India tourism and travel guide
Overview
India – The Land that Never Fails to Impress You
"India is the One Land that all men desire to see, and having seen once, by even a glimpse, would not give that glimpse for all the shows of all the rest of the globe" - Mark Twain.
India, a vast country with a 7,500 km long coastline connecting the East to the West, and 2,500 km of the mighty Himalayas in the North, is splendid. In her vastness lies her true beauty; in her diversity lies her true unity! No country on the planet has such vivid diversification as Bharat, the Hindi name for India. A Secular, Socialist Republic India is the largest democracy in the world.
While conventionally, the mention of India would conjure up images of streets filled with holy cows and the snake charmers trying to woo you, modern India is a much different picture. From delectable Indian cuisines that have made to the global cuisine landscape, India is home to almost seventy percent of the world's spices. A growing percentage of the population has turned tech-savvy, with some successful techies, CEOs, and COOs coming from the Indian background. She is the best example of the past meets the present making way for a new emerging India - home to the globe's largest young population.
India has a mystic allure – a magical enigma that will always keep you engaged. And, you can expect the unexpected here with many interesting surprises in store. From a floating post office in the Dal Lake in Srinagar to the architectural marvel of the world's largest sundial in Jaipur or the Meenakshi Amman Temple in the south, the festivities that surround Indian festivals like Holi and Diwali, to the iconic baoris in Gujarat, the Golden Temple in Amritsar where thousands are fed free every day, the oldest holy city of Varanasi, the Kumbh Mela, the iconic Taj Mahal, or the engineering wonder of the Bandra Worli Sea Link in Mumbai, every place is surprise-packed with never-experienced-before sights here.
Hundreds of forts, palaces, temples, and mosques from ancient India blend seamlessly with modern engineering feats like the Pir Panjal Railway Tunnel in Jammu & Kashmir or the under-construction underwater metro tunnel in Kolkata.
Not just man-made features, nature has been kind too. From the backwaters of Kerala to the gushing sea waves in Goa, the sand dunes of Rajasthan, and the white snowy peaks of the Himalayas, there are varied aspects that are difficult, to sum up in words here.
Top Cities in India
India's history dates back to more than 5,000 years. The Indus Valley Civilization is one of the oldest civilizations in the world, showcasing well-planned towns. Ancient India has witnessed several civilizations – The Vedic period with the Ramayan and Mahabharata written during this age; the Buddhist Era, Alexander's invasion, and the Gupta Dynasty. The country's rich history also witnessed powerful empires like Palas and the Cholas, with foreign invaders ruling the land from the 8th century to the early 20th century. Finally, in 1947, India freed itself from foreign rule and became an independent country
India is home to several festivals, with the major ones being Holi, Diwali, Dusshera, Id, and Christmas; each marked with unique festivities. However, the spirit and the celebrations unite the different corners of this vast country. Every festivity is underlined by a spirit of sharing and humanity, showcasing peaceful co-existence.
One of the biggest fairs is the Kumbh Mela. Besides, the other popular fairs are the Gangasagar fair, Cattle Fair, Surajkund Handicrafts fair, and many more.
Just as vivid and vibrant as this country is, there is a galore of activities that you can indulge in here. Here is a list that mentions a few, but it is a never-ending list – one that you can keep discovering and adding on.
• A handful of stuffed paranthas at Parantha Wali Gali, Delhi
• The Langar at the Golden Temple, Amritsar
• Parasailing, Scuba diving, snorkeling, and flyboarding in Goa
• Water sports in North Goa
• Rafting in Rishikesh
• Bike Trip in Spiti Valley
• Sightseeing in Shimla and Manali
• Fishing in Puducherry
• Sightseeing in Coonor and Ooty
• Jeep Safari at Jim Corbett National Park
• City Tour of Kolkata
• City Tour of Jaipur and Udaipur
• Nature Camping in Meghalaya
• Seakart drive in Andamans
• Darjeeling Tea Garden Tour
• Night stay in houseboats of Kerala
• Ziplining at Patnitop
• Golden Triangle covering Delhi-Agra-Jaipur
• Shopping for ethnic saris at Jaipur or Chennai
• Enjoying classical dance forms like Bharatnatyam in Tamil Nadu or Oddisi in Orissa
• The erotic stone carvings of the Khajuraho Temple in Madhya Pradesh
• Road trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hampi, Karnataka
• The architectural delight of the Sun Temple at Konark, Odisha.
• A stop at the Red Fort in the nation's capital New Delhi.
• Trekking in the Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand
• Trekking at 16000 ft above sea level at Goecha La in Sikkim
• Sight the Asiatic Lion at Gir National Park in Gujarat
• Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh for the Barasingha deer
• Rides on the world-famous Mountain Railways in India, also designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites. These are the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, and the Kalka-Shimla Railways.
And many more such inspiring journeys – the list is endless!
The world's second-most populous country with 29 states and 7 Union Territories, India is bounded on all three sides by some of the biggest waterways on the planet. The Arabian Sea on the West, the Bay of Bengal on the East, and the Indian Ocean on the south with the undaunted Himalayas in the North and the Thar Desert's sandy trails in the West complete the landscape and ecology of the country. The Northern Plains and the Deccan Plateau are intercepted by numerous rivers, tributaries, and distributaries, while mountainous regions are marked by waterfalls, gorges, forests, and valleys that are home to distinct species of flora and fauna
People
Indians have traditionally been part of the joint family system. It still runs deep in familial traditions, even though the traditional system has now been broken with more people adopting the nuclear family system. Customs and values are important here – the universal Namaste to greet people with folded hands, respecting elders, hospitality or Athithi Devo Bhava, fasting as a symbol of expressing gratitude and cleansing of sins, worshipping cow, the prevalence of arranged marriages, the elaborate use of Swastika, and more.
Culture
With a rich heritage ingrained in beliefs, traditions, and social norms, India has been impacted by a mix of several cultures. India is a secular country, even though Hinduism is the most practiced religion here. The key aspect of the Indian culture is the amalgamation of different cultures with the predominance of Vedic and Dharmic thought processes. It is also the place where religions like Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism have originated.
Food
Everywhere you go, there is something different and special that you will get to taste in India. Indian food is as varied as its geographical landscape. The cooking methods differ largely, and so do the spices. However, it is the traditional fresh spices that make Indian cuisine intoxicating, tasty, and healthy. Must-try cuisines include – Konkani, Odia, Bengali, Telangana, Mappila, Kathiawadi, Adivasi, Punjabi, Kashmiri, Gujarati, and more
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