On the Maharajas’ Express in India: a peek into the luxury train’s kitchen

The Maharajas’ Express is the last word in luxury train travel and the ultimate way to see India in style, with journeys from Mumbai to Delhi. One of the many highlights of a trip aboard the luxurious Maharajas’ Express is the food with something to delight every appetite from berry compote pancake with fresh watermelon juice for breakfast, to filet mignon, smoked beef saltimbocca or prawn tikka for dinner.

To find out a little more about what goes on behind the scenes in the kitchen, we interviewed the executive chef Shanaj Madhavan on a recent journey aboard the luxury train.

What is the secret behind the wonderful food that guests experience?

Well, it is not much of a secret. The key ingredient and what makes our food so unique is the passion and love that goes into making it by the fantastic team.

There must be limitations to working on board a train? What is the most challenging aspect of your job?

It can be difficult to make food on a moving train, especially as the kitchen is pretty small. We are very famous for our garnishes and our presentation, so when the train runs, it shakes, which make things difficult, especially with hot sauces. We have learned from experience to cope well!

What is your speciality dish?

My speciality cuisines are Italian, French, Mediterranean, Mexican and of course Indian. I would say my speciality dish at the moment is dum ka ghosht; a spicy dish consisting of succulent pieces of lamb cooked in an aromatic cashew nut and onion sauce – really delicious!

What is the most popular dish among guests?

All our dishes are popular among guests, including the Indian cuisine such as chicken tikka masala and the biryanis, rajasthani lamb preparations and vegetarian dishes. Some of these creations are our signature dishes, which you can only get on the Maharajas’ and we are very proud of these. It is important to use the right ingredients and we take great care in selecting them.

Where do you source all the ingredients?

In terms of ingredients, we pick them all up along the way in different parts of India, depending on seasonality and availability. All the meat products, however we bring in from abroad – New Zealand lamb, salmon from Norway and so on. Wherever we go, we stop at markets where my manager and I buy the ingredients, making sure they are of the best quality and fresh – we don’t believe in frozen.

How big is your team and how hard do they work?

I have 17 people working for me in the kitchen who work around nine to ten hour days and they work very hard. For example, the bread is freshly baked for every meal. We make everything fresh; we don’t freeze or recycle anything.

Who is the most famous person you have cooked for?

I have cooked for many celebrities, but Queen Elizabeth II is probably the most famous person I have cooked for. However, every passenger on board is unique and important to us, that is our tradition and culture.

If you could cook for one person in the world who would it be?

I would cook for my family, children and parents. Whenever I go for a vacation every two or three months, I take the opportunity to cook for them and make local dishes. My children like pasta and local delicacies on banana leaves.

What was your previous job before you started working on the train? How different was that experience from this?

I was the head chef at the American embassy in Moscow, where I would cook for the ambassador, diplomats and other high profile guests. These experiences are what have made me a chef. I got to know different cultures, eating habits and tastes. The menu on board the Maharajas’ Express has been influenced by my travels around the world and is designed for every different palate, from large banquets to small intimate dinners.

Further information about The Maharajas’ Express

Imagine a rail journey in the style of royalty. Imagine experiencing the mesmerising wonders of India from the palatial surroundings of a luxuriously appointed private cabin. You are imagining the Maharajas’ Express. Disembark to immerse yourself in the country’s rich history, cultural treasures, spectacular wildlife, temples, palaces and people – all brought to life by expert local guides. Relax on board amid state-of-the-art comforts, enjoying the finest cuisine and discreet attentive service.

My thanks for this sponsored post to Cox & Kings, the world’s longest established travel company, organises high quality group tours, private journeys and tailor-made holidays to many of the world’s most fascinating regions.

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com – Read more travel articles at Travel Blog Home

You’ll also find our sister blog with tips on how to build a successful travel blog at My Blogging Journey

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Donate now for Passports with Purpose 2011

I’m a supporter of Passports with Purpose, the Travel Blogger’s annual fundraiser and I’ve just made my personal choices from the fabulous array of prizes, in the nick of time. The chance to win prizes closes tomorrow although you can continue to donate to help build the village in India through this year’s chosen charity, Friends of LAFTI. Here’s what I’ve personally put my bids in for – if you read this in time, head over quick to Passports with Purpose before tomorrow and put in yours.

The prizes I’m hoping to win are;

Apple iPad 16 GB Wi-Fi + 3G

from Andy Murdock at seekingb.blogspot.com

Why?

Well, any shiny new Apple toy is obviously extremely desirable and I also think it’s good sport of Andy to give up the prize that he won in a competition for this good cause. Also the Winnie the Pooh ebook must be a big bonus although removing the Tie me Kangaroo down sport MP3 is a bit hasty – not everyone is bored with kangaroos and I’m sure it would give my kids endless amusement. If I win this I’ll probably take it on shorter trips when I need to have internet access rather than taking the laptop.

8 GB iPod Nano

from Anil Polat at Foxnomad.com

Why?

