Heritage India

Modhera sun temple

2010-07-24T07:05:00.000-07:00

Modhera sun temple is mainly dedicated to the Sun God of Hinduism, Lord Surya. It is situated on the bank of the river Pushpavati, it is 10 km from Ahmedabad and 25km from Mehsana. Modhera sun temple was built by King Bhimdev of the Solanki dynasty in 1026 A.D. Solankies were regarded as Suryavanshis, the descendants of Lord Surya.Previously, Modhera sun temple was under the control of of Mahmud Ghazni.

Soalnkis regained their power after a fierce battle. Anahilvad(Solanki Capital), was restored to glory. Modhera sun temple is regarded as one of the most remarkable heritage places in India. This beautiful temple is designed and created in such a way that the first rays of the sun fell on the image of Surya.Its architectural beauty is quite mesmerising.

Modhera sun temple is very popular for its outstanding architectural skills.It is famous for its unique architecture in all over the world.The temple consists of three main elements:

* A stepped tank named after Sun god Surya called Surya Kund.
* A hall used for conferences and religious gatherings called Sabha Mandap.
* The main temple is called Guda Mandap, it once housed the idol of Sun God.

Red Fort or Lal Quila

2010-05-18T23:08:00.000-07:00

Delhi's most important monument, in fact our capital is most described by this and is proudly standing since centuries most spectacular monument called Red Fort or Lal Quila, this most important and rich heritage of India was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century, Red Fort is has got its place on massive expanse of land.

It is surrounded by 2 kilometers long walls, Lal Quila has so manybuildings that are located in its premises, they extend from halls and palaces to apartments and gardens, if you want to enter Red Fort then the main entrance is from Lahori Gate, you will come across a bazaar that sells so many paintings, carpets and jwellery it is called as Meena Bazaar.

Diwan-I-Aam is the hall for public audiences and has got its place in the boundaries of fort , the place where ruler used to solve the problems of people and he was supposed to be seated on a marble pinnacle, and the place where private meetings would be conducted by the king, and most renowned and world famous Peacock throne has got its place in the center.

Red fort has got the place of colours that is also known as the name of Rang Mahal, here the wives of Kings and mistresses stay, the other beautiful structures are Pearl Mosque, that was used for Aurangzeb, the great Mughal Emperor personally, at red fort there are various special light and sound shows take place for public. This monument speaks about India's glory.

Tirupati Balaji Temple,

2010-03-25T03:57:00.000-07:00

The most famous temple of India, Tirupati Balaji Temple, is having great significance in the country, there are devotees from all over the world, and it is one of the most important Hindu Pilgrimage.

Tirupati Balaji Temple is located in Chittor district of Andra Pradesh, located on the Venkatam Hill, it is said that it is hill of Lord Vishnu, and it is one of the richest temple of the country.

Enjoy the rich culture and tradition : Visit to the world famous shrine of lord Venkateswar is full of cultural and religious celebration. Worshiping before the holy figure of lord Venkateswar lets one witness the rich South Indian culture and rich traditions.

Temple sightseeing : Besides the main temple of lord Venkateswar, there are several other temples like Papavinasanam, Vaikuntha Tirtham and Tumburu Tirtham famous for its architectural excellence and high religious significance.

Shopping : Series of shops selling handicrafts items await you once you are over with temple sightseeing. Better, you walk to Lepakshi Emporium, famous for selling handicrafts amenities at reasonable price.

Festivals : Everyday the temple gets exalted with some short of festival. Brahmotsavam, the 9-days annual festival of the temple is the best time to visit the temple as the whole town is lost in sacred touch of divinity.

Nalanda

2010-03-20T05:36:00.000-07:00

Nalanda was eatablished in 5 century AD; university remained a center of almost 800 years.The remnants of Nalanda university is located just 90 Km away from Patna. The site of this ancient university is now preserved by the Archaeological Survey of India. Other than the site of this university you will also visit other places of interest like Hieun Tsang Memorial Hall, Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, The Nalanda Archaeological Museum and Surajpur Baragon.

Nalanda was a very famous Buddhist site of learning, though it was basically a Buddhist center of learning but this university imparted education on many topics. This university also imparts education on Vedas, grammar, logic, rhetoric, meta-physics, prose composition, medicine and yoga. It is believed that the two all time great men of the world, Lord Buddha and Mahavira preached their lessons in this university.

Nalanda University had a very big library. This library had a huge collection of 9 million books. The remains of this university are scattered in area of whopping 14 acres. In the modern time a very large part of the site of the university has been excavated but still a large section of the remnants of this university has remained unexplored. Historical evidences have proved that this university was the home of 10,000 students with 2,000 teachers who taught them.

The famous Chinese traveler Hieun Tsang visited this university. He stayed in this university for a period of 12 years. In his memoirs this famous Chinese traveler has given an account of his days in the Nalanda University.

Devigarh

2010-03-18T06:04:00.000-07:00

Devigarh is a fort palace nested in the old Aravali Hills of Rajasthan. It is an 18th Century Fort in the village of Delwara. This Fort forms one of the three main passes into the valley of Udaipur.

The city has a rich cultural heritage and offers abundant scope for sight seeing. The village of Delwara, which houses the Devigarh Fort takes pride in housing four 14th Century Jain temples. It is a 450 year old village and consists of Muslims, Jains, Rajput and tribal people.

Devigarh has a good transportation network and is about 45 minutes drive from Udaipur. Udaipur has road, rail and air network with all major cities in India. Besides, the Fort Hotel at Devigarh provides accommodation at luxury.

Touristplacesinindia.com is an international travel site and a repository of useful information about Devigarh and on other related information about the city.

Mahabalipuram

2010-03-16T06:17:00.000-07:00

Mahabalipuram is located on the Coromadal Coast facing Bay of Bengal and it is recognized by in all over the country for is monolithic structure. Mahabalipuram is also famous for its rich heritage and culture that draw a large number of tourists from various parts of the country. Its has a finest monuments and temples those are monolithic, apart from beautiful beaches.

There are number of this which are famous in the Mahabalipuram and the most famous thing is its sculpture, its buildings which are beautifully designed. Hence, the most prominent attraction of Mahabalipuram is the unique relief work that depicts various themes from the famous Indian legends. There are many beautiful temples, which are beautifully designed; its sculptures are the major attraction. There are many places, which you can explore in the city and outside the city. There are some places, which are worth paying like Crocodile Bank, Vedanthagal, Covelong, Muttukadu.

Due to the growth of tourist in Mahabalipuram, there is a facility of decent hotels, resorts to stay in the city and there is good transportation for the convenience of tourist from which they can easily rome around the city and have a fun of surrounding.

Ajmer

2009-12-30T22:25:00.000-08:00

Ajmer the land of composite culture was founded by Dushyant Chauhan in the 7th Century A.D. and till 1193 A.D., it remained to be a major center of the Chauhan power. Today, Ajmer is a popular pilgrimage center for the Hindus as well as Muslims.

The Dargah:

Situated at the foot of a barren hill, Sufi saint Khawaja Moinuddin Chisti's Dargah is India’s most important pilgrimage center for people from all faiths.

Shahjahan’s Mosque:

This is located in the corner of the inner court of the Dargah. It is a magnificent building designed in white marble with a long and narrow court having low arcade and delicate carvings with trellis-work.

The Museum:

Once the royal residence of Emperor Akbar, houses a rich repository of the Mughal and Rajput armour and exquisite sculptures.

Adhai-din-ka-jhonpra:

This is a remarkable structure, a great masterpiece of Indo-Islamic architecture located on the outskirts, of the city, just beyond the Dargah.

Pushkar Lake:

Pushkar lake is 11 km away from Ajmer. It is believed that, this lake was created by Brahma.

Pushkar Fair:

Millions of pilgrims gather at the lake during the annual cattle fair. Clothes, household items and leather goods all are available in the fair.

Man Mahal:

By the banks of the Pushkar Lake there is the former residence of Raja Man Singh of Amer, Man Mahal which is now converted to RTDC Sarover Tourist Bungalow.

Approachable by all means Ajmer is yet another place that showcases it's cultural heritage. India is a colourful and vibrant land which is a blend of various faiths, cultures, customs and languages that form a composite whole. Today in the 21st century India is carving a niche for itself.

Karnataka The Elevated Land

2009-12-15T02:09:00.000-08:00

Karnataka has a rich cultural heritage. Also called as 'Elevated Land' Karnataka is the lineage of Indian rulers like Mauryas, Chalukyas, The Hoysalas. Diverse religion and languages had contributed a lot in its ethnic grandness.

Karnataka which is a home of various Kodavas, Konkanis, and Tuluvas tribes encompass huge amount of majestic festivals, music, drama and royal cuisine.

Hampi Festival: It is celebrated in the remembrance of the aura of Vijaygarh kings. The festival is celebrated in the month of November.

Tula Sankramana: Also known as theerthodbhava is celebrated in the month of October.

Vairamudi Festival, Pattadakkal, Holi, Makar Sankranti, Dusshera , Diwali, Kambala also called as Buffalo Race, Hoysala Mahotsava are celebrated in full frolic and vivacity.

The culture of Karnataka can be revealed in the form of music and dance. Karnataka patronizes Bharatanatyam, the great dance style of South India. Karnataka's richness in culture and tradition, is famous for it's excellent amenities.

Education is given a place of priority by the people of Karnataka. Classical Folk Theatre Yakshagana is very famous for its classical folk theatre Yakshagana.

The contribution of Karnataka to the diversified culture of India is no less deficient to that of any other states of India. Its contribution in the fields of art, music, religion and philosophy are just awesome. The rich heritage of culture of Karnataka makes an ideal tourist spot.

Blend of cultures Madhya Pradesh

2009-12-09T03:06:00.000-08:00

Madhya Pradesh showcases many different flavours of tradition and culture. The state is a home to people who follow the major religions of India. Apart from them, numerous colourful tribes makes a great cultural collage of the state.

The culture of Madhya Pradesh is a blend of Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Jains, Christians and Sikhs. The tribal communities of Madhya Pradesh comprises of different tribes like Bhils, Gonds, Oraons, Kols, Bhilalas, Murias and Korkens, etc. Go through this article to get a glimpse of the cultural heritage of Madhya Pradesh. The tribal people live in hills and forests.

