Discover a New World during Incredible India Tour

Incredible India is not just the name of the promotional campaign by the country, but this phrase encapsulates its sheer wealth of customs, culture and way of life. The country, defined by its diversity presents a new and exotic world filled with great wonders. In all, it is laden with experiences that fill your holidays with excitement and make it a surprising retreat.

There are numerous glimpses here that range from towering snow capped mountains, dry deserts, gorgeous green forests, blissful beaches and farmlands. All these add on to the beauty and enigmatic appeal of the country. Such sights also bring awe and wonder in the eyes of the travellers. It even makes India look like a world in its own. Besides this, every festive celebration also offers a grand spectacle in a lavish way. Take Desert Festival, Elephant Festival, Thrissur Pooram, Konark Festival, Khajuraho Dance festival – all of them present rich and colourful glimpses of the country.

But there is more to India than just the sights. The country presents a unique sensory experience that wraps the travellers in the most experiential way. Every sense here gets an exclusive retreat to cherish. The tastebuds here receive a variety of flavours and colours in the most delectable way. Utilizing the herbs and spices cultivated within the country, these special dishes comprising the curries, appetizers, flatbreads, pancakes etc make the culinary experiences more vivid and exciting. But if the spicy food is not a taste of your palate, you can even ask the chefs or cooks to tone down the flavours for a distinctive experience.

The sense of smell also gets a perfect dose. With cities like Mysore renowned worldwide for its sweet sandalwood fragrances to the aromatic spice forests of Kerala and Goa - many more locations here offer a rich treat to the sense of smell. Even when the dishes are served, the aroma of spices wafts and offers an incredibly sumptuous experience.

Same is with the ears. A traveller gets to hear the contrasting chatter of crowded cities as well as serene chants within a temple. The melodies of folk and classical music also offer a soothing experience for ears.

At last, the sense of touch achieves another exclusive expression in this country. Famed as the originator of Ayurveda, the country offers authentic way to carry out the traditional therapies to calm the mind and relieve the body of its stress. Overall, this wellness science is presents the best way of touch therapy, touching the existence from within.

All these sensory experiences touch the travellers from within and present a new world to be discovered in every incredible India tour. 

Incredible India Tour – The Country with Great Tourism Potentials

‘Incredible India’ is not just a name of a promotional campaign; it is an attempt to sum up the country’s best-kept heritage, cultural wonders and rich diversity. The country, bedecked with a variety of tourist attractions is a great attraction for tourists. Each visitor here comes to realize his dreams, visions and fantasies and returns back fulfilled. Such is the expansiveness of the country that caters to varied travellers.

But this is not just the reason why the country is incredible. There are other reasons associated with it as well that make it a unique destination. The first one is its sheer size. Being an amazingly huge country, it enjoys a variety of climatic and geographic conditions contributing to its diversity. There are mountains on one end and beaches on the other; and arid deserts, captivating greenery and numerous rivers comprising the country’s rich geography. This variety in geography sprinkles diversity on the country and makes it rich as far as tourism potentials are concerned. It forms the first prominent attraction why tourists visit India.

Other than these geographical attractions, there are other exciting facets to the country that make it an exciting destination. There are qualitative facets and aspects that contribute to its appeal and charm. The disciplines like Ayurveda, Yoga, Meditation and Spirituality form another reason why tourists turn towards this country. Here only, Ayurveda, Yoga and Meditation found their origins and calmed the existence of mankind with spirituality. It’s the link to spirituality and the pursuit to find the true self that brings many tourists to the destinations like Kerala tour, Rishikesh, Varanasi, etc.

Besides these soulful experiences, the country also is rich in religious philosophies. Out of the seven most followed religions in the country, four namely Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism have their roots in India. Here on this pious land, the renowned saints like Buddha, Mahavira and Guru Nanak Dev with their unique philosophies popularized the spiritual side of India. The journey of these religions can also be tracked during the sacred pilgrimages here.

In addition to the spiritual calm and relief, the country also accommodates shrills and thundering roars of wildlife. Belonging to the Indo-Malaya region, this country is bestowed with dense jungles, which in turn provide a backdrop for wildlife to flourish. This incredible attraction brings travellers to India to come and witness the fascinating wild species including tigers, lions, elephants, deers, rhinos, etc.