Again the shiny new Apple toy rule applies and as a lover of podcasts this little baby will be just the thing for listening to all my faves such as Amateur Traveler, This week in travel, Betty in the sky and Raising Miro. If you happen to win it instead of me, do download some of my Heather on her travels podcasts to enjoy, such as my latest interview with Beth Whitman about Papua New Guinea.

3G Wi-Fi Amazon Kindle

from Lisa and Tim Bergren at theworldiscalling.com

Why?

If I don’t get the ipad then I’ll settle for a Kindle to play with. If my husband is really nice to me and doesn’t nag me about the  amount of time I spend on my laptop, he might even find it in his Christmas stocking.Or perhaps I’ll be that girl in the deckchair relaxing on the beach with a Kindle in my hand one of these days that I give up the blogging.

$100 gift card to spend on a Mr & Mrs Smith Hotels

from Mr & Mrs Smith blog

Why?

Because I love staying in Mr & Mrs Smith hotels and have even been known to write the odd review or guest post for them myself. I know that any boutique hotel that they recommend will be just the sort of stylish, welcoming place that you always hope to find and that I’ll always get the best available price at the time if I book through them. If you don’t believe me, read what I said about these lovelies in their portfolio; The cosy Avenue Hotel in Copenhagen, the country house chic of Fawsley Hall in Northamptonshire or the modern luxe of Avenue Liberdade in Lisbon.

$800 to spend on a HomeAway Holiday Rental property

from HomeAway and Lara Dunston at Grantourismo

Why?

Because I love the flexibility of this prize, to book a holiday stay anywhere I like to enjoy with my family, and I love the idea of finding a home from home somewhere where I can soak up the local colour and feel part of the neighbourhood. I met up with  Lara and Terry at the start of their year long Grantourismo project to travel the world, staying in HomeAway properties and writing about their experiences and you can listen to my podcast interview with Lara Dunston here.

Three Night Stay at Luxury Hotel Tiara Park Atlantic Lisbon

from Matt Long at Landlopers.com

Why?

Because I fell in love with Lisbon when I visited with my husband in November 2009 and the 2 days we spent there just weren’t enough. I can jump on a plane from Bristol and be settling into the rather sleek Tiara Park Atlantic that is part of Kiwi collection, another hotel site that I trust to find me impeccably luxurious hotels such as the Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park in London that I reviewed for them.

A Four-Night City and Country Getaway in Ireland

from Corey Taratuta at Irishfireside.com

Why?

Because I’ve only once been to Ireland and I remember the unspoilt countryside and windswept charm and because we have friends there that are overdue a visit and because I can easily get there from Bristol courtesy of the charming Mr O’Leary, a man who does not lack the gift of the gab.

A 3 night luxury spa break for two at LeSPORT hotel in St Lucia though the Explorateur

from Jool Stone of Trainsonthebrain.com

Why?

Because my parents have been spending their last few Januaries in St Lucia and love the island, and as I’ve never been to the Caribbean the island is firmly on my wish list. As I find the grey days of January and February rather dreary, I could do with a bit of sunshine with my husband

If none of these tempt you, get over to Passports with Passport in the next 24 hrs and see what other goodies are on offer – if you’re too late, there’s always next year….

Read more Indian stories

Exploring the ‘Abode of snow’ in the Indian Himalayas
Friday photo – my Indian sponsor child

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com – Read more travel articles at Travel Blog Home

You’ll also find our sister blog with tips on how to build a successful travel blog at My Blogging Journey

Don’t miss out – subscribe to Heather on her travels

Exploring the ‘Abode of snow’ in the Indian Himalayas

This guest post takes us to the mountain peaks, hill stations and Budhist monasteries of the Indian Himalayas with travel writer and blogger, Satu Susanna Rommi at Indian Travel Journey who has spent more than  three years travelling in India.

It is hard to describe the Indian Himalayas without using clichés; snow-capped mountain tops, green valleys, clear mountain streams and blue skies. The Himalayas have all of that, and more. The name of the Himalayas means, literally, the “abode of snow”. I had never seen high mountains before visiting the Indian Himalayas, so even the first glimpse of snow-covered mountains in the distance was more than impressive.

As well as snow and mountains there are hill stations with comfy accommodation, activities from mountain biking to river rafting, treks to remote valleys, high mountain passes and some very scenic roads. And then there is Ladakh: India’s northernmost part, an old and remote Buddhist kingdom that was only opened to Western tourists in 1974.

Hill Stations in the Himalayas

When faced with the Indian summer heat, the colonial Brits used to escape to the mountains. Some of the hill stations in the Himalayas that were frequently visited by the Brits are still popular holiday destinations.

Shimla, in Himachal Pradesh at the foothills of the Himalayas, used to be the summer capital of the British colonial administration. Today it is popular with Indian visitors, especially couples on honeymoon. You can travel to Shimla by the “toy train”, a narrow gauge mountain railway that travels slowly through some very picturesque scenery.

