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Whirl your mind, dazzle your eyes and fall in
love with India's extremes.
India officially the Republic of India, is a
country in South Asia. It is the seventh largest
country by geographical area, the second most
populous country, and the largest democracy in
the world due to the virtue of the size of its
voting population.
It is bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south,
the Arabian Sea on the west, and the Bay of Bengal
on the east, India has a coastline of 7,517 kilometers
(4,671 mi) It borders Pakistan to the west; China,
Nepal, and Bhutan to the north-east; and Bangladesh
and Burma to the east. India is in the vicinity
of Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Indonesia in the
Indian Ocean.
A region of historic trade routes and vast empires,
the Indian subcontinent was identified with its
commercial and cultural wealth for much of its
long history.
Four major world religions, Hinduism, Buddhism,
Jainism and Sikhism originated here, while Zoroastrianism,
Judaism, Christianity and Islam arrived in the
first millennium CE and shaped the region's diverse
culture. Gradually annexed by the British East
India Company from the early eighteenth century
and colonised by the United Kingdom from the mid-nineteenth
century, India became a modern nation state in
1947 after a struggle for independence that was
marked by widespread nonviolent resistance.
Home to the Indus Valley Civilization
Nearly five thousand years back flourished India's
first major civilisation along the Indus River
valley. The twin cities of Mohenjodaro and Harappa
now in Pakistan were ruled by priests and held
the rudiments of Hinduism. These civilisations
are known to possess a sophisticated lifestyle,
a highly developed sense of aesthetics, an astonishing
knowledge of town planning and an undecipherable
script language. The Indus civilization at one
point of time extended nearly a million square
kilometres across the Indus river valley. It existed
at the same time as the ancient civilizations
of Egypt and Sumer but far outlasted them. Surviving
for nearly a thousand years the Indus valley civilisation
fell to tectonic upheavals in about 1700 BC, which
caused a series of floods.
The coming of the Aryans around 1500 BC, gave
the final blow to the collapsing Indus Valley
civilisation. At the dawn of Vedic ages the Aryans
came in from the North and spread through large
parts of India bringing with them their culture
and religious beliefs. The Four Vedas or the important
books of Hinduism were compiled in this period.
India is the second most culturally, linguistically
and genetically diverse geographical entity after
the African continent. India is home to two major
linguistic families: Indo-Aryan (spoken by about
74% of the population) and Dravidian (spoken by
about 24%). Other languages spoken in India come
from the Austro-Asiatic and Tibeto-Burman linguistic
families. Hindi, with the largest number of speakers,
is the official language of the union. English,
which is extensively used in business and administration,
has the status of a 'subsidiary official language.
The constitution also recognises in particular
21 other languages that are either abundantly
spoken or have classical status. The number of
dialects in India is as high as 1,652.
Over 800 million Indians (80.5%) are Hindu. Other
religious groups include Muslims (13.4%), Christians
(2.3%), Sikhs (1.9%), Buddhists (0.8%), Jains
(0.4%), Jews, Zoroastrians, Bahá'ís
and others Tribals constitute 8.1% of the population.
India's literacy rate is 64.8% (53.7% for females
and 75.3% for males) The state of Kerala has the
highest literacy rate (91%); Bihar has the lowest
(47%). The national human sex ratio is 944 females
per 1,000 males. India's median age is 24.9, and
the population growth rate of 1.38% per annum;
there are 22.01 births per 1,000 people per year.
India holds virtually every kind of landscape
imaginable. An abundance of mountain ranges and
national parks provide ample opportunity for eco-tourism
and trekking, and its sheer size promises something
for everyone. From north to south India extends
a good 2000 miles (3200 km), where the island
nation of Sri Lanka seems to be squeezed out of
India like a great tear, the synapse forming the
Gulf of Mannar.
India will sideswipe you with its size, clamour
and diversity - but if you enjoy delving into
convoluted cosmologies and thrive on sensual overload,
then it is one of the most intricate and rewarding
dramas unfolding on earth, and you'll quickly
develop an abiding passion for it.
