INDIA

“India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of 

history, the grandmother of legend, and the great-grandmother of tradition. Our most 

valuable and most instructive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only. 

So far as I am able to judge, nothing has been left undone, either by man or nature, to make 

India the most extraordinary country that the sun visits on his rounds. Nothing seems to 

have been forgotten, nothing overlooked. One land that all men desire to see, and having 

seen once, by even a glimpse, would not give up that glimpse for all the shows of all the rest 

of the globe combined.” 

Mark Twain, 1835-1910 

Dimitra 

Stasinopoulou 

Dimitra Stasinopoulou 

INDIA 

Unity in Diversity 


Unity in Diversity

“Since at the beginning and end of our lives we are completely 

dependent on the kindness of others, how can it be that in the 

middle we would neglect kindness toward others?” 

The Dalai Lama


Unity in Diversity 

PHOTOGRAPHY - TEXT 

Dimitra Stasinopoulou

Copyright© Athens, March 2010 


e-mail: dimitra@imedica.ro 

To my husband, Yiannis. 

PHOTOGRAPHY/ TEXT: Dimitra Stasinopoulou 

TEXT EDITING: Dimitris Ananiadis 

BOOK DESIGN: Phoebe Skotida 

COLOR SEPARATIONS/ MONTAGE: Nikos Alexiadis - TOXO OE 

PRINTING: Epikoinonia LTD 

BOOKBINDING: G. Iliopoulos 

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or 

transmitted in any form or means without the permission of the copyright © holder. 

COMPLIMENTARY COPY 

Τhe Dharmachakra symbol, “the Wheel of Law”, is one of the oldest known 

Buddhist symbols found in Indian art, appearing with the first surviving 

post-Harappan Indian iconography, in the time of the Buddhist king 

Ashoka. The wheel (Sanskrit chakra) represents the teachings of the Buddha. The wheel 

also represents the endless cycle of samsara or rebirth. It symbolizes the Noble Eightfold 

Path that Lord Buddha taught: right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right 

livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Dimitra Stasinopoulou was born in Athens, Greece in 1953. After 

completing her studies, she worked in the banking sector for 20 years, 

and later on, in the family business in Romania. She discovered her 

love for photography in the last few years. Her fist book “Romania 

of my heart”, published in December 2005, was awarded with the 

Romanian UNESCO prize. Her second book “Bhutan, smiling faces 

from the roof of the world” was published in October 2008. Her pictures 

have been awarded in international photo-competitions and 

have been displayed in Greece and abroad. 

CONTENTS 

INTRODUCTION 6 - 17 

THE HIMALAYAS - Jammu & Kashmir • Ladakh 20 - 71 

THE NORTH - Amritsar • Haridwar • Rishikesh • Dharamsala 72 - 135 

RAJASTHAN - Jaipur • Udaipur • Pushkar • Deogarh • Ranakpur 136 - 201 

DELHI, AGRA, VARANASI 202 - 275 

MAHARASTRA - Mumbai • Goa 276 - 359 

THE SOUTH - Tamil Nadu • Kerala 360 - 447

INTRODUCTION 

My interest in photography came late in my life. Nevertheless, my love 

for this means of expression I believe, comes from the past, in those 

years where my eyes were stunned by the gleaming world and they 

craved to share it, turning it into something real by giving it to others. I 

began traveling and photographing places and people that were distant 

from the “modern” western way of life, and were traveling in the pages of 

history following another, different, course. I am most excited by people, 

places and cultures that have not been overtaken yet by the homogeneity 

of the west. I love the color and texture of those places, the vitality of 

life and their rituals and symbolisms. Ι shoot what moves me; I shoot 

from my heart to tell the visual stories I love and care about, discovering 

what it means seeing rather than merely looking. Photos are emotional 

experiences. I hope these pictures will move you the way I was moved 

when I took them. 

“…Sometimes my camera acts as a mirror. With it I can collect light and 

express what can’t be described with words. With it I can free myself from 

the world. In these images you can see my heart, these images are a ladder 

to my dreams”, as quoted from Gregory Colbert’s “Ashes and Snow“. I 

believe he is expressing poetically and with great accuracy every amateur 

and professional photographer, every person who has sensed the magic 

of capturing in a frame a little something from the light of people and 

nature. 

Ever since childhood I have felt a strong bond with India. First was 

with Rudyard Kipling’s “Jungle Book”, the story of Mowgli, the lost boy, 

who was raised by wolves in the jungles of India, learning not only the 

ways of the jungle, but also moral lessons from animals which could talk 

and reason. Gandhi followed. In my eyes, his teachings of non-violent 

resistance “wherever you are confronted with an opponent, conquer him 

with love”, posed immense meaning, a way of life that illuminated the 

greatness of humility in every action I saw around me. Enchanted by this 

uncharted new world, I didn’t know then I was signing a special check 

–with an open date-, for a debt so fundamentally personal, that it was 

bound to be redeemed at some future time by something truly mine. 

India was bound to be a priority destination in my travels. Although 

its territorial vastness, its huge population and the sometimes difficult 

conditions that prevail rather prevent one from its culture, the beauty 

of the landscape and the sweetness of the people, urge the visitor 

not to abandon the exploration, but to try and penetrate as deep as 

possible into this odd way of life with its deafening colors and mythical 

spiritual universe. There is an admiration for the magical coexistence 

of traditional culture, customs, and values with high technology and 

foreign infused values. In India you see rich and poor, but what you see 

more than anything else is an entire nation embracing life. 

I was privileged to visit India several times. I covered great distances 

starting from the high peaks of the Himalayas and the province of 

Ladakh - ‘The land of high passes’, ‘The land of lamas’ - and the Indus 

valley. To the North, the holy cities and famous pilgrimage centers of 

Rishikesh, Haridwar, Amritsar and Dharamsala known also as the “Little 

Lhasa”. Here the Tibetans are in exile since 1959, and is known all over 

the world from the teachings of the Dalai Lama. To the West, I visited 

Rajasthan, that represents the romance of India’s forts and palaces, with 

the cities of Jaipur, Udaipur, Ranakpur and Pushkar. Further down I 

encountered Delhi, the capital, Agra with the world famous Taj Mahal, 

and Varanasi, the holiest city of Hindus. I also «discovered» Mumbai, 

the metropolis and the financial center of India and Goa with its emerald 

coasts. To the South, Tamil Nadu with its great history and 2000 years 

old language and the city of Madurai, and finally Kerala and the port of 

Cochin, famous for their heritage and culture, arts, dance. 

I always felt I was just beginning my journey and had merely touched 

this glorious world and the way it perceives reality. The succession of 

images is so fast, that one can barely assimilate them. No cities or towns 

can represent the stereotype of India. All are unique. But the peculiar 

thing is that you can feel the presence of a strong and widely- spaced 

common cultural net encompassing all the individual Indian cultures. 

The blood circulating is common. Indians feel proud, calling this 

phenomenon ‘Unity in Diversity’. 

Especially in the Himalayas, where the following photographic journey 

begins, the natural beauty as well as the unique cultural scenery astounds 

the visitor. It is a landscape different from the image of the Indian world 

that we have in our minds: ancient Buddhist temples, boulders molded 

over the ages and ascetic clay-built settlements. Here we find populations 

that live in isolation, devoted to their Buddhist faith and cultivating the 

land in almost the same way their ancestors did thousands of years ago. 

Everywhere I went, I met an unparalleled cultural heritage and 

magnificent people, sometimes sad in their poverty, but always positive 

and peaceful within. Hindu people are the most compassionate, sweet 

and calm people anyone can come across. Violence is never part of 

their emotions. It is these people, with their disarming innocence, in 

reality, that represent the biggest treasure of the country, being carriers 

of the ancient yet still vibrant traditions and religious practices. I could 

of course meet only a fraction of the population of over one billion. 

Yet there is a common factor. These people have a natural dignity and 

pride, qualities which I hope will outlast the inevitable tide of change 

that comes with the increasing globalization. I have tried to capture the 

indomitable spirit and unique beauty which shines through their faces. 

It is amazing to see that even the poorest people in India respond 

with a warm smile. This reflects the inherent strength of the rich 

Indian civilization and culture. It was the smile of the poor Indians that 

Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the Nation, translated into power and 

finally obliged the British to leave the country, without any bloodshed 

and war on the part of India. This smile is the strength of Indian 

democracy which allows millions of Hindus to live with Muslims, 

Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs and others. They have lived for centuries 

in harmony, despite the existence of a caste system, different languages, 

ethnic and religious groups. It is this smile that brought in people from 

other countries to make India their home. India, a country that is 

already crowded with sorrows and needs of its own, has accommodated 

hundreds of thousands of refugees from Tibet, Iran, Afghanistan, Africa 

and Bangladesh. India’s generosity is best described by the Dalai Lama 

“…Tibet and India enjoyed a profound and centuries-old religious and 

cultural relationship. The Tibetan people’s deep sense of reverence for 

India is borne out by our reference to her as the Holy Land. We, Tibetans, 

have been living as refugees in India for fifty years now. Despite her own 

difficulties, India has been exceptionally generous in her assistance to 

us: resettling Tibetan refugees, preserving and promoting our religion 

and culture and providing educational facilities for our children. India’s 

generosity to our people must be clearly written in the history of Tibet. 

India serves as an example of religious tolerance, mutual respect and 

understanding among the followers of different faiths”. 