Madhya Pradesh became an Indian state in 1956. The modern-day Madhya Pradesh came into being in the year 2000. The state is not only the geographic heart of India, but is also termed as the cultural and religious crux of the country.

Hindi is the official language of the state. Other languages spoken are Urdu, Marathi, Sindhi, Punjabi,Gujrati etc. This state is a land that enjoys all the major religions of India. In fact, the state also upholds term 'Unity in Diversity'. Madhya Pradesh can be termed as a cultural museum of India too.

The place is blending it's indigenous cultures to its large melting pot.

India rich in cultural heritage

2009-12-04T21:29:00.000-08:00

India since ages is a real delight for it's tourists. Number of tourists visiting India is rising day by day. Tourists come to India to know it better for its wealth of sights, cultural heritage, diversity of terrain.

If you really want to discover the real splendor of India tourism, then places like Taj Mahal, Ajanta and Ellora Caves, Forts and Palaces of Rajasthan, Kerala are the best choices to explore it's cultural heritage.

Likewise, sacred destinations like Golden Temple, Konark temple, Khajuraho etc are the best places for those tourists who want to make a holy visit in India.

Experience and uncover the enchanting splendor of India and learn more about it's festivals like Holi, Diwali, Christmas, Christmas, etc. to get a glimpse of celebrations made by Indian people during these colorful festivals.

Cultural Heritage Of Chandigarh

2009-12-01T01:44:00.000-08:00

Indian culture has been generally marked as a blend of a wide variety of cultures from across the world. Chandigarh is one of most well-planned cities in India, which was designed by the renowned architect, Le Corbusier. The rich culture of the city stands on the multi-ethnic population.

Chandigarh which is a land of fairs and festivals observe people celebrating Baisakhi, Gurpurab, Holla Mohalla, Lohri, Tika, Karva Chauth, Raksha Bandhan, Dusshera and Diwali with great zeal and enthusiasm.

Chandigarh cuisine offers an exquisite epicurean experience. The traditional cuisine of the place consists of typical Punjabi food, which is spicy and crunchy. The people here are very fond of desserts too.

The majority of people here in Chandigarh are Hindus and Sikhs, you can also find population of Jains, Muslims, Christians, etc here. Sikhism and Hinduism are the major religions followed in the city. Other than this religions like Islam, Christianity, Jainism and Buddhism, also flourish in the city.

Chandigarh has a rich tradition of folk dances. Bhangra, Giddha, Jhumar, Luddi, Julli, Dhamal, Sammi, Jaago, Teeyan, Dankara, Kikili and Gatka are some of the popular folk dances of the city.

Beauty lies in the eyes of beholder. Culture defines itself as a social scheme of shared notions, values, rituals and behaviour patterns that are practiced within a community. So lets discover the cultural heritage of this city.....

Allahabad

2009-11-27T03:20:00.000-08:00

Allahabad one of the largest cities of the State of Uttar Pradesh in India. Popularly known as the Prayag City, Allahabad located in the state of Uttar Pradesh is situated at the convergence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers.

The fast developing cities in Uttar Pradesh is a well known historical city which is known for a rich historical heritage and culture. Like most parts of North India, the climate of Allahabad is mostly hot during summers and pretty cold during winters.

The climate in the city mainly remains dry all over the year. The ideal time for coming to Allahabad is between the months of October and March.

There are plenty of tourist attractions in Allahabad which are known for their historical and cultural significance. Allahabad Planetarium, Allahabad Museum, New Yamuna Bridge, Allahabad University, Patthar Girja, Allahabad High Court, Shivkoti Mahadev Temple, Allahabad Fort, Someshwar Mahadev Temple, Patalpuri Temple, Khusro bagh and Dashaswamedh Temple are the major attractions of the city.

Expore the cultural heritage of Allahabad and have fun....

Cultural Heritage Of Kerala

2009-11-23T23:25:00.000-08:00

Located in southwestern India Kerala have a unique culture that has made itself a popular tourists place around the world. Formed in the year 1956, Kerala has 14 districts and Thiruvananthapuram is it's capital.

Most of the dance forms in Kerala are performed in connection with harvests, festivals etc. There are more than 50 well-known folk dances in Kerela. Some of the most popular ones are Kaliyattom, Mudiyettu, Kolam Thullal, Padayani, Kolkali, Parichamuttukali, Thappukali, Kuravarkali and Thiruvathirakali.

The festivals of Kerala have a big traditional history behind them. Onam, Vishu, Navaratri, Aaranmula Boat Race, Cochin Carnival, Sabarimala Festival , Malabar Mahotsavam, Aarattu, Jagannatha Festival, Thirunakara Festival , Vettukadu Perunal are some of the popular festivals of Kerala.

Cultural heritage of Kerala can be very well revealed with it's massive forts, temples, mosques, churches etc. The massive forts that showcase the fine architecture of Kerala are Pallippuram Fort, Palakkad Fort, St. Angelo's Fort, Bakel Fort, Dutch Palace.

Kerala also came in close contact with Islam. The mosques in the state are generally covered structure, with walls constructed of laterite blocks, that comprises of a large prayer hall in the centre with covered verandhas on all the sides. Charachira Jama Masjid, Nainar Mosque, Kanjiramattom Mosque, Cheraman Jama Masjid, Odathil Mosque, Malik Dinar Mosque attract pilgrims from all over the country.

St. Mary's Church, Cheriapalli, St. Mary's Church, Manarcad, St. George's Church, Puthupalli, St. Thomas Mount, St. Joseph's Monastery, Mannanam are few of the famous churches of Kerala.

The exotic cuisine of Kerala offers the most delicious and mouth watering foods on earth. Kerala is rich in coconut and fish. Chillies, curry leaf, mustard seed, tamarind and asafoetida are important ingredients for every dish.

This tranquil state is a tropical paradise of waving palms and wide sandy beaches with rich cultural heritage.

Cultural Heritage Of Orissa

2009-11-19T23:10:00.000-08:00

Located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal, Orissa is the modern name of ancient republican nation of Kalinga. The cyclone prone state in India has a beautiful cultural heritage that comes out in a great form of handicraft items and amazing folk dances.

Orissa has a distinctive cooking style which is the major part of the heritage. Both sun-dried and par-bolied rice is the staple food of the people. Rice is used in almost every dish. Non-vegetarian food is also included in the diet of the Oriya people.

Handicrafts of Orissa are filled with wide variety of arts and crafts in the state is that it has witnessed the rule of many rulers. When the talk is about the folk performances of India, Oriya dances truly deserve a special mention. Orissa has a rich cultural heritage in terms of music and dance.

Some of the famous folk dances of the state are Kathi Nacha (Stick Dance), Medha Nacha (Mask Dance), Naga Nacha (Snake Dance),Sakhi Nacha or Kandhei (Puppet Dance), Ghumra Nacha, Mahari Nacha, Jatra Nacha (Folk Theatre), etc.

Orissa being the major musical centers of South India, comprises of Odissi music which is a combination of four distinctive kinds of music, namely, Chitrapada, Dhruvapada, Panchal and Chitrakala.

The official language of Orissa is Oriya, which is spoken by approximatlely 84 percent of the population. It is also one of the most prominent and one of the oldest languages of India.

The other major languages spoken in the state are Hindi, Urdu, Bengali and Telugu. English language is spoken only by a few literate people in Orissa.

Orissa has been inhabited by several tribal people. It is a combination of nearly 62 distinctive tribal groups. Orissa is a great combination of religions that consists Islam, Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism, Vaisnavism, and Saivism etc.

So get ready to know more about the state and have lots of fun !!!!

Cultural Heritage of Punjab

2009-11-17T03:20:00.000-08:00

Punjab has a long history and rich cultural heritage. Approximately, 92.2 percent of Punjabi is spoken in Indian Punjab. The Vedic and the later Epic periods of the Punjab were socially and culturally the most creative.

Let's have a look at the few important aspects of cultural heritage of Punjab-

Folk Dances-

Bhangra Dance- Originated in the Western Punjab, Bhangra season starts with the wheat sowing. The dancers move around the 'dhol' drummer in a circle. Colourful clothes that mainly consists of flowing turbans, chadra (covering for the lower body) and long kurtas (shirts) and waistcoats make it a very attractive dance to watch. The Bhangra season concludes with the Baisakhi fair when the wheat is harvested.

Giddha which is the another form of folk dance is performed during family and festive occasions. It has almost the same intensity as Bhangra. In Giddha, women translate bolian-verses into gestures. The movement of the feet is very quick with the high tempo. The embroidered 'duppattas' and heavy jewellery of the people further exaggerate the movements.

Jhumar, originally from Sandalbar (now in Pakistan), has become very much a part of Punjab's folk heritage. This is a graceful dance based on a Jhumar rhythm. Dancers circle around the drummer and sing graceful lyrics as they dance. Jhumar is performed exclusively by men.

Luddi is a male dance of Punjab to celebrate a victory in any field. Only a loose shirt and a loincloth are used as the dress code. Some tie turbans, others tie a Patkas, which resumbles a scarf across the forehead.

Kikli- This is generally popular with the younger girls. The girls form pairs, crossing their arms, hold each other`s hands and whirl around singing folk songs.

Talking about the Punjabi cuisine, the Punjabis cook rice only on special occasions. Rice is eaten with the added flavours of cumin or fried onions with Rajma or Kadhi. In winter rice is cooked with jaggary known as gurwala chawal or with peas called matarwale chawal or as a delicacy called Rao Ki Kheer which, is rice cooked on very slow flame for hours together with sugar cane juice.

Mah ki Dal, Sarson Ka Saag and Makkee Ki Roti, is the major food of Punjab since years. Meat curry like Roghan Josh and stuffed parathas and the main masala in a Punjabi dish consists of onion, garlic, ginger and a lot of tomatoes fried in pure ghee.

Punjab is a blend of many communities and cultures.

Cultural heritage of Silicon Valley of India

2009-11-13T01:16:00.000-08:00

Bangalore or Bengaluru is very well known for it's rich cultural heritage and industrial accomplishments. Bangalore which has already acquired the status of the IT Capital has a fusion of the old and the new culture.

