This section offers useful information for anyone travelling to India and includes facts and info on everything from climate and culture to entry visas and health.
You may also want to see our list of what to see in India as well as our map of India.
Please feel welcome to contact us in case you require any further information or clarification.
History
India has a long, ancient history, often dramatic and complex, marked by periodical upheavals as well as long eras of peace and stability. India’s history is far too detailed to summarise and what follows below is a brief overview with a list of links for further reading.
Early History: The earliest human activity in India can be traced to the early stone ages, roughly 400,000 BC. Signs of habitation included man made implements and rock paintings in various locations including present day Bihar and Rajashtan. The late stone ages, upto 200,000BC provide the first signs of agricultural settlement in the western plains of the Indus.
Early Indian Civilization: So called Ancient India is said to have emerged around 2500BC, and amazingly this era maintained stability for another 10 centuries. Features of this period included the occurance of the first known organized townships with grid street layouts, public baths, granaries and elements of building design, such as in the town Mohenjo Daro, the earliest settlement known to mankind.
Vedic Age: 1500BC-600BC: Invasion by the Aryan races from the North west saw the emergence of the Vedic era in ancient India, with establishment of an Aryan society and culture. This era was marked by progress and change in virtually all areas and even the various Vedas, sacred Hindu texts, are said to be written during this period.
Geography
India has a diverse geography and is rightly referred to as a sub continent, with
an area of 3,287, 263 sq km , the worlds 7th largest, and a coastline of over 7000kms, most of it a peninsula like protrusion into the Indian Ocean.
India is bordered by 6 countries including China, Nepal and Pakistan.
Notable geographical features of India include the vast snow capped Himalaya mountain ranges in the North & North East. The Thar desert stretches along the western border along Pakistan and the fertile plains dominate most of the country
stretching from below the Himalayas all the way to the south of the country.
The plains are known as the Indo-Gangetic plains, through which the sacred
River Ganges flow, north from the Himalayas and draining into the ocean.
As is expected of such a large country, there is a rich diversity of landscapes, climate and vegetation in the country. From mountain ranges in the north and
north east, to lush forests and green rolling hills in the east and south, to deserts and semi arid landscaped in the west, there is a variety of dramatic landscapes to attract visitors and offer a range of activites.
There are also excellent beaches along the Indian coast notably in Kerala and Goa as well as remote and unspoilt islands such as the Andaman & Nicobar Islands off the west coast and the Lakshadweep islands off the east coast.
Click on the Map of India on the left to open: The Map shows the main tourist locations in various parts of India as well the major geographical features including the Himalayan ranges and the main rivers or water bodies.
India's neighbours are also show - Pakistan and Afghanistan to the west and north west, China and Nepal to the North East and Bangladesh to the west. Sri Lanka lies to the south of India.
What to See
Some of India's tourist attractions have become so well known , such as the Taj Mahal, that much else gets less attention that is deserved - however there is plenty of see in India, the only problem being that there is usually not enough time to see much of these sights in just one trip.
Therefore the best itineraries are the simple ones, sthat take in only certain regions or holiday themes without covering too much - keeping a relaxed pace of travel is a good thing.
Some of the places worth seeing, in a sentence, are Delhi, Rajashtan, the Taj Mahal, South India, including Kerala and Goa, and the North, to include Himachal Pradesh, parts of Jammu & Kashmir as well as the Ladakh region.See more attractions in the About India section. See our Attractions of India section
This section offers useful information for anyone travelling to India and includes facts and info on everything from Climate and Culture to Visas and Health. You may also want to see our list of What to see in India as well as our Map of India.
Please feel welcome to contact us in case you require any further information or clarification.
Religion & Society
Religion
India is the birthplace of two of the world's major relgions, Hinduism and Budhism. Virtually all the major faiths are represented in India and indians are by nature generally very spiritual [and also religious] - they show respect to all symbols of religions such as places of worship, shrines, images, and even religious gatherings.
Most temples allow people of any faith to enter, some even welcome visitors - however one remove their shoes before entry and be dressed appropriately. In some cases, such as in the case of a mosque, one must also wash their hands, and in the case of a Gurudwara, cover their heads with a scarf [both men and women].
Mosques as a rule do not allow entry to non muslims –there are exceptions though. Most temples are open for visitors with the exception of some- many temples will not allow leather articles such as shoes, belts and even clothing, into the temple.
As a rule assume that photography is not allowed at places of worship or religious gatherings and only consider taking pictures after clarifying with your tour guide or with the person in charge at the site.
Taking photographs of government buildings, security installations or offices, and other such places connected to the Government, Police or Army, is Not allowed.
Cuisine
The Indian cuisine boasts of an immense variety not restricted to only curry. An authentic Indian curry is an intricate combination of a stir-fried Masala - a mixture of onion, garlic, ginger, and tomatoes; various spices and seasonings with which meat; poultry, vegetables or fish is prepared to produce a stew-type dish. Note: the word Masala also means spice.
Food in India is wide ranging in variety, taste and flavour. Being so diverse geographically, each region has its own cuisine and style of preparation. Indian cuisine, renowned for its exotic gravies seems complicated for any newcomer. The Mughlai cuisine of North differs sharply from the preparations of the south. The Wazwan style of Kashmir is luxurious but the same can be said about Bengal's Macher Jhol, Rajasthan's Dal Bati, Uttar Pradesh's Kebabs and Punjab's Sarson Ka Saag and Makki di Roti. In India, recipes are handed down from generation to generation.
The unique and strong flavours in Indian cuisine are derived from spices, seasonings and nutritious ingredients such as leafy vegetables, grains, fruits, and legumes. Most of the spices used in Indian cooking were originally chosen thousands of years ago for their medicinal qualities and not for flavour. Many of them such as turmeric, cloves and cardamoms are very antiseptic, others like ginger, are carminative and good for the digestion. All curries are made using a wide variety of spices.
