The subcontinent of India lies in south
Asia, between Pakistan, China and Nepal. To the north it is
bordered by the world's highest mountain chain, where foothill
valleys cover the northernmost of the country's 26 states.
Further south, plateaus, tropical rain forests and sandy deserts
are bordered by palm fringed beaches .
Side by side with the country's
staggering topographical variations is its cultural diversity,
the result of the coexistence of a number of religions as well
as local tradition. Thus, the towering temples of south India,
easily identifiable by their ornately sculptured surface, are
associated with a great many crafts and performing arts of the
region.
In the desert of Kutch, Gujarat, on the
other hand, a scattering of villages pit themselves against the
awesome forces of nature, resulting in Spartan lifestyles made
vibrant by a profusion of jewelry and ornamental embroidery used
to adorn apparel and household linen. In the extreme north is
the high altitude desert of Ladakh. Local culture is visibly
shaped by the faith - Buddhism -as well as by the harsh terrain.
Yet another facet of Indian culture is observed in the colorful
tribal lifestyles of the north eastern states of Nagaland,
Mizoram, Tripura and Manipur with their folk culture.
In the central Indian states of Orissa and
Madhya Pradesh tribal village life has resulted in a variety of
artistically executed handicrafts.
India's mountains provide heli skiing,
river running, mountaineering and trekking. Its beaches provide
lazy sun-bathing as well as wind surfing and snorkeling, and its
jungles provide shooting wildlife -with a camera.
India's history goes back to 3,200 BC
when Hinduism was first founded. Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism.
Judaism. Zoroashtrianism, Christianity and Islam all exist
within the country today. As a consequence of India's size, the
history of the country has seldom been the same for two
adjoining territories, and its great natural wealth has lured a
succession of traders and foreign influences to it, each having
left their imprint in the country, however faint or localized.
Thus, Chinese fishing nets in Kerala are a throwback to that
country's ancient maritime trade, while in the north,
terra-cotta figurines of the centuries BC bear distinctly Greek
traces.
Modern India is home alike to the
tribal with his anachronistic lifestyle and to the sophisticated
urban jetsetter. It is a land where temple elephants exist
amicably with the microchip. Its ancient monuments are the
backdrop for the world's largest democracy where atomic energy
is generated and industrial development has brought the country
within the world's top ten nations. Today, fishermen along the
country's coastline fashion simple fishing boats in a centuries
old tradition while, a few miles away. motor vehicles glide off
conveyor belts in state-of-the-art factories
to chat live with us about your travel questions,
click here:
