About India

Indian civilization has witnessed great many enduring achievements over a period of thousand years. It is not easy to talk about all these unique achievements but our site strives to provide you every bit of possible information about beauty of Indian as a whole. One such legendary achievements of Indian civilization is undoubtedly its architecture. Indian architecture is unique, magnificent and multi-dimensional. Credit all these aspects to changing geographical structure and constantly shifting socio-economic dimensions. Indian architecture has kept on evolving since last hundreds of years and yet we seem to dwarf our previous achievements with every passing day.

Indian architecture is truly unique because of an attractive mix of different types of architectural styles. The styles kept changing because of diverse eras, rulers and historical changes. Also the fact that, India is a mass of vast diversities, a range of architectural specimens have evolved over the course of time. The continuity in excellence has always been there in Indian architecture.

The different periods of Indian history stamped its own beauty on Indian architecture. The first sign of rich and well managed Indian architecture was visible during Indus Valley civilization period. There are plenty of substantial evidences of extensive town planning. Buddhism in India brought with it large number of magnificent buildings. Examples include the Great Stupa at Sanchi and the rock-cut caves at Ajanta.

If we look at South India, rich examples of splendid Indian architecture are the rock-cut temples of Mahabalipuram and the temples of Kanchipuram. All the dynasties in South India like the Chola, Hoyasala and Vijayanagar, Pallavas rulers did remarkable job in the field of architecture. North India had unique style of architecture called as the Nagara style architecture. Arrival of Mughals resulted in new architectural style in India- the Indo-Islamic architecture. The final style of architecture was seen during colonization of India. Known as the Indo-Saracenic architecture, this style had combined features of Hindu, Islamic and western elements. The examples of this style can be seen in institutional, civic and utilitarian buildings such as post offices, railway stations, rest houses and government buildings.

Picturesque, breath-taking, vivid, eye-catching and mesmerizing – Munnar is one of the wonders of India. A hill-station located in Kerala, Munnar is a rediscovery of the age old connection of nature and mankind. A land where three rivers touch each other, a land which grows green in abundance, and a land that takes you to a beautiful world you do not wish to return from. Munnar has been a favrioute travel destination for many as it offers you sprawling green plantations of tea, coffee and cardamom, winding lanes and curvy roads, adventure trekking and all that you need at a good holiday destination.

This is also a great place for treks as Munnar has one of the highest peaks in South India called the Anamudi which towers over 2695 meters. Another reason that Munnar is famous for is the Neelakurinji, a flower that blooms every 12 years. The last bloom was in 2006, where the entire hillside appeared blue. As soon as you step into this paradise, the sweet fragrance of cinnamon, clove, peppercorns and nutmeg will captivate you.

Some of the popular places to visit are the Matupetty which is popular for its specialized dairy farming industry. It is also the ideal location for trekking. You can also visit the Kundala lake nearby with boating facilities being made available for the visitors. The lake is created by a small hydroelectric dam project which is surrounded by steep green hills and misty woods. It is indeed a beautiful site to stare at.

You can also visit the Rajamala and the Eravikulam National Park which has half the world population of the Nilgiri Tahr which is a rare species of a mountain goat. If you can looking for a secluded undisturbed place, you can visit Devikulam which is a small hill station Located in close proximity to Munnar. Devikulam has one of the best flora and fauna I have seen. It has green velvet lawns and pristine gentle waterfalls with cool mountain air blowing that will leave you nothing but spellbound.

Other places that you can visit are Potheamedu which is one of the major plantation hubs of Munnar and  Pallivasal where the first Hydro Electric project in Kerala is setup. You can also see Chithirapuram which is a small village with little cottages and bungalows.

You can reach Munnar by road from Ernakulam, Thekkady, Thiruvananthapuram, Palani and Coimbatore.  The nearest airport is Cochin and the nearest railway station is Aluva.  The best time to visit Munnar is between August and March. We advise you to book your stay in advance.

Matheran, which literally   means ‘forest on  top’, is a beautiful hill station located in Maharashtra (near Mumbai). The best part about this hill station is that there are no vehicles allowed here. Also, there are no concrete roads. Matheran lets you enjoy nature as it is. This place always gives you a feeling that you have lost your way into the woods. You feel you are travelling back in time. Pollution free, silent, pristine and full of fresh air, Matheran rejuvenates you like nothing else. Even after so many years, Matheran has continued to be a favorite weekend getaway for Mumbaikars and Punekars. This is because this place still has so many roads you can explore and  even more secluded places that you may be the first one to discover.

The Toy train is another attraction of Matheran that one takes to reach this place from Neral. After one gets down at Neral, which is the closest station for one to reach Matheran, you can take a toy train. The toy train, I bet, can be a plesant experiance for you as it takes you to Matheran through deep valleys and mountains. It is a site which most naure lovers and travel freaks long to see. However, it is advised that you book your toy train tickets in advance.

Once in Matheran, you can only see hand pulled rickshaws and horses. As you walk through the red mud kaccha roads, you are reminded of ancient times where there were no vehicles.

There are altogether 28 points, 2 lakes, 2 parks, 4 major worship places and a racecourse to visit in Matheran. However, rather than trying to see all the places hurriedly, one should enjoy the journey and the nature that surrounds you there.

One can also try valley crossing in Matheran – an adventure that will surely sweep you off your ground! Suspended on a harness, you begin from one mountain peak, literally cross the valley, enjoy the breath taking view of the deep valley and the lake beneath and reach the other mountain peak! A true adventure!

Also, do not forget to buy local specialities on your way back home – Kolhapuri chappals and chikkis to relish!

