We are always in search of traditional and local food whenever visit any place. This time it was Karnataka state of my country. We started our trip in Karnataka from Bengaluru. From Bengaluru to Mysore and Coorg then reached Dharmasthala, a religious place of Hindu as well as Jains. I was pre-informed that there is an ancient Jain temple and generally at such places a dining hall is common for pilgrims so I searched a Jain dining hall adjoining to temple.
As in Jain religion dinner, after sunset is prohibited so this dining hall also does not serve food after sunset, we were lucky so reached there in time.
Inside view of dining hall
The dining hall was very neat and clean, serving traditional food in a traditional way. Food served on banana leaves, sitting on the floor and have to eat with fingers as there was no option of spoon and bowls.
I was really excited to see all this traditional arrangement for food as during our last 3 days in Karnataka we didn't get any chance to have such food in a traditional way. Beaing a vegan I was little conscious that if they serve any non-vegan food I have to refuse to take but opposite to my thinking the food was completely vegan.
Food was very traditional and simple, they served rice, sambar, moong daal and brinjal curry. as soon as I started to have this food, felt just YUM!! My wife and children also liked that food too much, the taste was really traditional we had never tasted in our life.
After finishing our yummiest dinner of the trip now I was searching the counter where I have to pay money for food. I didn't find any such counter where they accept money. Curiously I asked to one employee, where I have to pay the bill? It was a just surprising moment when he told that there is no charge for food it is completely FREE!!
We were so impressed with such a nice food and arrangement that decided to enjoy next days breakfast before leaving the town.
Breakfast served, flattened rice and chickpeas
Next day's breakfast was again surprised for us. A combination of flattened rice and chickpeas. Both were so simple with a different taste which we never had at our place. My 9-year old son also appreciated it a lot and asked his mom to make such food at home.
One thing I missed there is coffee as they were serving coffee with milk and had no option of black coffee.
After relishing delicious breakfast we continued our journey to next destination with sweet memories.