India

“If there is one place on the face of earth where all the dreams of living men have found a home from the very earliest days when man began the dream of existence, it is India!” – French scholar Romaine Rolland

India in Nutshell

The history of India dates back 5000 years, back to when India’s first major civilisation flourished along the Indus River valley. The Indus civilization at one point of time extended nearly a million square kilometres across the Indus river valley and existed at the same period as the ancient civilizations of Egypt and Sumer but far outlasted them. Aryans came around 1500 BC and were mainly responsible for collapse of Indus Valley civilisation. The Four Vedas or the important books of Hinduism/India were compiled in this period.

The modern India got its independence from Britain in 1947 after a long struggle led mostly by Mahatma Gandhi. However,in the process of becoming independent, the country was divided into two countries. Post independence, India has made huge progress inspite of great problems, and has developed its industry and its agriculture, and has maintained a system of government which makes it the largest democracy in the world.

Weather

India experiences at least three seasons a year, Summer, Wet (or “Monsoon”) and Winter, each of which can vary in duration from north to south.
The heat starts to build up on India’s northern plains from around February, and gradually summer hots up by April or May and is at its peak in June. In central India temperatures of 45°C and above are commonplace. Even South India also becomes uncomfortable during summer season.

Places to See

Agra
Darjeeling
Delhi
Goa
Jaipur
Kolkata
Mumbai

Festivals & Events

Indian celebrate a huge number of festivals, most of them highly spectular and filled with colours. Therfore, it is a huge task to list all of them. However, given below is the list of some prominent festivals & events of India.

Republic Day – is celebrated on 26th January, every year. This is the day when India adopted the constitution and became a republic.
Holi – the festival of colour is celebrated some time during the month of February/March It marks the beginning of spring and is one of the most colourful Hindu festivals in the north of India. People throw coloured water and powder to each other.

Kumbh Mela – this huge festival commemorates an ancient battle between suras (gods) and asuras (demons) for a pitcher (kumbh) containing the nectar of immortality. During the fight for possession, four drops of nectar fell from the pitcher and landed in Allahabad, Haridwar, Nasik and Ujjain. The mela is held every three years rotating through these four cities.

Rath Yatra – the procession in Puri, every year in June/July involves the temple car of Lord Jagannath making its annual journey, pulled by thousands of eager devotees.

Dussehra & Durga Puja – September/October is the time to witness the Dussehra and Durga Puja Festivals, which are celebrated almost all over in India, but is perhaps at its most spectacular in West Bengal, Kullu, Mysore, and Ahmedabad.

Diwali – the festival of lights is the happiest festival of the Hindu calendar and is celebrated over five days in October/November. Sweets, oil lamps and firecrackers all play a major part in this celebration in honour of a number of gods. Fall some time in October / November every year.

When to Go

The best time to visit India is during October to first week of March. This is the period when climate is relatively cooler as compared to other part of the year.