Regions of India
Where do you start your journey in India? This has been a question that has perplexed many first time visitors and indeed people who have had a taste of India from an earlier trip. The country is vast and there is so much to experience that one can take away conflicting images while on holiday.
If one looked at the map of India one can see that the country is a large V projecting into a mass of water.. The Arabian Sea on the West, The Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea on the East and the Indian Ocean to the South. However what is intriguing is what is within the confines of the V. The North, as unique from the East, West and South of the country. Culture, traditions, cuisine, language and indeed the people, are all different and distinct from each other, however there is a vibrancy that emanates across the country.
So why don’t we look at each region by itself and find out what is exciting and enjoyable
THE NORTH
Geographically, the North extends from the foothills of the Himalayas to the Gangetic Plains it is known for its people, their culture and cuisine. Historically the North was where people like Alexander, followed by the Muslim invaders over centuries, fought, annexed kingdoms as their people intermingled with the local population. The result.. magnificent monuments, a hotbed of culture, so evident in their cuisine, and a thriving populace.
Kashmir— Has been described as “Jannat” .. Heaven on Earth . A land surrounded by mountains, multiple lakes, and India’s oldest ski slopes in Gulmarg. The Kashmiris, are known for their hospitality, their food, and their land abounds in breathtaking beauty.
Ladakh— Soaring mountains of the Himalayas, barren landscape dotted with prayer flags. Almost a leaf out of Tibet. Monasteries, and river valleys go hand in hand. It is a land populated by people who follow Tibetan Buddhism. The harshness of the land is lit up by the smile of the children who live and tend their flock.
Himachal Pradesh— A land filled with apple orchards and bee hives. Simla or Shimla,( as was called in the hey days) at 7000 feet, was the summer capital during the British Raj. It also has the Himalayan metre gauge Railway that runs from the foothills to the summer capital. Kulu and Manali were made popular in the 60’s when the Hippy culture decended into India. Today Manali is also known as a pit stop for the 2500 km Himalayan Car Rally.
Punjab—As one descends to the plains one comes to a land of plenty. Punjab has often been referred to as the ‘food basket’ of India and the state has been known to bring about an agricultural revolution a few decades ago. Punjab is also the land of the Sikhs, a proud community who are steeped in charity and helping others. Amritsar is the seat of their religious belief and has the magnificent Golden Temple in the middle of a huge man made lake.
Punjab also has a long border with neighbouring Pakistan and the Wagah border serves as a passage too and from either country. The closing ceremony each day is a public event and worth going to watch.
Delhi— Is not only the capital of India but is treasure trove of monuments going back a thousand years. From the majestic Qutub Minar at one end to the very modern centre comprising of the New Parliament building and the Raj Path the magnificent drive that leads up to the Rastrapati Bhawan , the home of the President of India, from India Gate. This is the place where the Republic Day parade is held each year on 26th January.The Mughal Era brought about some magnificent buildings, like the Red Fort ( now a Army bastion), to the Jama Masjid opposite the Fort. Chandni Chowk the hub of family run businesses selling everything under the sun, is a rickshaw ride away from the Fort. This area also houses the Mahatma Gandhi memorial, where he was assassinated in 1948. Delhi is also a foodie paradise, right from Mughlai cuisine where recipes date back to the Mughal era, to a fabulous mixture of Kashmiri, South Indian, multi fusion food. You name it and Delhi has it.
Rajasthan—Just south of Punjab and West of Delhi, Rajasthan is often synonymous with granduer, valour, vast open space, desert, and an unending line of forts and palaces each one as unique and grand as the next. Amber Fort outside the city of Jaipur, the Mehengarh Fort of Jodhpur, the Jaiselmer Fort in the desert city of Jaiselmer are the most visited and prominent of what Rajasthan has to offer. Not forgetting the lake city of Udaipur where the Lake Palace ( now a fabulous hotel) is built in the middle of the lake that dominates the city. The city palace that overlooks the lake is also a building known for its architecture.
The desert stretches to the West and is home to wandering nomads herding their cattle. It is also home to tourists wanting to spend a night or two in the middle of nowhere in luxurious tents, enjoying the quiet vast empty space, taking a camel safari further afield.
Utter Pradesh
The most populous state of India and probably has the most holy places to be visited for the Hindus. It lies to the East of Rajasthan and Delhi. It is also houses one of the Seven wonders of the World.. the Taj Mahal. Agra where the Taj Mahal is situated also has other magnificent buildings like the Agra Fort, Itmad-uddaulah, and Fatehpur Sikri. Marble inlay work while a dying art, is still seen, as families whose ancestors worked for the Mughal Kings are involved in the craft.
