India has been a tourist attraction since long years. It is due to the elegance and overall history that it holds. It also cherishes the culture which is worshiped by many people all around the world. Tourism in India has flourished due to the scenic places that are enjoyed by people of all age's right from toddlers to the old aged. There are many places in India which holds to its architecture and history a great number of secrets and stories that have inspired many people. There are some places which are enjoyed by families for the sheer enjoyment and pleasure. Some places like the Himalayas as well as the northern regions like Kashmir which are famous for the ice-clad mountains are also very famous all around the world but, the only reason is that it is not safe these days due to the live conflicts between India and Pakistan.
Places of importance:
There are various other places which still have the importance from the point of view of history from the perspective of Tourism in India. There are many forts and temples that are famous all over the world. Some of these places are just famous for their history while some of them are famous for the sculptures that are done on its walls exterior as well as interior with great art. These sculptures give a lot of knowledge about the past and why all the rituals and cultures have been formed the way they are followed since then. Some of the ideal places that are worth watching or visiting are Delhi, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Jaipur, In Himachal Pradesh - Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Udaipur, Shimla, Kullu, Manali, Dharamsala, Dalhousie, Sarahan, Kufri, Naldehra, Chail, Narkanda, Manikaran, Naggar, and Brighu Lake near Kullu and Manali, Gwalior, Orchha, Mandu. There are marvelously carved temples at Khajuraho whereas the sacred places Ganga - Gangotri, Yamunotri, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Allahabad, and Varanasi.
Reasons of Development:The Tourism in India did not have so much importance initially in the earlier years after independence. The tourism in India gained weight age only after people or natives in these local areas realized the true beauty and importance of the sight-seeing places. Also, the increasing poverty along with idea to save the ancient heritage, this business was started. People started earning from these services like tour guiding and lodging- boarding services.
History of India
Introduction:
The history of India has tremendously influenced the present days culture, tradition, languages, way of living etc. There are various other factors that have contributed history being the major one. The history of India can be categorized in parts like the Ancient, Medieval, British and the modern history. There are various facets in the development of these histories, which has led to a prolonged effect on the diversities in cultures and other factors that has led to modern state of living.
Ancient civilizations:
The Ancient history of India can be traced back to the Indus Valley Civilization around 2500 B.C. The people settled in the sites like the Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa and Lothal. These sites have created history and are very famous for their respective civilizations and cultures. In the Indus valley, people had developed a whole new settlement on the basis of a sustainable agricultural trade and on commerce too. Due to various ecological changes or declining conditions, eventually the Indus Valley Civilization detoriated around 1500 B.C. At the beginning of the second millennium the Aryans from the northwest settled in the Ganges river valley. These two periods of the Indus valley civilization and the arrival of the Aryans from the Northwest can be categorized as Pre-Vedic and Vedic Perio Ds. During the Vedic period, Hinduism arose to its levels and also the ancient Vedas were written during these times.
Various Dynasties:
During the period of reign of the Gupta Dynasty, Hindu culture grew to its new heights. During the 4th and the 5th century, the fluctuating dynasties had their own boundaries, which gave rise to the ancient map of India. During this time a large number of territories were annexed to the Ashoka dynasty that later on converted himself to Buddhism. Later on, he proposed the Buddhism philosophy to the masses. The Islam religion came into existence in India in the eighth century and was completely established by the eleventh century. Almost the entire Northern region of India was taken over by the Mughals.
Modern History:
Then came the rule of the British by the mid 17th century. The East India Company had established control over the trading market by putting up various out-posts at the main strategically located cities like Bombay, Madras, Calcutta and Surat. They took over these markets with the help of native rulers.
Ecotourism in India
Though it sounds clichéd, India is one of the most unique countries in the world. The physical, economical, cultural and religious diversity of India has always been an enigma for the rest of the world. Hence, people from all over the world have been attracted to this huge and mysterious land in the east. With India rapidly emerging as a major economic stronghold, every sector in the nation is witnessing tremendous growth and development. One such rapidly growing sector in India is tourism and one of its offshoots that is drawing tourists from across the globe is ecotourism in India.
