• Kidiyo or Kulkul (deep fried sweet dough balls), 
• Neureos (Coconut stuffed fried dumplings) and 
• crispy banana chips.

These sweets mainly originated from Goa and then adopted by the rest of the countries.

5. The Bow Barracks in Kolkata, is famous for its Christmas festivities.

Image Courtesy: www.aboutkolkata.com

These barracks were built during the World War I and were used by the British troops during the war. When they left India, these barracks served as a residence for the Anglo-Indian community in Kolkata. People from all over Kolkata come and join the Anglo-Indian community to celebrate Christmas. 

6. In many parts of India, people decorate Banana or Mango tree instead of the traditional Christmas tree.

                     Image courtesy: festivalsherpa.com

In Western Countries, coniferous trees such as fir, spruce or pine is used for decoration. However, these trees are not available in many parts of India.

7. In Southern India, Christians decorate their homes with clay lamps. This custom has a strong resemblance to the Hindu custom of lighting lamps during Diwali.

8. In North-West India, the Bhil tribe has their unique way of celebrating Christmas. During the Christmas week, they take out processions every night and sing their own version of the Christmas Carol.

9. People in India do not exchange Christmas gifts. Instead, they treat friends and family with boxes of plum or fruit cake.

10.During Christmas, Windamere Hotel- a Colonial Hotel of India organises colourful Christmas week from 20th December to January 1st. They invite globally acclaimed musicians to perform and entertain the guests.

9 colonial hotels to visit in this lifetime

India is home to a myriad of luxury hotels that are reminiscent of its rich glory and colonial past. Majority of these hotels were once palaces, dating back to the British Raj. The walls and labyrinths of these hotels silently talk of the chivalrous history of the Rajas. Their stunning architecture and grandeur still exude an old world charm. These are not mere hotels but, a living history . Here is a list of a few exquisite hotels where you can truly experience a slice of Colonial India:

1. The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai

Image courtesy: en.wikipedia.org

It was built in the 19th century to celebrate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary. For decades, this place has welcomed many dignitaries from across the globe. It has 560 rooms including 44 luxury suites.

2.The Oberoi Grand, Kolkata

      

                              Image courtesy: www.indiahotelplus.com

This vintage building, built in the 19th century is fondly known as “Grande Dame of Chowringhee.” The architecture, a combination of neo-classical style and elegant Victorian design of the hotel, will remind you of its Colonial history. During the World War II, the British soldiers stayed here.

3.Jehan Numa Palace, Bhopal

This British style palace was built in the 19th century, by General Obaidullah Khan. Every corner of this palace exudes an old world charm. Explore the rich heritage of the Begums of Bhopal with your stay in this palace.

4.Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad

This was the residence of the Nizams during the 19th century. The classical flamboyance of its architecture is refreshingly beautiful and has an old world charm. Take a walk around the palace while listening to the stories of the Nizam’s and experience the history come to life!

5. Samode Palace, Rajasthan

This hotel is a perfect blend of Rajput, Mughal, and British architecture. Nestled in the Aravalli Range, Samode Palace has 43 rooms including 20 deluxe rooms, 19 deluxe suites and 4 Royal suites.

6. Fortune The Savoy, Mussoorie

This gothic style hotel in India was built in 1902 by an Irish Barrister. Each room of this hotel is adorned with tasteful British-style antiques and take you on a walk down the memory lane.

7.Wildflower Hall, Shimla

Built in the Colonial Era, this grand hotel was once the residence of Lord Kitchener. Wildflower Hall has 85 rooms including a Cavalry bar with an exclusive collection of rare spirits.

8. Brunton Boatyard Hotel, Kochi

This place is swirled in faint glimmers of the Colonial era. The design, inspired by Portuguese, English and Dutch architecture will remind you of the bygone era and offer you a historical sojourn.

9.Windamere Hotel, Darjeeling

If you want to take a step back and experience the Victorian era, Windamere Hotel is the place to be. Ada Villa (later renamed to Windamere Hotel) was once a boarding house for the British tea planters. Now this colonial hotel stands poised while embracing its old world elegance.

16 amazing facts on Darjeeling

Nestled in the lap of the Lesser Himalayas, Darjeeling is one of the most visited tourist places in India. The amazing natural splendour and an incredible weather make it a perfect summer getaway. Let’s explore a few interesting facts about this place

1.The name Darjeeling comes from a combination of Tibetan words “Dorje” and “Ling.” The word “Dorje” means thunderbolt and “Ling” stands for the place.

2.The British developed this town during the 19th century. This served as a sanatorium for the British troops. Later, in 1864, Darjeeling was declared the summer capital of Bengal Presidency.

3.Darjeeling is situated at a sprawling height of 6700 feet. When the sky is clear, you can easily see the peaks of Mount Everest and Kangchenjunga.

4.Darjeeling is also famous for its aromatic Darjeeling Tea. The unique climatic conditions are said to give the tea leaves its distinct flavour and aroma.

           
Image courtesy: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Darjeeling

5.Tea cultivation in Darjeeling started in the year 1841.

6.The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) is the first slope traveller track in India. It is enlisted as World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

7.Tourism is the major source of revenue of Darjeeling. Tourists flock this place from 1860. This is also the only tourist place in Eastern India that attracts a large number of foreign tourists.

8.The common languages that are spoken here are English, Bengali, Hindi and Nepali.

9.Darjeeling also has a few reputed British-style schools which attracts students from all across India and overseas countries.

St. Paul's School Darjeeling Image courtesy: stpaulsdarjeeling.com

10.The 13th Dalai Lama escaped from Tibet in 1912 to Darjeeling. He was accompanied by a small team of his close aides. During his exile, he stayed in Darjeeling for almost 2 years.

11.The Rangit Valley ropeway in Darjeeling is the largest ropeway in Asia.If you want to experience the British lifestyle, a stay at the Windamere Hotel will transport you back to the Raj era. This hotel in Darjeeling is located in the famous Observatory hill.

12.The Everest Museum in Darjeeling showcases the pictures and mementoes of the people who have scaled the summit.

13.The Old cemetery in Darjeeling is declared as a place of national importance by the Archaeological Society of India (ASI). This cemetery houses the grave of Lt. General W. Aylmer Llyod. He is attributed to have discovered Darjeeling .

14.English Actor Benedict Cumberbatch once taught English to Tibetan monks in a monastery in Darjeeling.

                                       
                                               English Actor Benedict Cumberbatch Image courtesy: dogoilpress.com

15.Actress Vivien Leigh, famous for her portrayal of Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With The Wind was born in Darjeeling in 1988.

16.Windamere Hotel (previously famous as Ada Villa) in Darjeeling was once used as a boarding house for British Tea planters. It was a “home away from home” for them. This hotel in Darjeeling is famous for colonial-era charm and warm hospitality.