Arts and Crafts consists of elite bungalows and impressive palaces. The interiors of these bungalows are adorned with arts and crafts, whose beauty cannot be described in words.

Bangalore languages comprise of all the languages spoken in the state of Karnataka. The major launguage of Bangaloreans is Kannad. Apart from Kannad, English is also quite widely spoken here.

People belonging to various religions, castes and communities live here. Hinduism is one of the major religions of Bangalore. The major economic hub and the fastest growing major metropolis in India, Bangalore enjoys a moderate type of climate throughout the year.

Visit the Silicon Valley of India and explore more about it's cultural heritage.

Udaipur

2009-11-10T00:26:00.000-08:00

Udaipur the city of lakes is situated in the state of Rajasthan in western India. Udaipur has been favourite place of the Rajputs. This beautiful city has received a rich cultural heritage from the bygone age.

having tropical climate the city has adopted the life style of big cities; still it becomes necessary for you to know more about the cultural heritage of the city. Udaipur receives ample number of tourists from all over the world every year.

Festivals and fairs depicts the cultural prosperity of Udaipur. The lakes, temples, forts and palaces boast about the rich heritage of this city. Let's here discover about the people, cuisine, language, religion, folk dance and music of Udaipur.

Dominated by Jainism and Vaishnavism, Udaipur cuisine mainly comprises of vegetarian dishes. Food is usually made from lots of vegetables and lentils, seasoned with a great variety of spices. Delicious food like dried mango i.e. 'Ocra' and beans of 'sangri' is accompanied by many meals.

Dressed up in typical Rajsthani dress, the Bhil tribe loaded with loads of silver jewelry welcomes you with all love and affection. The traditional attire of women is ghaghra choli or skirt and blouse and for men, angrakha or Kurta and dhoti would do.

In order to communicate, Mewari is the primary language of Udaipur, yet Rajasthani, Hindi and English are also common in the city. Other than following Jainism on high note, rest of the religions include Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism and Christianity.

Udaipur would never let down the dance and music lovers. The dances that are famous all over Rajasthan of Udaipur are Bhavai, Ghoomar, Kachhi Ghodi, Kalbeliya and Terahtaali.

Dance of Dandi Gair is associated with Marwar and hence with Udaipur. Talking about music, Morchang, Naad, Tanpura, Sarangi and many other instruments are used to echo the courts of Mewar rulers.

Visit Udaipur to explore more about it's cultural heritage !!!

Treasure Trove country India

2009-11-06T21:33:00.000-08:00

India is a rich cultural heritage country in the world. Rich with musical, culinary and handicraft traditions from generations to generations several cultural tours organised in India help people to discover India's facets .

The cultural tour packages of North India takes you to the periodic eras of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. The historical monuments at various places in India very well showcases the deep-rooted culture and tradition within India.

The festivals and fairs in Rajasthan, Goa and Kerala are the major attractions that bring out the real picture of India's culture. The Gangaur festival, Pushkar festival, International Kite Festival, Camel fair etc in Rajasthan; Carnival in Goa; Holi in Madhya Pradesh; Ganesh Chaturthi in Maharashtra; Elephant festival, Boat carnival and Onam in Kerala etc compelte your cultural odyssey in India.

The Taj Mahotsav that is celebrated in Agra, the Khajuraho Festival in Khajuraho, the Konark Festival in Konark, etc in India are the cultural festivals that make a deep impact on every mind.

India welcomes you to tour the breathtaking places to explore the culture and traditions of India.

Tamil Nadu

2009-11-03T00:00:00.000-08:00

Tamil Nadu has a great cultural heritage that evolved through the rule of dynasties that ruled the state during various phases of history. However, Tamil Nadu is one of the most urbanized states of India but most of the people still live in villages.

In Tamil Nadu, there is an established caste system with traditional differentiations a lot more pronounced than in many other parts of India. About 80 percent of the people living in Tamil Nadu follow Hinduism and substantial percentage of population follows Christianity and Islam.

The main language spoke in Tamil Nadu state is Tamil is rich heritage of literature and one of the 18 languages mentioned in the eighth schedule of the Indian constitution. Besides Tamil Nadu, Tamil is also spoken by a number of people in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Mauritius and Malaysia.

The cultural heritage of Tamil nadu can be well depicted with it's religion. The main religions in Tamilnadu are Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and Jainism. Cuisines also in a or other helps to explore the culture heritage of the place. Like all other South Indian states, Tamil Nadu is also known for a wide variety of delicious food both for the vegetarians as well as the non-vegetarians.

Some of the most common and popular dishes of Tamil Nadu are idly, dosai, vada, pongal and Uppuma. Coconut chutney and sambhar form a part of most of the Tamil dishes. Tamil Nadu which is rich in it's tradition of heritage and culture still continues to flourish.

Kolkata the cultural capital of India

2009-10-30T02:14:00.000-07:00

Kolkata is very well known for its literary, artistic and revolutionary heritage. Kolkata which was the former capital of India was considered as the birthplace of modern Indian literary and artistic thought. Kolkata has often been called as the cultural capital of India.

Kolkata has many buildings adorned with Gothic, Baroque, Roman, Oriental and Indo-Islamic motifs. The Indian Museum that was established in 1814 is the oldest museum in Asia and houses vast collection of Indian natural history and Indian art.

Kolkata's cuisine include rice and fish curry, with rasagolla, sandesh and mishti doi i.e.sweet yoghurt that is a dessert. Street foods includes dishes like fried battered eggplant slices, flatbread roll with vegetable or chicken, mutton, or egg stuffing, deep fried crepe that is also addressed as phuchka with tamarind and lentil sauce and Chinese food from China Town in the eastern parts of the city are quite popular.

Durga Puja is the most important and the most glamourous event in Kolkata that in a way shows the cultural heritage of Kolkata. Other notable festivals that are celebrated with pomp and show are Jagaddhatri Puja, Diwali, Eid, Holi, Christmas, poila boishak (new year), Saraswati puja, Rath Yatra and Poush parbon (harvest festival).

Book Fair, Dover Lane music festival, Kolkata Film Festival and National Theatre Festival are the cultural festivals of Kolkata. Mostly appreciated for Indian classical music as well as Bengali folk music, the city is also rich in literary traditions.

Explore the cultural heritage of Kolkata and get soaked in the festivals, traditions and culture of the city.

Chittaurgarh Fort

2009-10-27T21:56:00.000-07:00

Rajasthan which is considered as the land of royals, has a past that is rich in heritage. Forts in Rajasthan are it's identity. Every city of Rajasthan has forts be it Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur, Jodhpur or Bikaner.

Chittaurgarh reveals the real pride and glory of Rajasthan in the form of its various forts and monuments. Chittaurgarh is a ruined citadel where the royal past lives in the imposing forts, graceful palaces and spectacular chhatris. The entire Chittaurgarh echoes with the tales of romance and valor which is very much unique to the Rajput tradition.

The fort is located on a hill that dominates the modern township of Chittor. The fort was sacked three times between 15th century and 16th century. Each time the men fought bravely rushing out of the fort walls charging the enemy but lost every time. The fort has seven gates, the Padan Pol, Bhairon Pol, Hanuman Pol, Ganesh Pol, Jodla Pol, Laxman Pol and the main entry gate of Ram Pol.

Main attractions of this fort are-

Kirti Stambh which is a seven-storied structure with a cramped stairway of 54 steps.

Vijay Stambh is also called as the Victory Tower. This tower can even be seen from the town, which is located below the fort. The tower was built around the 15th century AD.

Sammidheshwara Temple is near this tower. Gaumukh reservoir and the palace of Queen Padmini are important spots to the south of the Rana Kumbha Palace.

The fort with its impressive location and colourful history is the main source of attraction in Chittor town.

Dunagiri- Heritage Destination

2009-10-23T03:45:00.000-07:00

Dunagiri is an historic area in the Indian hill state of Uttarakhand. Dunagiri is 250 miles away from Delhi. Dunagiri is a mixture of six small villages. Dunagiri is also a living example for the cultural heritage of India as it has been regularly visited by Rishi-Munis of India who established their ashrams here in the midst of nature.

Dunagiri’s Cultural Heritage tours will amaze the tourists in a richly layered experience, at the same time tourists can explore the beauty of nature, history, culture, people and places of India. Surrounded with mountain belt, Dunagiri leaves you thrilled with the pristine, tranquil and calm environment.

An experience like no other, Dunagiri Cultural Heritage tour will take you direct on a journey that is really relaxing for your mind, body and soul, which will stay with you forever. Dunagiri is a heaven itself.

Hinduism

2009-10-23T01:04:00.000-07:00

The very rich and complex religion Hinduism is known as the oldest living religion or the oldest living major tradition in India. This is the world's third largest religion after Christianity and Islam.

Also known as "Sanatan Dharma" or the everlasting religion Hinduism is mainly based on the concept that human and animal spirits come back to earth to live many times in different forms. The Hindu culture is a combination of love, respect, honor.

According to Hindu religion a person is born into the higher class because he or she must have done good deeds in past life whereas a person taking birth into poverty and shame because of misdeeds in past life. Hinduism believes in the concepts of reincarnation, the caste system, merging with Brahman, finding morality, and reaching Nirvana which means the peaceful escape from the cycle of reincarnation.

Hindu religion purely beliefs that the paths to salvation include rituals, devotion and the way of knowledge. Some popular Hindu deities include Durga, Krishna, Vishnu, Shiva, Ganesha, Hanuman, Kali, Murugan, Venkateshwara, Nataraja, Rama, and Lakshmi.

The main Hindu scriptures are Sruti (what is heard), Smriti (what is remembered) the Vedas, the Brahmanas, the Upanishads, the Puranas and epics. According to Hindu religion there are 330 million Gods worshipped in various Hindu traditions.

Srikalahasthi Temple

2009-10-22T02:41:00.000-07:00

Srikalahasthi is a small holy town which is also known as the Dakshin Kasi of India is situated in the state of Andhra Pradesh that is a tributary of pennar river. It is believed that Lord Shiva hailed in 12 different forms and the one here is called the Vayu Lingam which means hailing in the form of Air. The linga is in white color and is considered as Swayambhu.

