Landslide near Sonprayag; Kedarnath yatra temporarily suspended
The road has been completely blocked by the landslide debris and stones at Munkatiya sliding zone, prompting the administration to stop the yatra temporarily, police said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
2 hours ago
- India Today
Yamuna water level in Delhi closes in on danger mark, sparks flooding concerns
The water level of the Yamuna is on the rise in Delhi, rising to 203.2 metres at 5 pm on Saturday, just a notch above the warning mark of 204.5 metres. This has sparked concerns about flooding in the low-lying areas of the rise in the Yamuna is being attributed to the incessant rains in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and water being released from the Hathinikund barrage in water level is 1.3 metres below the warning level and more than 2 metres below the danger level of 205.3 metres. In 2023, the national capital witnessed unprecedented flooding, when the water level of the Yamuna reached a high of 208.6 metres, the highest in 60 years. Meanwhile, incessant monsoon rain has completely disrupted life in Himachal Pradesh in the last few to a PTI report, over 260 roads have been blocked in Himachal Pradesh, with 176 in Mandi alone following heavy rainfall over the past few days. The deluge has left 69 people dead and 37 others missing in the past two weeks in the hill neighbouring Uttarakhand, daily life has been affected after more than 100 roads were closed across the state. The Char Dham Yatra was disrupted due to the inclement weather, and there were food and grain shortages in some villages in Uttarkashi district.- EndsMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Delhi#Himachal Pradesh#Uttarakhand
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Dal-Chawal diaries: Tracing India's comfort food from Kashmir to Kanyakumari
The North CHEF PRATEEK SADHU, founder of Naar — India 's first destination restaurant nestled in the hills of Kasauli — says that the hills have an 'interesting' dal culture. It's a contrast to his native Kashmir, where the lentil plays a less prominent role, barring the Kashmiri whole moong, which is cooked with turmeric and a generous dose of fennel powder. Sadhu says in Himachal, they make rajma madra — kidney beans cooked in yoghurt gravy. According to regional culinary blogs, madra can be made using beans, pulses and peas and is a part of the traditional feast called dhaam. Dogras prepare madra with rajma, white chana , rongi, green pea and black lentil. In Himachali households, there's a whole black gram dish slowcooked with no onion or garlic and eaten with makki ki roti. Punjab's maa ki dal is made with onion and garlic. Then there is also the region's famous maa-chhole (black gram and chana). The legendary dal-makhani, born in undivided Punjab, is slow cooked with urad and rajma, along with butter and cream. CHEF PAWAN BISHT, who is from Uttarakhand, chronicles dals on his Instagram. He names bhaddu ki dal, bhatt ki churkani, gahat, chainsoo, dubke, pahadi masran dal, among others. 'Cooking in an iron wok or using bhaddu — a thick bottomed and narrowneck vessel made of alloy — and use of organic lentils, Himalayan herbs like jhambu and gandhreni adds to the flavour,' he says. CHEF MANU CHANDRA, founder, LUPA Bengaluru, is a classically trained European chef, but he has grown up on dal-chawal in his Army household. In central India, he says, the staple is a moong-masoor (de-skinned) with jeera, garlic and hing tempering. He also mentions a dal made in his Kayastha household similar to Amritsari sookhi dal — skinned urad cooked like rice, with turmeric and ginger. They'd top it with fried onions, cumin and red chilli tadka. The North East DIMAPUR-BASED CHEF JOEL BASUMATARI says that the dal in his house is always cooked by his wife Viseino. 'Every mom's dal has a different taste, a unique touch. Its simplicity can't be matched,' he shares. There's nothing like a 'typical' Northeast dal, the chef says. Every state has a different recipe, preparation and a choice of dal, 'Even within the tribes, the dal taste will differ,' he adds. In Nagaland, it is skinned raahar (arhar or toor) dal, mostly not fried but boiled, with bamboo shoots, chilli (Raja mirch), turmeric, salt, with no masala or tempering. It is garnished with local coriander called Burma dhania or sawtooth coriander. In Manipur, meals are incomplete without a dal, says communications professional Nenem Misao, who belongs to the Kuki tribe. Unpolished skinned masoor is boiled with tomato, onion, garlic and local chilli malchapom, alongwith haldi and salt. A typical table will have non-veg items, boiled vegetables, dal, rice (sticky one) and malchame (chutney). 