Nothing in this country is ever quite predictable;
the only thing to expect is the unexpected, which
comes in many forms and will always want to sit
next to you. India is a litmus test for many travellers
- some are only too happy to leave, while others
stay for a lifetime.
Climate plays a key factor in deciding when to
visit India. Keep in mind that climatic conditions
in the far north are distinctly different to those
of the extreme south.
Generally, India's climate is defined by three
seasons - the hot, the wet (monsoon) and the cool,
each of which can vary in duration from north
to south. The most pleasant time to visit most
places is during the cooler period: November to
around mid-February.
Himalayas, the world's highest mountain chain
and Nepal as its Neighbouring country dominate
India's northern border.
North India is the country's largest region begins
with Jammu and Kashmir, with terrain varying from
arid mountains in the far north to the lake country
and forests near Srinagar and Jammu. Moving south
along the Indus river, the North becomes flatter
and more hospitable, widening into the fertile
plains of Punjab to the west and the Himalayan
foothills of Uttar Pradesh.
The states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, and
part of the massive, central state of Madhya Pradesh
constitute West India. Extending from the Gujarat
peninsula down to Goa, the west coast is lined
with some of India's best beaches. The land along
the coast is typically lush with rainforests.
The Western Ghats separate the verdant coast from
the Vindya Mountains and the dry Deccan plateau
further inland.
India is the home of the sacred River Ganges
and the majority of Himalayan foothills.
East India begins with the states of Madhya Pradesh,
Bihar, Orissa, which comprise the westernmost
part of the region. East India also contains an
area known as the eastern triangle, which is entirely
distinct. This is the last gulp of land that extends
beyond Bangladesh, culminating in the Naga Hills
along the Burmese border.
India reaches its peninsular tip with South India,
which begins with the Deccan in the north and
ends with Cape Comorin. The states in South India
are Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and
Kerala, a favourite leisure destination. The southeast
coast, mirroring the west, also rests snugly beneath
a mountain range---the Eastern Ghats.
In a country as diverse and complex as India,
it is not surprising to find that people here
reflect the rich glories of the past, the culture,
traditions and values relative to geographic locations
and the numerous distinctive manners, habits and
food that will always remain truly Indian. According
to five thousand years of recorded history.
India is the world's second most populous country.
Almost 70% of Indians reside in rural areas, although
in recent decades migration to larger cities has
led to a dramatic increase in the country's urban
population. India's largest cities are Mumbai
(formerly Bombay), Delhi, Kolkata (formerly Calcutta),
Chennai (formerly Madras), Bengaluru (formerly
Bangalore), Hyderabad and Ahmedabad.
India is the second most culturally, linguistically
and genetically diverse geographical entity after
the African continent. India is home to two major
linguistic families: Indo-Aryan (spoken by about
74% of the population) and Dravidian (spoken by
about 24%). Other languages spoken in India come
from the Austro-Asiatic and Tibeto-Burman linguistic
families. Hindi, with the largest number of speakers,
is the official language.
From the eternal snows of the Himalayas to the
cultivated peninsula of far South, from the deserts
of the West to the humid deltas of the East, from
the dry heat and cold of the Central Plateau to
the cool forest foothills, Indian lifestyles clearly
glorify the geography. The food, clothing and
habits of an Indian differ in accordance to the
place of origin.
Indians believe in sharing happiness and sorrow.
A festival or a celebration is never constrained
to a family or a home. The whole community or
neighbourhood is involved in bringing liveliness
to an occasion. A lot of festivals like Diwali,
Holi, Id, Christmas, Mahaveer Jayanthi are all
celebrated by sharing sweets and pleasantries
with family, neighbours and friends.
An Indian wedding is an occasion that calls for
participation of the family and friends. Similarly,
neighbours and friends always help out a family
in times of need.