Tourism with a Difference
Ecotourism in India is a niche industry that has mainly developed in the past few years. Ecotourism is largely based on the concept of sustained tourism or eco-friendly tourism. It has often been the case with the tourist destinations in India where the ecological balance of a fragile area has degraded drastically due to the pressure of tourism. Hence, the country is trying to promote tourism in a manner in which it generates considerable revenue without disturbing the delicate ecosystem in the region. This type of tourism is extremely essential for India considering that it has one of the richest biodiversities in the world. The nation is blessed with the massive Himalayan barricade in the north, an extensive peninsula with a rich coastal line on both sides and rich forests and landscapes that are unique to the nation of India. Hence, the government is trying to push the concept of ecotourism so that these rich habitats do not get affected even after the influx of tourists.
Forms of Ecotourism in India
There are various forms of ecotourism in India that attract an increasing number of tourists each year. Some of the most prominent forms include Wildlife tourism, Agro tourism, Village tourism and even Religious tourism. Of these, wildlife tourism is emerging as one of the most popular forms of ecotourism in India. India has an unbelievable diversity with respect to flora and fauna and has some of the most renowned national parks and tiger reserves like Kanha, Ranthambore, Kaziranga, Corbett and Sunderbans. Apart from this, agro tourism is making its own mark and tourists are flocking to India to get a taste of the rustic rural life of the countryside.
Culture of India
Any discussion about art, culture and traditions is incomplete without the mention of India. This country is the birthplace of one of the richest cultures of the world. The Indian culture has always amazed all other countries and has mesmerized the people across different beliefs and origins. This culture is rooted firmly in the psyche of the Indians and governs the way of life for most people living in the country. The culture of India covers a vast spectrum of features ranging from the close family structure, religion, language, art, history and several other factors.
Cultural Ties
The culture of India is a unique and exquisite blend of various cultures and traditions. Though the nation is regarded largely as the one, which is dominated by the Hindu culture, it is one of the major bastions for civilizations like Islam, Christianity, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism. This has resulted in the existence of myriad values and customs that have their roots in respective religion. People celebrate every religious festival with great enthusiasm, splendor and gaiety. India has the unique distinction of celebrating the maximum number of festivals in a calendar year. Apart from the festivals, another crucial aspect about Indian culture is the family system.
Unlike the western culture, the Indian culture has family-bound traditions and customs. Indians regard the family as an institution or a link, which continues for the rest of their lives. India has a patriarchal system, wherein the father is the head of the family and has the ultimate authority to take decisions for the family. The Indians are known for their hospitable nature the world over. Every household in India regards a guest as a form of god and treats him with suitable respect and promptness.
Cultural Charisma
The other features of culture of India that attract millions of tourists every year include Indian classical music and dance, art and architecture and even cuisines. Indian classical music and dance find mention even in the ancient religious texts and have till today treasured and developed by the people in the country. India consists of innumerable religious and historic monuments that reflect the strong influence of the several rulers that ruled the country for ages. The country has monuments that replicate the Hindu style, Mughal pattern, Victorian influence due to the British rule and several other modes.
Popular India Destinations
India in its ancient form was referred to as the golden bird, which is even relevant today with the beautiful landscape, rich cultural heritage, and giant economical leap surrounding India. The awareness generated about the richness of India is attracting tourists like never before. The tourism industry has woken up to the call of the hour and promoting the Indian destinations beautifully before the world. Due to the diverse culture in India each and every tourist spot in India has got its own distinctive feature. Uniqueness of each of the destinations is by the virtue of the community, race and the religion the local resident belong to. There are varied popular India destinations that interest the foreign tourists but it is difficult to cover the area at one go. Therefore it is advisable to select few of the destinations, which can give deep insight into the Indian culture.