The name of the Srikalahasthi comes from SRI - Spider , KALA- Snake and HASTHI which means Elephant. The whole beauty of animals worshiping can be seen on the shrine.

It is believed these three animals worshipped lord shiva and attained salvation. The main entrance to the temple is crowned with a smaller tower. The amazing architecture of this temple represents the Chola, Pallava, Pandya and Krishnadevaraya style of architecture.

Goddess Bramarambhika Devi who is said to bestow divya gyan to the devotees is the goddess of welfare and education. The Goddess Brahmarambhika holds a lotus flower in her hand which can be seen no where in india. This flower is considered as the symbol of Wisdom.

Srikalahasthi is also surrounded with number of places of interest:

Sri Kanaka Durga Temple which is situated on the hillock of the north of the temple.

Sri Subramanyaeshwara Swamy Temple is found on the hillock along the east side of the Srikalahasthi temple.

Sri Baktha Kannapa Temple is situated on the hillock along the south side of the mail temple.

Situated adjacent to the main temple is the Pancha Mukeshwara Temple.

Timings for darshan to this temple are every day morning 6.00 to night 8.00.

Devigarh Fort

2009-10-14T00:21:00.000-07:00

India is well established with the rich culture and traditions. The Indian culture helps to know more about Indian cultural heritage through fairs and festivals, arts and crafts, language and literature, Indian cuisine and diverse religions.

Devigarh is a fort palace which is situated in the old Aravali Hills of Rajasthan. Devigarh is an 18th century fort palace in the village of Delwara near Udaipur in Rajasthan. The city has a rich cultural heritage.

The village of Delwara, which comprises of the Devigarh Fort takes pride in housing four 14th Century Jain temples. It is a 450 year old village and consists of Muslims, Jains, Rajput and tribal people.

Devigarh palace is about 45 minutes drive from Udaipur and has good transportation networks. Udaipur has road, rail and air network with all major cities in India. The major attractions to Devigarh palace include:

Bapparawal which is a small lake which is about 3 km from Devigarh Fort.

Udaipur is about 40 minutes drive from Devigarh Fort and is one of the most beautiful cities in India.

Eklingji being a temple complex it consists of 108 temples made of sandstone and marble and is only 5 km away from Devigarh.

Ranakpur city is situated about 110 km from Devigarh has some of the beautiful Jain temples with excellent carvings that with no doubts depicts the beauty of Indian craftsmanship.

Nathdwara has a 18th Century Temple that is dedicated to Shti Nathji and Nathdwara is just 24 km away from Devigarh fort.

Nagda near Devigarh has a cluster of temples with stone carvings. It is situated about 6 km from Devigarh.

Devigarh fort palace has turned into a luxury hotel today and it gives a clear picture of the cultural heritage of Rajasthan.

Cultural heritage of City Of Nawabs

2009-10-06T23:41:00.000-07:00

Lucknow very well known as the City Of Nawabs is famous for its traditional cuisine, arts and people you will ever find in India. The Bara Imambara was built in the year 1784. The fourth Nawab of Awadh, Asaf-ud-Daula built this monument. The Bara Imambara of Lucknow is one of the most famous monuments whose central hall is said to be the largest arched hall in the world. The monument remains open from morning 6am to evening 5pm.

The famous historical landmark of Lucknow is the British Residency. Today, the British Residency of Lucknow serves as a government office. It also has a museum that is well-maintained by the authorities.

Chattar Manzil is a very famous tourist attraction which has been remodeled to serve as an office for the Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI).

The Jami Masjid is located in the heart of the city of Lucknow. The structure has a combination of Hindu and Muslim architecture.

The Rumi Darwaza of Lucknow is one of the most impressive architectural structures in India.

The culture of Lucknow is still very much alive and retains its old world charm even today. Lucknow is a wonderful place that can be visited just about anytime through the year. Best time to visit Lucknow is between October to March. Feel the touch of royal splendor that very well in it's own way reveals the heritage of the city.

Cultural Heritage Of Goa

2009-09-22T23:17:00.000-07:00

Goa is bounded with festivals and fairs around temples and churches which also commemorate eaily legends. They are the occasions when a Goan peasant manifests joy and happiness.

Bhandap is a traditional folk dance that is performed by the womenfolk of the scheduled tribe community. Corredinho-Portuguese Folk Dance is another peasant dance which is popular among Goan elite youth. Dekhm-Beauty dance is performed only by women and it displays a rare blend of Indian and Western rhythms.

Dhangar Dance is performed in Navratra days. Fugdi and Dhalo is a folk dance again performed by women. Ghode Modnr is 111 commemoration of the return of the Ranes after victories over the Portuguese in Bicholim and Satari Taluka.

Goans are very proud of their state but often lack firmness in dealing with issues related to government utilities, administrative corruption and horrendous government services. Religion is very important to the Goans. Let it be Catholic, Hindu or Muslim. Churches, Temples and Mosques will be found all around Goa.

India nominates 20 heritage specimens to UNESCO

2009-09-18T23:49:00.000-07:00

Twenty specimens of Intangible Cultural Heritage of India have been nominated by the country this year for the first time to UNESCO for recognition.

These very clearly include the Kolam ritual of Tamil Nadu, where designs are drawn on the porches of houses, Nacha folk dance of Chattisgharh, Chatriyam music of Assam, and Sankirtan dance of Manipur and the veena tradition.

The Ministry of Culture and the state governments this year made special efforts and have been able to put forward 20 nominations to UNESCO this year. Jawhar Sircar Secretary (Culture) said at present there are only three recognized heritage specimens Kutiyattam which is the famous Sanskrit Theatre of Kerala, the tradition of Vedic Chanting and Ramlila- the traditional performance of Ramayana, which have been included from India.

We hope that all the nominations would be given due recognition.

Classical dances reveals the cultural heritage of India

2009-09-15T04:38:00.000-07:00

Classical dances quiet clearly reveals the cultural heritage of India. In India each dance form will have its own specialty and grace, along with a set pattern of costumes and make-up.

These different form of classical dances set the true meaning to the glory of India.

Bharatanatyam is the most popular of Indian dances and belongs to the South Indian state of Tamil nadu.

It is believed that Chakiarkoothu dance was introduced to Kerala and is performed only by the members of the Chakiar caste. This is a highly orthodox type of dance which is staged inside temples only.

The Chhau dancer very well communicates the inner emotions and themes through cadences of body flexions, movements and kinetic suggestions.

Another classical dance form is Kathak where the themes of Krishna, Radha, Shiva, Parvati and mythological characters find a exact place.

Kathakali is a story play or a dance drama. Kathakali is limited to decorative dance movements.

Koodiyattam is the oldest surviving link with ancient Sanskrit theatre that is practised in Kerala. This dance form consists of some popular Sanskrit dramas like Ascharyachudamani of Shaktibadra, Subhadradhananjeyan of Kulasekara Varman, Abhisekha Nataka and Swapnavasavadatta of Bhasa, Kalyana Saugandhikam of Mahendra Vikrama and Bhagavadajjukiyam of Bodhayana.

Krishnattam presents eight successive nights that reveals the entire story of Lord Krishna, and the dance style is almost alike Kathakali.

Kuchipudi, like Kathakali is also a dance-drama tradition which derived it's name from the vilage of Kuchipudi in the Southern State of Andra Pradesh. The female roles are also enacted by men till date.

Manipuri dances are a part of the daily life of the Manipuri people. This dance is presented as a group dance with gorgeous, colourful costumes with soft movements.

Mohini Attam as a dance form has developed in Kerala. This dance form is performed by women. Mohini Attam follows the Bharatanatyam dance form.

Odissi is considered as the oldest classical Indian dance on the basis of archival evidence.

Ottan Thullal is performed solo and it is also known as the poor man's Kathakali.

Yaksha Gana belongs to Karnataka which has a rural origin. Its heart lies in Gana meaning music. It is about 400 years old.

Every part of a dance conveys some meaning in the graceful motion of a dancer. The various dance forms have also developed a particular form of make-up for the performance, which is a skill by itself. Each dance form and style have their own traditional patterns set down.

A heritage destination- Thousand Pillar Temple

2009-09-09T23:32:00.000-07:00

The Rice Bowl of India Andhra Pradesh is a blend of dances, delectable cuisine, ingenious arts and crafts, glorious religions, sculpture and wonderful people. Temples also play an important part in exploring the cultural heritage of the state.

Many grand stone temples still stand in South India. Apart from the main fixed stone deities, processional deities made up of gold, silver, copper, zinc and tin are bathed, dressed, decorated for various festivals throughout the year.

The richer the temple, the more elaborate the festivals. Temples also reveal the cultural heritage of South India as temples often vary in their appearance, rituals, traditions, festivals and customs from region to region.

Approximately 4 kms from Hanumakonda crossroad the Thousand Pillar Temple in Warangal district is located which is a fine specimen of architecture and sculpture. It is the main attraction of Hanamkonda. The temple was built by 'Rudra Devi' in 1163 AD.

The temple very well helps to reveal the South Indian culture and it is constructed in a star shaped design and has 3 shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva, Vishnu and Surya.

The temple is built on a 1 m. high platform on the slopes of the Hanumakonda hill and has a majestic monolithic Nandi. There are many small lingam shrines that surround the gardens.

The temple is famous for its richly carved pillars, screens and detailed sculpture. The culture of Andhra Pradesh is an integral part of the rich cultural heritage of the country. Come and worship to fulfil your dreams at Thousand Pillar Temple.

Tirupati Balaji Temple- Heritage Destination

2009-09-04T00:21:00.000-07:00

Hindu temples are large and magnificent with a rich history. The temples of Andhra Pradesh State not only consists of religious but also historic value and are rich in their cultural heritage.

Some of the famous temples in Andhra Pradesh, are Lepakshi Temple, Thousand Pillar Temple, Tirupati Temple, Srisailam Temple, Mukhalingam Temple, Jain Mandir, Chennakesava Temple, Gunupudi Someswara Temple, Chennakesavaswami Temple, etc are some of huge importance.

Tirupati Balaji Temple is one of the most visited temple of India and this temple is also of greater significance in the country. The Tirupati Balaji Temple is one of the most important Hindu pilgrimage centre that is mainly linked up with Hindu mythologies, the temple is famous for its historic shrine of lord Venkateswar.