Ethnically Indians speak different languages,
follow different religions, eat the most diverse
varieties of food all of which add to the rich
Indian culture.The beauty of the Indian people
lies in the spirit of tolerance, give-and-take
and a composition of cultures that can be compared
to a garden of flowers of various colours and
shades of which, while maintaining their own entity,
lend harmony and beauty to the garden –
India.
The Colourful mosaic of Indian festivals and
fairs - as diverse as the land, is an eternal
expression of the spirit of celebration. Observed
with enthusiasm and gaiety, festivals are like
gems ornamenting the crown of Indian Culture.
They are round the year vibrant interludes in
the mundane routine of life.
Every season brings along new festivals, each
a true celebration of the bounties of the rich
traditions followed for time immemorial. That's
not all! The birthdays of Gods and Goddesses,
saints and prophets, great historical happenings
and the advent of the New Year, all find expression
in colourful festivities. The same festival, though
celebrated differently in the various parts of
the country, exhibits an eternal harmony of the
spirit of celebration.
Packed with fun and excitement, festivals serve
as an occasion to clean and decorate houses, to
get together with friends and relatives and to
exchange gifts. New attire, dance, music and rituals-
all add to their joyful rhythm. It is a time for
prayer, for pageantry and procession…a time
to rejoice, in celebration of life.
Culture
The Taj Mahal in Agra was built by Shah Jahan
as memorial to wife Mumtaz Mahal.
India's culture is marked by a high degree of
syncretism and cultural pluralism. It has managed
to preserve established traditions while absorbing
new customs, traditions, and ideas from invaders
and immigrants.
Multicultural concerns have long informed India’s
history and traditions, constitution and political
arrangements.
Indian architecture is one area that represents
the diversity of Indian culture. Much of it, including
notable monuments such as the Taj Mahal and other
examples of Mughal architecture and South Indian
architecture, comprises a blend of ancient and
varied local traditions from several parts of
the country and abroad. Vernacular architecture
also displays notable regional variation.
Indian music covers a wide range of traditions
and regional styles. Classical music largely encompasses
the two genres - North Indian Hindustani, South
Indian Carnatic traditions and their various offshoots
in the form of regional folk music. Highly regionalised
forms of popular music include filmi and folk
music; the syncretic tradition of the bauls is
a well-known form of the latter.
Indian dance too has diverse folk and classical
forms. Among the well-known folk dances are the
bhangra of the Punjab, the bihu of Assam, the
chhau of Bihar and Orissa and the ghoomar of Rajasthan.
Eight dance forms, many with narrative forms and
mythological elements, have been accorded classical
dance status by India's National Academy of Music,
Dance, and Drama. These are: bharatanatyam of
the state of Tamil Nadu, kathak of Uttar Pradesh,
kathakali and mohiniyattam of Kerala, kuchipudi
of Andhra Pradesh, manipuri of Manipur, odissi
of the state of Orissa and the sattriya of Assam.
Theatre in India often incorporates music, dance,
and improvised or written dialogue. Often based
on Hindu mythology, but also borrowing from medieval
romances, and news of social and political events,
Indian theatre includes the bhavai of state of
Gujarat, the jatra of West Bengal, the nautanki
and ramlila of North India, the tamasha of Maharashtra,
the terukkuttu of Tamil Nadu, and the yakshagana
of Karnataka.
The Mahabodhi Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage
Site, at Bodhgaya in Bihar, is one of the four
holy sites related to the life of the Lord Buddha,
and particularly to the attainment of Enlightenment.
The first temple was built by Emperor Asoka in
the 3rd century BC, and the present temple dates
from the 5th century BC or 6th centuries. It is
one of the earliest Buddhist temples built entirely
in brick, still standing in India, from the late
Gupta period.
The Indian film industry is the largest in the
world. Bollywood, based in Mumbai, makes commercial
Hindi films and is the most prolific film industry
in the world. Established traditions also exist
in Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil,
and Telugu language cinemas.
The earliest works of Indian literature were
transmitted orally and only later written down.
