indian holiday

My favorite dining experience in this city is at a wonderful little restaurant called Mela, which means The Fair. Indian fairs are traditionally wonderfully colorful places with magicians, jugglers, palmists, and astrologers, not to mention saffron-clad holy men and snake charmers. Village fairs attract a lot of people selling their wares, ranging from colorful bangles and pretty saris to traditional hand-embrioderery and local crafts.

This restaurant in the heart of cosmopolitan Mumbai has tried to recreate the ambience of a village fair. So there is a magician who keeps the kids (and adults!) entertained. There is a palmist, who for Rs. 50 (about $1) tells you all about your past and something about your future too!! There's the friendly village bangle lady selling bright lac bangles and the henna-vali who for a $1 will draw a wonderful henna design on your palm.

But what is truly great about this place is the food. It's authentic Mughlai cuisine. They have a great variety in kebabs: lamb, chicken, fish and prawns. Their rogan josh is mouth wateringly delicious. A good value for your money option is the kebab buffet that includes unlimited kebabs for starters, followed by a buffet spread comprising some 8 items of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes with traditiional Indian breads--nans, rotis, parathas and kulchas--followed by an assortment of Indian sweet dishes for dessert.

A word of caution--this is not a meal for the faint-hearted. So weight watchers, beware! You need a really big appetite to enjoy this food. But all in all, a great gastronomic experience!!