'Common malchame are made with fermented beans or fish, ankamthu (extract of fermented mustard leaves),' she says. Chutneys are part of all meals in Nagaland too. In Meghalaya, the Khasi make dai nei iong— black whole pulse (horse gram or urad) cooked with black sesame paste. The dal is boiled and the sesame is added as a paste, along with ginger, garlic and mustard oil paste. Recently, chef Sanjeev Kapoor posted a video of an Assamese dal — masoor cooked with tomato, except he added jeera, which many in the comments insisted had to be the five-spice blend called panchphoraninstead. Some even add the Assamese lemon (kaji nemu) or borthekera (a local berry) for sourness. The East FOOD WRITER KALYAN KARMAKAR, founder, Finely Chopped, is a Bengali living in Mumbai. He says the appreciation for dal grows as you get older. He counts Bengal's cholar (chana) dal, skinned masoor dal with kalonji and machher matha diye moong dal (moong with fish head) as his favourites, along with Parsi dal preparations—dhansak (dhan or dal with meat) and masoor ma gosh (black masoor and mutton). ODIA FOOD CURATOR SUJATA DEHURY says that the first formal restaurant in Odisha bore the name of an iconic dal dish, Dalma. It is a nourishing dish with dal and local vegetables all cooked in cow ghee, with freshly roasted cumin-red chili powder, crushed ginger and bay leaf. While a regular dalma is quite simple, the temple version has grated coconut, urad dal crunchies called naadi — making it thicker and adding a sweet note. The West RUSHINA GHILDIYAL, FOUNDER OF A PERFECT BITE CONSULTING, who has researched on how India eats dal, reckons that as you move from North to South, there's a preference for split and skinned dals. The use of gram flour, especially in Rajasthan, is common. 'They also use chillies extensively, as it works as a cooling agent,' says Ghildiyal. The iconic Rajasthani addition to the dal roster is the Panchmel dal — a part of the signature dal-baati-churma dish. It mixes five lentils — Bengal gram, black gram, green gram, pigeon peas split and skinned, and moth bean split. SHEETAL BHATT , A CULINARY CHRONICLER AND FOUNDER, says that in Gujarat, a traditional meal is incomplete without the khatti-meethi dal made with skinned toor. Bhatt says that there's no set recipe for the dal that uses jaggery for sweetness and tamarind for sourness, adding, 'Recipes are heirlooms. You will know the khattimitthi dal by the way it smells. The dal tells you when it's done.' The amti dal from Maharashtra uses split and skinned toor with a very sambarlike masala and kokum as a souring agent. Legend has it that the cook for Chhatrapati Sambaji Maharaj ran out of kokum and added tamarind and thus the sambar was born. The South CHEF CHALAPATHI RAO, based in Hyderabad, puts the spotlight on the dalcha or lentil-based stew that originated in Hyderabad, which uses chana dal mixed with vegetables like pumpkin and bottle gourd or with meat. 'For gosht dalcha, you use the rib cage meat and eat with baghara rice (tempered rice).' No dal from Andhra and Telangana is more famous than the pappu. You can make a tomato pappu, palak pappu, amaranth pappu — depending on what you add to it. Rao says that Andhraites also use gongura and even seasonal chiggur (tender tamarind leaves) leaves to make the pappu. CHEF REGI MATHEW, a Kerala native known for his restaurants in Chennai and Bengaluru, has launched a new space in New York called Chatti — a space that offers the flavours of Kerala's toddy shop cuisine. He says that the sambar is the quintessential southern dal — common to all southern states. 'On the face of it, they are called the same but once you eat it, you know they are distinctly different dishes,' he says. While all the sambars use pigeon pea (toor) as the base, the flavour profile is quite distinct. The spicy Andhra sambar, thanks to the liberal use of red chilies and tamarind, also uses vegetables like yellow cucumber, bottle gourd, and pumpkin. In Kerala, the sambar will have an addition of coconut or 'varutharacha' masala —roasted coconut and spices. The Tamil sambar is more tangy with roasted spice mix and dal. The Karnataka sambar is characterised by its sweet taste thanks to the addition of jaggery. Mathew says if you are looking at an iconic dal from Kerala, it has to be parippu —which is the first course of the Onam Sadya. Moong (or even toor) is cooked to softness and ground coconut masala is added to it. For spices, it only uses turmeric, coconut, salt and jeera. The other Kerala staple, Mathew notes is — a rice porridge with whole green grams stir fried with coconut, curry leaves and green chillies. LEELA PRABHA, CO-FOUNDER OF MALGUDI MYLARI MANE in Bengaluru, which specialises in North and Central Karnataka food, says besides the 'sweet sambar' that varies in sweetness in different regions of Karnataka, what gives the dals a distinct taste are local spices — especially bydagi chillies. She notes that bassaru or upsaaru is a popular recipe from Karnataka, and is prepared using toor, green gram, horse gram, beans and greens like Amaranthus and dill. It's served as an accompaniment with ragi mudde (ragi balls) or rice. Locally sourced greens can also be paired with lentils. 'There's also koli bassaru prepared with chicken and lentils like chana, green gram and, of course, the Mysorepak , which is also made of gram flour,' she adds.
