Maharajas' Express | Carbon Papers | Root Bridges | Exotic Indian Fruits | Rat Temple
Five unique things about India for you to explore with the kids
Maharajas' express
The easiest way to travel from Delhi to Mumbai is by flight but the finest way is the Maharajas' Express. This luxurious train ride takes you on a royal ride through some of the most iconic places in North India including Ranthambore, Udaipur, Varanasi and Khajuraho. If you don't want to shell out the royal price, in this video, the legendary Tom Alter shows you a lovely glimpse of the epic journey.
Carbon papers
When we were kids, we watched in awe as those blue and silver carbon papers would instantly make 3 copies of whatever was scribbled upon them, be it a receipt, a record or just a childish drawing. And while the demand for carbon papers has diminished, India has hardly done away with this old technology. Know more about how India will probably always have carbon papers and why here.
https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/chasing-the-carbon-trail/article4837371.ece
Root bridges
In Meghalaya you can find bridges made of no ordinary construction materials. No need for concrete or imposing metal wires. These brides are made of living trees! Or rather, the aerial roots of rubber fig trees. There are many ways to construct or rather grow these bridges and each one is lovely and unique. Talk about sustainable architecture!
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/root-bridges-cherrapungee
India’s exotic fruits
Ratnagiri Mangoes,Nagpur oranges, Nanjanagud bananas, Mahabaleshwar strawberries, Nashik grapes, Kashmiri apples, and Navsari Chickoos… these are just a few of the delicious fruits you can find in India. What is surprising, is that there are many more less explored and far more exotic varieties of fruits grown in the country. Here's a list of some of the rare delectable delights. Among them, Jangli Jalebi, Japani phal, Elephant apples and many more!
https://www.thebetterindia.com/71472/unique-rare-indian-fruits/
Rat Temple
A beautiful marble exterior, imposing silver doors, the sweltering heat of Rajasthan and… 25000 rats? That's the story of the Karni Mata Temple in Bikaner. The temple not only houses these creatures considered to be household pests, they are also revered here. So much so, that they have become the temple's most significant feature. Devotees consider the sightings out the rats here auspicious and also hold food nibbled by them to be holy. Quite a bizarre sight!