Also, there is a rich cultural amalgam in India in the form of rituals and hospitable traditions that make this country a splendid tourist attraction. There is much more to this country than a mere mention of these attractions. This destination has a power and enigma to surround a traveller with its extensively absorptive ethos and accompany him even after the incredible India tour is complete. In priceless moments and memories, the experiences of incredible India last forever. 

Forts of India

Amber Fort – Forts of India The famous forts of India have witnessed the history in its making.  They saw the rise and fall of many empires, flourishing of various ruling dynasties, the many accounts of romance and chivalry and even became the canvas for unique royal art forms. These power centers realized the architectural vision of their rulers who blended their royal aesthetics with the architectural mightiness to establish these wonderful jewels called forts in India. These visionaries had only one vision in their mind, which was only the protection of their kingdom and people. And these forts signified the glory of their kingdom. So, great planning of the medieval times in present era became the wonderful jewels of India dotting the entire landscape. Following are some of the majestic forts present in different parts of India. The Kings previously believed that building a fort on the hillock is a great defensive measure to protect their kingdom from attacks. Amber fort epitomizes the same vision. Built on a hillock with the high walls, this wide area fort provided the kingdom of Jaipur greater stability and security. Tourists come here to experience the mightiness of Rajputana kingdom that flourished under the rule of Raja Man Singh I. In fact, the unique Amber Fort is an iconic example of the Rajput and Mughal architectural blend prominently visible in Rajasthan Forts and Palaces. The fort has borrowed the concept of Aram Bagh, Sheesh Mahal, Diwan-i-Aam and Zenana or women’s complex from the Mughal architectural aesthetics. The other attraction of this hill fort is the enchanting Elephant Safari experience. The travellers can fulfill their desires of sitting on a royal elephant’s back as a part of an illustrious royal experience during the Amber Fort excursion. Sindhudurg Fort – Sindhudurg is a massive citadel spread over 48 acres on an Arabian Sea island in Maharashtra. Surrounded by the sea from the four sides, this unique fortress received fortifications with the use of over 4000 cast iron mounds by the iconic personality of the Marathas, Chhatrapati Shivaji in the 17th century. The high rising walls also contributed to the security of this fort. At the time when travelling by sea was banned by religious texts, this immaculate fort was and still is a testimony to human intelligence and engineering. Agra Fort – This flawless fort personifies the stronghold of Mughal majesty that flourished under the rule of Jalaluddin Akbar, the third and the most popular emperor of his times. Located on the western banks of River Yamuna, this fort served as the home to nearly five emperors of the dynasty. Later the fort received the sublime elegance from Emperor Shah Jahan, the fifth in the legacy of Mughals. Currently, this medieval fort is a recognized world heritage site for its sheer grandeur and mighty elegance. The attractions of this complex include the Mughal buildings like Diwan-i-Khaas, Diwan-i-Aam, Anguri Bagh, Mina Masjid and Sheesh Mahal. This fort can be explored during Agra city tour. Fort St. George – Forts St. George in Chennai, Tamil Nadu served as the first establishment of the British people under the East India Company. This iconic fort which was the structured originally for coastal spice trade harbour, later became the concentrated edifice for the rising power of the British. It was named as a dedication to St. George, the patron saint of England. The fort is structured with mighty 6 meters high walls that contributed to the security of the monument. The glory of Fort St. George can be revisited as a part of Chennai city tour. There are hundreds of other forts in India, each having different identity, character which reflect the vision of its constructing ruler. Through this blog, we will try to bring tourists closer to these mighty structures of power in incredible India. This attempt will make sure that they understand the vision, aesthetics and the immaculate artistry the Indian kings were known for.