I recently read somewhere that once someone sets foot in India he 

immediately realizes how up until that moment he was colorblind and 

suddenly he discovers how colorful the world really is. Indians know and 

control color through intuition. The Indian view of life resonates with 

optimism. Even at death white is the color of mourning but it is also the 

color of life – it is the color that bonds life and death. 

You will not find another place on the face of earth, where creative 

passion is expressed as compellingly and where so many different 

cultures, races, languages and religions harmoniously coexist. Maybe it is 

this exaggerated element in their faith that grants them this Unbearable 

Lightness, this deeper, almost organic understanding, that bestows 

upon them this gracious and primeval wisdom. A very characteristic 

description is that of Apollonius Tyanaeus, the Greek Neopythagorean 

Philosopher, who visited India in the 1st century AD. He wrote “In 

India, I found a race of mortals living upon the Earth, but not adhering to 

it, inhabiting cities, but not being fixed to them, possessing everything, but 

possessed by nothing”. 

Whatever you come across in this country is exceptional and 

impressive. Because of that, you are obliged to take a decision right away 

and choose a topic. Wandering about different areas of India, I found 

myself tempted to photograph all that tolerance: the faces, the endless 

plains, and the ramshackle camps. After I got over my first impulse, I 

concluded that to portray the poverty of a poor country was, indeed, 

the easiest thing to do. Instead of that, I decided to attempt to capture 

with my lens, the humble breath hidden below all that wretchedness: the 

human dignity of the Indian people, their sweetness and their optimism. 

The qualities of these people are so strong that conditions of life are a 

secondary matter. 

One of the more powerful experiences of my trips was when I visited 

Mumbai’s Dharavi slum where millions of people live. Gregory David 

Roberts, in his book, Shantaram, in a gorgeous, humane description of 

India, describes what he felt seeing the slums of Mumbai where millions 

of economically-ravaged people try to make a life for themselves: 

“… For the first sight of the slums, clutched at my heart with talons of 

shame. The miserable shelters were patched together from rugs, scraps of 

plastic and paper, reed mats, and bamboo sticks. They slumped together, 

attached one to another and with narrow lanes winding between them. 

Nothing in the enormous sprawl of it rose much above the height of a 

6 7

man. My first impression was that some catastrophe had taken place, 

and that the slums were refugee camps for the shambling survivors. I 

learned, months later, that they were survivors, of course, those slumdwellers: 

the catastrophes that had driven them to the slums from their 

villages were poverty, famine and bloodshed. And five thousand new 

survivors arrived in the city every week, week after week, year after year. 

As the kilometers wound past, as the hundreds of people in those slums 

became thousands and tens of thousands, my spirit writhed. I felt it at 

all; it is a lacerating guilt, that first confrontation with the wretched of the 

earth. Then the smolders of shame and guilt flamed into anger, became 

fist-tightening rage at the unfairness of it: What kind of a government, 

I thought, what kind of a system allows suffering like this? But the slums 

went on kilometer after kilometer, relieved only by the awful contrast of 

the thriving businesses and crumbling, moss covered apartment buildings. 

A kind of wonder possessed me. I began to look beyond the immensity of 

the slum societies and to see the people who lived within them. A woman 

stopped to brush forward the black stain psalm of her hair. Another 

bathed her children with water from a copper dish. A man led three goats 

with red ribbons tied to the collars at their throats. Another man shaved 

himself at a cracked mirror. Children played everywhere. Men carried 

water in bucks. Men made repairs to one of the huts. And everywhere that 

I looked, people smiled and laughed. I looked at the people then, and I 

saw how busy they were-how much industry and energy described their 

lives. Occasional sudden glimpses inside the huts revealed the astonishing 

cleanliness of that poverty. The spotless floors and glistening metal pots in 

neat, tapering towels. And then, last, what should’ve been first, I saw how 

beautiful they were: the women wrapped in crimson, blue and gold; the 

women walking barefoot through the tangled shabbiness of the slum with 

patient, ethereal grace, the white toothed, almond eyed handsomeness of 

the men; and the affectionate camaraderie of the fine limbed children, 

older ones playing with younger ones, many of them supporting baby 

brothers and sisters on their slender hips. And half an hour after the bus 

ride began, I smiled for the first time...” ”…I love Bombay. To my eyes, the 

city was beautiful. It was wild and exciting. Buildings that were British 

Raj-romantic stood side to side with modern, mirrored business towers. 

I heard music from every ship and passing taxi. The colors were vibrant. 

The fragrances were dizzyingly delicious. And there were more smiles in 

the eyes on those crowded streets than in any other place I’d ever known. 

Above all else, Bombay is free-exhilaratingly free. I saw that liberated 

unconstrained spirit wherever I looked and I found myself responding to 

it with the whole of my heart. Even the flare of shame I’d felt when I first 

saw the slums and the street beggars dissolved in the understanding that 

they were free, those men and women. No one banished the slum-dwellers. 

