The
eyes of a child so dark with a sense of wonder looking inquisitively out at
the real world of India. The eyes of a traveller looking back at the child
---- and slowly and beautifully the eyes meet with both feeling a surge of
love and awe spreading from their heart to their face. This is a scene that
plays itself out time and again as one travels through India. It isnt just
the children though ,all people you will meet open their hearts to the
friendly world traveller and bring a quick smile to ones face. Few places in the world have such a long standing history of acceptance. People from diverse religions and ethnic backgrounds live together in harmony - co existing on both a physical and spiritual level that astounds and mystifies the traveller. Why is this ?? The India of today is built upon the rich cultural and spiritual ideologies of ancient traditions that date back over 5000 years. Where does one look first to view this richness ?----- the vibrant colors that adorn the beautiful women, the music which is magical and stirs one deep in the soul. The art which conveys life,s great lessons in paintings,sculptures,textiles ,carpets,jewellery and the dance which is unique to the various regions and again helps tell the story of people and the Gods who have captured the imagination of rest of the world from time immemorial . India, periodically throughout history welcomed people from distant lands - like the Aryans , the Turks ,the Moughals ,they came ,they stayed and they became one with India. Thus these disparate peoples came to be part of Indian civilization and were,in a very real sense, conqured by the compassion and love recieved here.
So, what is your passion fellow traveller ? India is a diverse land that can easily fulfill your fondest dreams. Whether it is the majestic grandeur of the Himalayan mountains running through Arunachal,Sikkim,Garhwal,Himachal,Ladakh and Kashmir complemented with the blissful mountain culture. Or,the treasures of the Indo-Gangetic plain (Taj Mahal, Erotic Temples),or the diversity of India,s National Parks , some of which have wild elusive Bengal Tigers roaming the jungles and feasting on various species of deer. The kingdom of the Maharajas-Rajasthan and Gujarat - where the India,s rich customs,show their face daily-presenting a dynamic theatre where the play never ends,colorful costumes,arts and festivals --ones senses are overwhelmed with the best that India has to offer.The heritage hotels and gracious hosts is a delightful way of bring alive the bygone era. And lets not forget Delhi- a boisterous capital city that serves as a gateway to all of northern India .
SOUTH INDIA - India Original------- a different India within India, is manifest in each of its living temples, ancient rock cut caves ,typical cuisines and exotic sea foods,fragrances,authentic Dravadian people ,dance forms,martial arts, rolling hills of tea and coffee plantations, cool hillstations in the Nilgiris,spices and sandlwood ,housebaot cruise in the backwaters,festivals and ceremonies,fresh cocunut seaside drinks,chinese fishing nets,,coastal villages and those endless stretches of white sand palm fringed beaches overlooking the Arabian sea and Indian ocean. The world class resorts and retreats offer highest quality of hospitality and prides itself for wellness courses and traditional ayurveda health massages. All this put together conjures up an image of a perfect South Indian holiday.
The lesser known regions of Arunachal Pradesh,Orissa and Chhattisgarh offer great oppurtunity for eco-ethnic study tours that focus on tribal people,their heritage and their way of life in their own natural surroundings far away from the so called modern world.Most of them are nature worshipers.
India, sometimes gives you the first hand taste of organised chaos -and yet if one relaxes and allows India to flow around you and you somehow adjust and flow with India ,the experiancing of travelling here in this vibrant land will surely leave you feeling rich and well rewarded.