India – the country of Incredible Facets

Introducing India, the country of incredible delights is a mammoth task, involving an exploration of strange yet extraordinary secrets stored in its heart. India gave to the world many novel concepts and visionary thoughts. One such prime thought is the concept of peace and non-violence which this country mastered through its 100000 years of history. Throughout this passage of illustrious time, India never invaded any country and always practiced peaceful and harmonious existence with the rest of the world.When many civilizations were dwelling in forests as nomads over 5,000 years ago, Indians were enjoying flourished and fulfilled existence at Harappa during Indus Valley Civilization period. In fact, the modern name ‘India’ is derived from the River Indus, the valley which was the home for the early settlers in the country. India got rechristened as ‘Hindustan’ by Persian invaders who pronounced Sindhu as Hindu. The term Hindustan became synonymous as the land of Hindus in the popular dialect, representing the land of bounties and riches defined by a metaphor of ‘the Golden Bird.’ This phrase illustrated the richness and grandeur of India equated with gold, wealth, diamonds, spices, fertile soil, rich resources, diversified knowledge and tolerant principles. Emperor Ashoka immortalized the principle of non-violence after a shattering bloodshed during the Kalinga War. He placed Buddhist rock edicts and pillar edicts in different regions of India. He also placed the Lion Capital in Sarnath, which later became the national emblem of this country. The Chakra in the Indian Flag is also inspired by the Dharma Chakra devised by Lord Buddha. Besides the peace and non-violence, India pioneered the concept of knowledge and education. The country’s achievement in the field of education was the conception of two famous universities in the world; Nalanda and Takshila. At that time, these universities taught more than 60 subjects and attracted around 10,500 students from different parts of the world, adding on to the glory of this region. The ancient sciences of Ayurveda and Yoga owe their origins to India. The timeless appeal of these healthy disciplines is valid till date, providing a boost to Ayurveda, Spa and Yoga therapies. In the field of science, Saint Charaka, the father of medicine devised and consolidated the concept of surgeries which are applicable even today. The accidental discovery of America by Christopher Columbus is also accredited to India. Columbus, in a hope to find out the sea route to India, unintentionally landed in America. Lastly and most importantly, India gave to the world the concept of immaculate hospitality through an age old adage, ‘Atithi Devo Bhavah.’ This saying sums up the belief that guests are god, and they should be treated with the divine hospitality. This saying is still a part of incredible India where tourists are considered gods and are treated at par with the best of hospitality and tourism potentials. This is a great reason why a great number of tourists prefer to visit India and experience a gamut of colours, regions, religions and traditions in a rich way. The incredible India tour is about all this and much more. It is an unabridged attempt to present the heritage, culture and natural bounties to the purveyors of India and bring them closer to this country of contrasts. Through this blog, we will continue to enlighten the tourists with the wealth of bestowed wonder called incredible India.

History of India – Revisiting the Golden Era

The history of India is a magnum opus stretched over 5,000 years of time. This vast time witnessed the evolution of India through many phases of ancient, medieval and modern history. The oldest civilization in the world, India or the land of hundred kingdoms saw the rise and fall of many dynasties.

These kings were the Maharajas who served their kingdoms instead of ruling them; patronized the religious beliefs and built colossal temples, forts and palaces in honour of the faith. Under their rule, everyone in general used to be a part of their kingdom’s prosperity. Emperor Ashoka was one such king under whose rule, the whole India unified. He patronized Buddhism and commissioned the rock edicts and pillars at different places of Buddhist renown. Lion Capital, the national emblem of India is also Mauryan Emperor Ashoka’s contribution to the country. Mahabodhi Temple at Bodhgaya is also one of his contributions to the ancient Indian architecture, besides numerous rock edicts.

Under the aegis of such righteous rulers, India prospered on the economic, artistic and philosophical fronts. There was a time, when the name of Hindustan evoked the image of a high soaring golden bird in the western world. It can be easily said that the best of the world belonged to India at that time. This all drew the many foreign powers in this colorful country like a magnet.

Mahmud of Ghaznavi was the first foreign power who attacked India and looted its riches in the eleventh century. Mohammed Ghori and others followed him. The Tughlaqs and later Mughals too asserted the onset of the Islamic era in India by invading the weakening Hindu kingdoms. In fact, the famous architectural gems like Qutub Mahal, Agra Fort, Taj Mahal, Red Fort and Humayun Tomb were constructed under Islamic rule. Akbar and Shah Jahan, two of the prominent rulers belonged to the Mughal dynasty.

At the same time, the many European natives based on their fascination, took up the sea route to India. Out of all the sea voyagers, Vasco Da Gama stood out to be the first European explorer to discover the spice route and reach India, the land of spices and other bounties. Dutch, French and British later followed the similar route for trading. Dutch, French and Portuguese established colonies in specific regions of India, whereas British moved ahead on the route to fulfill their ambitions of controlling India. They established the East India Company and changed the whole equation of ruling here. The weak Mughal establishment in the 17th century and the rising prominence of British traders brought the Indian throne under its Monarchical rule.

