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| Mr. Pankaj Jaswal Companion Tours & Travels 236/B, Rly.Col.4, P.O. Khalsa College, Amritsar Punjab - 143002 Mobile No. - +91- 9888109441 Email: companiontravels@gmail.com |
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| Incredible India India - which in itself means a lot in terms traditional, cultural, heritage and historical diversity, offers diverse tourist destinations. Each state of Indian sub-continent possesses it own unique cultural niche and many interesting things to explore. India is home to some of the most ancient civilizations and the four major religions - Hinduism, Muslim, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. The following factors which give an extra edge to Indian Tourism over other famous tourist destinations are: Culture - By a definition, "Culture refers to combinations of knowledge, experience, beliefs, values, attitudes, hierarchies, religions, roles, relations, material objects and possessions attained by a group of people in the course of generations". However, despite being the existence of diversity in cultures, one finds the similarities like humanity, tolerance, unity, secularism, closely inter-connected social system in Indian Culture. India have more than 1 billion people belongs to different races. The oldest one is Negroid aboriginals called Adivasis or first settlers. Other races are Dravidian, the Aryans, Mongols, the Semites and a lot many inter-mixtures of one with another. Customs & Tradition - Customs and traditions of India are what attract many tourists to India. The impression of Indian customs and traditions displayed from the traditional Indian slogan "Atithi Devo Bhava" which means Guest is God and should be treated like a deity. This is what expressed in welcoming the most of the tourists who visit India. India's prized possession is its innumerable customs and traditions performed differently in different parts of India. Heritage - In a single line definition we can say that any attribute or immaterial possession which has been inherited to us from our ancestors. India is comprises of rich heritage in terms of cultures, rituals, beliefs, customs and traditions. In any part of India, one comes across cultures and traditions which are in no way similar to each other. History - History is the ancient backdrop of any civilization. In simple words, "The things and activities happened in each day passed, becomes history in present". India is very rich in historical terms as well as the home of ancient civilization. Indian history can be further sub-divided into Ancient history, Medieval history and Modern History. Ancient History which existed over 5000 years ago and originated from Indus River Valley and civilization know as Indus Valley civilization. Indus Valley civilization comprises of Aryans, Pre-Mauryan, Mauryan, Post-Mauryan, Gupta Period, Harshavardhana and Kingdoms of North & South. Modern History of India comprises the advent of Europeans, Portuguese, Dutch and Mughals, incoming of Britishers, advent of these rulers had brought many changes in terms of infrastructural development, new traditions & cultures, architecture etc. Folk & Classical Music - India's every region has its own type/form of folk & classical music. The sphere of traditional Folk Music in India is very vast. A number of instruments are used in Folk Music. There are different types of Folk Music like Bhangra Folk Music from Punjab, Lavni Folk Music from Maharashtra, Baul songs of Bengal and Dandiya Music from Gujarat.etc. Folk music is more likely a daily ritual take place in a common man's daily life. Simple lyrics and tunes of these songs are very earthy and soul pleasing. Though Folk Music is different from Classical Music, but has influenced the Classical music to some extent. Indian Classical Music continues to gaining huge popularity in Western Countries and is being taught widely. The instruments used in Classical music are like Tabla, Sitar/Sarod, Daf, Dholak/Nal etc. Classical Music usually requires student to devote whole life in getting the perfection of different forms of Classical Music. Folk & Classical Dances - Classical dances Kathak: originated from Nomadic bards of ancient Northern India known as Kathakaris or story tellers. Bharat Nattayam Dance - originated in Thanjavoor (Tanjore) of Tamil Nadu. Bharatnatayam is the purest form of Classical Dances. This particular dance absorbed its name by the dance teachers called Nattuwanars and the temple dancers called Devadasis. Kathakali Dance - literary meaning is story-play with the help of dance. This form of classical dance depicts the victory of truth over falsehood and originated in Kerala. Kuchipudi Dance - originated in Andhra Pradesh and is the blend of Folk and Classical dance. Odissi Dance - This lyrical dance displays the ambience of Orissa