Backpacking Northern India 12/45: Stir-fried Holy Basil, Tom Yum, Hosting Tai People - Thai Village in India Tai Phake Kitchen

Backpacking Northern India 12/45: Stir-fried Holy Basil, Tom Yum, Hosting Tai People - Thai Village in India Tai Phake Kitchen

If anyone asks me, “mr.hotsia, have you ever encountered a Thai village in India?” The answer is yes. I traveled to experience the lifestyle and culture of the Tai people in Northern India at Tai Phake village, a small community located deep in the forests of Assam state, India. Although it is not a major city or nationally famous tourist spot, this village has a charm and stories worth sharing.

Traveling to Tai Phake village is not easy. It requires local vehicles and guides familiar with the routes. I came from Bengaluru, a technology and development hub in Southern India.Read about Bengaluru and the modernity of Southern India hereBut this time, I changed the atmosphere to meet the simplicity and warmth of the Tai people in Northern India.

The fragrant aroma of stir-fried holy basil and the spicy taste of tom yum at Tai Phake Kitchen

I clearly remember the day I entered the small kitchen of Tai Phake Kitchen. The fragrant aroma of stir-fried holy basil, seasoned with various spices, wafted through the cool forest air, making my mouth water. The holy basil stir-fry here is not just ordinary stir-fried holy basil; it blends Thai cooking methods with local Indian ingredients perfectly, whether fresh holy basil grown by hand or chili peppers with the distinct Indian spiciness.

Besides the holy basil stir-fry, I also tasted the Tai Phake style tom yum, equally spicy and flavorful. It includes local herbs and has a sour and spicy taste that matches the mountain and forest atmosphere. That bowl of tom yum felt like a connection between Thai and Indian cultures in one bowl.

Lifestyle of the Tai People in Northern India

Tai Phake village is a small community where most people still maintain traditional ways of life, mainly farming, vegetable growing, and animal husbandry. The villagers speak Tai language with an accent close to Thai but also blend words and tones from local Indian languages harmoniously.

I had the opportunity to sit and eat with a Tai Phake family at their home. They welcomed me with kindness and simple but lovingly prepared food. The small wooden house near a stream in the forest felt peaceful and warmly comforting in a way I can't describe.

That meal, besides holy basil stir-fry and tom yum, included freshly steamed rice flour served with ancient chili paste recipes and homegrown fresh vegetables. I learned that the Tai people in Northern India firmly uphold their ancestral food culture.

Travel and Connection with Northern India Tourism

Visiting Tai Phake village is not just about cultural sightseeing but also a great opportunity to experience the still lush and peaceful nature of Northern India, very different from big cities like Mumbai or Bengaluru. For those interested in nature and cultural fusion in Northern India, I highly recommend it.Traveling NamchiA nearby province with beautiful natural attractions and Buddhist religious sites

Traveling from a big city like Bengaluru to Assam may take some time, but the special experience of meeting the Tai community here makes every minute worthwhile.

Impressions and Conclusion from mr.hotsia

Tai Phake village in Northern India is another side of “Thai” that I never knew before. This place is not just a community far from home but a representative of culture and lifestyle remarkably preserved. The flavorful holy basil stir-fry, intense tom yum, and the friendship of the Tai people in India made me feel like I was at a second home.

For those who love traveling with eating and resting, feeling full in heart and stomach, and want to understand the extraordinary lifestyle of Thai people abroad, I recommend opening your heart to visit here once. You will surely fall in love like me, mr.hotsia.

Watch the full atmosphere and story inBackpacking Northern India 12/45: Stir-fried Holy Basil, Tom Yum, Hosting Tai People - Thai Village in India Tai Phake KitchenThen get ready to set off and discover new corners of Northern India on your own!