The Food of the North

The cuisines in the north of India cover a wide range of food styles, the main influences coming from the cooking of the Moghuls and Punjabs, as well as from the land, which produces a diverse range of grains. Traditionally, rice was not eaten in large quantities as the climate of the area meant it could not be easily grown. However, in Jammu and Kashmir, and in Dera Dun, rice is grown on terraces in the Himalayan foothills. Basmati, the king of rices, comes from Dera Dun and is prized throughout India.