and devotion to Lord Krishna. Chau Dance - the name of this classical dance traced from Sanskrit Word "Chayya" - Shade, refers to the mask used by the dancers and theme is based on War. The Chau dance is popular and performed in Bihar, Orissa & West Bengal. Folk Dances - Indian Folk dances can be defined as the style of dance came into existence among local or ordinary people before 19th Century. The folk dances are based on traditions instead of techniques and are more famous than Indian Classical dances. With folk dances one can understand the local culture, legends and myths which are deeply rooted in the culture. Following are the some of the famous folk dances are performed in various states: Assam - Bihu Dance; Rajasthan - Kalbelia Dance, Chari Dance, Ghoomar Dance, Fire Dacne, Kachhi Gori; Gujarat - Garba Dance, Dandiya Dance; Punjab - Bhangra, Gidda; Manipur - Manipuri Dance; Maharashtara - Tamasha / Lavani Dance, Dindi Dance. Festivals Fairs - India is the country where there is hardly any month, in which we do not celebrate any fair or festival. The characteristics of festivals and fairs in India are enthusiasm, unity, rituals, color, gaiety & prayers. The scale and multiplicity of Indian festivals attract many foreign travelers. As India being a secular country, people of all religions celebrate the festivals & fair with equal interest and passion. The major celebrations includes festivals and fairs like Dipawali, Dushehra, Holi, Pushkar Fair, Kumbh Fair, Goa Carnival, Surajkund Fair and so on. All these represent the people from diverse religions, regions, backgrounds and communities. Many of the tourists planned their Indian vacations during the fairs and festivals. Famous Personalities - The strong foundation of India has been laid by our great Indians of past and present. All of them contributing in various spheres of life and thus received a great importance in an individual's life. Famous personalities of the past like Akbar, Shahjehan, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Bhagat Singh, Rani Jhansi Laxmi Bai, Sarojini Naidu, Indira Gandhi have gifted us a nation which in the near future going to be the one of the world power. The famous personalities of present like Ratan Tata, Azim Premji, Dhirubai Ambani, Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, Amitabh Bachhan and Mother Terressa from different. Literature - Indian literature is one of the oldest lliterture in the world and which has been compilled in 22 officially recognized languages. Oral and written forms are both important in Indian Literature. The historical development of literature writings in prose or poetry which aim at providing education, entertainment and enlightenment to its readers as well the development of the literary techniques used in the communication of these pieces. Ancient literature is either religious or based on family stories from the Sanskrit Epics. The great illustrations of Ancient Indian literature are The Ramayana and The Mahabharata and the mythological writings known as Puranas. The medieval Indian literature was based on unorthodox regional belief like Caryapadas in Bengali (Tantric verses of 12th century) and the Lilacaritra in Marathi. However, in brief the Indian literature is based on Bhakti Bhawana (meditation), Traditional material, Regional material, Linguistic and Cultural Influence. Languages India is rich in languages. There has been 22 officially recognised languages. But around 33 different languages and 2000 dialects have been identified in India. Some of these languages are accepted nationally while others are accepted as dialects of that particular region. The Indian languages came from four ancient languages namely Indo-European, Dravidian, Austroasiatic (Austric) and Sino-Tibetan. Majority of Indians are using Indo-European and Dravidian languages. Federal government of India's official language is Hindi in Devanagari script where as English is an associate official language. India's classical language is Sanskrit and Sanskrit literature existed since from Rig Vedic period as it is the oldest literary language of India and is more than 5,000 years old. Many modern Indian languages comprised Hindi and Urdu. Moreover, all classical literature as well as Indian epics have been written in Sanskrit. Art & Handicraft Traditional Indian handicrafts like Ganjifa playing cards, chikankari on metal, Ajarak and Malir block printing are going to almost extinct. The many customary techniques, designs and colors of Indian arts, crafts and handicrafts are just incredible. Many of these are mainly based on India's social, religious, economic and regional factors. These well-developed old traditions are flourishing because of their popularity both in India and foreign countries. The range starts from rich brocades and zari work, large number of sari varieties like Banarsi Amru, Tanchoi