Some of the popular Indian destination
In order to make the process of choosing a destination easy they are categorized into different segment. The first category in this is the category containing the wonders of India.
Wonders of India - destinations lying in this category are exclusive to India and are famous round the globe for its distinctive features. Taj Mahal at Agra tops the chart with it being referred to as the one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The next destination is Thar Desert, which located in the state Rajasthan in western part of India. The magnanimous nature of the desert is instrumental in fetching it so much popularity all around the world. Backwaters of Kerala are another tourist spot where nature is found in its full bloom. There are several other destinations in India, which hold equal importance in contribution towards the growing tourism industry in India. Kashmir is a state in India considered as the paradise on earth. This is another beauty of India and truly deserves a look by the tourists.
Forts and Palaces of India - Forts and Palaces of India are the exhibition of the might and strength of the Indian monarchy till date. Visiting these places give an insight into the architecture and engineering prevailing in India during the ancient time. There are various forts located in various parts of India. Agra fort located in Agra is one of them with the architectural marvel it is. The next is the Red Fort in Delhi with the memories of Indian independence movement woven to it. There are several other forts, which are equally enthralling and historically significant.
Temples of India - India is a secular state and known for its tolerant practice of every religion. Thus there are several temples famous not only for their piousness but also for the architectural beauty they are. Some of the popular among them are Konark Temple in Orissa, Golden Temple in Amritsar, Khajuraho Temples at Madhya Pradesh, Jagannath Temple in Puri and many more.
Beaches of India - Southern and the south western part of India are famous for the various beaches that exist over there. The beaches of Goa are the most popular among them all. It has been for ages the top choice for the foreign tourists. Tamil Nadu and Kerala beaches are also gaining popularity among the tourists due to their picturesque locale.
It is difficult to put the whole India in a nutshell due to its magnanimous nature but a thorough
- Udaipur, India- Bikaner, India
- Jaisalmer, India
- Chittorgarh, India
- Ajmer, India
- Fathepur Sikri, India
- Pushkar, India
- Leh Ladakh, India
- Srinagar, India
- Dehradun, India
- Lucknow, India
- Varanasi, India
- Haridwar, India
- Chandigarh, India
- Ahmedabad, India
- Bhopal, India
- Bhubaneswar, India
- Puri, India
- Khajuraho, India
- Pune, India
- Aurangabad, India
- Mysore, India
- Aleppey, India
- Trivandrum, India
Sightseeing in India
The country of India is a traveler's delight. This is mainly because of the amazing range of tourist attractions that the country offers. Tourists can witness unbelievable natural beauty and biodiversity, cultural and traditional legacy in this vibrant land. Hence, sightseeing in India can be one of the most memorable experiences ever for any traveler.
Exotic India
There are innumerable sights in India and tourists would need to make several trips to this vast nation to get a fair picture of its richness and diversity. The diversity of India is incomparable as it is blessed with the great Himalayan range in the north, tropical rain forests in the northeast, the beautiful temples in the south and the colorful Thar Desert in the west. Apart from these features, every city in India has several attractions that attract numerous tourists each year. There are various museums, religious and historic monuments, which display the ethos and essence of India. However, there are certain major destinations that every tourist would like to visit during his sightseeing trip of India. One such major destination that has made its mark even on the world map is the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal located in Agra is one of the most exquisite monuments found not only in India but also in the entire world. It is a fine example of Mughal architecture along with intricate and fine carving.
Apart from the Taj Mahal, another major tourist attraction in India is the numerous temples present in the country. Though there are almost countless temples in India, the major temples include the Meenakshi temple in Madurai, the Golden temple in Amritsar, the Sun temple in Konark in Orissa and the Khajuraho temple in Madhya Pradesh. Apart from these, the temples in Hampi and other south Indian states also figure high on the list of places of sightseeing in India. Apart from these temples, the historic monuments too attract numerous tourists each year. Some of the leading historic monuments include the Gateway of India situated in Mumbai, the India Gate situated in New Delhi, the Victoria Memorial located in Kolkata and the Golconda fort and Charminar situated in Hyderabad.