These included works of Sanskrit literature –
such as the early Vedas, the epics Mahabharata
and Ramayana, the drama Abhijñanasakuntalam
(The Recognition of Sakuntala), and poetry such
as the Mahakavya – and the Tamil language
Sangam literature.[119] Among Indian writers of
the modern era active in Indian languages or English,
Rabindranath Tagore won the Nobel Prize in 1913.
Indian cuisine is characterized by a wide variety
of regional styles and sophisticated use of herbs
and spices. The staple foods in the region are
rice (especially in the south and the east) and
wheat (predominantly in the north). Spices originally
native to the Indian subcontinent that are now
consumed world wide include black pepper; in contrast,
hot chili peppers, popular across India, were
introduced by the Portuguese.
The Indian cuisine boasts of an immense variety
not restricted to only curry. An authentic Indian
curry is an intricate combination of a stir-fried
Masala - a mixture of onion, garlic, ginger, and
tomatoes; various spices and seasonings with which
meat; poultry, vegetables or fish is prepared
to produce a stew-type dish. Note: the word Masala
also means spice.
Food in India is wide ranging in variety, taste
and flavour. Being so diverse geographically,
each region has its own cuisine and style of preparation.
Indian cuisine, renowned for its exotic gravies
seems complicated for any newcomer. The Mughlai
cuisine of North differs sharply from the preparations
of the south. The Wazwan style of Kashmir is luxurious
but the same can be said about Bengal's Macher
Jhol, Rajasthan's Dal Bati, Uttar Pradesh's Kebabs
and Punjab's Sarson Ka Saag and Makki di Roti.
In India, recipes are handed down from generation
to generation.
The unique and strong flavours in Indian cuisine
are derived from spices, seasonings and nutritious
ingredients such as leafy vegetables, grains,
fruits, and legumes. Most of the spices used in
Indian cooking were originally chosen thousands
of years ago for their medicinal qualities and
not for flavour. Many of them such as turmeric,
cloves and cardamoms are very antiseptic, others
like ginger, are carminative and good for the
digestion. All curries are made using a wide variety
of spices.
Traditional Indian dress varies across the regions
in its colours and styles and depends on various
factors, including climate. Popular styles of
dress include draped garments such as sari for
women and dhoti or lungi for men; in addition,
stitched clothes such as salwar kameez for women
and kurta-pyjama and European-style trousers and
shirts for men, are also popular.
Many Indian festivals are religious in origin,
although several are celebrated irrespective of
caste and creed. Some popular festivals are Diwali,
Thai Pongal, Holi, Onam, Vijayadashami, Durga
Puja, Eid ul-Fitr, Bakr-Id, Christmas, Buddha
Jayanti and Vaisakhi. India has three national
holidays. Other sets of holidays, varying between
nine and twelve, are officially observed in individual
states. Religious practices are an integral part
of everyday life and are a very public affair.
Traditional Indian family values are highly respected,
although urban families now prefer the nuclear
family structure due to the socio-economic constraints
imposed by traditional joint family system.
A pluralistic, multilingual, and multiethnic
society, India is also home to a diversity of
wildlife in a variety of protected habitats.
India will sideswipe you with its size, clamour
and diversity - but if you enjoy delving into
convoluted cosmologies and thrive on sensual overload,
then it is one of the most intricate and rewarding
dramas unfolding on earth, and you'll quickly
develop an abiding passion for it.
Nothing in this country is ever quite predictable;
the only thing to expect is the unexpected, which
comes in many forms and will always want to sit
next to you. India is a litmus test for many travellers
- some are only too happy to leave, while others
stay for a lifetime.
Getting There
India's major international airports are
Mumbai (Bombay), Delhi, Kolkata (Calcutta) and
Chennai (Madras); there are other international
airports at Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bangalore and
Kochi, although these service far fewer international
flights.If you are flying in from a Western country,
chances are that you will get in through one of
these cities. However in recent years, to accommodate
the increasing traffic, many other airports have
been upgraded to take in international flights.
Among these are Calicut, Coimbatore, Guwahati,
Hyderabad, Jaipur, Mangalore, Pune, Thiruvananthapuram
and Varanasi
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