Later, this phase became the prime cause for Independence revolution. The first revolution under the legendary leaders like Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi, Tantya Tope, Mangal Pandey infused the wave of self rule under the leadership of the surviving Mughal emperor, Bahadurshah Zafar II.

This incident paved the foundation for the later freedom activists like Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, Mahatma Gandhi, Subhash Chandra Bose and thousands of other participants to continue their freedom struggle. During this phase, many of them lost their lives; but the flame of freedom was kept alive until August 15, 1947, when India had its tryst with destiny. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on the Red Fort Pavilion read his first speech as the first Prime Minister of India. This was a little glimpse of India’s long lost history. In the next post, we will throw some light on the historical travellers to India.

India - A Country Of Incredible Destinations

The country is dotted with numerous tourist attractions far and wide; making it a destination with great potentials. At one end, there are mountains, and on the other, there are beaches brimming with excitement. The greenery of the east finds its perfect contrast in the dusky deserts of the west. All this and much more entice tourists to visit this country again and again. In all, there are 28 states in India; each diversely unique in its cultural and ethnic traditions. But worry not, if you don’t know where to begin the India tour. Here, we are presenting the four most visited states of India popular for tourist holidays.

Uttar Pradesh, the country’s heartland enjoys the stronghold over Indian tourism industry. In fact, around 1/4^th of tourists landing in India turn towards this fertile state to experience its varied gems. This state is a repository of heritage featuring the indomitable spirit of Taj Mahal, the world’s ancient city, Varanasi, the seat of Buddhism in Sarnath and Kushinagar and a lot more. The state is also known for its etiquettes and embroidery, thanks to Lucknow. The culinary contribution can be cherished during the Uttar Pradesh tour is its rich Awadhi cuisine.

The second state, Jammu and Kashmir is followed and admired by the purveyors of natural bliss. Tourists frequent here to interpret the saying made by Emperor Jahangir, “If there is ever a heaven on earth, it is here, it is here, it is here.” The natural ecosystem of this state is protected by the highest of the Himalayas, providing tourists once in a lifetime to visit the many lush gardens including those of saffron and blooming tulips. The visitors can also avail another memorable experience of cruising on the magnetic Dal Lake inside the famous houseboat. The highest golf course in Gulmarg and the rugged roads leading to Buddhist Amazing Ladakh Tour also add intrigue to this northernmost Indian destination. The embroidered Pashmina shawls from Kashmir are popular worldwide and display the artistry and finesse of the handloom experts.

The third important destination in India is dedicated to royalty in its every way and form. Etched in legends, the palaces, forts, towers, observatories and step wells have an enchanting element that surely transports a tourist in a surprising world of brilliant royalty. The heritage hotels also define the royalty in their unique way and contribute to the state’s tourism. Here, you get to stay in the erstwhile palaces of the Maharajas enhanced by the wondrous service of Khidmatgars or attendants. If you are luckier than others, you might even get a chance to meet a living Prince or a King during a sojourn to incredible Rajasthan. The deserts here too have a mystic charm. The desert triangle of Jodhpur City Tour, Jaisalmer and Bikaner allow tourists to avail the charming Camel Safari over the expansive desert stretch. Udaipur, on the other hand is an ultimate destination known for its luxurious hotels. Mount Abu is the only hill station of the state famous among tourists for its mesmerizing charm and spiritual heritage in the form of Dilwara Temples. The culinary attractions of Rajasthan are also contrasting like the state. On the one hand, the state is known for intricate use of spices and on the other, the sweets and snacks are also relished by tourists with great interest.