This temple is located on the Venkatam Hill and the temple is one of the richest temples of the country. The main deity worshiped at the temple is lord Venkateswar or lord Balaji, who is believed to be the incarnation of lord Vishnu, one of the most revered Hindu god.

The architectural style adds more importance in the temple's glory. The 10 feet high standing figure of lord Venkateswar on a lotus pedestal embodies the best sculptural work. Worshiping before the holy figure of lord Venkateswar lets one witness the rich South Indian culture and rich traditions.

There are also several other temples like Papavinasanam, Vaikuntha Tirtham and Tumburu Tirtham famous for sightseeing. Come and make a wish.

Jainism Culture

2009-09-01T22:13:00.000-07:00

Jainism is an ancient religion of India and is rich in it's cultural heritage. Jainas, the followers of Jainism, are found all over India from ancient times. The Jainas strictly follow their religious practices in their daily lives.

That is why Jainism could survive in India for the last so many centuries. The Jainas, in this way, succeeded in continuing to exist as devout followers of a distinct religion in India. Jainism encourages spiritual development and self-control.

The main aim of Jainism is to realize the soul's true nature. Those who have attained moksha are called siddha liberated souls, and those who are attached to the world through their karma are called samsarin. Jain religion is unique and upholds nonviolence as the supreme religion and has insisted upon its observance in thought, word, and deed.

Vegetarianism is a way of life for a Jain. The practice of vegetarianism is seen as an instrument for the practice of nonviolence and peaceful, cooperative coexistence. Jains are strict vegetarians.

In their Namaskar Mantra Jains do not ask for any favors or material benefits from their Gods, the Tirthankaras or from monks and nuns. They do not pray to a specific Tirthankara or monk by name. By saluting them, Jains receive the inspiration from the five benevolent for the right path of true happiness and total freedom from the misery of life.

Indian dance and culture

2009-08-28T23:05:00.000-07:00

India cultural heritage is unique because of its diversity and variety in physical, religious, racial and artistic fields. In India religion is believed to be a way of life.

Many dances, theatrics and folklore are religious and based on Indian mythology and a person can very well understand the culture of India. Indian tradition of theatre is rich and comprises with the ancient rituals of the country.

Dance has played an important role in the birth of theatre. There are many kinds of folklore depending on certain content such as festival songs, work songs, marriage songs etc. Festival and religious songs are usually accompamied by a suitable dance form.

It is believed that Lord Brahma created Natyaveda. Sage Bharata who wrote Natya Shastra which is a great comprehensive work on the science and technique of Indian drama and through this medium, common man was presented with the Ithihasas, Puranas, and Mythology.

Himachal Pradesh and its culture

2009-08-25T22:23:00.000-07:00

Himachal Pradesh is a blend of several religions, culture as well as it is a multilingual state like other Indian states. Some of the most commonly spoken languages includes Hindi, Punjabi, Pahari, Dogri, Mandeali, Kangri and Kinnauri.

The Hindu communities living in Himachal Pradesh include the Brahmins, Rajputs, Kannets, Rathis and Kolis. Tribal population in the state comprises of Gaddis, Kinnars, Gujjars, Pangawals and Lahaulis. Their traditional dresses includes dhoti, kurta, coat, waistcoat, turban and a hand towel while that of the Rajput male consists of tight fitting churidar pyjamas, a long coat and a starched turban.

Himachal is well known for its handicrafts. Himachali caps are also famous art work of the people. Music and dance reflects the cultural heritage of the state. There are number of other fairs and festivals that play an important role to Himachal Pradesh.

Himachalis cuisine is very similar to the rest of the north India. Some of the specialities of Himachal food include Pateer, Chouck, Bhagjery and Til ki chutney.

The people of Himachal have rich cultural heritage and you must visit Himachal as to know more about their cultural and religious life.

Maharashtra's Culture

2009-08-21T04:10:00.000-07:00

Maharashtra boasts of a rich cultural heritage in India. Maharashtra is a blend of different races, traditions and classes. In Maharashtra, Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with as much enthusiasm as Diwali and Holi. The people of Maharashtra celebrate a large number of fairs and festivals through exploring its various dance forms. The most famous dance form of Maharashtra is Lavani.

Maharashtra is one of the geographically most diverse states in India. You will find Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Buddhist, Zoroastrians, Christians and Sikhs, co-existing peacefully in the state.

Maharashtra, with it's large population of inhabitants is the second most populous state in India. The large number of people that reside in the state belong to numerous religions and communities.

The important tourist centers in the state include Ajanta, Ellora, Elephanta, Kanheri and Karla caves, Mahabaleshwar, Matheran, Panchgani, Jawhar, Malshej Ghat, Amboli, Chikaldhara and Panhala hill resorts and various religious places.

Karva Chauth

2009-08-18T22:43:00.000-07:00

Festivals of India are the great essence of the Indian cultural heritage. Most religious festivals have elaborate prayers, traditions, customs and rituals attached to them. The colorful festivals are an integral part of every Indians. Karva Chauth is the most important festival for Indian woman.

The festival is celebrated nine days before Diwali around October-November. Married women, old and young, begin their fast on the day of Karva Chauth well before sunrise around 4 a.m. and fast for the whole day and pray for the long lives oftheir husbands.

On this ocassion women wear bright and beautiful clothes, don’t scrimmage on their jewellery, pamper themselves by buying bangles and apply henna on their palms and feet. The puja ends with the women showering rice and vermilion on Parvati and seeking her blessings for the well being of the husband and for marital bliss.

Traditional Indian Clothing

2009-08-15T00:15:00.000-07:00

Traditional Indian clothing has come into notice once again in India which is also a part of Indian cultural heritage. In this section lets talk about the traditional clothing that is prominent in Indian culture-

Dhoti kurta is the traditional Indian clothing of men. Dhoti is known by different names at different places such as Laacha in Punjabi, dhuti in Bangla.The term Kurta is used to refer to a long loose shirt, the length of which falls below or may be just above the knees. Now it can be weared by both men and women.

Salwar kameez is the traditional Indian clothing for women. The fashion of Shalwar Kameez is a wonderful attire that simply graces women beauty yet simplicity. Saree another traditional dress that is worn by Indian women.

Sherwani is a long coat resembling achkan in styling. It adds a real charm and grace to the men attire, especially the taller ones. Turban is tied a long piece of unstitched cloth, which is wrapped around the head.

The creative fashion designers of today are in a lookout for ethnic designs that take us close to our cultural roots and remind us of the glorious past.

Cultural Heritage of India

2009-08-10T21:52:00.000-07:00

India's culture is one of the oldest and unique. The South, North, and Northeast have their own distinct cultures and almost every state has carved out its own cultural niche.

There is hardly any culture in the world that is as varied and unique as India. India is home to some of the most ancient civilizations, including four major world religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism.

A combination of these factors has resulted into an exclusive culture- Indian culture. Indian culture is a composite mixture of varying styles and influences. In the matter of cuisine, for instance, the North and the South are totally different.

Festivals in India are characterized by color, gaiety, enthusiasm, prayers and rituals. In the realm of music, there are varieties of folk, popular, pop, and classical music. The classical tradition of music in India includes the Carnatic and the Hindustani music.

Languages in India

2009-08-09T22:16:00.000-07:00

The cultural heritage of India has its roots in the different components of culture i.e. musical heritage, dances, sculpturing and other fine arts, festivities, languages spoken, traditional beliefs and customs, food and many more like these.

Indian languages have evolved from different stocks and are closely associated with the different ethnic groups of India. Broadly the Indian languages can be put into six groups: Indo-Aryan, Dravidian, Sino-Tibetan, Negroid, Austric and Others. The number of languages listed for India is 418.

At present India has 18 officially recognised languages which are mentioned in the Eight Schedule of the Constitution. Hindi in the Devanagari script is the official language of the Union of India while the regional languages are the official languages of the state. English is the second official language and is also the authoritative, legislative and judicial language.

Indo-Aryan language is the most important family of Indian languages and comprises of all the principal languages of northern and western India such as Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Sindhi, Rajasthani, Assamese, Oriya, Pahari, Bihari, Kashmiri, Urdu and Sanskrit.

Dravidian is the second most important group and comprises mainly of languages spoken in the Southern India. The Sino-Tibetan or Mongoloid speech family has a considerably vast expanse in India and stretches all over the sub-Himalayan tracts, covering North Bihar, North Bengal, Assam up to the north-eastern frontiers of the country.

The Austric languages of India belong to the Austro-Asiatic sub-family. The most important language of the Austric group is Santhali, which is spoken by over 5 million Santhals and is the largest spoken among the Adivasi languages. Mundari, spoken by about a million Mundas, is another important language of this group. lastly if we talk about other languages, there are several Dravidian adivasi languages like Gondi, Oraon or Kurukh, Mal-Pahariya, Khond and Parji which are very distinct and cannot be classified in other groups.

Indian Cuisine-Another Cultural Heritage in india

2009-07-31T22:19:00.000-07:00

The spices are the very essence of Indian cuisine and these colorful ingredients are what bind the rich Indian culinary tradition together. Like Indian culture, Indian cuisine has also been influenced by the outside invasions on India.

The cuisine in the northern and western parts of India is influenced by Central Asia while on the east and north-east of India in West Bengal and Assam respectively, the cuisine show the shades of East Asian cuisine.

The heritage tour of India is the perfect way to savour the taste of India. Indian heritage does not only include art, architecture, dance and handicraft but also the cuisine that reflects the eating habits in different regions of India. That is what makes India a different palce to live in..

If you paln a tour to India it is not complete without savouring the flavours of India. So, whichever part of the country you travel, you will find a cuisine or delicacy exclusive to the region. If you are in the northern parts of the country, Mughlai cuisine is worth checking out.

On the southern side of India, one gets a variety of gourmet dishes that differ from state to state. Hyderbad in Andhra Pradesh is popular for its biryanis while Kerala is known its dosas, uttpams idlis and vadas. Sambhar is another popular delicacy in South India particularly in Kerala.

India has a variety of street food too. The street food in India is not exclusive to one particular place or region. One can find rows of street vendors virtually anywhere in India serving sumptuous delicacies.

