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Services : Tourism : Heritage and Culture |
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Indian civilization dates some 2,500 years. It is the land where one finds continuity in culture since the prehistoric times to date. This ancient oriental civilization holds a prominent place among historical destinations of world. India has been and remains a cauldron of various races, religions, languages and customs. This cultural diversity and continuity can be seen in innumerable sites. One can see the site where earliest civilization emerged or place where Buddha gave his first sermon. There are monuments like Taj Mahal, a poetry in stone; Ajanta-Ellora caves, a display of sublime emotions and artistic brilliance. Then, there are fusion style of architecture like the Agra fort, the Red Fort, Fatehpur Sikri etc. In a nutshell, India is a history book for any keen reader.
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| Historic Monuments |
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Some of the historic monuments are:
Taj Mahal- This monument is known world over as one of the seven wonders of world. Built in white marble by mughal emperor Shah jahan in the memory of his beloved queen Mumtaj-Mahal, Taj Mahal leaves every onlooker mesmerized. Taj’s workmanship is so exquisite that it’s said to be designed by giants and finished by jewelers.
Agra Fort- This beautiful monument built in 16th century is located near the majestic Taj-mahal. Built in red sandstone, this fort exemplifies grandeur and power of the great mughals. The fort is enclosed by 2.5 km long walls. Within this enclosure lies the imperial city of mughals with several palaces such as Jehangir Palace and Khas Mahal; audience halls like Diwan-e-khas and two very beautiful mosques.
Fateh-pur Sikri- This complex of several monuments near Agra was built by the great mughal emperor Akbar. This also served as Mughal capital for some 10 years. The complex contains many monuments and temples reflecting fusion of Hindu-Muslim style of art. It also contains one of the largest mosques in India - Jama Masjid.
Khajuraho- Khajurahu located in central India is a good example of medieval Indian art. The explicit sculptures depicting daily lives of people is exquisite. These temples were built by Chandela dynasty during 10-11th century. The architecture and sculpture are in perfect harmony here. The most notable is the temple of Kandariya with it’s masterpiece sculptures. Indeed a rare treat to eyes, heart and soul.
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Ajanta Caves- These rock cut caves located in Aurangabad district of Maharastra are famous for their beautiful paintings and sculptures. These caves date from as early as 2nd and 1st century B.C. till many centuries later to 4th-5th century. The paintings and sculptures here primarily depict Buddhism and its philosophy. There are Hindu god and goddesses as well in later paintings. Other than religion, daily life of people is the favourite theme of painters here. These paintings are so lively that one can live the moments expressed by them.
Ellora- This is a splendid example of rock cut architecture of India. The sculptures here belong to three principal religions of the time namely Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. These 34 caves covering an area of around one and half miles over the gentle slopes of Chamadari Hills date back from 5th to 10th century A.D. The grandeur of these sculptures is so awe-inspiring that everything seems to pale in their comparison.
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| Famous Holy Shrines |
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Some of the famous holy shrines are:
Buddhist Monument of Sanchi- This magnificent site is located near Bhopal in central India. This comprises of a group of Buddhists monuments namely monolithic pillars palaces, temples and monastries. This site was build during 2nd and 1st century B.C. and is the oldest Buddhist sanctuary in existence.
Churches and Convents of Goa- Goa is not just important as abeach destination, it also holds significance as a historial place. It was the former capital of Portuguese India, especially the church of Bom Jesus which contains the remains of St. Francis Xavier is significant as it exemplifies evangelization of Asia. These monuments are important not only for their unique architectural style: the baroque or the ornate altars, but more so as they brought in Christianity and European cultures into lives of people which continues to be important part of Goan social fabric.
Sun Temple- Located in Bay of Bengal, shone by the brilliance of sunshine, it is a magnificent representation of sun god Surya’s chariot. The chariot consists of 24 gigantic wheels decorated by symbolic design and it is led by 6 horses. This temple built in 13th century is a famous Hindu temple.
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Elephanta Cave- These caves are located in an island near Bombay. It contains rock art dedicated to Hindu lord Shiva. The majestic reliefs of caves especially the main cave is a true reflection of Indian art and architecture.
Hampi-
Hampi was the capital of last great Hindu rulers of Vijayanagar Empire of southern India during the medieval times. These rich rulers built several temples and palaces in exclusive Dravidian style. Even though the site was ruined by Deccan Muslim confederacy which sounded a death knell to their empire, it continues to draw interest and is included in the list of World Heritage Sites.
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| Festivals and Fairs |
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Pushkar-
Dance music and colorful shops spring up during this fair. Also on sale are mouth-watering traditional delicacies. Colorfully attired village folk enhance the fun of the occasion. A host of cultural events are organized, including attractive puppet shows. Cattle auction and camel races are also a part of the festivities.
Kumbh- is a Hindu pilgrimage that occurs four times every twelve years and rotates among four locations: Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik. Each twelve year cycle includes one Maha Kumbh Mela (Great Kumbh Mela) at Allahabad, which is attended by millions of people, making it the largest gathering anywhere in the world. After visiting the Kumbh Mela of 1895, Mark Twain wrote:
"It is wonderful, the power of a faith like that, that can make multitudes upon multitudes of the old and weak and the young and frail enter without hesitation or complaint upon such incredible journeys and endure the resultant miseries without repining... No matter what the impulse is, the act born of it is beyond imagination marvelous to our kind of people, the cold whites."
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Holi- Holi or the festival of colours is a popular, Hindu spring festival, observed in North India and Nepal. On the first day, bonfires are lit at night to signify burning the demoness Holika. On the second day, people throw coloured powder and water at each other. A special drink called thandai is prepared, sometimes containing bhang (cannabis sativa). People invite each other to their houses for feasts and celebrations later in the evening.
Diwali- Diwali is the festival of lights, where the lights or lamps signify victory of good over the evil within every human being. It is a significant festival in Hinduism, Sikhism and Jainism. Many legends are associated with Diwali. |
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