from Surat, Paithani, Patola and Kancheevaram to richly embroidered garments, woven shawls and household items. Pherans, Pashmina shawls, carpets and tablecloths from Kashmir, Himachal and north eastern states look quite gorgeous. The market is also expanding for household commodities like bedcovers and bed sheets, cushions, curtains, metal furniture, boxes, wooden furniture, utensils, vases and toys, terracotta items, brass and silverware, leather products, cane, coir and jute products and papier-mache products. Apart from this silver cutlery and brass pots, marble and wood inlay work, traditional paintings and enameled furniture along with many other handicrafts are a part of Indian culture. Health - Modern & Ayurveda treatments, Yoga & Meditation Ayurveda which exists from 600 BC in India is a holistic system of medicine. Nowadays this method of curing the body ailments has become an indispensable health science. Ancient Ayurvedic treatment is fast becoming the world's preference to revitalize the body and mind, and regain resistance and good health. Therapies are prescribed only after a qualified Ayurveda physician makes a detailed examination of the suffered person and his health history. Well trained and qualified Ayurvedic Therapists administer the therapies. Most therapies include massages with herbal extracts, herbal powders and oils, medicated steam baths, prescribed vegetarian. Modern Treatment - Medical tourism in India is flourishing as due its cost effective treatments. Patients needing surgical and other forms of specialized treatment are being offered a complete medical package which includes their International air-tickets, travel insurance, hotel accommodation, treatment fee etc. Medical tourism is jointly facilitated by the corporate sector involved in medical and healthcare as well as the tourism industry - both private and public. Medical tourism includes leisure, fun, relaxation together with wellness and healthcare treatment. Yoga - Yoga initially existed in the India & Nepal regions thousands of years ago. Through much determination, endurance and careful study, many people today have achieved the strength and flexibility. There are certain complex and sometimes dangerous yoga postures which hould only be considered after years of experience. The oldest formal documentation of yoga comes from around 200 B.C. (Patanjali's Yoga Sutra). From Sanskrit, word Yoga derived from the verbal root, yuj - meaning to yoke, harness. Yoga is the process of uniting ourselves in order to express the energy of our true nature. In other words, yoga is the methodical steps of aligning and converging our body, mind and spirit for the purpose of enlightenment. Yoga calls our attention back to this and aims to reunite us with the innermost centre of our being. The most popular elements of yoga are Hatha (physical) yoga which includes the Asana and to a lesser extent, Pranayama. Many of the physical poses (Asanas) require such concentration to hold a balance (or maintain the strength and flexibility, or apply complex anatomical adjustments, etc) that you can't help but be in a Dharana state. Nowadays Yoga is being utilized in modern society in many ways. Rishikesh is called the yoga capital of the world and there are many ashrams in Rishikesh offering courses on meditation, yoga and Hindu philosophy. The hatha yoga and pranayama meditation classes at Sri Ved Niketan Ashram are well known. The Shivananda Ashram is located opposite the Shivananda Jhula and is flocked by tourists. It is also possible to stay in the ashram by intimating the authorities a month earlier. Other ashrams include the Yoga Niketan Ashram, Omkarananda Ashram, Vanmali Gita Yogashram, Dayananda Vedanta Ashram, Brahma Niwas and the Yoga Study Center. The International Yoga Festival is organized every year from February 2 to 7 by UP Tourism. Spa The word spa means medicinal bath and meditation classes. There are different kinds of spas. But the main purpose is to mind relaxation and body fitness, healthy eating, body relaxation and treatments. Many people also visit Spas for massages, facials, body treatments, manicures and pedicures. In short, India's Modern Medical treatments, Ayurveda and spa tourism will take you to beautiful places where efficient therapists and medical practitioners will cast a magical spell and take away not only your physical problems but also a whole lot of mental tensions. It is one trip where you will not mind spending few extra bucks to gain a peace of mind and relaxation of body. Religions India a land of spirituality and philosophy is the birthplace of some religions. Majority of Indians are the followers of Hinduism and almost 80% of Indians are Hindus. It is the only religion which consists thousands of Gods and Goddesses. It is supposed to have developed about 5000 years ago. Later on other religions also came into existence in India. Buddhism and Jainism were developed around 500 BC. Presently only about 0.5% Indians are Jains and about 0.7% are Buddhist. In ancient times Jainism and specially Buddhism were very popular in India. Those who were the followers of Buddhism spread it not only within the India but in the neighboring countries in east and south of India. Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, these three main religions are considered as the molders of the India philosophy. Sikhism was established in the 15th century. About 2% of Indians are Sikhs. There are large numbers of people living in India who belong to Islam. They are about 12% of India's population. Christians are more then 2% of India's population. Cuisine Places & Monuments India is famous for its unique and rich monumental heritage. There are many famous monuments which attract a large number of tourists every year, because these monuments are the speaking stones of India's authentic architectural and historical history. Some of the incomparable monuments that form an integral part India's historical heritage are - Taj Mahal,Qutub Minar,Red Fort,Konark temple,Agra Fort,Ajanta caves,Humayun's tomb and the walled city of Fatehpur Sikri. Tombs and Mosques
India's beauty of nature is a thrilling experience for the visitor as they can see many species of exotic wildlife in the sanctuaries and can spot the species like tigers, leopards, deer, elephants, monkeys and other rare animals in the wild on Nature Tours in India. Travel across the India during Nature Tours, you can feel the thrill of seeing rare animals in their natural environment. Below is the list of famous wild-life sanctuaries:
When it comes to the natural beauty of any of the tourist destination in the world, India is among perfect tourist destinations. The scenic beauty of Indian hill stations is among top hill stations of world. Hill stations of Kashmir such as Srinagar, gulmarg, sonmarg are among most beautiful hill stations of India and world. Hill stations of Himachal pradesh like kullu manali, dalhousie, chamba, solan, shimla are equally beautiful. Below are the famous tourist hill stations in India which are first preference of nature lover tourists: Dalhousie, Manali, Kufri, Kullu valley, Nainital, Darjeeling, Ooty, Siliguri, Udhagamandalam (Ooty), Gangtok, Gulmarg, Kodiakanal, Srinagar, Ladakh, Almora, Ranikhet, Mahabaleshwar, Mount Abu, Munnar, Mussoorie, Nilgiri Hills, Panchgani, Patnitop, Shimla, Dalhousie. These Hill stations are popular as resorts among both Indian and foreign visitors, providing a relaxing and healthy retreat from the chaotic environment, heat and dust of the plains. The snow clad peaks and the cool hill stations on the foothills of these hills provide a complete rest to your brain from the hustle and bustle of the city. India Hill Resorts offers world class accommodation facilities to the travelers' at the most reasonable rates to make their India hill station holiday a memorable one. Beaches India incredibly has the most diverse varieties of beaches which attracts thousands of Indian as well as foreign tourists every year. Indian beaches have placid backwaters and lagoons, bays and rough lava-rocked seas, marine estuaries with fish, crashing surf, powdery golden sand or palm fringed shores. Most of the beach resorts in India have their own seafood cuisine, relaxing spas, diving and water sports. Kovalam without any doubt is one of India's best beach area. The long coastline lined with coconut palm trees is one of the world's finest string of beaches. The sea beach temple in Mahabalipuram and Puri, on the East Coast, is surely one of the world's most picturesque beaches. And then there is Digha, a three-hour drive out of Kolkata, a beautiful beach, splendid in its isolation. Above all the beach holidays at Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshwadeep, where the tourists can experience the colours of the flashy fish in the coral reefs from above the green waters. Goa, which world famous for its high preference among the tourists, offers the best holiday villages on its beaches. Everything about Goa is eyecatching he landscapes, Portuguese architecture, life-style which displays an Old World charm. Anjuna or Calangute Beach, and Miramar Bay in Panjim are also worth visiting beaches of Goa. The tourists can rent the beach accessories like mats and mattresses, sunglasses, and the usual tourist paraphernalia. The beach at Calangute is rocky. At Anjuna the waters are gentle and offer opportunities for boat rides, sea scooter rides, spot-the-dolphins rides, and motorboat rides. Colva and Benaulim are quieter and less crowded than Anjuna. The Fort Aguada beach offers gorgeous views that merit a visit. Sinquerim and Candolim are also quiet beaches that afford anonymity. |
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