In Indian cuisine, food is categorized into six tastes - sweet, sour, salty, spicy, bitter and astringent. A well-balanced Indian meal contains all six tastes, not always can this be accomplished. This principle explains the use of numerous spice combinations and depth of flavour in Indian recipes. Side dishes and condiments like chutneys, curries, daals and Indian pickles contribute to and add to the overall flavour and texture of a meal and provide balance needed.
Arts & Culture
Classical Dance and music
in India traces its origins to Natya Shastra
Said to be written 2000 years ago by Bharata Muni - it is the seminal source book for dancers and performers. The mammoth book covers all technical and aesthetic aspects of
the art of the Indian Theatre and Dance.
From the purpose of natya, stage rituals, Rasa, Bhava, Abhinaya, gestic communication, music, types of instruments. 37 chapters that together form the nucleus of this fascinating performing art. Later century works
like Abhinaya Darpana, Abhinaya Chandrike, also have great relevance to the
dancer today.
Legend has it that the Devas (Gods) had vanquished the Asuras (Evil) and were relating the happenings to Brahma, the God of Creation. The Asuras thought this was a renewed attack and retaliated. Brahma intervened - "This is only a performance, hence forth it will only be held on earth".
And Brahma passed on all the information on Dance and Drama to Bharata Muni who compiled it as the Natya Shastra.
Sculpture Comes To Life
Temples were raised to the house the Gods and became the focal point for the community. They also became centres of learning and contributed to the advancement of such arts as sculpture, painting, music and dance. Mostly built by Kings, who were also the patrons of arts, encouraging a continuity and enriching rituals of worship, the earliest basis of the classical performing arts.
It was from the temple that the Devdasi cult (Temple Dancers who performed for the Lord) began. Once a practice countrywide - the Kulvantalu in Andhra Pradesh, the Maibi in Manipur, the Devdasi in Tamil Nadu and the Mahari in Orissa, all trace their roots to the temple. The countless sculptures of dance poses in the temples, hint at
the potency of dance as a path to spiritual exaltation and lays out a complete lexicon of dance techniques.
For instance, it is said that the greater part of vocabulary of Odissi dance is preserved in stone.
Indian folk and tribal dances are simple , and performed to express joy. Folk dances are performed for every possible occasion, to celebrate the arrival of seasons, birth
of a child, a wedding and festivals. The dances are extremely simple with minimum
of steps or movements. The dances burst with verve and vitality. Men and women perform some dances exclusively, while in some performances men and women
dance together. On most occasions, the dancers sing themselves, while being accompanied by artists on the instruments. Each form of dance has a specific costume. Most costumes are flamboyant with extensive jewels.
The northeast part
of the country is the home for over 60 tribes. Each tribe has its own range of tribal dances. The exciting dances of the Nagas and the Bihus of Assam, are performed
to celebrate spring and harvesting.
The chief folk dance of Gujarat, the Dandiya, is performed using sticks. Each performer holds two sticks, which they strike alternately to the right and left while
the group dances. They also move diagonally, clockwise, anti-clockwise, as they
strike the sticks.
The Bhangra dance of Punjab is performed by men, to the rhythm of the drum.
The dance includes a wide range of leaps and jumps. Dancers stand on each other's shoulder while dancing to the music.
There are hundreds of Indian folk and tribal dances. Each region of India has its own folk dance. Both men and women perform the bamboo dance of Mizoram. While the men hold the bamboo, the women folk
dance between the bamboo. In this performance, the sound of the bamboo hitting each other is the rhythm. Though dangerous if a rhythm is missed, these
experienced dancers perform with grace and with care.
In the south, the dummy horse dance or the Poikalkuthirai, is very famous. Dancers
fit dummy legs to their legs and dance to the tune of the music. Both men and
women perform this form of art. In Tamil Nadu, dancers place a karagam or a decorated jug, on their head and dance while balancing the karagam.
While there are numerous folk and tribal dances, they are constantly improved.
The skill and the imagination of the dances influence the performance.
Yoga & Wellness
Yoga is essentially a discipline that seeks to unite body, mind and spirit by raising self awareness of the body and an individual’s consciousness.
There are several forms of Yoga, namely:
- Hatha Yoga – based on physical postures known as “asanas” and involve stretching and relaxation and this form is usually the introduction to yoga though it it the only form mainly practiced in the west.
- Raja Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Jnana Yoga are other forms of yoga which focus on mental discipline, devotion and the seeking of a higher mental consciousness.
Yoga, and meditation, is widely practiced and taught in India though Rishikesh town, in UP state, is known as the center of Yoga. Ashrams usually also have regular yoga classes and meditation sessions.
Selected resorts and hotels also have in house Yoga instructors who give yoga lessons.
Ayurveda: Developed centuries ago, Ayurveda is a form of traditional Indian medicine, started and refined by sages who not only cured ailments but also stressed on prevention of disease by various means including eating a healthy diet and keeping the body fit.
In todays world, Ayurveda is especially useful due to it’s reliance on entirely natural means of treatment including medicines which contain little or no chemicals and are made of herbs and naturally occurring ingredients.
Ayurveda and specialised massage, especially available in South India, with medicinal oils are in some cases a powerful cure for certain ailments.
Wildlife in India
Famous for it’s elephants and Tigers, India’s wildlife is amazingly diverse and includes over 60000 fauna species, 340 types of mammal, over 1000 types of birds and 2000 fish species.
India also has wild Lions, which means this is the only country on earth where you can see both “ kings of the Jungle”, the tiger and the lion. See more on India's National Parks
