What to Read Before Traveling to India

Some travelers love to get in the mindset of the countries they are traveling to in order to immerse themselves in the culture of the country and heighten their excitement about all the sights they will see and the adventures they will have. Reading books from local authors is the best way to learn about and understand the complex cultural experiences of your destination and we highly recommend prior reading to your volunteer or internship abroad project in India for those of you looking for a fun activity to enhance your knowledge of this wonderfully complex and rich country. Some of our favorite books include…

• A FINE BALANCE by ROHINTON MISHRY

• SHANTARAM by GREGORY DAVID ROBERTS

• WHITE TIGER by ARAVIND ADIGA

• TWO STATES by CHETAN BHAGAT

• IN SPITE OF THE GODS by EDWARD LUCE

• THE GOD OF SMALL THINGS BY ARUNDHATI ROY

Do you have ideas or suggestions for more books we can add to our list? Let us know if you’ve travelled, worked or volunteered in India and any books you found helpful or interesting! Email us at prachi@fairkonnect.com with any additional books you think would be great for any travelers to read.

Vegan Foods to Try on our North India Tour

India is a country renowned for its diverse cuisine and a large population that practices vegetarianism. However, veganism is still relatively new in India and can be challenging to navigate. But don't worry, because in this blog post, we'll explore some of the best vegan foods to try on your India tour.

Chana Masala

Chana Masala is a popular vegan dish in India, especially in the northern regions. It's made with chickpeas, onions, tomatoes, and a blend of spices. This dish is usually served with roti, naan, or rice. It's a flavorful and filling dish that's sure to satisfy your taste buds.

Samosas

Samosas are a popular snack that you'll find all over India. They're usually filled with potatoes, peas, and spices, and then deep-fried until golden brown. You can find them in street food stalls or restaurants. Just be sure to ask if they are made with ghee (clarified butter) or oil, as ghee is commonly used in Indian cuisine.

Aloo Gobi

Aloo Gobi is a classic Indian vegan dish that consists of potatoes and cauliflower cooked with a blend of spices, including turmeric, cumin, and coriander. It's a simple yet flavorful dish that's perfect for lunch or dinner.

Dosas

Dosas are a South Indian specialty that's made from fermented rice and lentil batter. They are crispy, crepe-like pancakes that are served with various chutneys, sambar (a lentil-based soup), and a potato curry filling. They're a delicious and healthy option for breakfast or lunch.

Bhindi Masala

Bhindi Masala is a vegan dish that's made with okra, onions, and a blend of spices. It's a simple yet flavorful dish that's perfect for those who love spicy food. It's usually served with roti or rice.

Biryani

Biryani is a classic Indian dish that's made with long-grain rice, vegetables, and spices. It's a popular dish that's usually served during special occasions like weddings or festivals. There are various types of biryani, including vegetable biryani, mushroom biryani, and paneer biryani.

Chole Bhature

Chole Bhature is a popular Punjabi dish that consists of spicy chickpeas (chole) and deep-fried bread (bhature). It's a filling and flavorful dish that's perfect for breakfast or lunch.

Thali

A thali is a platter of various dishes that's typically served in a restaurant. It usually consists of rice, dal, vegetables, papad, chutney, and a sweet dish. Thalis can be found all over India and are a great way to try different vegan dishes in one sitting.

In conclusion, India is a great destination for vegan travelers as there are plenty of vegan options available. These vegan dishes are just a small sample of what India has to offer, and we hope you get to try them all during your India tour.

Join us for a Vegan Adventure in North India group tour to experience vegan food.

Inclusion in the Travel Industry

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice you have chosen the side of the oppressor”

— Desmond Tutu

As we watch millions of Americans take action against not only the recent incidences of racism but also the historic unequal justice shown to the African American population, we at Escape To, are urging for a change in the travel industry. It is important that we as an industry not only listen and learn but also take action against systemic racism and reflect on what we as an industry are doing to propagate this discriminatory behavior. 

The travel industry does not do enough to be inclusive towards the African American population in our marketing materials such as the lack of diverse representation in ads for yoga retreats or study abroad programs, which further cultivates this implicit bias that should not be allowed to exist within an industry that thrives on teaching people to be open, understanding and respectful towards other people and cultures. We as a travel industry need to do better and we as a company, at Escape to, need to do better. 

In light of this Escape to has set up a $5,000 grant, Fairkonnect's Cultural Experiences Travel Grant, to assist five black students and travelers in being able to join our yoga retreats, vegan tours or our intern & volunteer abroad programs when they are ready to travel. It is one small step towards change but we hope it’s a step towards a more inclusive future and industry.

For more information on Fairkonnect's Cultural Experience Travel Grant, please contact prachi@fairkonnect.com.

To apply for our travel grant, please fill out the form below and a member of our team will be in touch.