One of the glorious art works in India is the art of metal work. History pages tell us that metal work in India has been in existence for more than 5000 years now. Ancient craftsmen in India were extremely skilled and they possessed top level quality in their crafts. You must have seen the beautiful image of the dancing girl from Mohanjodaro and that will give you an idea about how rich Indian art was even during the ancient ages. The high level of workmanship attained by ancient craftsmen is truly legendary. Metal work in India has traditionally used different combination of metals like copper, silver, iron etc. Alloys materials have also been used in abundance. White metal, bronze, bell metal etc were major alloys used for making a variety of items like pots, pans, utensils, photo frames, sculptures of deities, mythological figures and animals etc.  

 The field of metal work has flourished on variety of styles. Different regions in India have their own style of metal work and each one of them is equally beautiful. Ancient rulers in India also promoted and encouraged metal work culture. One of the finest examples of metal work is the iron pillar at Mehrauli (Delhi) made during Maurya Kingdom. It is truly excellent. Chola period witnessed great heights reached by metal craft. Bronze sculptures were created at furious pace and they all are classes apart. Chola craftsmen are believed to be extremely talented at crafting aesthetic metal works.

 In the modern times, Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh is renowned for its brass items. One will find a wide range of household items being made here. Decorating of these metal works is par excellence. If one goes to Ladakh area of Kashmir, iron and brass are used for making traditional vessels. You can see the beauty of metal work in household items like bowls, samovars, plates and trays etc Kashmir. Other famous states for excellent metal work are Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Tamil Nadu etc.

The word eco-tourism brings to your mind nature, recreation, environment etc. However, the word stands for more than that. Eco tourism stands for preserving and sustaining the natural resources that are available to man. It suggests that as a traveler, you are not just informed about the principles of a clean and green environment but supporting and practicing minimal nature destruction when on a travel. In short it means social responsibility of environment of a traveler and the travel service providers.

Eco-tourism focuses travel in places where the flora and fauna are the major attractions. These travel programs include activities that not only minimize the adverse effects of a typical tour but also encourage the traveler to add to the beauty of the place by cultivating or growing a few trees.

In a typical trek, for example, travel groups use disposable plastic containers, they litter the natural surrounding by throwing non degradable wastes around, they also cut some branches of trees and produce fire etc. All these activities harm the nature. Eco-tourism plans out activities in such a way that there is usage of natural products that are bio degradable and do not cause harm to the nature.

In India, there is a great scope for eco-tourism but there is a lot of diversity of natural surroundings which needs to be preserved. There are a lot of tour operators that have special eco tours for nature enthusiasts and travelers interested in doing activities like these.

The glorious land of India is bestowed with innumerable beauties. One such beauty is Indian craft tradition. Even within the craft tradition, there are numerous sub-parts and each of them needs to be discussed individually. In this article, we will focus upon carpets. Carpet weaving is an ancient tradition of India that has remained in existence since centuries. Carpets are made from variety of materials like silk, wool, jute, grass, bamboo and cotton. Floorings like durries and mats are made from different materials. If we go back to history pages, the tradition of carpets weaving actually flourished during medieval period when Mughals brought this technique from Persia. Mughal period was famous for its illustrated court life and miniature paintings. Floral motifs were totally redefined during this period. Mughal carpets were no exception to this culture of excellence.

Famous Mughal ruler Akbar is credited with laying the foundation of carpet weaving in India. Different carpet weaving centers were established at places like Lahore, Agra and Delhi. Indian carpet weaving tradition owes a lot to Mughal tradition for introducing bright colors and silk carpets. Hand knotted carpets were extremely elaborate and attractive. The expertise of the artists can be guessed from the fact that some silk carpets had no less than over 4000 knots per square inch.

Different states in India have their own carpet weaving tradition. Each state has its own expertise and peculiar qualities. Indian carpet tradition has successfully managed to remold itself according to the need of changing times. Carpet weavers in India are very skilled and have wonderful artistic abilities. Indian carpets are quite popular in foreign markets and credit should go to craft work of Indian weavers. Some of the famous carpet types in India are chain stitch rugs, namdas, gabbe woolen carpets and tufted woolen carpets. The major carpet weaving industry in India is based in eastern UP, in Bhadohi- Mirzapur belt.

Out of the many things that India is known for, one of it is its food. Distinct, different, spicy and emotional Indian food offers something for one and all. Be it someone who has a sweet tooth or someone who loves spicy food, you will find all of it in India.

The moment one thinks of vegetarian food, India is surely the first name that comes to the mind. Most of the people in India are vegetarian. Indian vegetarian recipes offer a great variety of tastes and flavors. Indian vegetarian recipes have an incredible array of fresh vegetables. To add to it, each region has its own style of cooking. India truly offers a mind-boggling variety especially in terms of vegetarian foods. Most of the Indian vegetarian recipes involve ingredients that are good for one’s health. However, traditional Indian vegetarian recipes sometimes require too much oil, butter or ghee.

If you want to taste the speciality of each state, the best place to visit the same is Dilli Haat which is located in Delhi. Here, you will find separate counters for each state where you will get to taste the delicacies from all around India. For example, at Maharastra counter, you will relish mouth watering missal paav, vada pav, sabudana khichdi, kokam sherbet etc. At Andhra Pradesh stall, you can taste the special and the very popular Hyderabadi biryani and at Tamil Nadu stall you can eat Idli, dosas and other south Indian items.

You will see that as you move from one state stall to another, you will great variety in the style of cooking, the ingredients and even the method.  Milk and milk products like paneer, curds, lassi and buttermilk are also an integral part in the Indian vegetarian recipes. The best part about Indian recipes is that you can have it all and there is still a craving for more…