Painful as their lives were, they were free to live them in the same gardens 

and avenues as the rich and powerful. The city was free. I loved it.” 

When friends ask me for a good reason to visit India, I give them over 

a billion: the people. Every visit to India offers an alternative viewpoint 

on the personal ambition and material priorities of the western world. 

This book is a tribute to the eternal spirit of India and its people, their 

democratic temperament, generous hospitality, disarming openness, 

tolerance and inclusiveness, and the amazing ways by which these 

differences and diversity are accommodated and celebrated. 

I am grateful and deeply indebted to the authors of the books I used 

for my research. Their deep knowledge has granted me precious input 

regarding the way of life, the religion and the culture of India – in fact 

the completion of this book would have been impossible without their 

contribution. 

ABOUT THE COUNTRY 

The Republic of India officially known as ‘Bharat’, is referred to in the 

Indian scriptures as ‘Bharatvarsha’, and its inhabitants are known as 

‘Bhartiya’, meaning the descendants of Bharata, the king who ruled the 

whole of India. 

The ancient civilization of India evolved in a sub-continent bounded 

on the north by the world’s largest mountain range – the chain of the 

Himalayas which separates India from the rest of Asia and the world. 

The basin of the Indus is divided by that of the Ganges by the desert 

of Rajasthan. South is the Vindhya mountain range that separates 

Hindustan from the peninsula of Deccan. From Kashmir in the north to 

Cape Comorin in the south, the sub-continent is about 2000 miles long. 

The north, the south, the east and the west, all are distinctively different. 

The barrier of the Himalayas was at no time an insuperable one and at all 

periods both settlers and traders have found their way over the high and 

desolate passes into India, while Indians have carried their commerce 

and culture beyond their frontiers by the same route. The “silk road”, as 

it is known, saw the movement of thousands of people carrying India’s 

products to the east. The importance of the mountains to India is that 

they are the source of her two great rivers, Indus and the Ganges. Water 

has always played a sacred role in the Indian life, and the waters of the 

Indus river system were to become the cradle of North India’s culture. 

Submersion into water symbolizes total rebirth as it means the dissolving 

of all forms, the cleansing from sin. 

Of the two river systems, that of the Indus had the earliest civilization 

and gave its name to India. The Indians knew this river as Sindhu 

(in Sanskrit it means ‘like an ocean’), and the Persians, who found 

difficulty in pronouncing the initial “S”, called it Hindu and the country, 

Hindustan. From the Persians the word passed to the Greeks who 

invaded northwestern India under Alexander the Great in 326 BC. They 

designated the inhabitants of the banks of the Indus River as Indoos, 

hence, the whole of India became known by the name of the river. Over 

the years, India has witnessed the rise and fall of many empires and 

invasions by people of various races and cultures. There was conquest, 

but one in which the foreign invaders adapted, changed and became 

Indian. 

About 1500 BC, powerful nomadic warriors known as Aryans 

appeared in northern India. The warriors were from Central Asia, 

but managed to bypass the Himalayas by finding lower passes in the 

mountains, such as the Khyber Pass in Pakistan. They conquered the 

Dravidians of Central India and imposed their social structure. Although 

the Aryans were a conquering people when they first spread into India, 

the culture of the Aryans would gradually mix with indigenous cultures, 

and the war-religion of the Aryans, still preserved in parts of the Rig 

Veda, slowly became more ritualized and more meditative. By 200 BC, 

this process of mixing and transforming was more or less complete and 

the culture we call «Indian» was fully formed. From 550-528 BC, the 

Persians conquered part of India. The Arab Muslims began invading as 

early as 712 AD. But the main Muslin invasion was from the Turks who 

conquered the biggest part of India, except the South where the Tamil 

developed their great civilization. 

In the 15 th Century AD the Mongols invaded India. From the 15th 

century the Europeans arrived: namely, The Dutch, English, French, 

Danish and Portuguese. The “spice route” to India was one of the most 

influential commercial activities in history and directly affected the 

course of world events. Christopher Columbus’ desire to find an Atlantic 

sea route to the East Indies led him to the discovery of America. The 

British East India Company, formed in 1600 to compete with the Dutch 

spice trade, resulted in the colonization of the Indian subcontinent. 

Politically the British ruled India for most of the 19 th century and the 

first half of the 20 th century, until the country’s independence in 1947. 

There is a strong imprint of British philosophy and culture in India. 