The city of Lucknow, the capital of the state, is the heart of Awadh culture, synonymous with politeness and etiquette , home to Urdu language and the famous Awadhi cuisine. The biriyanis, and kebabs are at the heart of an Awadhi meal.
Allahabad now known as Prayagraj— Is to the East of Lucknow. A dip at Sangam the confluence of the three holy rivers of Yamnuna, Ganga and the mystical river Saraswati is the aim and objective of not only Hindus, but one of the world’s biggest gathering of humankind during the month of January. ..THE KUMBH MELA . Allahabad as it was known during the time of the Raj has its own Fort on the banks of the River Ganges and other magnificent buildings. The University has over the years played an important role in providing candidates groomed for the Civil Service exams .The exams are a stepping stone for more than half a million candidates, BUT only a couple of thousand eventually end up getting jobs.
Varanasi or Benaras often referred to one of the oldest living cities in the world, where daily rituals be it having a bath in the waters of the River Ganges at dawn or the perpetual pyres of the dead on its banks, have not changed since time immemorial. It is a city dedicated to Lord Shiva, the giver of life and dead and there are more than twenty thousand temples in the city dedicated to him. The culture is so laid back that business does not begin before 11 am each morning and ends by 7.30 each evening in time for the evening ‘aarti” at any and all of those temples that dot the city.
Varanasi is also famous for the brocade work on a silk saree. Earlier times the brocade work was done with real gold and silver threads, but now as it is cost prohibitive this is done with silk and artificial threads. The work however remains intrinsically ‘Benarsi’ and is not replicated anywhere in India or the world.
The University here is unique too, It is one of the biggest enclosed campuses in the world, and is a great seat of learning for all aspects of studies including Ayurvedic Medicine Sanskrit texts and literature is taught, so students can relate to Hindu scriptures and understand its nuances. The study also forms the basis for students who wish to become a Hindu priest eventually making a living.
Sarnath, a small town just outside the city limits of Varanasi, is dedicated to Lord Buddha. It is here that Buddha preached his first sermon after gaining enlightenment in Bodhgaya. The well known eight fold path doctrine, was first propagated under a Bodhi tree here in Sarnath.
Madhya Pradesh
The Central Province is a vast area covered with forests. Mogli and The Jungle Book was conceived here and it continues to be home to the big cat- The Indian Tiger. National Forest Reserves abound and offer excellent opportunities to see the tiger in the wild along with other wild animals. Most notable amongst these are Kahna, Bandhavgarh, Pench wildlife reserves under the Government scheme of Project Tiger.
Bhopal is closely linked to the Mughal kings and the Jahan Numa Palace, which is now a luxury hotel,is an architectural delight. Sanchi on the outskirts of Bhopal is recognised by the Buddhists as a sacred place and has a glorious stupa built in memory of Lord Buddha.
Gwalior is a Fort city about 200 kms south of Agra.The city was founded by the erstwhile Scindia family. They were a great warrior clan who did not succumb to the Mughals. Descendants of the family continue to live and access the Fort and its palaces. The Fort has now been opened to the public .
Khajuraho is a temple city made famous by the beautiful carvings on the wall surface of each of its temples. It was the home of the Chandelas, a dynasty that devoted themselves to beauty and architecture including that of the female form. Kama Sutra, the legendary book on sexuality being part of healthy living , is often attributed for inspiration to the carvings on the temple face.
Bihar
Is the land closely associated with Lord Buddha. Bodhgaya, is where Buddha gained enlightenment and thereafter began his journey to Sarnath and Benaras where he preached the doctrine of the eight fold path for the first time to his disciples.
Bihar is not all about Bodhgaya. It is also about the famous dynasty of Ashoka the Great and the Mauryan Empire. Ashoka was the man who converted to Buddhism and was responsible for spreading Buddhism to his entire kingdom. Nalanda was considered the greatest seat of learning and the remnants of the University that existed during Huen Sang's travel to India, is still there to see. Ashoka also introduced Buddhism to Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Sri Lanka.
Bihar is not only about Buddha and Buddhism it is also about the religion of the Jains- Jainism. In the the hills surrounding central Bihar is Parasnath and Shikharji, where devout Jains go and meditate and follow in the footsteps of Mahavir, their most prominent Tirthankar or saint who lived around the time of Buddha. It is in the hills of Shikhaji that Mahavir attained Moksha.. the freedom from the cycle of birth and death. There are jain temples spread over 12 kilometres of paths through dense forests in parts, that form part of the parikrama ..a circumambulation of the site for meditation and prayer.
