A Taste of India Down Pioneer Boulevard

    When searching for a bit of Indian culture in Los Angeles County, Little India in Artesia is where to go. I have gone there a couple of times, but I had never really explored it. I usually go by car, but for this trip I decided to take public transportation.
Since I had never gone to Little India by bus before, I went on Google maps and searched for directions. It took a little over an hour and two buses to get to Pioneer Boulevard in Artesia from my home in East Los Angeles.  I took metro line 260 from home and then transferred to line 62, which left me right off Pioneer Boulevard.

Pioneer Boulevard does not make you feel like you are in India when you are walking down the street, but Indian culture is visible through the numerous businesses. You can find anything from traditional Indian clothing to Indian Ice Cream.

If you are in need of a beautiful sari, there are a couple of places you can visit where they have saris in an array of colors with gorgeous embroidery. Jewelry is a big part of Indian culture and there are also places down Pioneer Blvd where you can find jewelry pieces and a number of ornaments and statues that are part of the Hindu religion.

One of the stops that I usually make when I visit Little India is at one of the grocery stores, Farm Fresh, to pick up spices. Either my mother or aunt always have a list of spices and fruits that they want me to bring back, and this trip was no exception. Bombay Spices is also a great place to purchase spices. They not only sell spices but also various other items used in the Hindu religion. 

Aside from groceries, there are a few restaurants where you can find traditional Indian cuisine. There are various dishes like Tandoori chicken, different types of curry and the Indian crepe all found on Pioneer Boulevard. Indian desserts and sweets can also be found in Little India.

One of the places that I visited was the Saffron Spot. There you can find saffron silk ice cream in a variety of flavors and they also sell their ice cream packaged so that you can buy some and enjoy at home at anytime. One of my favorite things to get there is their cassata, which is somewhat like an ice cream cake that is traditionally served at Indian wedding receptions.

Although the cassata is delicious, and I would go to Little India just for that; the reason why I usually go is for eyebrow threading at the Beauty Palace. I know a couple of people that also go to Little India just for that reason. The Beauty Palace is also known for their henna tattoos. On this trip there was a bride getting henna tattoos for her Bollywood themed wedding. 
Whether you are in the mood for some good food or just in need of a good stroll, Pioneer Boulevard is a great option.