India is a wondrous
spectacle, a modern-day creation in a land of history and contrast. Empires,
dynasties and kingdoms have risen and fallen here, leaving
in their wake
stunning architecture, music, painting and sculpture. Religious movements
have flourished: Buddhism, Hinduism and, with new influences, Islam and
Christianity, all of which have also contributed to the rich art and culture
of this land. Today, India is the seventh largest nation in the world with a
population second only to China. With such epic history, size and density-no
surprise then that India is home to a remarkable diversity.
The landscapes alone tell the story. To the north there are the great peaks
of the Himalayas, source of the holy rivers that flow down into central
India and out to the sea. The north is home to the celebrated lakes of
Kashmir, the Buddhist monasteries of Ladakh, and the famous British hill
town of Darjeeling, which is today a center of Tibetan life. The north is
also home to India's capital, Delhi, a dazzling city of ten million. Delhi
sits along the east-west and north-south routes through India and all of the
countries history can be seen here; ancient, colonial, modern. In Delhi
you'll find museums and galleries, temples and monuments, teeming bazaars
and fashionable boutiques, street-side stalls and gourmet restaurants.
To the west is the mythic land of Rajasthan, where astonishing palaces and
forts were raised from the desert and where color is as intense as the
generous sun. In central India, wonders include the incomparable Taj Mahal,
modelled on the Islamic Gardens of
Paradise, a monument to love built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, and widely
recognized as one of the most exquisite buildings ever created. Central
India is also home to the temples of Khajurahn, each one a masterwork of
carving depicting gods, lovers, musicians, maidens and others celebrated
during the Chandela dynasty in the ninth and tenth centuries. To the east is
the great colonial city of KolKata, once Calcutta, seat of the British Raj,
and to the south, the tropical, palm-filled landscape of Kerala and Tamil
Nadu.
Beyond the land itself there is much to marvel at in India. The inventive
cuisine with its imaginative spicing. The gorgeous jewelry and fabrics. The
ethereal music and dance. The rare and beautiful wildlife. The exceptional
and talented people. This is a land in which to see the world become new.
in their wake
stunning architecture, music, painting and sculpture. Religious movements
have flourished: Buddhism, Hinduism and, with new influences, Islam and
Christianity, all of which have also contributed to the rich art and culture
of this land. Today, India is the seventh largest nation in the world with a
population second only to China. With such epic history, size and density-no
surprise then that India is home to a remarkable diversity.
forts were raised from the desert and where color is as intense as the
generous sun. In central India, wonders include the incomparable Taj Mahal,
modelled on the Islamic Gardens of
Paradise, a monument to love built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, and widely
recognized as one of the most exquisite buildings ever created. Central
India is also home to the temples of Khajurahn, each one a masterwork of
carving depicting gods, lovers, musicians, maidens and others celebrated
during the Chandela dynasty in the ninth and tenth centuries. To the east is
the great colonial city of KolKata, once Calcutta, seat of the British Raj,
and to the south, the tropical, palm-filled landscape of Kerala and Tamil
Nadu.