You've
arrived at Delhi. The months of planning and curiosity
are over; you're actually in India. Every experience,
every sound, every smell shouts that you've arrived
somewhere magical, somewhere Special. It is here
that the deep love of one man for one woman created
the Taj Mahal; where the King of Kings ruled; where
the sacred Ganges flows past holy cities; where
the Himalayas stand silent and magnificent; where
5000 years of culture waits to be absorbed.
Delhi - the Old and the New Delhi
is above all an historic city, an elegant capital,
content to leave to Calcutta and Bombay the roles
of commercial and business supremacy. It is in fact
really two distinct cities; the energy and colour
and the thronged bazaars and Moghul architecture
of Old Delhi contrast with the formal splendour
of New Delhi, whose wide boulevards offer ever-changing
perspectives of Lutyen's landscaped city. Delhi
has several world-famous luxury hotels, with the
comfort and style to ensure relaxation after your
journey; from here, set forth to experience the
sights and sounds of the city. The gracious Red
Fort, the Jama Masjid (the largest mosq ue
in India), the Qutab Minar complex with its soaring
tower - all are waiting to be explored. Allows some
time to wander round the inexpensive modern shops
and handicraft centres. Magicians and dancing bears
entertain crowds in the marketplaces, while fortune
tellers may offer glimpses of the future. The heat
of the day gives way to balmy evenings; enjoy a
meal in one of the many splendid restaurants, the
exotic music of sitars and veenas and the subtle
rhythms of the tabla accompanying the delicious
cuisines from throughout the country. Flights and
trains and buses run from Delhi all over north India,
so it is always easy to reach the next destination.
The Romance of the 'Golden Triangle'
There are so many wonders in the
area south of Delhi known as
'the Golden Triangle'; in this area is the sublime,
world famous Mahal, the old ghost city of Fatehpur
Sikri, and the exotic pink city of Jaipur in Rajasthan.
Agra can be visited first, as it is only 200 kilometres
south of Delhi, Weep at the beauty of the Taj where
love created the world's most beautiful building,
and spend a day wandering around the huge and truly
magnificent Red Fort. Here the romantic emperor
who built the Taj was imprisoned by his own son,
and one can sit in the room where he died looking
at his own masterpiece. The road from here leads
to Fatehpur Sikri. The glorious Moghul courtyards
and palaces conjure up dreams of the mysterious
wonders of the past - a golden age of tragedy and
love, the harem of beautiful wives enclosed in the
women's quarters, of powerful emperors, of magical
prophesies and potent charms. Southeast of Delhi,
in the state of Madhya Pradesh, are the sculptured
temples of Khajuraho where enormous friezes of entwined
human figures practice the 'arts of love'. Nowhere
else in the world is mankind's sensual nature celebrated
in such intriguing and graceful tableaux. By now
one will understand a tiny part of India, but even
this will not prepare the traveler for the exotic
fantasy of the State of Rajasthan. The region was
controlled for thousands of years by a warrior race
of honour and valour who would fight to certain
death to protect their homeland, and the landscape
is dotted with their impressive battle-scarred forts.
A proud and beautiful people in their many-coloured
garments will extend a warm welcome in this powerful
land of kings. Nowadays, anyone can be a king or
queen for a while by staying in a fairy-tale palace
on one of the beautiful lakes in Udaipur. From here,
the 'Arabian nights' fantasy can be extended to
magical Jaisalmer - a yellow city with every building
radiating the colour of the sun. Every dream of'
riding a camel or seeing a tiger stalking in the
distance will come to life in glorious Rajasthan.
The Timeless Ganga It
is co mmonly
believed that bathing in the Ganges (Ganga) at certain
holy places purifies the soul. The Ganges is a sacred
and holy river, worshipped by the Hindus, and numerous
holy towns line its banks, all waiting to be explored:
Varanasi, Allahabad, Rishikesh and Hardwar are some
of the more famous, and it is a delightful experience
to mingle with the thronging crowd of pilgrims.
This is yet another experience of India, no less
fascinating and no less mysterious. It is uplifting
to see one of the oldest religions in the world
still so alive and passionately followed. The 'eternal'
city of Varanasi is quite different again a mass
of winding narrow alleys and picturesque lanes full
of colourful pilgrims, wandering sadhus (holy men),
Hindu priests (Brahmins) giving offerings to the
gods, sights and sounds all mingling with the aroma
of incense wafting from ancient Hindu temples. In
the clear early morning light pilgrims perform their
devotions on the steps leading down to the river,
women bathe discreetly in their colorful saris and
groups of children, no less colourful with flashing
smiles and dark shining eyes, play nearby. The delightful
holy towns of Rishikesh and Hardwar can be visited
in the way up to the cool of the mountains, the
shimmering grandeur of towering peaks, the fragrant
fresh air...
The Majesty of the Himalayas
On
the journey towards the peaks of the Himalayas yet
another totally different and magnificent experience
beckons. Imagine standing alone in the top of the
world with the swirling white clouds beneath you
and yet another snowy ridge towering ahead. Journeys
can easily be made to silvery Kashmir, cool and
beautiful Shimla, or the lush green Kulu Valley,
Relax sitting on the balcony of one of the beautiful
hotels in the mountains, breathing in the clear
mountain air and idly watching the sparkling river
cascading down the mountainside. The ancient Moghul
emperors, once the greatest dynasty on earth, devoted
their entire resources to the task of complementing
the natural beauty of Kashmir with gardens and waterways
to create a 'Paradise on Earth'. Later, the British
popularized the use of houseboats moored in the
tranquil Nagin and Dal lakes. Many travellers join
groups trekking into the heart of the Himalayas
and return to laze in their houseboats. Shimla,
the 'Summer Capital' of India for the British, is
a place designed for complete relaxation, a delightfully
situated hill station retreat. Wander down the Mall,
to watch the local people doing the same; breathe
the pine scented air in the tall and beautiful forests
with the sun casting light through the trees on
the sparkling brooks. North of Shimla is the beautiful
forested Kulu Valley, with its flowing rivers and
flower strewn walks, known as the 'Valley of the
Gods'. You can bite into a crisp apple plucked from
one of the many orchards, or watch the local people
in their homespun woollen clothes
and bright Kulu caps drying apricots in the sun.
So many wonders. So much to feel and see. So different.
So exotic. Sri Paramahansa Yoganada, a famous Indian
guru, observed how mankind is engaged in an eternal
quest for that 'something else' he hopes will bring
him happiness, complete and unending. We don't promise
India will completely fulfill this, but she will
certainly put you on a new and different path. You
will never be quite the same again.
Sightseeing 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 ruin
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 jewellery
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 colourful 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 skiing, river running, trekking and mountaineering.
Its beaches provide lazy sunbathing
as well as wind surfing and snorkeling, and its
jungles provide shooting wildlife - with a camera.
India's history goes hack 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 jet-setter.
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.
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