THE EAST AND NORTH EAST
West Bengal
Is the state East of Bihar and Madhaya Pradesh. Before independence it also comprised of the land east of the River Ganga ( Hoogly as it known here) of what is now Bangladesh
Calcutta or Kolkata as is now known, was the Capital of the East India Company and the River Hoogly formed its trade route. Before the British, Bengal was occupied by Nawab Shirajuddaulah a great general of the Mughals. The French, were the first foreign nation to set up trade here, and was known as the Fench Eat India Company. The Dutch and the Portuguese soon followed the French. After the defeat of the French by the British, The British East India Company was formed by Lord Clive the then Governor of India. He primarily followed the footsteps of the French and soon realised the enormous potential for trade and commerce . He followed the principle of Divide and rule act which he was very successful. At the battle of Plassey he defeated Shirajuddaulah the Nawab of Bengal and then had Mir Qasim Sirajuddaulah's minister, installed on the throne. Mir Qasim had become a puppet at the hands of Clive. The last Mughal Emperor , Bahadur Shah Zafar was also a resident of Kolkata in his last days and eventually buried in an anonymous grave in what is now Myanmar, His death effectually ended the Mughal Empire.
Calcutta thrived and became a favoured city of the Armenians, the Chinese , the Jews, some notable Italians. The Chinese were initially brought to India to work on the newly found tea plantations in Assam and the Dooars. Later on they moved to Calcutta and became involved in various other trading activities. The Chinese made Calcutta famous for its tanneries. All these communities did extensive business with the British in Kolkata, providing hotels, food delectable dining and a thriving business .
Calcutta is also home to the Late Rabindranath Tagore, the Nobel laureate and national poet. It was also the home of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, the Freedom fighter and the leader of an army of his own creation. He figured prominently in the fight for the Independence of India.
Today while it still retains many of the relics of the East India Company and possibly is more English than perhaps all other cities of India, it has sadly got left behind in terms of the progress other cities have made since Independence. However, it is still a charming city, laid back, and intellectually solid. Where the average street side tea seller is as knowledgable of the State’s politics as the politicians themselves. It is also a fantastic place to taste and eat what is intrinsically Bengali. Freshwater fish in mustard sauce, the most notable dish to name just one.
Darjeeling— In the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas was the summer capital of the British Raj. It was and continues to be best associated with Tea and the Himalayan Railway. Literally a Toy Train running on narrow gauge that runs even to this day, from the plains 70 kms south to 7000 feet which is where Darjeeling is situated . It is also home of Tenzing Sherpa, the first man to climb Mount Everest with Edmund Hillary, and Kanchenjugha, the third highest peak in the world.Darjeeling has the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, an establishment where on is taught the art of mountain climbing by expert mountain climbers .
Sikkim
Once a kingdom, now a part of India, sits North of Darjeeling. It shares its border with China and the Kingdom of Bhutan. It is the home of the Bhutias, the Lepchas and the indigenous Nepali. A mountainous region with high altitude lakes and the majestic Himalayan Range to the North, has played an important role during the escape of his Holiness the Dalai Lama from Tibet. Kanchenjungha is its sacred mountain and is worshipped for keeping the land and its people safe. Short and long treks into the Himalayas are available for people who have the desire to explore.
Assam
As one moves further East one comes to the state of Assam synonymous with the one horned Rhino ( only seen in India in the wild) and that robust, CTC leaf tea, famous the world over. Its a hill state with the majestic River Bhramaputra flowing through it from its origin in Tibet down to the Bay of Bengal through India and Bangladesh. It is the the state which has its National Parks in Kaziranga and Manas. Elephant rides into the jungle to see the rhino in its natural habitat, and the elusive Tiger can be seen up close. Assam borders the tribal states of Nagaland , Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. All rugged and beautiful.
The Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal
The Andamans Islands are a cluster of about 128 islands in the the Bay of Bengal. Many of them are inhabited by indigenous people. The Government of India has banned visits to a number of these islands for the protection of its people. However, there are some which are accessible and open to tourists. Port Blair being the capital of this Union Territory has the only airport in the region. Flights from Kolkata and Chennai are available on a daily basis.
Port Blair being the capital was also part of the British Raj legacy. The Cellular Jail is now a museum and open to the public. This jail was built during the British regime where political prisoners and die hard criminals were sent for incarceration from the mainland. During World War II Port Blair was occupied by the Japanese for a short while, in their attempt to move into India, which did not come to fruition . It is currently an Indian armed force station.
About 1 hour 45 minutes away is perhaps the most idyllic island of the Andamans...Havelock Island, with its pristine white sand beaches. It is also where scuba diving enthusiasts flock to. Nearby Neil Island carries over the same tradition of Havelock and is open to tourists all year round.
THE CENTRAL REGION AND WEST
As one moves to Central India and to the West of it one comes across the states of Gujarat Maharastra, and Goa. All so very different from each other not only in language and traditions but also in their cuisine.