Dharamsala and the nearby McLeod Ganj are home to India’s biggest Tibetan refugee community. McLeod Ganj is the headquarters of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in Exile. The area is filled with Tibetan Buddhist temples and monasteries, museums and cultural centres and Tibetan restaurants and shops. Dharamsala is very popular with foreigners and has opportunities for volunteer work, for Tibetan Buddhist studies, for trekking and for simply sitting back and admiring the mountain views.

Manali used to be a destination for backpackers and budget travellers, but today it is a busy hill town and popular with Indian and international holidaymakers. Located at the comfortable altitude of 2050 metres, Manali is a good base for exploring the nearby Kullu and Parvati Valleys. These are some of the most beautiful parts of India, with forest-covered hills, mountain streams running through picturesque valleys, and small villages surrounded by meadows and apple orchards.

You can visit holy places (there are several in the area), trek to the mountains, or try activities from river rafting and fishing to mountaineering. Manali is also the starting point for the journey further into the Himalayas and to Ladakh: the northernmost part of India.

Ladakh: Mountains and Monasteries

Ladakh is an old Buddhist kingdom in the middle of high mountains and high altitude desert. You can fly to Ladakh’s capital Leh, but if you do, you’ll miss one of the most scenic and most memorable road trips in the world. The journey from Manali to Leh takes around two to three days by bus, by jeep taxi or by motorbike. It is a scary trip with bad roads and several mountain passes, glacier streams running across the road and the risk of landslides or snowstorms blocking the way even in the summer.

I travelled to Ladakh on the back of my boyfriend’s Royal Enfield motorbike. He did the driving and I did the “being-scared-in the-back” part. We crossed ice-cold mountain streams, navigated potholes and rocks and dust and sand, and there were some seriously scary moments when the bike was stuck between an Indian army truck and a drop into emptiness, but I have never seen anything that can be compared to the barren, moon-like landscapes on the way to Ladakh.

Satu at Pangong Lake

Chang La Mountain Pass

Places to See in Ladakh

Ladakh’s capital Leh stands at the altitude 3505 metres. A stop on the old Silk Road trade route between India and Central Asia, Leh is also a centre for Tibetan Buddhist culture and is surrounded by some magnificent Buddhist monasteries. In the summer it gets busy with tourists from around the world, in the winter it is inaccessible by road because all the roads are covered in deep snow. Leh also has cosy guesthouses and modern hotels, Tibetan refugee markets and Kashmiri souvenir stores, Tibetan restaurants that serve momos (filled dumplings) and thukpa (soup), Western-style restaurants and coffee shops, and other places to sit back and enjoy the scenery.

Around Leh are several Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. Hemis is known as Ladakh’s wealthiest monastery and is especially famous for its colourful festivals. In the Thiksey monastery, prayer flags and giant prayer wheels decorate the steps that lead to a 15-metre high statue of Maitreya Buddha, the “future Buddha”. You can also visit the Leh Palace in the town itself or explore what is left of the old royal palace in Shey: Leh is full of ancient palaces, temples, monasteries and romantic ruins.

Leh is also good place to arrange trips to the surrounding areas: to the high altitude lake Pangong Tso in East Ladakh near the Chinese-controlled area; or to the highest motorable mountain pass in the world, Khardung La, at 5602 metres altitude. Beyond Khardung La, the Nubra Valley is a unique and beautiful Himalayan valley but you need a permit to visit. A short daytrip from Leh is the small and pretty village of Alchi, where you can see the rare Buddhist murals, the last few surviving pieces of 11th century Kashmiri Buddhist art.

Prayer Wheels Thiksey Monastery Ladakh

Buddhas in Thiksey Monastery

Tips for Travel to the Indian Himalayas

The best time to visit the hill stations Manali, Shimla and Dharamsala is between March and June. Ladakh is only accessible by road between May and October (depending on when snow falls and melts). You can fly to Ladakh around the year but winters are very, very cold.

When travelling to Ladakh, be aware of the very real risk of acute mountain sickness (AMS). It is difficult to describe what AMS feels like, but trust me, you’ll know when you have it. Most people experience mild symptoms until they adjust to the altitude, and for the first few days in Leh, especially if you fly in from Delhi, you’ll probably feel tired and can barely walk a few hundred metres without feeling out of breath. Take some time to get used to the altitude before doing anything active.

My thanks to Satu Susanna Rommi of Indian Travel Journey for her travel inspiration and tips on visiting the Indian Himalayas. Satu is a freelance travel writer and has spent several years travelling around India where she also trained as an Ashtanga Yoga teacher.

Photos by Satu Susanna Rommi & Enzo Coribello

More tales from India for you to enjoy

Kolkata in India: City of Joy
Friday Photo – community celebrations in India
Friday photo – my Indian sponsor child

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com – Read more travel articles at Travel Blog Home

Don’t miss out – subscribe to Heather on her travels

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