Highway On My Podcast Ep 3: Kalimpong lollipops, mishti doi, and why you shouldn’t mess with Bengali pride

Has the coronavirus pandemic disrupted your plan to take that long trip? Is the ongoing lockdown making you crave going off-road? Fret not. If you can’t go to the highway, Rocky, Mayur, Prashant, and Abhinandan – the team behind shows like Highway On My Plate, Vital Stats of India, Jai Hind, and Rocky and Mayur's Food Xpress – will bring the highway to you!

So, here goes the newest offering from Newslaundry: Highway On My Podcast. The creators of the much loved TV travel show revisit their travels across India, sharing stories, anecdotes, trivia, and — for when the roads are open and inviting again — recommendations on food, culture, people, and much more.

In this third episode, Rocky, Mayur and Abhinandan are joined by Prashant Sareen, co-director of Highway On My Plate, as they talk about their travels across Bengal. In a conversation peppered with food and non-food memories, the trip goes from discussions on the mysticism of Baul singers and the scrumptious mishti doi at Shantiniketan to potty humour real quick.

Rocky talks about the art of tea-making and what makes Silver Tips tea so special as to cost around Rs 1 lakh in today’s money. Prashant recollects his rendezvous with the mountain climber Jamling Norgay, a visit to a small museum dedicated to Jamling’s father Tenzing Norgay, and a special tea-drinking ritual he participated in. They also talk about their trip to the Sunderbans, why Keventers in Darjeeling is a must-visit for any traveller and what makes its balcony special, and a range of food stories related to Hotel Suruchi in Kolkata, egg tadka and fish and rice at the Burdawan Hotel, and the famous Kalimpong lollipops.

As for non-food related stories, Prashant talks about how Teesta is the best river for river rafting enthusiasts, while Abhinandan explains why you shouldn’t mess with Bengali pride and what makes Bengal unique with respect to its love for debate and discussion.

For more trivia and behind the scenes moments from Rocky and Mayur’s travels across India, sign up for the HOMP newsletter.