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 28 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.
Festivals &
fairs in India
Indians do not celebrate without
any reason. Hundreds of events
take place throughout the year
in different regions of the country.
People plan the events very carefully
and celebrate them with pomp and
gaiety when the time arrives.
There may be hundreds of such
events but that does not mean
that some events are...................more>>
Most of the trekking routes
are only a few tens of kilometers
from major towns but going
there is like travelling
many hundred years back
into time. The best months
to trek in Sikkim are March
to May and September to
November. Most of the places
on trekking routes in remote
areas are just herders'
huts or sheds and some places
have nothing at all but
wilderness.
This nine-day
trek beginning and ending
in Darjeeling takes you
along the famed "Singalila
range" to Sandakphu
(12,000) and Phalut (11,800).
On the way you will pass
through spectacular forests
of silver fir, rhododendrons,
chestnuts, oaks, magnolias
and hemlock. A springtime
trek reveals not only stunning
views of the mountains but
whole hillsides covered
with rhododendron and magnolia
flowers. A post monsoon
trek reveals the mountains
in crispier glory when the
rains have washed away the
haze. The trail from Sandakphu
to Phalut is an exhilarating
experience and one can see
four of the world's highest
mountains: Everest, Makalu,
Lhotse and Kanchenjunga
in one glance. ...........................................................more
Ladakh is on the western edge of the Tibetan plateau, bordered by the Himalayan Range to the south and the Karakoram to the north. Razor sharp peaks criss-cross the sun-baked landscape and glacial melt irrigates precious crops during the brief growing season. Ladakh has been a repository of Vajrayana Buddhism for the last 1000 years and its tremendous natural beauty is complemented by magnificent medieval monasteries, white washed chortens, and brightly colored prayer flags. Since 1834 when the Maharajah of Kashmir annexed Ladakh it has been politically a part of India but it's language, religion, and customs are closely related to those of central Tibet. ...............................................................more
