North India
GUJARAT
Gujarat is known as the land of festivals and fairs. Some of the
festivals are celebrated in this region only. India’s most westerly
state is blessed with a wild and deserted coastline, countless palaces
and holy Jain temples which attract white robed pilgrims in their
thousands. The desolate wilderness of the Kutch region has a rich
tradition of tribal arts and crafts and the finest hand-made embroidered
textiles are produced here. The last remaining Asiatic Lions roam free
at Sasan Gir National Park. The most remarkable thing is how few
tourists visit this spectacular region.
RAJASTHAN
A very large desert state in the North West of India, Rajasthan is the
most majestic and romantic of all the Indian states. Its colourful
history makes it as intriguing as it is dramatic. Its diversity ranges
from striking desert landscape to the dense forest of the Ranthambore
Tiger Reserve. The state is dotted with forts and palaces, many of which
have been converted into hotels. It is a myriad of bustling markets,
colourful festivals and stories of chivalry, romance and bravery of the
Rajput warriors. Despite its popularity it should not be missed by
anyone visiting India for the first time.
PUNJAB
The flat and fertile state of Punjab is often referred to as The Bread
basket of India. Home of the Sikhs, the Golden Temple at Amritsar is the
main draw. Shimmering in the heat haze the temple’s huge kitchens feed
thousands of pilgrims every day. A continual religious chant rings out
throughout the day and the evening puja sees a fervent procession of
Sikh worshipers celebrate the holy book as it is ceremonially “put to
bed” for the night, a truly memorable experience.
UTTAR PRADESH
Not only is Uttar Pradesh a large and very populated state it also
attracts a large number of visitors both national and international. It
has three world heritage sites in Agra alone: Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Fort
and the world famous Taj Mahal. The holy Hindu city of Varanasi is
located on the banks of the sacred River Ganges. Pilgrims and ascetics
in their thousands flock here all year round. Fertility ceremonies and
cremations take place on the ghats that lead down to the water,
symbolising the cycle of life so integral to Hinduism.
South India & Islands
KERALA
Kerala, situated on the lush and tropical Malabar coast, is one
of the most popular destinations in India. It is a small state by Indian
standards and follows a much gentler pace than its northern counterparts
and has a fascinating mix of influences, from the Romans, Arabs and
Chinese who came to trade spices and ivory, to the Dutch Portuguese and
British, all of whom have left their mark. The Chinese fishing nets in
Cochin, the Dutch forts and palaces throughout the region, the tea
plantations and the crickets pitches of the Raj occupation. Kerala with
its abundant greenery, rolling hills of the Western Ghats, wildlife
sanctuaries, spice plantations and tranquil backwaters, deserves its
title “Gods Own Country”.
TAMIL NADU
Tamil Nadu offers ancient sites, huge temples and a strong vibrant
culture. This south east state boasts one of the oldest Hindu
civilisations and was the area least affected by the influence of the
British (despite being the original foothold of the East India Company),
and is often referred to as “the most Indian part of India”. It is
characterised by the most outstanding examples of Dravidian architecture
with fascinating temple towns of Maduri, Chidambaram, Trichy and Tanjore.
The largest temple, the Sri Ranganathaswamy at Trichy houses over twenty
thousand people within its walls.
KARNATAKA
Less populated and the least visited of all the southern states,
Karnataka has numerous places of interest for tourists. There is an
array of ancient sculptured temples, modern cities, scenic hill ranges,
unexplored forests and endless beaches. The stunning monuments have
borne witness to the rise and fall of Muslim and Hindu dynasties.
Historic Mysore, the city of palaces, fragranced with sandalwood, the
intricate temples at Malebid and Belur, the remnants of the Vijayanagar
empire at Hampi, towering statues and vast areas of protected land by
the national parks of Nagarhole and Bandipur contrast sharply with the
hip IT capital of Bangalore.
GOA
Goa is the most northerly of the southern states and has become
increasingly over-developed. However, it still has pockets where tourism
has been carefully regulated and some of India’s finest beach hotels can
be found on uninterrupted expanses of palm fringed beaches. Goa was once
a major stop on the “Hippy Trail” but it still remains a great place to
end a holiday for those who want breathtaking sunsets, great seafood and
to catch a glimpse of India’s Portuguese colonial legacy.
Central India
MADHYA PRADESH
Madhya Pradesh is known as the “Heart of India”. The tiger sanctuaries
of Bandhavgarh, Kanha and Pench which provide the backdrop and
inspiration for Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book still remain some of the
best places to see this magnificent animal today. Khajuraho is renowned
for its resplendent erotic 10th and 12th century Hindu temples. Orchha
and Gwailor are ancient towns with forts, temples, cenotaphs and
palaces, and form a more unusual and lesser known culture circuit.
ORISSA
Orissa has the highest concentration of temples on its coastline; the
main attraction is the Jagannath Temple in Puri, dedicated to Lord
Vishnu and the site of the extraordinary annual Rath Yatra Festival with
its magnificent procession of elephants, musicians and hundreds of
thousands of devotees. The gigantic Surya Temple of Konark, built as a
chariot for the sun god is unmissable.
MAHARASHTRA
The UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Ellora and Ajanta caves date as
far back as the 2nd Century BC. The caves complex consists of Jain,
Hindu and Buddhist temples and monasteries all hewn from out of the
mountainside. The caves demonstrate the religious tolerance that existed
in the ancient Indian society. The highlight of the caves at Ellora is
the Kaaailasa Temple, which claims to be the largest monolithic
structure in the world. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the entire vertical
surface of the temple is carved with figures recounting the great Hindu
epics of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.
MUMBAI (BOMBAY)
A vibrant and multifaceted city, and with a population of thirteen
million, it is the most populous city in the world. It has hectic and
buzzing bazaars that you can wander endlessly through as well as being
the home to glamorous Bollywood. The city, which is situated on the
waterfront, has a rich heritage of Victorian architecture from the days
of British colonial rule. A visit to nearby Elephanta Island to see the
Sive cave temples, which are hewn out of the rock face, is a must if you
do not have a chance to visit the more elaborate Ellora and Ajanta
caves.
North East India
ASSAM AND THE NORTH EAST HILL STATES
Assam is not just known for its tea. It has dense forests lying in the
foothills of the Himalayas, and wildlife reserves which give sanctuary to
tigers, the one-horned Indian rhino and is one of the last wild habitats
for the Asian elephant. One of the most ethnically diverse regions in
Asia each of the seven states that make up the North East has its own
distinctive culture and tradition.
SIKKIM
Sikkim is the least populous state in India. A state of hidden valleys,
mystical monasteries, fields carpeted with flowers and snow capped
mountains. Kanchenjunga, the jewel in Sikkim’s crown, dominates the
skyline throughout the state. This remote outpost provides an excellent
landscape for and alternative trekking region to Nepal.
WEST BENGAL
Calcutta, the former national capital and now capital of West Bengal, is
a bustling, chaotic, vibrant city, and still considered the cultural
capital of India. Also within the state is the panoramic hill resort of
Darjeeling. Reached by toy train, the train slowly ascends the
undulating hills dotted with tea plantations. Of all of India’s hill
stations Darjeeling is the most striking and its Victorian mansions
evoke a strong sense of its colonial past. The Sunderbans Delta to the
south is the largest mangrove in the world and its relative
impenetrableness means tigers have thrived, and the area is now a
protected UNESCO site.