Gujarat— Has the only National park in India for the Asiatic Lion, Gir National Park. The Park extends North to the salt flats of Raan of Kutch. Its the land of Mahatma Gandhi too from where he began his journey of Non violence. Gujarat also boasts of the biggest Cricket Stadium in the world and possibly the tallest statue in the world too. It is also the home of the Parsi community that escaped from Iran and found shelter in Gujarat. They are now predominately settled in the city of Mumbai in the neighbouring state of Maharatsra.
Maharastra— Is a very large state in size and its most notable city is Mumbai ( formerly known as Bombay). It is not only the financial capital of India, but it is home to Bollywood, India’s most recognised Film Industry which produces more than 400 movies each year. It is also the state that has the world famous Ajanta and Ellora caves south of Mumbai, and the Elephanta caves just off the shore of Mumbai.
Goa— Just South of Maharastra lies the most recognised state of India ...Goa. Famous for its many beaches, Churches and the remnants of its Portuguese heritage. Goa became part of India in 1961, but has retained its Portuguese charm in its buildings, people and cuisine. The sun shines for most part of the year and its beaches are where visitors spend their time. From the period of October to March, Goa boasts of the largest international charter traffic in India, over 400 during the six month period.
THE SOUTH
Karnataka— Moving slightly East of Goa and Maharastra is the state of Karnataka. Bengaluru, being its capital often referred to as the Silicon Valley of India. Bengaluru has also been referred to as the Garden City as there are many gardens that adorn the city. It is very cosmopolitan with its IT hub employing thousands of people from India and abroad. The city serves as headquarters for some major IT Companies like Infosys, HCL and Wipro.
Just south of Bengaluru is the city of Mysore, the seat of Tipu Sultan, often referred to as the ruler who defied the British to the very end. The ruined capital of Sravanbelagola and that of Hampi and Hubli are attractions that draw thousands. The Mysore Palace lit with more than a hundred thousand light bulbs on Sundays is an eye catching sight.
Andhra Pradesh—- Is often referred to the Deccan and the Deccan Plateau. The city of Hyderabad with its erstwhile Nizam , whose family continues to be one of the wealthiest royalties in India. The Charminar which forms the centre stage of Hyderbad, along with Faluknama Palace until recently, served as the residence of the Royal family. These buildings are attractions that cannot be missed. The Golconda Fort and the nearby mines, where the famed Kohinoor diamond is said to have been mined, add to the splendour of Hyderabad.
Tamil Nadu—Both Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh form the gateway to the Southern States of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The many splendorous temples, of the Dravidian style are the mainstay of Tamil Nadu. Temples of Tanjavur, the Meenakshi Temple of `Madurai are exquisite examples of Dravidian architecture. Chennai the capital of Tamil Nadu was the seat of the French East India Company before the arrival of the British, and one can even today see the distinct French influence at Pondicherry a short distance away from Chennai. The rock carvings and temples at Mahabalipuram, the seaside village just south of Chennai is another place to relax and soak up the sun. Up in the Nilgiri Hills to the hill station Ootacamund ,the toy train journeys up the distance of 70 odd kilometres from the plains much like it does in Darjeeling and Shimla. Ootacamund used to be the summer capital of the Wydayar dynasty with Fernhill Palace their princely abode. Fernhill Palace is now a well established hotel. The Nilgiris are also well known for their tea plantations. While their tea may not be as famous as that of their cousins of Darjeeling fame, the quality of their produce is wonderful.
Kerala— The southern most state on the West coast is known for its spices. Cochin , their coastal city, has possibly the largest auction market for spices in the world . Cochin is also the city where the Jews first arrived into India and established their life and community here. One of the oldest surviving synagogues in Kerala and indeed India, still stands in Cochin in the Jewish quarter. The Portuguese and the Dutch occupied Kerala primarily because of the spice trade, before they moved. The Dutch to West Bengal and the Portuguese to Goa. Kerala’s main attraction is its Backwaters. A large swathe of brackish water from the sea flows inland into waterways that traverse the countryside. Where the locals travel by boat from one village to another. The most popular circuit comprises of Allepey and Kottayam and its waterways. These two towns are separated by the vast expanse of the Vembranand Lake. Trivandrum further south of Cochin, is the State capital. Nearby is Kovalam, a beach lovers paradise. The Western Ghats a range of mountains that runs the length of Kerala and indeed northwards all the way up the coast to Goa and beyond, is home to the famous wild elephant sanctuary of Thekkaday. Kerala is probably most recognised for Ayurveda and its holistic alternate form of medicine. The use of medicinal oils for body massages and treatment of various ailments is intrinsic to Ayurveda. Whilst in Kerala a session or two at an Ayurvedic clinic is well worth the time.
Now that we have explored the various regions of India and have had a fair idea of the extent of the country and what it has to offer, why not get in touch with us and let us help plan your trip for you.. just the way you would want it.