By Vanita Srivastava/ The Hindustan Times

Andreas Aase, a history professor, publisher and a travel agent in Norway, visited India a few months ago to explore its food culture.

“One of the main reasons for the trip was to publish a book on Indian food along with an Indian-Norwegian woman. But on a broader perspective, I would like to arrange thematic trips to India for travellers from Norway that would mix sightseeing of historical places with food tours in different parts of the country.”

Tourists from across the world are now visiting India specifically to explore the food culture of India.

Daniel Dean, a visitor from London told HT: ‘ I have been to India several times but on my last visit, I thought of taking a food tour in Delhi and it was fantastic. The kulfi stop will remain long in the memory.”

Rajeev Goyal of India Food Tours says: “Food tourism is a booming business. The travellers have become more demanding now, instead of just wanting to visit museums and forts, they want something new. Food is something that can attract tourists because at every 200 km, we get a new food flavour. Food tourism should be developed into a complete sector.”

Agrees Karl Grenet, a consultant in Australia: “I have always loved Indian food in Australia and so I was very much looking forward to trying Indian food while I was in India.”