Food is an intrinsic part of experiencing a new place. The Goan fish curry rice is as important an experience as lounging on Baga beach or exploring the flea market of Anjuna. Or, can you imagine a trip to Mumbai and not taste their famous pav bhaji, or visit Lucknow and not eat kebab? Food is intertwined with the identity of a place and meals are like little plates of history—they have interesting origin stories which tell us more about the people there than even the built heritage sometimes can.
Going on a food tour with a local travel company is one of the best ways to get a close look at the culinary heritage of a destination. Here are six travel companies and their food tours that will make you drool.
Delhi is home to diverse cultures who have made the capital their home. It should be no surprise that this great and historic city also has a food heritage and culture that is unparalleled. From the bylanes of Old Delhi to the newer enclaves in the National Capital Regions of Noida and Ghaziabad, wherever you go you will find good food. From delicious kebabs, niharis and piquant chaats to lip-smackingly good momos and unique fusion dishes like butter chicken pasta, Delhi Food Walks will give you a taste of them all.
The walks are highly immersive and participants get to taste not just the food but also understand the stories behind the dishes and the communities who created them. They have a variety of walking tours which cover areas like Old Delhi, Majnu-ka-Tilla and New Delhi. While all of them are enjoyable, the Old Delhi Night Food Walk is a classic.
While this experiential travel company offers tours in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Coorg and Kochi, their Mysuru walk is a stand out. This tour has all the right ingredients – history, food, culture and fun. Learn about the opulent lives of the maharajas and how one of the then richest men on the planet lived. Explore a century-old market, the plaza around Dufferin Clock Tower where the locals gather, and the evening bazaar. Best of all, taste the delicious Mysore pak, Mysore masala dosa and the churumuri – the list of gastronomical delights the city offers is endless.
No Footprints shares the stories of the communities that have made Mumbai their home over many decades and centuries, from the Bohris and Parsis to the East Indians, Kolis and even Jews. Their tours are varied but their food walks stand out. The ‘Khau Gully’ walk is focused on Mumbai’s famous ‘veg’ street food. You get to savour many interesting tales along with the food, like how the odd working hours of thousands of textile mill workers resulted in a street food revolution which contributed to the creation of the pav bhaji.
The ‘Kabab and Curry’ walk takes you to the nerve centre of non-vegetarian street food – Mohammad Ali Road and Bohri Mohalla. Along with tales of the Bohra Muslim business community, you get to taste quintessential Bohri dishes like the 12 pot curry, sherbets, chana batata, boti kebab and seekh kebab. You will get to visit hole-in-the-wall restaurants that are more famous than some Michelin-starred restaurants! You will also be able to taste myriad sweets along with numerous meat delicacies.
Been There Doon That (BTDT) offers numerous walks through historic Dehradun, a city that is unfortunately seen by tourists as a quick stopover on the way to the more sought after hill stations. It offers many interesting heritage walks like Ruskin’s Dehra Walk and the Kipling Trail. Not many associate Dehradun with a strong food culture but travellers are in for a surprise. The two-hour food walk is perfect for every foodie as they get a taste of Pahari, Afghan and British delicacies, along with the more earthy dishes of the plains on a walk through the Paltan Bazaar.
Soul Travelling offers a set of walking tours and day tours that focus on the different aspects of Goa that are not explored by tourists. It is like peeking behind a curtain at a hidden Goa that is out of reach for those visiting the state just for a few days. Their culinary tours take travellers on a delicious journey through Goa's rich food culture. The three-hour Secret Food and Tavern Trail of Panaji takes travellers to secret food locations in the city, where the Soul Travelling Ambassador will share little-known stories about the food, people and city.
Jodhpur Heritage Walk is run by local residents and offers walking tours, food tours and photography tours that are all about local interaction. The travel outfitter offers morning and evening heritage walks that take travellers through the labyrinth lanes of the old city. Visitors stop at temples, shops and even a local home where they get to have a cup of tea and talk to people. The highlights of the tour are the stops at the local snack shops to taste delicacies like gulab jamun and ghee ki kachori.
