Have you ever felt like visiting a place just for exceptional food that is a local of the area? 

Besides satisfying hunger, food offers experience, and sometimes, the taste has a long-lasting impact that reconciles you with memories that make you feel thrilled, stimulating a desire to live the days again!

Kasauli is a hill station nestled in Himachal Pradesh, and that brings the focus on the popular and traditional meal called Dham. 

Food has always connected the hearts and minds of so many from all across the globe. When travelling, how can one miss out on trying the famous delicacies of the region? The taste buds have an excellent memory that won’t let you forget about the special moments and selective places. 

What is Himachali Dham?

Himachali Dham is a popular wedding feast that is all vegetarian. It has a resemblance with the Kashmiri wazwan that makes up for many traditional dishes prepared from everything that’s locally available. That makes it more resonating with the region’s culture. But, the Dham is purely vegetarian and cooked by botis who are Brahmins. 

History of Himachal Dham

It started when the King of Himachal Pradesh was amazed by the Kashmiri wazwan, and wanted something similar, but without the use of meat. That’s when Dham came into existence and also started being considered sacred, belonging exclusively to nobles of Himachal Pradesh. And, the tale is probably 1300 years old. This kept on passing from generation to generation to keep the practice alive. 

According to beliefs, Dham was exclusively prepared in temples consumed only by royal people that later started being served in weddings as well. Everyone would sit on the floor and eat together. 

A traditional Dham used to have a total of 6 to 8 dishes. However, many families prepare up to 22 dishes for various special occasions and ceremonies these days.

What are the dishes in a traditional Dham?

A normal Dham will have atleast a minimum of five dishes that would include mash dal or maa ki dal, which is properly cooked black lentils, chana dal prepared with green, spinach and spices, the besan dumplings in gravy called kadhi, a tangy dish called khatta, and a sweet dish with soaked boondi, nuts and khoya. The most interesting part is that the meal begins and ends with a sweet dish.

On top of these five items, one can add on as per choice and preference. 

Dham is cooked in pot-shaped copper vessels as the slow cooking procedure sustains more flavour in the food, and even today, that practice is preserved. 

To accommodate your perfect nature getaway plan, we have ‘A Kasauli Gaon‘ that will bring you closer to nature and let you experience life without technology, the modern world equipment, but instead is associated with and to nature. You cannot gift yourself anything better than an opportunity to submerge in the beauty of simple and meaningful things and ways of living. We serve the delicacy with traditional flavour intact at our ‘A Kasauli Gaon’ themed resort.