India will amaze
you with its size, clamour and diversity - but if you enjoy delving
into convoluted cosmologies and thrive on sensual overload, then
it is one of the most intricate and rewarding dramas unfolding
on earth, and you'll quickly develop an abiding passion for it.
The subcontinent of India lies in south Asia, between Pakistan,
China and Nepal. To the north it is bordered by the world's highest
mountain chain, where foothill valleys cover the northernmost
of the country's 35 states. Further south, plateaus, tropical
rain forests and sandy deserts are bordered by palm fringed beaches.
Side by side with the country's staggering topographical variations
is its cultural diversity, the result of the coexistence of a
number of religions as well as local tradition. Thus, the towering
temples of south India, easily identifiable by their ornately
sculptured surface, are associated with a great many crafts and
performing arts of the region.
In the desert of Kutch, Gujarat, on the other hand, a scattering
of villages pit themselves against the awesome forces of nature,
resulting in Spartan lifestyles made vibrant by a profusion of
jewelry and ornamental embroidery used to adorn apparel and household
linen. In the extreme north is the high altitude desert of Ladakh.
Local culture is visibly shaped by the faith - Buddhism -as well
as by the harsh terrain. Yet another facet of Indian culture is
observed in the colorful tribal lifestyles of the north eastern
states of Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura and Manipur with their folk
culture.
In the central Indian states of Orissa and Madhya Pradesh tribal
village life has resulted in a variety of artistically executed
handicrafts.
India's mountains provide heli skiing, river running, mountaineering
and trekking. Its beaches provide lazy sun-bathing as well as
wind surfing and snorkeling, and its jungles provide shooting
wildlife -with a camera.
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