There are phases of Indian history which are bright, but there are also 

phases which are dull and dark. India’s subjugation by foreign imperial 

powers deeply marked the country. According to some historians, at the 

time India was conquered by western colonial powers it was one of the 

wealthiest nations in the world. References to India’s cultures are found 

in the Bible and in ancient Greek, Roman and Chinese literature. Yet, 

from its myriad upheavals, a vibrant, diverse and thoroughly modern 

nation has emerged, as enduring as it is dynamic and increasingly 

well-equipped to meet the challenges of the future. India is the largest 

democracy on earth, with one billion three hundred million people 

with, freedom, equality and the rule of law as fundamental principles. 

It has emerged as the largest middle class in the world history after 

two hundred years of poverty. It is still overwhelmingly rural, and its 

economy is predominantly agricultural, but it has become self sufficient 

in food and has already embarked on a new life of economical stability 

and development. Now India is a leading player in the world. The use 

of computers and cellular phones has become so common that they are 

even found on roadside rickshawalas. There is Bollywood challenging 

Hollywood. Still, there is a paradoxical contrast. On the one hand, 

India has advanced in nuclear power and space technology, but on 

the other, millions are still living in the clusters of shanty towns. But 

things are changing. It’s been only 60 years since the British left India. 

The number of millionaires in India has crossed the one million mark, 

while 40 Indians are included in the 2010 Forbes list as multibillionaires. 

Contrary to the expectations, India’s millionaires are concentrated more 

in the rural areas than in urban centers. The extremely wealthy and the 

unimaginably poor live almost side-by-side, sharing the same common 

landscape. The cultural co existence of these classes for a lifetime is an 

unexplainable miracle. In any case, Indian culture would be entirely 

different without the fundamental impact of Hinduism, that is not only 

a religion, but also a philosophy and a way of life. 

The Caste System: A very important part of India’s social structure, 

difficult for us to understand, is the ancient hierarchical caste system 

which arose during the Vedic period, when Hindu-influenced law, or 

Dharma, was created to regulate society. India has been living with this 

dharma for three millennia. It is this that shapes its people’s logic and 

behavior. Hindus believe that a person is born into one of four castes. 

8 9

The existence of rigid ranking is supernaturally validated through the 

idea of rebirth according to a person’s karma, the sum of an individual’s 

deeds in this life and in past lives. After death, a person’s life is judged 

by divine forces, and rebirth is assigned in a high or a low place. Those 

born as Brahmans are priests and teachers; Kshatriyas are rulers, 

warriors, landowners; Vaisyas are merchants and traders; and Sudras 

are artisans and laborers. Within the four castes, there are thousands 

of sub-castes, defined by profession, region, dialect, and other factors. 

The Untouchables were literally outcasts who were so unworthy that they 

were excluded from the caste system. The untouchables call themselves 

Dalit, meaning depressed. Until the late 1980s they were called Harijan, 

meaning Children of God, a title given to them by Mahatma Gandhi who 

wanted them accepted in the society. 

Historically, the caste system offered several advantages and served 

as an important instrument of order in a society where mutual consent 

rather than compulsion ruled. A well-defined system of mutual 

interdependence through a division of labor created security within a 

community. It has kept a sense of order and peace among the people. 

The caste system has been illegal in India for more than fifty years, 

outlawed by the Constitution of 1950, but it continues to shape people’s 

lives, although it has declined significantly. The Indian government has 

provided the Harijan, with specific employment privileges and granted 

them special representation in the Indian parliament. In general, the 

urban people in India are less strict about the caste system than the 

rural. In cities one can see people of different castes mingling with each 

other, while in some rural areas there is still discrimination based on 

one’s caste. The joint family has been the strength of Indian society. It 

includes everyone descended from a common ancestor living under one 

roof, united not only in its common home but in most aspects of life, 

and with the strong sense of responsibility that people show for their 

parents and all the members of their extended family. 

Numerous were the times when all these things surprised me, 

especially the strong attachment of the Hindus to their tradition, even 

when it dictated a torturous fate they must tolerate patiently. However, 

there were other times when I could identify those links that bind their 

lives with the past: a cultural universe made up of simple philosophy, 

myths, legends and historical facts, all blended in a way, that even the 

simple and illiterate people could understand and follow. Maybe it is all 

these powerful elements that influence their day-to-day lives and give 

them their dignity and grace. 

INDIA’S CULTURE 

The Indus Valley Civilization started around 5,000 BC. By 2600 BC, 

early Harappan communities had been turned into large urban centers. 

Such urban centers include Harappa, Ganeriwala, Mohenjo-Daro and 

others. In total, over 1,052 cities and settlements have been found, 

mainly in the general region of the Indus Rivers and their tributaries. 

Around 1800 BCE, signs of a gradual decline began to emerge, most 

probably due to changes in the climate conditions, and by around 1700 

BCE, most of the cities were abandoned. However, this civilization did 

not disappear suddenly, and many elements of the Indus Civilization 

can be found in later cultures. Ever since then, nothing was able to 

halt the continuation of this cultural evolution. This is an energy that is 

channeled to all members of Indian society, who live according to their 

tradition and religious faith. 