These are only a few major destinations that every traveler must visit when he is sightseeing in India.
Historical Monuments in India
India is a land that is steeped in history and even today a major part of modern India is under the influence of history. The country has a long history, which begins from 325 B.C. when the Hindu dynasties ruled the country. These dynasties were succeeded by the Mughal rulers, the Maratha dynasty and finally by the British. With such a long history, it comes, as no surprise there is one of the largest assortments of historical monuments in India.
Historical Wonders
The historical monuments in India are the silent witnesses of the bygone era. Every monument has a story behind it and has a landmark status in the history of India. Another major highlight of most of the historical monuments in India is that they depict different architectural styles and patterns and are made of different kinds of materials. The clear difference in the architectural styles is evident as one moves from north to south and east to west of India. Every city, town and village in India has historical remains that have a unique significance and legend. New Delhi, the capital of India, has several historical monuments to its credit that have stood the test of time through the ages. Some of the prominent historical monuments in India include the Red Fort, Qutub Minar, India Gate, Jantar Mantar and Rajghat. The Red Fort is one of the best examples of Mughal architecture and has a special importance for India. It was at the Red Fort that the first Prime Minister of India, unfurled the flag of independent India and this tradition is continued till today on every 15th of August.
The India Gate is yet another historic and majestic monument in New Delhi. It was built, as a tribute to the Indian soldiers who died in the World War I. the monument is the most respected war memorial in the country and even today, there is a flame under the arch of the monument that continues to burn each day and each night. Another major historical monument in India that has great importance is the Gateway of India that is situated in Mumbai. The Gateway is a remnant of the British era and was built in 1913. It displays the unique blend of Indian and European architectures.
Apart from these, the other prominent historical monuments in India include the Buland Darwaza in Fatehpur Sikri, Gingee fort in Tamil Nadu, Hawa Mahal in Jaipur and the Agra Fort.
The historical monuments in India add a unique touch to the cultural heritage of the country and remind everyone of the past.
- City Palace Udaipur, India- Lake Palace Udaipur, India
- Golden Fort Jaisalmer, India
- Mehrangarh Fort Jodhpur, India
- Junagarh Fort Bikaner, India
- Chittorgarh Fort, India
- Havelis of Shekhawati, India
- Castle Mandwa, India
- Samode Palace, India
- Umaid Bhawan Palace
- Gwalior Fort, India
- Sanchi Stupas, India
- Mysore Palace, India
Temples in India
The cultural hues of India have never failed to allure people across the world. One of the factors that influence the Indian culture is religion. With India being a melting pot of several religions, the country has a rich treasure of religious monuments. However, India is mainly known for its exquisite Hindu temples, which have never failed to enthrall the tourists.
Temple Glory
The Hindus worship several gods and goddesses with each one being associated with an attribute. To give a few examples, the Hindus consider the holy trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva in great reverence. It is a belief that Brahma is the God of Creation, Vishnu is regarded as the Preserver while Shiva is worshipped as the Destroyer. Apart from the trinity, the Hindus also worship Ganesha, the Elephant God, extensively and believe that before starting any new venture, it is important to seek the blessings of Ganesha. Apart from these, there are other numerous deities that are worshipped with great veneration. Hence, with so many gods and goddesses, the number of temples too is high with different temples being dedicated to different deities. The beauty of the temples in India is that they are built with unique architectural style and carvings. The temples usually consist of a huge hall, which leads to a sanctum where the actual idol of the gods or goddesses is placed. The Hindu temples also consist of a pinnacle, which is made of gold or silver and can be seen even from a far distance.