Most Indian hotels serve different cuisine from different corners of India. Some of them even have speciality restaurants that serve the cuisine of a particular region. Come and tickle your taste buds with Indian cuisine on your journey to India with Heritage in India.

Customs and Rituals in India

2009-07-28T05:42:00.000-07:00

The diverse, wide culture of India makes it the most unique country in the world. India is a melting pot of different faiths and religions. Customs and rituals are an integral part of the Indian way of life.

These customs and traditions are surrounded by the boundary of religion, cast and creed. Customs and rituals of India are what attract many tourists to this myriad land.

One gets a glimpse of the customs and rituals in India as soon as one is welcomed in traditional Indian style. Even the Tourism Ministry, Government of India has launched the 'Atithi Devo Bhava' campaign to make people aware of India's rich cultural heritage and the philosophy of treating a tourist like God.

Indians are steeped into various customs and traditions. Right from the birth to death, there is hardly any occasion that does not have an elaborate ceremony.

Soon after the birth of a child, an elaborate ceremony to name the child takes place, which is marked by chanting of slokas and singing of hymns. Weddings are grand affairs in India, as they follow various customs and rituals.

So much so, many foreigners come to India to marry in Indian style. Rajasthan is the place that is most popular for royal weddings in India.

Even cremation is done according to rituals after one passes away. Taking a heritage tour to India is one of the best ways to know more about the fascinating aspects of Indian customs and rituals.

Festivals are other important occasions when one can see different customs and rituals followed by people. Plan a fascinating journey to the myriad land of different faiths and unique cultures with Heritage in India.

Linguistic Heritage of India

2009-07-24T05:36:00.000-07:00

The cultural heritage of India has a number of aspects to it and linguistic heritage is probably the one, which is most fascinating of all. Linguistic heritage of India is where one can trace the history of different languages spoken in India.

India have evolved over a period of time of Indian history. Most of the languages spoken in India in one way or the other belong to two main families of languages, which are the Dravidian and Aryan. Both the Dravidian and Aryan languages have different scripts. There are other languages that belong to the Sino-Tibetan-Mongoloid family. These languages are mostly spoken in the east of India.

Most of the South Indian languages that are spoken today belong to the Dravidian family, while in the northern side of India, the language belongs to the Aryan family. But it is interesting to note here how different invaders during different periods in Indian history affected and enriched the Indian languages.

After the independence of India, policy makers decided to make Hindi as the official language of India, however they declared that English could also be used for official purposes.

The reason behind choosing Hindi as the official language was that it was the most commonly spoken language and its association with the freedom movement of India.

Some of the popular languages spoken in different parts of India include Hindi, English, Tamil, Bengali, Assamese, Malayalam, Gujarati, Punjabi and Urdu. Come on a heritage tour of India and discover the linguistic heritage of India with Heritage in India.

Rich Indian cultural heritage of art and architecture

2009-07-21T04:46:00.000-07:00

India is endowed with a rich cultural legacy of art and architecture. The numerous beautiful temples and other monuments bear testimony to the rich Indian cultural heritage of art and architecture.

The Ajanta and Ellora caves in Maharashtra, the Khajuraho temples in Madhya Pradesh, Konark Temple in Puri, Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu and the Taj Mahal in Agra are some of the beautiful monuments that reflect the rich architectural heritage of India. Indian Handicraft is another of form of art that has made a mark among tourists in India.

Indian art and craft has a number of different aspects to it. The art and crafts of India includes painting, sculptures and handicrafts. Indian paintings can be divided into two main categories as the murals and miniatures.

Some of the popular painting forms include the Tanjore Painting of Tamil Nadu, Madhubani Painting of Bihar, Kalamkari Painting of Andhra Pradesh and Pithoro Painting of Gujarat.

The sculptures in various places in India reflect the talent and creativity of Indian artisans. The rock cut art of sculpting was believed to be perfected by the Buddhists and followed by Hindu rulers. The sculptures that we see in many temples and other historic places are made of granite and terracotta.

Handicraft is another feature of the rich Indian art. Some of the handicrafts items that are popular in India are carpets, marble table tops, hand made leather items and hand block printed items, blue pottery, semi-precious stones and Kundan jewellery.

Musical Heritage In India

2009-07-17T05:42:00.000-07:00

"Music knows no boundaries" so says a popular proverb and perhaps no country symbolizes this fact better than India does. Musical Heritage In India India is not only the land where people of different faiths and religions live in harmony but it is also the land where diverse musical notes and strings produce riveting symphony.

Musical heritage tour of India is a unique kind of experience that takes one beyond the obvious. Musical heritage of India touches the inner core of a tourists' heart and takes them to a higher plane.

Be it a child birth, wedding, or death, music is an important part of the Indian way of life. So much so, the musicians here have different ragas for different times of the day.

One could even listen to raga Megh Malhar especially sung to please the Rain Gods and raga Deepak to light the lamps. The kind of music one gets to listen to in India varies from classical, semi-classical, folk and film music. There are two main forms of music prevalent in India, North Indian Hindustani music and South Indian Carnatic music.

Every year a number of music festivals take place in different corners of India. Most of the times, the venues for these festivals are some important heritage monument, such as the Taj Mahal, Konark sun Temple, Humayun Tomb etc.

Some of the music festivals that take place every year include Sangeet Natak Akademi's festival, New Delhi, Tansen Festival, Gwalior (December), Sur-Sringar Festival, Bombay (November), Tyagaraja Festival, Tiruvayyaru, near Tanjavur (January) and Shanmukhananda Music, Dance and Drama Festival, Bombay (December). Coincide your tour to India with some of these festivals and enjoy the musical heritage of India with Heritage in India.

Rajasthani Culture

2009-07-01T22:48:00.000-07:00

The exotic spectrum of Rajasthan's handicraft heritage is a dazzling kaleidoscope of colors and textures. The depth, range and inspirational intricacy of this heritage stems from its socio-economic ethos, with whole village pursuing certain crafts, which are intrinsic to their survival or daily needs. Royal patronage gave it a vital impetus to carry the journey for centuries. Although Rajasthan is full of visual spectacles, perhaps the most lasting impression that visitors take away with them after traveling through this state is that of color. Despite the perpetual desolation of the sandscape enveloping the courtyards of Rajasthan, color reaches newer heights of luminosity and vividness at every pocket of the state. Canary yellows, emarald greens, vivid purples, electric blues and splashes of brilliant reds seem to be reinventions of traditional colors.
Fun With The Fabric - Famous Artifacts

Rajasthan is famous for its vibrantly colored textiles which adorn the sophisticated boutiques and prismatic art and craft bazaars across the state. The basic cloth receives one or several of various treatments to achieve its rich blaze of color, including dyeing, block printing and multiple forms of embroidery and applique. Visit Jodhpur to encounter the most intricate and interesting result of garment designing, the bandhani or tie and dye style of coloring. Basically parts of the fabric are knotted with minikin pebbles or grams, so that when the fabric is dyed, the knotted section retain their original color. Buy yourself a bright colored odhni (headscarf) featuring a lotus motif against a white or pink background. Remember, a yellow background indicates that the wearer has recently given birth to a bambino. Shift the gears of your car to reach Sanganer, near Jaipur, famous for its block printed fabric. Other handicraft items include the Sanganeri prints, generally featuring floral motifs, are exported round the world and is truly a collector's delight. Everyday, thousands of meters of fabric can be seen drying in long swathes on the banks of Saraswati river. Do you know that Sanganer entertains true hand-craftsmanship; garments are printed with wooden blocks known as buntis or chhapas, on which incisions form the elemental design, by one's own hand. The fruits of endeavor can be found in the form of colorful zig-zag motifs, featuring geometric designs in blue and red on both sides, known as ajrakh and is generally worn by men as shawls and turbans. Travel to Rajasthan to get one ajrakh for your loved ones, won't you?

The famous Elephanta Caves

2009-06-23T22:30:00.000-07:00

A very fine example of early rock cut architecture, Elephanta Caves are designated as World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Located 10 km from the Gateway Of India at Mumbai, the cave temple of Elephanta is one of the most popular destination for tourists on visit to Mumbai. Though Elephanta Caves are not as popular as Ajanta and Ellora, yet the caves are quite appealing in their architectural beauty.

One-and-half hour boat ride (almost 10 km) from the Gateway Of India, Mumbai, takes you to a world of rocks carved out beautifully thousands years before, and today known for its architectural excellence. Excavated by Rashtrakuta kings during 8th century (AD 757-973), the cave temple of Elephanta is dedicated to lord Shiva, and somewhat can be assumed today as perfect spiritual retreat for travellers. The whole temple complex including chambers, courtyard and shrines covers total area of 60,000 sq feet, and boasts of its magnificence.

The main attraction to liven your cheer are definitely sculptures of lord Shiva in different forms. Trimurti, the popular sculpture of the cave temple shows three faces of lord Shiva similar to trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesha. Several other famous sculptures are Shiva as Natraja, Andhakasuravadhamurti Shiva, Shiva Linga, Maheshwara, Parvati in attitude of Mana and Shiva as Lakulisa. Watching these sculpture in their wonderful natural setting are tourist's great delight as well as fine spiritual retreat.

India Gate- The rich heritage of India

2009-06-23T22:13:00.000-07:00

One of the most important monuments of the historical city of Delhi, the India Gate is also one among the most visited destinations. Built as memorial commemorating 80,000 Indian soldiers, who were killed during the first World War, the historical edifice of India Gate is located exactly opposite to the President House.

42 meters high arch of the magnificence building, designed by famous architect Edwin Lutyen, India Gate, for tourists, is a wonderful two-in-one experience. On the hand, the location of New Delhi gives you feel of contemporary Delhi, on the other, the historical significance lets one peep into the importance of contribution of Indian soldiers in the world war I.

Being one of the most favourite picnic spots of Delhi, the India Gate has very large lush lawns, where tourists as well as local visitors can be seen in heaps. For children, local vendors selling ice-creams, aerated drinks, and balloons, are best to be glued to. Children park and boat club are the two spots close to the gate, which are mostly flocked by picnickers. Visiting the India Gate comes to its full circle in the evening, when the special lighting makes the monument appear very illuminating.

