Backpacking India 128/129: Eating at Tai Phake Temple, Tai Ahom Village in India Tai Phake temple food

Backpacking India 128/129: Eating at Tai Phake Temple, Tai Ahom Village in India Tai Phake Temple Food

This trip of mine, Mr.Hotsia, takes you to a small hidden corner in Northeast India, the Tai Ahom village (Tai Phake), a tribe with roots from the Tai people of Southeast Asia. The uniqueness here is not only in the lifestyle that preserves the beautiful Lanna culture but also in the charm of the food at Tai Phake temple, which I had the chance to taste closely at one of the temples here.

The Tai Ahom village is located in Assam state of India. Although the province is not clearly named in this writing, the atmosphere here is full of peace, simplicity, and warmth like a hometown in Northern Thailand. I traveled from Namchi city, which I have mentioned in previous articles.Namchi TravelNot far away, passing through a route filled with mountains and morning mist, as if traveling back to a past era where life moved unhurriedly.

The first time I stepped into Tai Phake temple, what caught my eye was the simplicity of the temple architecture blending Lanna art and local Tai Ahom culture. Inside the temple, there is a wide courtyard where villagers gather to prepare food and organize traditional events. I tasted a local dish called “temple rice,” which is food prepared for villagers and visitors at the temple. Most of the menu consists of sticky rice cooked with fragrant pandan leaves, served with boiled vegetables and an ancient chili paste made from fresh chilies and local herbs.

I must say the flavor was profound and full of unique deliciousness. The sticky rice grains were beautifully soft and just right. The boiled vegetables retained their fresh crispness. The chili paste was moderately spicy, perfectly cutting through the richness. It was a meal I enjoyed thoroughly and felt warmly at home.

Besides the temple rice, I also tried a local dessert made from glutinous rice flour mixed with coconut palm sugar. It was chewy, soft, and mildly sweet, paired with pandan leaf tea brewed from fresh local pandan leaves, a fragrant and refreshing charm of Tai Ahom culture.

What made this Tai Phake temple meal trip more impressive than just the taste was learning about the lifestyle and the relationship of the Tai Ahom people with the temple and the surrounding nature. Here, the temple is not only a place of worship but also the community center where villagers come together to cook, sing, and share life experiences passed down through generations.

If you enjoy travel that combines tourism and cultural learning, I recommend experiencing this atmosphere yourself. There is also a chance to enjoy beautiful mountain and natural scenery around Tai Ahom village, which I believe you will fall in love with just as I, Mr.Hotsia, have.

For those interested in traveling in Northern and Northeastern India, you can follow my stories and other trips in my articles.Journey to DarjeelingOr if you want to experience a big city atmosphere that is modern yet retains the deep charm of India, check outBackpacking Bengaluru (Bengaluru)which I have already written about.

Finally, I want to share a video clip of eating at Tai Phake temple that I recorded on this trip, hoping it will convey the full atmosphere and feelings for everyone to experience.Backpacking India 128/129: Eating at Tai Phake Temple, Tai Ahom Village in India Tai Phake temple foodYou will see that eating temple rice here is not just about food but truly experiencing the lifestyle and heart of the Tai Ahom community.

See you again on the next India trip with Mr.Hotsia, who will take you to discover diverse stories and flavors from the land of Bharat. Goodbye!