There are a large number of temples in India, which have attained great following and admiration for their architectural styles. One of the most prominent temples in India is the Balaji temple situated in Tirupati, in Andhra Pradesh. This temple is a shrine that worships Vishnu and Balaji is considered a form of Vishnu. The God of Destruction, Shiva, also has numerous temples spread across the country. Chidambaram, Kedarnath, Badrinath, Somnath and Tryambakeshwar are one of the prominent Shiva shrines among the temples in India. Ganesha is also worshipped in every corner of the country and has innumerable temples in the towns and cities of India. Some of the prominent Ganesha temples include the Siddhi Vinayak temple and the Ashtavinayak shrines. The Ashtavinayak include eight temples of Ganesha that are located around Pune in Maharashtra.
The temples in India are guarded with great care and zeal. For several people, the temples are places where an individual can get peace of mind and attain nirvana.
- Kashi Vishwanath Temple, India- Jagannath Temple Puri, India
- Konark Sun Temple, India
- Akshardham Temple, India
- Dilwara Temple, India
- Golden Temple, India
- ISKON Temples, India
- Khajuraho Temples, India
- Somnath Temple, India
- Meenakshi Temple Madurai, India
- Padmanabhaswamy Temple Trivandrum, India
- Sabarimala Temple, India
- Tirupati Tirumala Balaji, India
- Bull Temple Mysore, India
- Chamundeswari Temple, India
- Ekambaranathar Temple Kanchipuram, India
- Brihadisvara Temple, India
- Ramanatha Swamy Temple Rameshwaram, India
- Shore Temple Mahabalipuram, India
Festivals and Events in India
India celebrates its diversity through its festivals. Year long there is sprit of celebration in some or the other corner of the nation. As there are several religions, which have an interesting mythology there are several opportunities to celebrate which are called as festivals. All festivals In India are commemorated for religious causes, either to celebrate the victory of good over evil or to remember a god or goddess. Further, every state has its own culture thus have their own festivals. However there are many festivals which are celebrated through out the country.
Diwali
Diwali is the biggest festival in India. It is festival of lights, where everyone lights their house, and burst crackers. Myth logically the festival is commemorated to celebrate the success return of Rama after defeating Ravana, Lord Krishna's defeat over Narkasur and to remember the goddess of wealth Laxmiji. It is festival when every Hindu in the nation repaints his house and buys new clothes. Fireworks are a highlight of Diwali.
Eid-Ul-Fittar
Eid is celebrated by all Islam followers across India and entire world. All Islam followers hold fast for one month and spend that one month in worshipping Allah. As Diwali is the biggest festival for Hindus Eid is for Muslim.
Christmas
Christmas is a festival of Christian which is celebrated with great zeal in India. Goa celebrates Christmas with style. They have a carnival wherein people dress up in fancy dresses, dance and sing with huge procession following. Quires are sung in the church and the birth of Christ is celebrated with fireworks.
There are many other festivals such as Basant Panchami, Dashera, Ganesh Chaturthi, Janmashtmi, Holi, Rakshbandhan, Guru Purnima, the list is ever lasting.
A symbol of peace, prosperity, and happiness
Festivals in India are mainly a symbol of peace when good wins over the evil, prosperity when the harvest is good and soil is fertile and happiness to enjoy love such as Holi. Festivals of India are what keep the diversity of the culture integrated. In spite of all the hardship people come together to greet each happiness and prosperity. This feeling of harmony is what keeps this diverse nation intact. Every festival has its own importance, thus no festival is big or small, and with each celebration the Indian feeling gets stronger.
Entertainment in India
Entertainment in India is one of the biggest industries grossing revenues beyond human capabilities to count. The cultural heritage of the country goes on to prove the significance of art and culture in all the ages of the country. Entertainment however captures a broader perspective by considering any activity that provides pleasure to man and is considered as recreational. Sources of entertainment in any country depend upon the tradition, culture and the resources available in that place. India as a country has supported the cause of art, literature and music from time immemorial. Entertainment in India in the recent times comprises of the cultural activities, sports and several of the festivals celebrated here.