The culture of India has been shaped by its long history, unique 

geography, and the absorption of customs, traditions and ideas from 

some of its neighbors as well as by preserving its ancient heritages. 

It is the home of well-known religious gurus and yogic preceptors. 

Innumerable monuments, exquisitely carved temples, stupas, mosques, 

churches, forts and palaces dot the country’s landscape. Its colorful 

religious festivals, age-old art forms in music, dance, architecture, 

distinct geographic attributes and the-existence of ancient and modern 

cultures, symbolize its creativity of centuries. It has been home to the 

cultural heritage of people from almost every religion and philosophy, 

who have lived together harmoniously for thousands of years, giving 

India its unique identity. 

The concept of Dharma underscores the identity of India. It is a 

complex idea with a multitude of implications. The acceptance of 

universal and eternal principles of righteousness governing all creation 

means that, all are obliged to live by these principles. Within the 

community, each person is expected to function according to the moral 

and social implications stemming from the philosophy of dharma, and 

this is most clearly seen in the villages. 

One of the fundamental teachings of Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad- 

Gita is the necessity of Non-attachment to material things. It is the 

soul rather than the ego which has to be spiritually cultivated and thus 

draw the individual away from the dangerous attraction to things of an 

ephemeral nature. The things of the world are temporary; whereas the 

soul, can return to God. 

Written records about India’s culture are vast and varied. The earliest 

records are known by the name of Vedas and were comprised by 

thousands of hymns. Veda means knowledge, all that is worthy of 

being known, all that distinguishes men from animals. Vedas were 

sung by priests in praise of gods and kings. The gods themselves were 

representing natural forces rain, wind, fire and thunder, very much like 

the Greek gods. Vedas were secret and for 2000 years were passed down 

orally to the Brahmin families only. The first texts were written down on 

palm leaf in the middle ages and later on paper. 

India’s culture heritage was based on experimentation. Many of the 

branches of knowledge that have survived today, were rooted in India 

and in her spiritual traditions. The intellectual achievements of Indian 

culture lay scattered across several fields of study in ancient Indian 

texts, ranging from the Vedas and the books of ‘self-knowledge’ i.e. 

the Upanishads, to a whole range of scriptural, Gnostic, scientific and 

artistic sources. India’s contribution to the world has not gone unnoticed 

by those who know about her ancient civilization. It’s not just about 

Gandhi, Tagore, Nehru and others, nor is it just about monuments to 

her heritage, like the mysterious Ajanta caves or the Taj Mahal. It’s about 

India’s very character and her treasure of tradition and knowledge that 

have contributed to the refined civilization that exists today. 

Indian culture specialized in many sciences. First place may be 

given to the science of language that was analyzed in such a depth 

that has evoked the admiration of the 20th century philologists. India’s 

constitution recognizes 18 languages. But there are over 1650 that are 

considered as mother tongues, while most of them have their own 

script. Hindi has been designated as India’s official national language. It 

is the primary tongue of fewer than one third of the people, is spoken 

predominantly in the north, having little similarity to the Dravidian 

languages of the south. The absence of a common Indian language 

partially accounts for the fact that English, introduced into India by the 

British, is still widely used. 

India has been among the leaders in many intellectual pursuits, 

particularly in the fields of medicine, cosmology and geography, 

astronomy, the calendar, physics and chemistry. It was Indian 

mathematicians and astronomers who calculated the orbit of the earth 

around the sun with astonishing accuracy. Special note should be taken 

of mathematics, developed in Gupta times to a more advanced stage 

than reached by any other nation in antiquity, in which India initiated 

the decimal system of numerical notation, early in the Christian era. 

These scientists had a clear concept of the abstract numbers, as distinct 

from the numerical quantity of objects and, with the aid of a simple 

numeral notation, they devised a rudimentary algebra which allowed 

more complicated calculations and led to the study of number for their 

own sake. The earliest inscription recording dates by a system of nine 

digits and a zero, with place notation for the tens and hundreds, comes 

from Gujarat and is dated 585 AD. For long it was thought that the 

decimal system of numerals was invented by the Arabs, which, however, 

is not true. The Arabs called mathematics “the Indian art” (hindisat) 

and it appears that the decimal notation was learnt by the Muslim world 

either through travelling merchants or from the Arabs who conquered 

Sind in 712 AD. Most of the great discoveries and inventions of which 

Europe is so proud would have been impossible without a developed 

system of mathematics. The debt of the Western world to India is huge. 

The achievement of the unknown man who devised the new system was 

the work of an analytical mind and he deserves much more honor than 

he has so far received. 