Feel the patriotic zeal : Feeling deep the patriotic zeal becomes natural when you see the names of 70,000 Indian soldiers inscribed on the magnificent Gate, and the Amar Jawan Jyoti, the eternal flame, which was built in the memory of a soldier, who sacrificed his life for the nation.

Eating out : After the patriotic feat is over, rush to any of dozens of local vendors selling ice-creams, Golguppas, Papad, and other junkies. Gulping few of Golguppas and ice-creams will be best solution to your celebratory mood.

See the wonderful illumination : The best joy of visiting India Gate, you can draw in the evening. Sit on the flat bench or lie in the lush lawn, and see the wonderful lighting illuminating the historical monument.

Enjoy boating : Paying a nominal charge at nearby Boating Club lets you acquire a pedal boat for a fixed duration. Enjoying boat ride here with your companions is great fun.

Dussehra

2009-06-23T21:51:00.000-07:00

Dussehra is celebration of triumph of good over evil. One of the main festivals of Hindus, Dussehra is celebrated all over the country with different names. The festivals better known with names like Durga Puja, Vijayadashmi, Mohani Nakha and Navratra is an annual festival occurring in the month of October every year. Dussehra is one of the most celebrated festivals in not only India, but also in neighboring Nepal.

The very purpose and significance of Dussehra, according to mythologies, is to take one’s ten sins away. This is what its name Dussehra literally suggests. The 10-days running auspicious festival drives its deeper significance from the fact that the 10 days symbolise the battle between god Rama and demon king Ravana, which continued for 10 days until Ravana was killed on 10th day, which is called Vijayadashami. On the other hand, the legends also relate it to other mythological occurrence in which Durga, the goddess of power kills the demon Mahishasura.

Celebrated in every region of the country with different names and different styles, the essence of Dussehra remains the same – a panorama of rich cultural heritage of the country, and building one’s spiritual connection with divinity. In eastern part of the country (especially in West Bengal), Puja pandals with beautiful idols of goddess Durga are main attraction. In Gujrat, Garba and Dandiya dances are innate part of the festival, while in Mysore, 10-days royal Dasara include majestic procession and dance & music programme.

The famous City Palace

2009-06-19T00:04:00.001-07:00

The famous City Palace is an intricate labyrinth of inner patios, courtyards and balconies in granite and marbles, connected by interspersed passageways and flight of stairs. Enter from a mammoth courtyard (Badi Pol) where you can park your car, through an prodigious gate (Tripolia Gate) embellished by eight carved marble arches, into the building that cater a tour across centuries. This is because the mansions have been added to by succedents of the royal clan in a process that continued into the 20th century, and have been integrated much later but still retain an symmetry of design. Under the connected arches between the two, the Mewar kings were weighed with gold and silver, which would then be bestowed to the indigent.

Enjoy the famous City Palace Attractions while crossing the Tripolia Gate, you enter a courtyard where elephant fights were staged until 1951, the year Mewar joined independent India. The oblong depressions on the western side of the courtyard were used to park pachyderms. Although the 20 elephant stables remain untouched, they are unoccupied today.

Most alcoves will astonish, as much for their craftsmanship as for the vista, but in particular look out for the Mor Chawk, the peacock square which gains its name from the vivid blue mosaic, composed of thousands of tiny colored-glass carrying images of a peacock that decorates its walls. Looks as if a divine gift, these decors really makes one feel to kiss those blessed hands responsible for such marvellous craftsmanship. There are rooms with mirrored walls, ivory doors, colored glass windows, and carved and inlaid marble balconies. However, the piece de resistance must be the tiny room (Kanch ki Burj) in which every inch of space, even the ceiling, is enveloped with brightly colored, minikin paintings of festivals, flowers, jungle scapes and dancing damsels.

Lalgarh Palace - A Heritage destination.

2009-06-12T21:30:00.000-07:00

The famous Lalgarh Palace (named after maharajah Lall Singh, who spelt his name with two lls), on one hand served to portray Ganga Singh's endeavor to make Bikaner prudentially more liberated while on the other, it also served as a link with the continuing tradition of the past.

A huge but compact palace, Lalgarh Palace is built entirely of red sandstone embellished with magnificent filigree work and is an integrated example of Indo-Saracenic architecture. Its facade is almost entirely composed of the pierced stone screens called jaalis. A well known feature of Rajasthani architecture, the jaalis keep most of the sun out even as they let in the most trivial whiff of breeze.

The famous palace attractions of BIkaner lies in the main building that consists of the personal dwelling pads of several branches of the royal family, some of which are recently renovated while others still retain their past grandeur. Take for example the alcove where the Rajmata or Queen Mother resides, a section that has never being photographed because of the numerous shikar (hunting) trophies and old snapshots that embrace its walls. Walk over to the balcony to see the sprawling terraced lawns with blooming bougainvillea and peacocks dancing with tails fanned out, which make this palace a not-to-be missed visual retreat.

Go through the Lalgarh palace museum in Rajasthan. The fort museum, located inside the Ganga Niwas, holds an unique omnibus of miniature paintings of Bikaner school, manuscripts, terracotta wares, armors, armaments and even a world war I bi-plane. The eye catching and soul soothing library of the Lalgarh palace is supposed to have the largest collection of original Sanskrit manuscripts on parchments, copper and gold or silver plaques.

The exhibits are splendid masterpieces of Harappan civilization, Gupta and Kushan era, and sculptures of late classical time. A must see corner is the separate section displaying exclusive arts and crafts of the region. The museum is opened from 10 am to 4.30 pm and is closed on Fridays.

The language of India

2009-06-08T03:13:00.000-07:00

India is a multilingual country. It has been said that India is a living Tower of Babel! There are fifteen national languages recognized by the Indian constitution and these are spoken in over 1600 dialects. Add to this a population of over 900 million today, and the remark would seem to be true.

India's official language is Hindi in the Devnagri script. However, English continues to be the official working language. For many educated Indian people, English is virtually their first language, and for a great number of Indian people who are multi-lingual, it will probably be the second.

Some Indian languages have evolved from the Indo-European group of languages. This set is known as the Indic group of languages. The other set of languages are Dravidian and are native to South India, though a distinct influence of Sanskrit and Hindi is evident in these languages. Most of the Indian languages have their own script and are spoken in the respective states along with English.

The country has a wide variety of local languages and in many cases the State boundaries have been drawn on linguistic lines. Besides Hindi and English, the other popular languages are Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Malayalam, Marathi, Punjabi, Oriya, Telugu and Urdu.

Jaigarh fort

2009-06-06T04:27:00.000-07:00

Chiefly constructed for defense purposes, the Jaigarh Fort is a huge moated castle containing all the gadgets of a full-fledged citadel. One of the exigent charms of this majestic fort is the world's largest cannon on wheels, the Jaivan. It has a 20-foot-long barrel, its wheels are 9 feet in diameter and it took 100 kg of gunpowder to fire a single shot. Parables say that the cannon was used only once and the shell fell some 35 km away on a village! But that's quite dubious, since a deeper scrutiny of the cannon actually debunked that it had been fired at least a couple of times.

The historical Jaigarh fort palace in Jaipur also has a magnificent water channel management system for harvesting rain water. One of those reservoirs measures 158 feet by 138 feet and is 40 feet deep, and can hold 60,00,000 gallons of water; an artificial oasis made to satiate the thirst for water and eternal glory simultaneously.

Because it is considered as one of the most well fortified structures in India, because this fort was never being captured, because it has myriads of motifs and bastions, you get a real feeling of its glorified days. The armory displays numerous majestic swords, adamant shields, unforgivable guns, impenetrable muskets and even a 50 kg cannon ball; think about the strength the robust maharajahs used to have! The Museum in the fort presents a large array of photographs of the Maharajahs, royalty, buildings and processions and even a circular pack of cards besides many other antiques of the past.

Mehrangarh fort – The rich heritage of India

2009-06-02T22:26:00.000-07:00

Nestling within the depths of the Thar, the imperial city of Jodhpur echoes with tales of antiquity in the nihility of the desert. Flanked on the western side by the Mehrangarh Fort and on the eastern side by the stately sandstone palace of Umaid Bhawan, its monuments, temples and gardens depict a multi-faceted grandeur. But the gravity that pulls everyone to Jodhpur, is its vicinity to a desert landscape, almost as barren as the moon. This makes the medieval fort seem more magical, a larger than life version of an idealized illustration in a child's book. The Mehrangarh Fort, which looks as if it grew organically out of the low hill on which it is built, surely puts everything else in the city, completely in shade.

Den of The Chivalrous Rajputs

Before you buy your ticket and enter the fort, walk to the edge of the parking lot for the first of the many panoramic vistas it affords. The view one gets from this spot probably does not have a parallel anywhere in the world, as it is one of the largest fort structure in the world. It is as if the entire Old City, with its alleyways, courtyards and terraces, lies open to your gaze, as in one of those miniature paintings of cityscapes. It is not just what you see that gives the view its intimacy, but the way it blends with the sounds rising up from the houses and streets. It is fun to hear individual voices from the vantage point and trace down where they come from.

You have to bestow an entry fee to pierce the grim, once nearly impenetrable walls, which conceal magnificent palaces spanning five centuries of Rajput glory. Get an entrance ticket from the main portico at Jaipol, built by Maharajah Man Singh. Don't forget to climb the summit (Lohapol) through the steep zigzag ascent, where there are hand prints of Raja Mansingh's widows, who committed "Sati" (traditional Hindu practice of a widow immolating herself on her husband's funeral pyre happily, no longer a custom) rather than suffer at enemy's hands. The images of the hands of Hindu widows of the Rajput reverberates the devotion of these women and the high status of the men for whom the women committed Sati.

Inside the fort, behind the lotus-patterned, lacework sandstone facade, are many places to be explored. In order to create the original fort, legend has it that, a hermit was evicted from his abode. During the eviction he lay a curse upon any future building on the hill. He stated that any building on the hill would have severe problems annexing water. To avoid the consequences of this curse, a man volunteered to be buried alive in the foundations of the fort.