India.com
7 hours ago
- India.com
From Zero To Insta-Pro In One Day: My DIY Shimla Photo Tour That Broke The Internet
Shimla is the immaculate capital city of Himachal Pradesh that serves as a pearl for picturesque photographers. Shimla's landscape is lined with stunning temples, colonial architecture, vibrant markets and exquisite hill stations that provide a chance to capture all the beauty that it has to offer. If you are a beginner or experienced at photgraphy, Shimla is perfect for every type of setting. I have created a simple photography guide to capture Shimla's beauty through your lens that includes seven fascinating locations. 1. The Ridge Indeed, The Ridge is the heart of Shimla. It is home to Christ Church which is one of the eminent locations of Shimla. Without question, Christ Church is what gives The Ridge its identity and is a legendary landmark for Shimla. The Twin Hills covered with broad green forest can also be seen from the Ridge. Simla's famous heritage buildings, like the Town Hall, Gorton Castle, and several others, also add their beauty to The Ridge. Whether you are in the mood of capturing crystal clear lakes, magnificently carved temples, historical forts or busy city life, the Ridge has something for every enthusiast. Best Time to Shoot: Best time to take photographs at The Ridge is during early morning and after sunset when lighting is perfect for a less crowded area. The sunset period is also perfect as the photographs acquired are full of beauty with the hills highlighted by the setting sun. Tips: Do not drop your zoom lens at home. Include people, the church, and the breathtaking background in one frame while capturing with the zoom lens. 2. Mall Road Away from nature, Mall Road is the busiest well maintained area of Shimla. Combining modern retail stores with heritage buildings and cafes delights everyone who visits the place. Street photography of locals and tourists along with vibrant market stalls and stunning Himalayan range in the distance is at its prime. The blend of old world aesthetics with modern day Mal Road Charm is what makes it mesmerizing. Best Time to Shoot: Prior to the day's hustle and bustle, Mall Road looks picturesque in the morning. Alone during this time will set you in the right mood for the day while being active and sharp due to warm glow that surrounds you. When the artificial lanterns are turned on and the sun sets, these streets become enchanting. Tips: Make use of the camera's street photography feature to capture the locals engaging with tourists and shop owners. 3. Jakhu Temple Jakhu temple captures a completely different side of Shimla. Located at the highest point, Jakhu hill, this temple of Lord Hanuman provides one of the best panoramic views of the landscape. The route leading towards the temple is equally beautiful with lofty deodar trees. This location serves as a wonderful opportunity to engage in nature photography due to its scenic views. Best Time to Shoot: When the light is soft and fog adds an ethereal touch to the scenery, it's early in the morning or late evening during quieter times at the temple. Additionally, during monsoon season, the hilltop gets mystically covered in mist therefore making it a great time to capture photos. Tips: Try melding the mountainous scenery in the background with the temple's statue of Lord Hanuman to get a majestic shot. 4. Kufri After Shimla, you will find Kufri just 16 kilometers away which is known for its beautiful landscapes and winter sports. There's plenty to admire such as the panoramic views of the Himalayan range and the snowy beauty that Kufri provides. Similarly, you can enjoy the middle of summer with the blooming meadow flowers and gently rolling hills. Best Time to Shoot: Winter is the best time to capture the snow covered landscape in Kufri. You can also capture snowy views in the early morning during times when the light is soft and foggy. Tips: If you're visiting in the winter, bring a polarizing filter to enhance the whiteness of the snow and the rich blue skies. 5. Viceregal Lodge Also called Rashtrapathi Niwas, the Viceregal Lodge is a legendary piece of architecture in Shimla. Previously a summer resort for the British Viceroy, this place is now a museum. With Victorian architecture and sprawling gardens, this place is a history and architecture lover's paradise. The lodge offers beautiful views of the distant hills and forests. Best Time to Shoot Capture pictures during late afternoons when they sun casts a golden hue around the lodge. In spring, the flowers blooming in the garden make for beautiful photographs. Tips: Details of the architecture such as the wooden windows gnarled stone arches and grand doors of the lodge are stunning. Capture those. In Conclusion Shimla is a wonderful place for shutterbugs to explore. Be it the Mall Road, full of its hustle and bustle, Annandale's serenity or the Jakhoo Temple's panoramic view, each place has its unique charm. When a photographer plans a trip to Shimla depends on so much on their clear and keen intentions. Are they more drawn to soft morning light, golden hour of sunset, or the misty monsoon season? Grab the gear and be ready to once again make stunning images of Shimla.