In the field of music, as early as 350 BC, India gave to the world her 

system of notation, with the seven cardinal notes and the diatonic scale. 

In philosophy, there are similarities between the teachings of western 

philosophers and mystics from Pythagoras to Plotinus and those of the 

Upanishads. The 5th century BC seekers after truth in the cities of the 

Ganges plain were as varied and numerous as their contemporaries in the 

pre-Socratic societies of Greece. We can only say that there was always 

some contact between the Hellenic world and India, mediated first by 

the Achemenid Empire, then by that of the Seleucids, and finally, under 

the Romans, by the Indian ocean traders. In philology, the Sanskrit 

language is now universally acknowledged to be the foundation of all 

European languages. In literature, its epics, poems and dramas rank as 

high as those of any language. Nalanda, the first university in the world 

was founded in India in the 5th century BC, with over 10,000 students 

and 2,000 teachers. Nalanda was an extraordinary centre of learning 

for seven centuries. In manufacture, India was the first to make cotton 

and purple [dye], and it was proficient in all works of jewelry. India has 

also given many practical blessings to the world at large; notably, rice, 

cotton, the sugar cane, many spices, domestic fowl, the game of chess 

as well as playing cards and dice. Greater than any of these influences, 

10 11

however, has been the influence of ancient religious literature through 

philosophy. The sages who meditated in the jungles of the Ganges valley, 

six hundred years or more before Christ, are still forces in the world. 

This greatness of India’s culture is clearly reflected in the lives of two of 

the most important figures of worldwide meditation, Mohandas Gandhi 

and Rabindranath Tagore. 

Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, the architect of Indian’s freedom 

after 200 years of British rule, was the central figure of the Indian civil 

rights movement and the pioneer of resistance to tyranny, through 

mass civil disobedience, which led India to independence. R.Tagore 

named him “Mahatma”, meaning “great soul”. “In a gentle way, you 

can shake the world” he used to say, summarizing, with just a phrase, 

a religious practice and a political ideology. His teachings inspired the 

worldwide movement of peace, and, together with his ascetic life, made 

him an international symbol and landmark of the philosophical and 

sociopolitical meditation of the 20 th century. He was one of the greatest 

souls of all times, who lived a life dedicated to the cause of advancing 

justice and showing tolerance to all. He became the symbol of the dignity 

of all human beings. The world still needs his philosophy. 

He was born on October 2, 1869, at Porbandar, in Gujarat. After 

university, he went to London to train as a barrister. He returned to 

India in 1891 and in 1893 accepted a job at an Indian law firm in 

Durban, South Africa. Gandhi was appalled by the treatment of Indian 

immigrants there, and joined the struggle to obtain basic rights for them. 

During his 20 years in South Africa he was sent to prison many times. 

Influenced primarily by Hinduism, but also by elements of Jainism and 

Christianity and the writings of Tolstoy and Thoreau, Gandhi developed 

the satyagraha (‘devotion to truth’), a new non-violent way to redress 

the wrongs and injustice. 

In 1914, the South African government conceded many of Gandhi’s 

demands. Returning to India, he was a dominant figure in politics. 

He transformed the Indian National Congress, and his program of 

peaceful non-cooperation with the British included boycotts of British 

goods and institutions, leading to the arrests of thousands. In 1922, 

Gandhi himself was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment. He was 

released after two years and withdrew from politics, devoting himself to 

trying to improve Hindu-Muslim relations. He was replaced as leader by 

Jawaharlal Nehru. 

In 1945, the British government began negotiations which culminated 

in the Mountbatten Plan of June 1947, and the formation of the two new 

independent states of India and Pakistan, divided along religious lines. 

Massive inter-communal violence marred the months before and after 

independence. Gandhi was opposed to partition. On January 30, 1948, 

he was assassinated in Delhi by a Hindu fanatic, less than one year after 

India’s independence. “Just an old man in a loincloth in distant India: Yet 

when he died, humanity wept”. This was the observation of a newspaper 

correspondent at the death of Mahatma Gandhi. 

Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) was an offspring of a noble family, 

born in 1861 in Calcutta. He was among many things a musician and 

a painter, but it was his poetry that gave him in 1913 the Nobel Prize 

in Literature being the first Asian to be awarded with Nobel “because 

of his profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse, by which, with 

consummate skill, he has made his poetic thought, expressed in his own 

English words, a part of the literature of the West”.Even though he never 

got involved actively in politics, he tried though his life as well as his 

work, to contribute rather in our inner improvement and to bridge the 

gap between the East and the West. Gandhi was his devoted friend. 

Tagore was knighted by the ruling British Government in 1915, but 

within a few years he resigned the honor as a protest against British 

policies in India. For the world, he became the voice of India’s spiritual 

heritage. 

THE RELIGION 

India gave birth to four of the world’s religions: Hinduism, Jainism, 

Buddhism and Sikhism. 

