Detail from a mural at Ajanta.
Welcome to India,
Land of Colour and Contrasts
by Bikram Grewal
namaste!
welcome to
majestic india!
A traditional South Indian girl holding a thali (plate) of diyas (lamps) - the traditional Indian form of welcome.
India is one of the most richly rewarding regions of the world to visit. Her scenery is varied and exciting, her history and culture are lived experiences, and the openness and friendliness of her people are legendary.
dERIVING HER NAME from the river Indus, India is a country of subcontinental dimensions. The home of one of the earliest civilizations on earth and several of the world's great religions, India's historical and cultural heritage dates back several centuries. She has changed and reshaped herself through the ages, forever producing new forms of cultures and absorbing new influences. India is, besides, a country of amazing contrasts and diversity, with a physical environment that ranges from thickly populated plains, awe-inspiring mountains and palm-fringed golden beaches, to dense rainforests. India boasts a wonderful mix of tradition and modernity that finds its best expression in the distinctive lifestyles of the people who live across this vast land. The people of India are also her greatest wealth, borne out by the fact that India is the world's largest secular democracy, and home to over 1,000 million people.
The majestic Sivasamudram Falls in Karnataka-a telling reminder of nature's bounty.
