About Rasogolla in Odhisa

 Rasagolla is already a traditional item in Odisha - standard fare in the cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, and of course in Puri, the medieval town that also gave the world the Kheeri (Kheer or Payasam)!

Rasagollas in Odisha is one unforgettable experience. At southwards on National Highway 5, just miles before the capital city of Bhubaneswar, lies the village of Pahala. The entire village -  each and every family - follows exactly the same business, selling Rasagollas, Chhenagaja, and Chhenapoda. 

There are dozens of identical looking stalls right along the highway. It would be heresy for an Odia not to stop by one of those stalls and try some of their delectable wares.

A newcomer, used to the standard "Bengali sweets", would hardly recognize the fluffy, cream-colored wonders, almost as big as tennis balls, that are sold at Pahala as Rasagollas. But that is what they are. As a matter of fact, those are exactly how Rasagollas were supposed to look like for centuries. 

Pahala is not the only place you can sink your teeth into those exotic dollops of cheese. Tucked deep inside rural Odisha, lies the town of Salepur. An unassuming little place otherwise, its Bikalananda Kar Rasagollas are simply divine! These ones look a lot like their Pahala counterparts and are equally famous in Odhisa. 

But they are eaten by the Salepuri locals with crispy Puris as the accompaniment! Although it may seem unconventional at first, a mouthful of the combination would instantly tell the uninitiated how well the Rasagollas and Puris complement each other!