“India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend and the great grandmother of tradition.” -American Writer and Humorist Mark Twain
India, undoubtedly, is a land that taught whole world the art of living. Being one of the oldest civilizations, Indian subcontinent has evolved over 5000 years to become one of the most respectable countries of the world. Various cultures, traditions, beliefs, art forms and education have been an integral part of the country since time immemorial. Earliest towns known to flourish human race are the twin cities of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa (now in Pakistan). Refined lifestyle, well developed esthetics, an astounding acquaintance of town planning and a cryptic script language - were the features of this erstwhile civilization which formed base for an equally strong future that India portrays today.
All thanks to its affluent history, geographical attractiveness, cultural diversity, intriguing art forms, India has made it to the list of top tourist destinations of the world. Globe-trotters reach this land after crossing several seas and oceans but it’s all worth it. From the great Himalayas to eternal deserts, India will charm you with its indigenous beauty. Diversity can be the second name for India with all credit to its rich past, great geography, climate, wildlife and multihued culture. India is a land where culture changes every 200 km but with an unbelievable similarity with other cultures. India is a collage made up of different states. Northern region is proud possessor of already mentioned Himalayas, all embracing blue skies, wheat and paddy fields and a cold environment.
South, on the other hand, is blessed with golden beaches, tea and coffee plantations, dense canopies of forests, Palm trees and fragrance of coconuts. Famous destinations of southern India are Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. Likewise eastern and western Indian states have an identity of their own. Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa are the prime tourist destinations famous for beaches, magnificent forts, delicious cuisines and colonial buildings.
“If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday.” - Pearl Buck
Great rulers chose India to establish their kingdom and emerge as universal powers at the forefront. This influenced Europeans (Portuguese, French, Dutch, Danish and British) to reach out to this land. Credit for gaining worldwide recognition to the country goes to its great scholars, mathematicians, scientists, astrologers, artisans, poets, and craftsperson who were promoted during the reign of various dynasties. India invented ‘0’which is by far the most revolutionary invention in world’s history. Sanskrit, known as mother of all languages, belongs to the lush soil of India. Repute that India achieved with these inventions still breathes fresh in history and is evident in the modern pages. British, who ruled India for over 200 years, faced a tough resistance from great freedom fighters and with all their efforts India got freedom in the year 1947. Since then India has made tremendous advancement, both in industrial and agricultural fields. All this did not come as an easy cake; they faced huge problems at every level and then only became the largest democracy in the world.
About India Geography
India is crowned by the highest and the youngest mountain range of the world - the great Himalayas. This still evolving mountain range separates the Indian subcontinent from rest of the Asiatic countries. Adding to the glory of its crown are three powerful water bodies namely - Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal that surrounds the triangular peninsula on its west, south and east respectively.
In India, you will find every landscape that your mind allows you to think of. Sky towering mountains, gargling rivers, foaming waterfalls, undulating hills, deep gorges and vistas, powerful deserts, oasis, etc are scattered all over the region. Impact of geography is clearly visible in the lifestyle, traditions, and cultures of the related regions!
“Culture is the widening of the mind and of the spirit.” -Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru
Rich Indian legacy is reflected through its diverse culture. With its roots sprouting from ancient Indus valley civilization, Indian culture kept on adapting new forms from time to time retaining its essence till date. India is the birth land for various religions like Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism. All of them were propagated to every nook and corner of the world through their preachers. Christianity and Islam entered later in the history of the country. Connected to each religion are its tradition, beliefs and festivities. They all come together to form the kaleidoscopic cultural aspect of the country.
Just like its culture, art forms in India are multifaceted. Ancient folk art forms got appreciation by the erstwhile Raja Maharajas. As a result, these folk art forms adapted themselves to the standard of royal courts and emerged out as classical art forms. Today, after attaining worldwide recognition, these art forms are nurturing the future of the country. Be it music, dance, songs or martial arts you will find versatility in every genre.
Folk Dance Forms: Ghoomar of Rajasthan, Chhau of West Bengal, Gaur Dance of Madhya Pradesh, Dumhal of Jammu Kashmir, Naga Dances, Bihu of Assam and Bhangra of Punjab etc.
Classical Dance Forms: Bharatanatyam (Tamil Nadu), Kathak (Uttar Pradesh) Kathakali and Mohiniyattam (Kerala), Kuchipudi (Andhra Pradesh), Manipuri (Manipur), Odissi (Orissa) and the Sattriya (Assam). Apart from this theatre and film industry contribute majorly to the entertainment sources.
Folk Music Forms: Lavani (Maharashtra), Uttarakhandi Music, Pandavani, Bauls of Bengal etc.
Classical Music Forms: Hindustani music and Carnatic music.
“You are invited to the festival of this world and your life is blessed” - Rabindranath Tagore
If you need a reason to celebrate, then in India you will get thousands of them and if you don’t need a reason to have fun, then in India you will get hundreds of festivals. The festival calendar of each of its 28 states and 7 union territories is marked by colorful revelries. Different religions have different reasons, but with only one purpose and that is to rejoice life!
Know About India Food
Everything loses interest for travelers when food is the subject. India can be regarded as Epicureans Nirvana. From traditional Indian kitchens to the world class culinary delights, here you will get everything to suit your taste. India has some of the greatest food recipes characterized by the flavor of various spices and herbs prepared in regional style. The ordinary work of preparing food was raised to the standard of sublime art in the royal kitchens where great chefs used to serve the gourmand rulers. Hyderabad’s Biryani, Rajasthan’s Dal Bhati Choorma, kebabs of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab’s Sarso ka Saag and Dosa from south India are the signature dishes of the famous Indian cities. Street food - every state, every city has their own style of serving the street food. Delhi is famous for Chaat, Golgappe, Aloo-Tikki and Dahi-Papri while enjoy the famous bhel puri, batata vada, pav bhaji, chuski etc in Mumbai. Taste that you will develop during your India tour will never let you get away with the memories of the tour.
Information About India Language
Even during initial stage of civilization, communities used to exist. People used to divide themselves into groups and developed into linguistic communities over period of time. In India, every language was given equal space to develop as a result at present there are 21 scheduled languages that have been recognized by the Indian constitution. Hindi is the most extensively used language all over the country whereas English is also spoken in the majority of the states both being an important language in the education system.
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