The Taj Mahal

2009-05-28T02:37:00.000-07:00

As we are all aware, the Architectural masterpiece and symbol of eternal love, Taj Mahal is one of the seven wonders of the world. Lying on the bank of river Yamuna, the Taj Mahal is located in Agra, a historical Indian city, Taj Mahal was built by famous Mughal ruler Shahjahan in memory of his favourite wife, Mumtaj Mahal. Taking a huge 22 years to build, the wonder palace gets its appropriate description in Tagore words “a teardrop in the cheek of time”.

The joy of discovering the Taj Mahal comes to its highest point when sightseeing take place under the moonlight, especially on full-moon night. Discovering the Taj Mahal in presence of moon, one sees the whole of the immense mausoleum glowing along with the bright moon. Gardens around the palace are another delight to walk into. Square shaped, the garden has a pool in the centre having four subsidiary canals flow.

The great architectural wonder, Taj Mahal with its unique calligraphy, mosaic motifs, mausoleum and domes is undoubtedly one of the best tourist fascination in india. The world famous palace calls tourists from all over to witness the best preserved architectural heritage and an epitome of eternal love in its milky white pristine marbles. Giving tourists a rare experience, lily like gleam of Taj Mahal is a lovely exploration of Indian architectural beauty.

Things to enjoy at the Taj.

Nature walk : The nature walk in the park in its total 16 lawns and pathway lined by pines, palms and poplars make one be dazzled while gaping the monumental beauty.

Go sailing : To acquire the complete overview of the palace, the best way is to walk to the river Yamuna flowing close to the monument, and go sailing in a country boat. Especially reaching to the Poorbi Ghat before dawn makes one viewing a stunning sight of the wonderful white monument.

Enjoy Photography : Being photographed with your spouse before the marble wonder and taking photograps of the palace while enjoying boat ride in the river enable you to topple over the charm of monumental beauty of Taj.

Taj Mahotsav : Held in the month of February every year, the 10-days festival gives tourists from worldwide the best time to schedule their visit to the Taj Mahal.

As the historical monument of love suffers from “Marble Cancer” (a fungal covering on the monument due to air pollution), government has banned petrol and diesel vehicle from coming within one and a half kilometres of the monument. To take tourists to the monument, numerous of tonga (wood made vehicle pulled by horse) and rickshaw are always lined up. The small ride of tonga costing you a penny is full of opportunity to see the historical city lively.

So, don't miss the opportunity to see this wonder and enjoy.

Forts And Palaces of Rajasthan- Relics of The Past

2009-05-18T22:15:00.000-07:00

For centuries, if not millennia, the Rajput fortresses, the defensive castles, the composite havelis - were the abode of chivalry where hospitality was a way of life. Visitors, guests, even strangers were welcomed in a tradition that was a part of the lifestyles. Even enemies, should they have come calling, were treated with utmost respect "Aao Sa". And an extensive network of matrimonial alliances amongst the warring clans ensured that all battles ended on the field. It would not be an extravagant quote to say, that if the Rajputs had not been so humble to their enemies as to let them in, the colossal forts might never had been conquered! Take a royal fort and palace tours of Rajasthan to see the historical evidences.

The Forts That Stood The Test of Time

The forts in Rajasthan are no doubt the best manuscripts that spell the saga of the audacious Rajput clans. Believe it, these colossal structures are more experienced than you and me. They have seen sandstorms lash the towns in summer, trees being bent by fierce winds while they stood with their spirits high assenting the valor and intransigency of the mighty Rajputs. They have seen a 20th-century princess who fell in love with a man candidly, without regarding that he traces his family tree all the way back to monkeys, and married him in the face of medieval defiance, portraying true love amidst the desolate deserts. Above all the forts have witnessed mass immolations by thousands of graceful Rajput women, charging to their deaths in ash and saffron, endorsing the devotion and amour that these glitterati had locked in the secret archives of their heart for long. They grabbed the horns of destiny and changed its course of journey...enough to leave a foreign tourist mesmerized.

The famous forts and palace attractions of Rajasthan in India are eloquent of the bygone era. The chivalry and gallantry of the warrior fraternity is reflected in the architecture of the feudal homes. Everytime you buzz the bell, after jaunting through the barren grasslands (because the forts were usually built atop a hill), you will be greeted with a colossal entrance; carved impeccebly enough to brake your eyeshot, if you try to peep into the voluminous courtyards disfavoring the grand architecture above you. Once inside you will be captivated to see the prodigious contours of the forts; lavishly spacious to accommodate 2-3 football grounds.

There were separate viewing galleries for women, and the ladies of the zenana regulated their own durbars and maneuvered considerable power from behind the purdah. Walk along the interspersed corridors while keeping an eye open for the beautifully embellished jaalis akin to intricate filigree, displayed on the mammoth parkotas of the coliseum on your sides. Some of the eminent forts also houses appalling chattels such as the Jaigarh Fort, which boasts of the largest cannon in the world, the Jaivan. Take a tour of the royal forts and palaces of Rajasthan to enjoy a historic holiday.

The famous camel fair in Bikaner.

2009-05-13T04:18:00.000-07:00

Indian Heritage is reflected in its fairs & festivals. The camel fair of Bikaner is famous all over India. It is the most famous fair in Rajasthan. The camel is ubiquitous in Rajasthan, but nowhere is its presence more pronounced than in the city of Bikaner. These desert engines meander in the countrysides, in bazaars, on the roads; they pull heavy cart loads, transport grain and even work at the wells. They have walked into the lives of the Bikaneris so intimately, that they had now become an indispensable part of the city. Loyal, submissive and low maintenance, the camel is still the most precious element in the desert, despite its characteristic flatulence and tendency to bite during the breeding season.

Eat, drink and be merry. Lanky camels with bejeweled necks and jingling anklets will display amazing footwork on the slightest peck of their mentors. You are happy and so they are. After all, it is 'their' famous festival. January is the right month for a desert spree and Bikaner is just the right place to draft such a concert.

The Camel Festival of Rajasthan begins with a kaleidoscopic parade of decorated camels against the red sandstone backdrop of the Junagarh fort, heading towards the open sand grounds. The first day offers the gorgeous presentation of the desert kings. Combating for the first place in the beauty contest, splendidly embellished camels are brought to the arena and careened to catch the critical eye of keen judges. The way the camel is embroidered, the choice of its gadgets and ornament, its capacity to interpret and carry out commands and the variety of pranks it is capable to perform are the basic criteria for selection of the "beauty pageant". A competition for best fur cutting design, camel milking and also for the best camel hair cut is organized.
To bestow a humble gratitude to the desert king, the Rajasthan Tourism Department organizes a vivacious and colorful event in Bikaner every year. Hundreds of tourists and thousands of locals rejoice in this man-and-animal episode, the famous Camel Festival, organized especially for the tourists.

On the second day, the speedy Jaisalmeri camels of the region take part in the camel sprints, which offers a healthy competition to the best camels of the region who compete for the honor. The hoopla extends to such a height that you have to cover your ears and raise your voice to shout for your favorite camel's name. Betting is greatly enjoyed in these regions and don't get awestruck while watching huge amount of money flying from one pocket to another in much less time.

As the sun dives into the horizon, the arena springs up in a different tenor and tempo altogether with the dazzling fireworks illuminating the desert city. Renowned artistes of Rajasthan and the local folk performers present a rendezvous with the traditional wing of music and dance. The rhapsodic skirt-swirling dance and the spine-chilling fire dance will really swing your emotions to the extreme, while you will comb every secret memories of yours to match the extravaganza that is happening right before your eyes.
The beauty of the fair can be enjoyed only upon being present in the fair.

The language of India

2009-05-08T01:00:00.000-07:00

The Temples of southern India

2009-05-02T05:25:00.000-07:00

This is the style that developed in the Dravida Desam. The Vimana and the Gopurams are the distictive characteristics of the Southern style. The Vimana is a tall pyramidal tower consisting of several progressively smaller storeys. This stands on a square base. The Gopuram has two storeys seperated by a horizontal moulding. The Prakara or the outer wall, envelops the main shrine as well as the other smaller shrines, the tank.

The Pallavas, the Cholas, the Pandyas, the Vijayanagar rulers, the Nayaks all contributed to the Southern style of temples.

Pallava Temples :
The Pallava shrines normally have a Somaskanda relief panel.
Some of the Pallava temples:
Rajasimha temple
Olakkanesvara temple Mukundanayanar temple Shore temple at Mamallapuram Talagiriswara temple at Panamalai in South Arcot Kailasanatha temple at Kanchipuram (Rajasimha & his son Mahendravarman) Vaikuntha Perumal temple by Nandivarman

Chola Temples
The Cholas erected several temples and also renovated earlier brick structures in stone.
Early Chola temples:
Sundaresvara temple at Tirukattalai (Aditya I) Vijayalaya Choleswaram at Narthamalai Komganatha temple at Srinivasanallur (Parantaka I) Brihadiswara temple at Tanjavur (Raja Raja Chola) Brihadiswara temple at Gangaikonda cholapuram (Rajendra Chola) Airavateswara temple at Darasuram (Raja Raja II) Kamaparharesvara temple at Tirubuvanam (Kulotunga III)

The Pandyas mostly concentrated on the Gopurams, the main entrance. The basic structure and style was maintained, but the decorations on the Gopurams and the size characterises the Pandya Gopurams.
The typical Pandya style can be seen in the
Sundara Pandya Gopuram added to the Jambukesvara temple
Eastern Gopuram, Great Temple, Chidambaram

The main contributions of the Vijayanagar period were the tall massive gopurams and the multiple mandapas. Unlike the Chola style, where the entire temple structure was usually a unified whole, there were numerous mandapas, pillared halls, shrines to minor deities, tanks, etc. Another major feature is the carved pillars - with the rearing simhas (lions), yalis (lions with elephant trunks).
The important temples from the Vijayanager period:
Vitthala Swami temple, Vijayanager
The pillars and gopurams of the Ekambaranatha temple .

Nayak Temples

The Madurai and Tanjavur Nayaks made great contributions - the main characterictics of this period being the elaborate mandapas of the hundred and thousand pillared type, the high gopurams with stucco statues on the surface, the long corridors.

The main temples representing this style in various portions are
The Ranganatha temple at Srirangam - for the increase in the no. of enclosures
The temple at Rameswaram - for the long corridors
The Subramanya temple at the Brihadisvara temple court at Tanjavur - for the fine vimana with ardha and maha mandapas.