Chakh Le India - Kachcha Raasta

Dahanu, a non-descript town just about 150 km north of Mumbai played the perfect host to the very first episode of Chakh Le Kachcha Rasta. We have our favourite chef Aditya Bal, on an early morning bus ride that trails off highways and industrial belts into lush pathways lined by chikoo farms.

In this episode, Chef Aditya Bal continues his exploration of Dahanu, and discovers a very different side to it. Scenic beaches, colourful markets, quiet orchards, and surprisingly the strong presence of Irani culture and cuisine!

In this episode of Chakh Le Kachcha Raasta, Aditya takes a ferry to the picturesque town of Alibaug, known for its amazing coastal Maharashtrian cuisine. His day begins with a sumptuous breakfast of dried shrimps with bhakri and thats not it, his sea food treat continues in lunch as well.

Miles and miles of sugarcane fields welcome Aditya to the unassuming town of Bardoli, home to Asia's largest sugar factory and some lip-smacking Gujarati khana! After a yummy morning spent feasting on local delicacies - the fluffy and soft Khaman and the flavourful Patra, Aditya takes a walk around the sugar factory to see how sugar is made.

The state of Gujarat has a little secret called Chikhali, a town famous for its kebabs!! Aditya discovers on this Kachcha Raasta episode, tastier kebas are rarely to be found elsewhere!

Gujarat’s only hill station Saputara is home to a large tribal population with some truly unique cuisine. Aditya’s first stop of the day is at the local khau-galli.

Aditya’s day in the holy town of Kurukshetra began at the Bhrama Sarovar, where Lord Bhrama was said to have created the universe. He then went to the kitchens of the nearby Hanuman Mandir and watched the cooks make some steaming hot khichdi and halwa to be fed to the hundreds of devotees gathered there.

This little highway town, known as the gateway to Himachal Pradesh got Aditya nostalgic about his journeys to and from boarding school in nearby Sanawar.

In this very special episode of Chakh Le India – Kachcha Raasta, Aditya goes back to his school, The Lawrence School at Sanawar, and all those little eateries around he used to visit as a schoolboy, right from his favourite little shop that serves special ‘butter Maggi’ to the famous Giani’s dhaba where he tastes some delectable lemon chicken.

Sultanpur and the slopes around it boast of a rich cultural and culinary heritage. Aditya Bal's day begins with a visit to the ancient Bhur Singh Devta temple, after which he eats a delicious meal of fish curry and rice at a delightful little roadside dhaba.

A memorable journey on a delightful toy train takes Aditya to the picturesque hill town of Simla. The famous Mall road, replete with British Architecture has an age-old Indian Coffee House which is Aditya's first stop for the day. After the old-world charm, coffee and mutton cutlet Aditya heads out into the colourful lanes to find himself some local streetfood.

Mandi, situated right in the centre of Himachal has an evolved cuisine of its own, along with 81 ancient temples that give it the name, Chota Kashi! Aditya's day in this beautiful town begins at a temple and then quickly takes a gastronomic turn as he attends a local feast or 'dham' that has him eating a number of typical Mandiali dishes.

The hilly state of Himachal still has a few serene, little-visited gems and the tea-town of Palampur is one such place. Aditya starts his day in this picturesque little place picking tea leaves. He then samples some local street-food before heading to the outskirts of Palampur for a cooking lesson.

This episode of Chakh Le India is about all things Tibetan, as this picture pretty hill-town is the home of the Dalai Lama. Aditya starts with a visit to the oldest shop in McLeodGanj, Nowrojee and Sons for a brief history lesson. He then walks the narrow lanes discovering a variety of Momos.

Aditya's adventurous day begins in the Himachali town of Chamba, trekking through steep hilly roads with breathtaking views. Having worked up an appetite, he heads straight to the local street-food market. Then, on to Sungal, a beautiful, ancient village where all the inhabitants are cooks by profession!

Quaint churches, little town squares, a nip in the air, and tempting aromas wafting from carts selling street-food are just some of the things that lend Dalhousie its lovely character.

When in Punjab, breakfast does not necessarily mean a stuffed paratha as Aditya discovers at Billo Halwai ki dukaan, where Hoshiarpuri's have been coming at 7am to eat mouthwatering Poori-Chana for over a century! A mid-morning snack of unique kachori served with dal follows soon after.

The loud and lively city of Ludhiana is a perfect candidate for the food capital of Punjab! And Chef Aditya Bal goes the whole hog in this Kachcha Raasta episode!

Aditya's day in the quaint Parsi village of Udvada begins with a walk through the quiet lanes of the village and an impromptu game of cricket with some children.

Daman, or as its Portuguese descended inhabitants call it, Damao is the weekend spot where all of Gujarat descends to drink.Beyond the bars and the beachside hotels lie the charming lanes of old Daman where some unusual and very interesting food can be found! Aditya's day here starts with him learning how to make the famous Portuguese dessert, Bebinca, from scratch.

Millions of believers throng to Ajmer with the sole purpose of paying their respects at the Dargah sharif, the mausoleum of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. Aditya finds himself in this holy town in the auspicious month of Ramzan, and in true tradition he starts his day with a typical 4am Sehri meal of Nalli Nihari and Khameeri Roti at the age-old Jameel Hotel.

Aditya's day in Pushkar starts by the banks on the holy Bhrama Sarovar, seeped in serenity and calm before he heads into the winding lanes of this vibrant little town.

In this episode, Aditya visits Jodhpur. As he stands in front of the Mehrangarh Fort, he cant help but was spellbound by the sheer magnificence and size of this amazing monument.

In this episode Aditya heads to the village of Khejrali about 25 km outside Jodhpur. Its home to the Bishnoi community of Rajasthan one of the most proud and hardy people in this desert state of India. They owe their existence to an amazing and unique legend and their way of life. They also have one of the most hearty and rustic cuisine in this entire state.