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India is a country of many contrasts. Himalaya and steaming jungle, large cities stretching across wide spaces and forgotten villages, traditional crafts and perfect computers, archaic castes and the world’s largest democracy – it is hard to put India in a few words. A trip can usually only dedicate full attention to a small part of the county. In the north the tea plantations of Assam and Darjeeling, the prayer flags of the Buddhist convents and the former kingdom of Sikkim with India’s highest mountain, the Kanchenjunga (8528 m high), attract the visitors.
Rajasthan, the "land of the kings", with its castles and fortresses offer a glimpse at India’s fabulous past. The most famous evidence of this is the Taj Mahal at Agra. Not only because of this marble tomb, but also for the innumerable markets and bazaars one feels taken aback into those ancient times. Goa in the west is formed by Portugal and the Christians - totally untypical. The long white beaches are absolutely beautiful and no longer only a destination for dropouts. Here one can also discover the old Buddhist caves temples of Ajanta and Ellora as well as the mountain fortress of Gwalior.
India’s south is (apart from Calcutta) very relaxed, the people are open minded, the temples are colorful, the country side is gentle and green. The huge Ganges-delta displays innumerable islands and channels. The Bay of Bengal is a wonderful place to discover quiet fishing villages and to bathe. Coco- and pepper plantations, tropical flowers and palm trees form the country side around Cochin. In the hinterland one finds luxuriant-green chains of hills and game reservations. Along the roads one finds a sufficient number of small hotels which are always on the lookout for guests.
The huge towns New Delhi, Mumbai (Bombay), Calcutta, Bangalore or Chennai (Madras) seem to be able to swallow a person. Here one can study India’s problems because here they seem magnified: The bazaars are bursting with people, the traffic only creeps along slowly, the multistory buildings and mansions witnesses the wealth and the huge shantytowns tell stories about the misery of the millions of people.
India’s cuisine is incomparable and cannot be imagined without the flavor of jasmine and roses as well as the smell of innumerable other spices. Rogan Josh (lamb curry) and Biryani (chicken or lamb with rice, seasoned with sugar and rose water) are specialties of the north. Popular are also Tandoori-dishes (marinated chicken, meat or fish baked in a stove from clay). Typical for the south are hot spiced vegetable dishes, e.g. Bhaji (vegetable curry) and Dosa (extra thin crepes from lentil flour with vegetable filling and coconut sauce). The west coast offers above all fish and seafood.
Dhai (yogurt as side dish) is offered everywhere in India. It is not only tasty, but it also helps, to ease the tongue and throat after tasting the often heavily spiced dishes. In India sweet specialties are called Kulfi (ice-cream), Rasgullas (quark balls seasoned with rose water) and Gulab Jamun (flour, yogurt and grounded almonds). Unsurpassed is the large offer of fruit. Tea is the most popular beverage without question. Only "Tray Tea" is pure tea, otherwise it is served with milk and sugar. Refreshing are also Nimbu Pani (lime juice with soda) and coconut milk fresh from the nut.
Some geography:
India stretches over an area of 3.3 million square kilometers and has over 1.1 billion inhabitants. Therefore it is the country with the most inhabitants in the world directly behind China. The official title of the country is Bharat. Languages of the country are Hindi and English.
17 further languages are acknowledged. Predominant religion is Hinduism. 12 percent of the inhabitants belong to the Islam. The Indian celebrate their national holidays on January 26th, Republic Day, and on August 15th, Independence Day – the day they became independent in 1947.
Black and white:
India is a comparatively safe country for travelers. However there are regions, which one should avoid. These are for example the border regions between India and Pakistan, Jammu and Cashmere and the borderlands at Ladakh.
Anyone who tastes Indian food cannot avoid its curry. This yellowish-brown powder is a product of the region. The word "curry" was started to be used by the English colonial masters, which derived it from "Kari". It simply means "spicy sauce". In the west curry is a combination from turmeric, cardamom, ginger, coriander, nutmeg and cumin. An Indian cook mixes his curry from up to 25 freshly roasted and ground spices. |
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