Next to Rajasthan is the destination in extreme south, Kerala. The tourism in this state has redefined the standards of Indian hospitality. The state is known for connecting many cultural influences in the past and even received some legendary travellers in the medieval era through the legendary Spice Route. All this can be experienced in the cities of Kochi and Calicut. Kochi is also known for the Asia’s only Jewish synagogue in Paradesi Synagogue. Kochi is also the cultural capital of Kerala, where a number of cultural dance performances including Kathakali can be viewed in a traditional way. The state’s capital, Thiruvananthapuram is the evergreen city in the words of Mahatma Gandhi and hosts a number of tourist attractions including the richest Hindu temple in the world, Sree Padmanabhaswami Temple. The presence of nature’s bounties in the form of hill stations, beaches, backwaters, spice forests, waterfalls and the holistic adherence of Ayurveda, Spa and Yoga also make it an enchanting destination. The staple diet in this coastal destination is fish, crabs and prawns cooked with the fragrant spices also add on to the culinary delights of Kerala. 

From the above mentioned attractions, one can surely gasp in awe regarding the rich and wondrous diversity of India, making it an incredible destination in the world over. For more of such unique experiences here, visit Incredible India Tour. 

How to avoid a cultural shock during India tour

Culture in India enjoys more than a million interpretations in the form of traditions, ceremonies, customs and way of life. Over the journey of five thousand years, these rich cultural roots have assimilated and endured many foreign influences numerous times. This resulted in a civilization that is known to assimilate new beliefs, values and traditions.
Presently, this country is made up of 28 states; each having different festivals, values, lifestyles and cultural wealth unified under a visionary thought of ‘unity in diversity’. This idea brings the racial, heritage and traditional diversity on a single platform, lending this country a uniform identity. Royal pride of Rajasthan, the languish essence of Goa, etiquettes of Uttar Pradesh, artistry of West Bengal or cosmopolitan delights of Delhi; all of its regions have a different essence blending effectively into a cultural cocktail of India.
For a first timer like you, this bouquet of cultural diversity might serve as an unexpected and overwhelming encounter. The western world has termed this as a ‘cultural shock’; evoking physical or emotional discomfort during an exotic tour. This nostalgia of homesickness begins the moment when you step out of an Indian airport. You start comparing the goodness of home country with its crudeness. This alienated feeling invades your minds with confusions; separating you from the real joys of being in India.
There will be sleeping dogs on the pavements and mowing cows standing in the middle of the road, inviting traffic jam. There will be smells of various kinds; rich incense aromas or crisp spicy fragrances sensed abundant in every direction. There might be shrilling chorus of horns honking at a traffic jam or a profound silence during chanting inside the temples echoing in unison about the multifaceted nature of this colourful country. There is a lot of contrasting chaos in India, but still it is one of the most visited countries of the world, famous for its incredible delights. It is often said that tourists visit India, not only to find a country but themselves.
Such kinds of success stories in this country are many where tourists returned back with cherished memories and a yearning for more during the tour. But they all came into existence only after beating the cultural shock. This doesn’t mean ignoring the negatives, but an affirming acceptance of paradoxes, which will surely bring a smile and a sense of satisfaction to you.
One of the best ways to beat this cultural shock is to recognize the variations inherent in this country and accept them heartily. This will prove to be an icebreaker between you and India and in turn will inspire you to be an active participant of its traditions, rituals and customs. This exercise will surely help attain the frame of mind wherein you will be able to realize the expectations of an incredible tour. You can surely enjoy its cultural, ethnical and racial diversity, once you accept that they exist. As you venture this country in great detail, you will surely feel good about the fruitful journey you've accomplished so far. It will help you in cherishing the India tour.
Also, you can avail a cultural tour to India to avoid such a shocking experience. This rich tour will make your journey memorable and unforgettable. And why not? The down to earth approach and various ingredients of Indian society will allow you to spend the vacations in their best possible form.
Here, you will be introduced to the different cultures, traditions, art forms and customs of the tourist destinations slowly. Beginning with a traditional welcome in an Indian way, where guests are received with warmth and hospitality defined under the ancient tenet of ‘Atithi Devo Bhavah.’ It is interpreted in terms of serving the tourist as a guest with divine standards of hospitality.
Another great thing about its culture is that there is so much happening in every second, making you gasp in wonder about its scintillating diversity. Besides stunning scenery, the native also allows you to click perfect shots as a souvenir of visiting India. Before clicking, make sure that you seek permission from the people, to capture the great subjective shots.
One just needs to break the cliché of cultural shock to indulge in the true pleasures of an India tour in its best possible way and form. To know more about its rich culture, visit Incredible India tour.