Travel to India
Travel to India
By:
Robin Darch - [travel]
Posted 03/13/06
First of all, for the geographically challenged of you out there, India
is located in South Asia. It has 7000 kilometers of coastline on the
Indian Ocean, the third largest body of water in the world. Three
islands are near India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and the Maldives. India
also shares borders with China, Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan,
and Myanmar. It should also be mentioned that there is also a disputed
border with Afghanistan, but that's another topic for another article.
Much
like the United States, India has 28 states, that each have their own
elected governments. There are some differences though, India has the
National Territory of Dehli and 6 Union Territories. China currently
has a larger population than India, however by 2030, India is expected
to surpass Chain and become the most populated country in the world.
There
are many beautiful rivers in India. The Ganges River, (Ganga or Holy
Ganga, in India) is the largest and most well known of them, and is
located in Northern India. The Ganga Basin has a huge population. The
land is extremely fertile and it is said that one out of every 12
people in the world live there. You can also see Irrawaddy Dolphin in
the river, as well as another species called the ganga River Dolphin.
Another interesting note is that there is a rare freshwater shark found
in the river that has not much is known about. Other major rivers in
India include the Krishna, the Brahmaputra, the Kaveri, the Yamuna, and
the Godavari.
The mountain range that you will find covering
the northern states is called the Himalayas. Central and the rest of
the northern and eastern parts of India consist of very fertile
flatlands called the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Southern India is a peninsula
and made up mostly from the Deccan Plateau with two hilly regions
called the Western and Eastern Ghats. Last, but not least, near India's
border with Pakistan lies the Thar Desert.
There are also
three archipelagos in India. In West Bengal you find the Sunderbans,
Lakshadweep on the southwest coast, and a chain of volcanic islands in
the southeast called the Nicobar and Andaman Islands.
India
has been a country for many centuries and it's rich culture and
heritage has been preserved for the most part. While traveling in
India, you will be exposed to some of the most wonderful cultural
monuments in the world. India's culture is partly created from invaders
and immigrants who have arrived here over the years. The Taj Mahal and
other examples of Islamic Architecture are left over from the Mughal
Dynasty that ruled between 1526 and 1857.
India is made up of
a large variety of people. There are a large number of different
languages, cultures and religions. Education in India has been
improving dramatically in recent years and is a source of great pride
for the families of young people who attend the universities there.
Traditions that have survived for centuries are held sacred by families
here and should be respected when traveling there.
There are
many religious ceremonies and festivals held in public in India that
you shouldn't miss during your trip. Harvest festivals for many of the
different religions of India are attended by everyone, even those of
differing faiths. During the Buddhist New Year (the first full moon in
May), the Tibetan Buddhist Community in Sikkum performs the mystic
Gumpa Dance and is a must see if you plan to travel to India during
that time. In the Autumn months, two of the most prominent harvest
festivals are the Ganesh Chaturthi and the Maharastra are fantastic
experiences to add to your itinerary if you would like to experience
religious ceremonies, which are a major part of Indian culture.
Another
large part of Indian culture is their music. There are many types of
music to be found during your travels to India. Some of the most
interesting music is the folk music you will find as you travel through
different parts of India. There are also interpretive dances that are
performed by the people there. They tell epic stories based on Indian
legends and are very spiritual and devotional. There is a lot of
popular music as well, including Filmi Music and two well known forms
of classical music you might hear are Hindustani and Carnatic Music.
Despite
popular opinion, there are both vegetarian and non-vegetarian delights
to be had in India. Bhel puri, a puffed rice dish, usually with spices
added and served on deep fried puris, a wheat bread, is a popular snack
often sold on the roadside. The staple foods of India are ones made
from rice or wheat, but a wide variety of cuisine is available to you
as you travel through different regions. Different types of spices and
sweets are available and used in the dishes they prepare in each area.
Sweets and spicy food is very popular in all of India.
While
shopping for antiques, clothing, fabrics, and other items, in alleyways
and open markets alike, one piece of advice, try to take a local
citizen or guide with you to make sure you are buying authentic pieces.
You will find the hand-carved wood artifacts and sandalwood carvings
amazing. The woodcarvers are very talented. India is of course also
famous for its hand-rolled incense. You will want to bring some back
with you. The fragrances are unique and the incense is of great quality
if you find the right shops.
There is also a lot of silk and
pure cotton clothing, but a few knockoffs as well, hence the warning to
have someone from the local area guide you to the best shops and
markets. Leather goods can be had in India for a fraction of the cost
here, so if you like leather, go shopping!
A quick look at
some of the sights you may want to visit while traveling to India
before I finish this article. India is a beautiful country and its
doubtful you can take in all the wonderful sights on just one trip.
The Pandavas Caves Temple in Goa is dedicated to the Lord Shiva and dates back to the 1st century.
The
Rajabai Tower in Bombay is a clock tower of gothic designs that is 260
feet high. One of the curiosities of this gothic tower is that it is
adorned with oriental figures. It chimes on every quarter hour and
sounds like Big Ben in London. The university library, located under
the tower, contains recently restored stain glass windows that are
magnificent to look at and considered to be the most beautiful in all
of Asia.
New Delhi is a beautiful city whose buildings have
serene courtyards and are definitely one of the nicest attractions
along with some of the finest museums in the country. New Dehli also
sport many shops and boutiques that feature some of the best crafts
India has to offer. New Dehli is definitly a place to go during your
travels to India.
The Karnataka Folk Museum in Bangalore has
displays of rare masks, artifacts, and costumes that are part of
India's rich history, as well as a collection of the folk music and
videos of folk dances mentioned earlier in this article.
The
Taj Mahal in Agra is of course one of the must see sights in India. It
took 20,000 laborers to build the Taj Mahal in the 1600s and has become
a known landmark throughout the world. From the jail, to the dome, to
the garden, the beauty of this building of both Hindu and Islamic
design cannot be justified with words alone.
We hope we have added some useful information and ideas for your trip to India.
Robin Darch, of PRT Specialised Services Limited has a website, http://www.travel-worldwide.net to help you find all the information you need about world travel related topics such as choosing a good travel agency, how to get good rates on airline travel, cruise line deals, and much more.
