Much is said about the Indian summer, about its scorching heat and humidity. About avoiding them for certain travel destinations. However, summers in India have their own charm. The skies are a rich blue against a golden yellow landscape. In much of India, these two colours dominate, highlighted only with a flaming-red flourish of the Palash flowers (Butea monosperma).
In many parts of rural India, summers are also a wedding season. Perhaps that makes a family gain a member, helping them plant crops in the soon to arrive monsoons. Summers are the time for many of the most delicious fruits like mangoes, litchis, jamuns, pani-phals, water melons etc. Traditional non-alcoholic drinks like lassi, chaas, kokum serbet etc are natural coolants. In the coastal stretches of Maharashtra, the abundance of wild cashew nuts in this season makes certain unique dishes possible, like cashew nuts with dried prawns.
Summers are a great time to visit our wildlife sanctuaries. The tourist crowds have dwindled. The deciduous forests have shed most of their leaves, the shrubs have dried up, making sightings of mammals and birds much easier. Thirsty animals hang around the remaining water bodies of the jungle, and this is one of the most certain times to spot the majestic Royal Bengal Tiger.
In central and north western India, summers days can be terribly hot, but nights can be pleasant. Early mornings and late evenings can be a great time for exploring, while afternoons can be spent indoors editing images, or just plain lazy napping after a sumptuous meal of seasonal vegetables.
Loved reading about glorious Indian Summer. I like gorging on seasonal fruits and trying out new combinations of shakes during summers. Every season has its own charm.. 🙂
True… and now that the Monsoons are here, it offers its own goodies.
Interesting collection of pics from rural parts of India ..
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Wow … nice writeup
Thanks Ranjani!
You’ve painted a beautiful picture of an Indian summer! Great images and writing, really gave me a feel of the season.
Thanks Chaitali! Many people just ignore the summers, but there is a certain joy in this season as well.
There is so much joy in summers and you’ve rightly depicted it! 🙂
Thanks Nisha! Love the summers as any other season!
The cover picture of your article is too good, Enjoyed this article 🙂
Thanks Amey!
Summers!!… it has its own charm, but is very tiring especially if you got to do forest exploration. But, still nice take on summer… seeing India this way is quite real(: a true traveller will love travelling when it is cold, raining or hot. I can’t travel when it is hot but don’t mind when it is cold etc, because I like being outdoors not indoors for long with AC… That bird looks very nice, have you seen a bengal tiger in person doing forest exploration… nice summer colours though(: colourfull and interesting.
Beautiful photos, Indian wedding look so colorful! Loved reading this 🙂
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Hi Eden! Thanks! Maybe I should write a post about an Indian wedding!
Lovely use of words to evoke the smells, sounds and sights of the summer season. Even I have felt in recent years that summer is a greatly under-rated season of India.
Thanks Saurabh 🙂