Modes of Entertainment in India
Each and every mode of Entertainment in India comes with its own sets of elegance and sophistication. The number of programs that the people over here draw pleasure from is innumerable. There are several other ideas of entertainment in the recent times that has been imported from the western countries. Generally Indian citizens prefer to stick to their roots and draw immense pleasure from their own culture. Some of the prominent modes of entertainment that have existed for long to attain the status cult have been discussed below.
Music
This mode of entertainment was there from the time man used to be lesser civilized. India is being accepted world wide as the originator of this form of art. The music industry in India is divided between the modern day music and the classical. Both of the forms of the music have their own grounds as a commercial prospect. The biggest music house in the country is however is the Hindi and several other film industries. Music is an integral part of the Indian panorama and has enthralled everyone with its distinctive panache.
Cinema
Cinema captures the biggest share in the Entertainment in India. The Indian Film Industry is touted to be the biggest in the whole world. The Hindi film industry along with the several other regional film industries are estimated to churn out the maximum number of films in a calendar year than any other country. The Hindi film industry is recognized nationwide and is operated from the economic capital of India, Mumbai. The other prominent regional film industries are the southern film industry and the Bengali film industry.
Sports
Sports are also among the biggest draw in India as a source of entertainment. Cricket however is synonymous to sports in this country. This game draws the biggest attention and highest amount of revenue than all the other form of sports taken together. The Indian cricket control board is estimated to gross the highest amount of revenue than any other cricketing nation. Cricket stars like Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar and many more are not only admired but also worshipped by their ardent followers. Some of the other sports like tennis and football is also coming up like never before. Football is a big source of entertainment in some of the regions of the country like West Bengal, Goa, and Kerala.
Festivals
Indian culture and tradition supports several of the festivals observed as a mode to please the deities. The secularism and multi ethnicity of the country have introduced many of the festivals that have the roots in some other place. Some of the biggest festivals of India are Diwali, Dusshera, Id, Christmas, Holi and some other festivals when the government announces a public holiday. Each of the festivals of India has got its own unique way of celebration with many of the customs and rituals to be followed by people.
Entertainment in India is not limited to the commercially available modes. But the Indian psyche drives the countrymen to draw pleasure from the regular activities of life. People in the country believe in celebrating life than occasions.Being a vast country Getting to India is not much of a difficulty. India is known as a subcontinent so it has entry points through road, sea and air. With the times changing now Getting to India is not much of a concern. With advancement of technology one can easily travel to India. India as it is said is a land of diversities, so there are many reasons as to make a visit to India. With the increase of influx of tourists in the Indian subcontinent it has become really a matter of concern for the government to make India easily accessible to the people from outside. Therefore apart from the means of communication India also has designed certain formalities which one will have to fulfill while entering into this land of festivals. India from the past few years has given a bit more importance to the tourism aspect. So it becomes really very necessary for people coming from outside to know the different means of communication that will help them in reaching India. This will help them in reaching the correct destination without any hassles.
Entering Heaven
With its vast culture and unique topographical conditions, India appeals to the whole world the beauty that lies in each and every corner of it. Earlier sea route was the most favorable route to reach India. It was because India is surrounded by water on three sides. On the east lies the Bay of Bengal and on the west lies the Arabian Sea. On the south it is guarded by the huge Indian Ocean. So it becomes easy to access India from water. But now with the advancement of technology airways have become the most favorable means of transport as well as the cheaper way Getting to India. There are many International Airports in India which connect India to the rest of the world. Apart from that there a lot of airways and this gives you a lot of options to choose. India is well connected to every big country in this world through airways. So airways are the most preferable and the safer way to access India. Also the time taken by these airlines is very less as compared to the other means of communications. By road one can access India only from the India Pakistan border or from the India-Nepal border.
India is a secular state which invites people from all over the world with open arms and makes them feel at home.Hotels in India
