Vegetarian & Vegan Travel in India: A Guide for Canadian Tourists
Enjoy India’s vegetarian & vegan delights with ease. Get your evisa Canada India and enjoy a delicious, hassle-free journey across the country.
India, where Ayurvedic treatment has been practiced for centuries, focuses heavily on consuming whole vegetarian foods. The main reason behind it is to nourish our bodies with natural nutrients.
Not only in the Ayurvedic treatment, but you can also find religious roots in vegan diets. People who follow Hinduism and Jainism are the ones with the knowledge of delicious vegetarian dishes. Today, we can observe a global shift toward veganism and vegetarianism, and Canada is no exception.
In 2023, approximately 2.3 million vegetarians and 850,000 vegans in Canada. The number emphasizes the popularity of plant-based vegan diets in the country. If you are visiting India from Canada, then it is the perfect place to learn about some mouthwatering vegan dishes.
Understanding Indian Vegetarianism vs. Western Concepts
Despite the increasing number of vegetarians in the West or Canada, there is a fundamental difference between the Western approaches towards vegetarianism and the Indian approach. In the West, people have been moving towards a vegan diet that is deeply rooted in social justice.
Vegan people avoid all animal-based foods like meat, milk, butter, and others. However, it is different in India. Even if most people in the country love eating vegan dishes, they also consume meat. Milk, paneer, and ghee are commonly used in different types of vegetarian foods.
In India, you will find that veg and non-veg dishes are equally distributed. In non-veg foods, you can find animal meat and fish mainly. However, in veg dishes, you have options to go for plant-based diets. But remember, in India, veg dishes include spices to make them more delicious.
Nevertheless, when you visit the country, you can try some traditional Indian vegetarian food if you have no issues with animal-based foods like paneer, butter, or ghee. In India, a vegetarian diet is influenced by the way of Satwik living. On the contrary, the Western shift towards a vegan diet is to voice against animal cruelty.
Regardless of the differences, try out some traditional Indian vegetarian food around the country. But before that, make sure you have an India e-visa for Canadian citizens.
Best Cities for Plant-Based Foodies
Let’s explore some cities where you can find excellent mouth watering vegetarian dishes with traditional Indian flavors.
Delhi
The capital city of India comes with delicious options of vegan Indian street food. Among vegetarian dishes, you can try chole bhature (chickpea curry served with soft, fluffy fried bread), stuffed parathas from the Paranthe Wali Gali, aloo tikki, and many more.
The variety of foods on the streets of Delhi will keep you glued to the place, and you can start with breakfast and end your food exploration journey with lunch there. Finally, you can complete your food platter with sweet and crisp Jalebi of Delhi.
Mumbai
If you have visited Mumbai, you have to try the Pav bhaji and Vada pav at least once. The two street foods have served to be the breakfast and lunch for many working Mumbaikars. The simple yet delicious Pav bhaji becomes a heavenly dish when you eat it with mashed vegetable curry.
Vada Pav is another simple yet delicious snack that all Mumbaikars love. Pani puri and Bhel puri are some other mouthwatering snacks that you can find at every corner and turn of Mumbai Street.
Varanasi
Apart from the Ganga Aarti, Banaras or Varanasi is famous for its street-side foods. Malai toast, kachori, and jalebi are some of the common delicacies of Varanasi. However, if you want to taste the authentic taste of kachori, visit the Ram Bhandar in Thateri Bazaar. The tiny shop had been there since 1887 and maintained the same five items - jalebi, kachori (two types), and laung latika.
If you have time, visit the Blue Lassi Shop in the Manikarnika Ghat later in the day. The amazing taste of lassi made of water, yogurt, sugar, and some dry fruits, will keep you coming to the shop for more.
For more vegetarian dishes, you have to visit India, but until you do, look at the following vegetarian dishes. Apply for an e-visa from Canada to India to try these dishes from authentic restaurants in India.
Must-Try Vegetarian & Vegan Indian Dishes
When you apply for an Indian e-visa for Canadian citizens and come to the country, there are some must try vegetarian dishes. If you don’t try these, you are missing the authentic taste of different types of vegetarian food.
Here are some traditional Indian vegetarian foods that will take your tastebuds on a journey.
Chana Masala
The name of the dish means chickpea – Chana, and masala - spices, meaning the curry includes tasty spices to satisfy your taste buds. Soaked chickpeas are cooked with tomatoes, garlic, ginger, and other spices. The North Indian dish is absolutely ok to take for breakfast and also for lunch.
Kashmiri Dum Aloo
Even if the dish is famous in Kashmir, you can find it in any renowned restaurant in India. It is made with small, deep-fried potatoes slowly cooked in gravy. Kashmiri Dum Aloo is vegan food, however, some might serve it to you with cream. Ask your server not to put cream or curd in it if you are vegan.
Rajma Chawal
Red kidney beans (Rajma), cooked in thick gravy with spices and served with hot rice - that's what Rajma Chawal is all about. The dish is famous around the country. Roti or paratha also goes well with rajma curry.
Baingan Bharta
It is almost similar to Baba Ganoush, eaten in the Middle East. First, you grill the Indian eggplant and then remove the outer skin. Then, a select blend of spices is added, along with roasted onions, garlic, and ginger.
But remember, if you don’t apply for an e-visa from Canada to India, you will miss out on the authentic taste of Indian vegetarian dishes.
Navigating Restaurants & Street Food
How do I find restaurants in India that offer traditional vegetarian foods? - You might be asking this question while applying for an Indian e-visa for Canadian citizens. Well, there are many sources for this. Look for food bloggers in specific cities in India. You might discover a hidden gem of a restaurant that you will not find even if you travel the entire day. Try out some vegan Indian street food that you have learned from the food bloggers.
Shopping for Snacks & Essentials
Indian people are fans of snacks- it can be in the morning or evening, snacks are a part of Indian food habits. When you visit from Canada, go to a shopping mall and collect packets of bhujia, chakli, soan papdi, etc. The sweet and sour taste of these snacks will make your day.
When you talk about the Indian food culture, vegan dishes come naturally. However, getting an e-visa from Canada to India is as important as your understanding of the cultural etiquette of the country.
Ready to Visit India to Explore Vegetarian Dishes?
Though vegetarian and vegan have slight differences, in India, you can find both foods. The taste of these traditional dishes will open another world for you. Apply for an e-visa from Canada to India and explore the richness of vegan foods across the country.
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Looking for jobs in India as a Canadian? Then, find out how you can get the best jobs in the country and fill out the India visa application. With its prominent presence in history and technology, India’s job market is growing steadily with each passing year.