Hinduism, the world’s oldest continually existing religion, is a 

conglomeration of religious, philosophical, and cultural ideas and 

practices and originated in India. It evolved from the Vedic religion 

of ancient India. The earliest scriptures of Hinduism are the Vedas, 

which were brought to India by the Aryan invaders after 1200 BC. 

The philosophical Vedic texts, called the Upanishads, explored the 

search for knowledge that would allow mankind to escape the cycle 

of reincarnation. Fundamental to Hinduism is the belief in a cosmic 

principle of ultimate reality called Brahman, and its identity with the 

individual soul, or Atman. All creatures go through a cycle of rebirth, 

or samsara, which can be broken only by spiritual self-realization, 

after which liberation, or moksha, is attained. The principle of karma 

determines a being’s status within the cycle of rebirth. The gods and 

goddesses of Hinduism amount to thousands or even millions, all 

representing the many aspects of Brahman. The most fundamental of 

Hindu deities is the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - Creator, 

Preserver and Destroyer respectively. Hindus also worship spirits, trees, 

animals and even planets. The basic scriptures of Hinduism were passed 

on from generation to generation orally for centuries before they were 

written down, mostly in the Sanskrit language. The major and most 

popular Hindu texts include the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, and 

the epics of Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Puranas. Especially 

Mahabharata, just as Homer’s Iliad, became their national epic. 

Unlike other religions, Hinduism is a way of life, a Dharma, that is, 

the law that governs all action. It prescribes truth, honesty, non-violence, 

cleanliness, contentment, prayers, austerity, perseverance, penance, and 

pious company. It has its own traditions, advanced system of ethics, 

meaningful rituals, philosophy and theology. The religious tradition 

of Hinduism is responsible for the creation of such original concepts 

and practices as Yoga, Ayurveda, Karma, etc. Vedic civilization was 

developed in the broad and open spaces of the primeval forests of the 

valleys of Ganges and Indus. It did not represent an urban view of life 

which seeks to protect itself by high walls. 

Vedic thinkers were followed by Buddhist thought. Buddha, the 

Prince, the Thinker and the Revolutionary, started a new age in the 

history of humanity. Buddha developed human values which advanced 

mankind beyond anything that had been achieved until then. Buddhism 

gave art and sculpture, mythology and philosophy to the whole of Asia. 

Buddhist thought was accompanied by other movements in India. 

Jainism was the discipline of infinite austerity and purity of action. It 

flourished side by side with Buddhism in India. Sikhism, the 5 th largest 

religion in the world, emerged in the 16th century, influenced by reform 

movements in Hinduism, as well as by Sufi Muslim influences. Sikhism 

preaches a message of devotion and remembrance of God at all times, 

truthful living, the equality of mankind and denounces superstitions 

and blind rituals. 

Today Hinduism, 80% of the people in India, and Buddhism are the 

world’s third and fourth largest religions respectively, with around 1.4 

billion followers altogether. Other major religions, such as Islam and 

Christianity, also flourish in this country, Islam being the second religion 

in India, with 140 million people. The followers of these religions have 

full freedom to teach and practice according to their own traditions. A 

huge nation, India serves as an example of religious tolerance, mutual 

respect and understanding among the followers of different faiths. 

Different religious traditions and cultures spread from India and brought 

light to the people of many countries around the world. The idea of nonviolence 

and compassion run very deep in Indian thought. It was an idea 

so powerful that it would transform half the world and be spread not by 

war and violence, but by respect, mutual understanding and the thirst 

for knowledge. 

The role of religious faith is so crucial in shaping Indian culture that 

away from its imposed “shackles” Indian culture, in fact, looses all its 

essence. Religion is also a way of life, a means of social organization 

that ensures tolerance and harmony, and a factor contributing to the 

continuity of Indian culture. It is no coincidence that I often felt I was 

traveling not only in the place but in time as well. Habits, customs, 

festivities, religious ceremonies unchanged over thousands of years, 

carried my soul away into the past. 

Jawaharlal Nehru, Gandhi’s friend and the first Prime Minister of 

India after Independence, describes in a unique way this feeling, in his 

monumental book The Discovery of India: 

“I stood on a mound of Mohenjo Daro in the Indus Valley in the NW 

of India and all around me lay the houses and streets of this ancient 

city, that is said to have existed over five thousands years ago, and even 

then it was an old and well-developed civilization. This civilization had 

a continuity of five or six thousand years or more, and not in a static, 

unchanging sense, for India was changing and progressing all the time. 

She was coming into intimate contact with the Persians, the Egyptians, 

the Greeks, the Chinese, the Arabs, the Central Asians and the people of 

the Mediterranean. But though she influenced them and was influenced 

by them, her cultural basis was strong enough to endure. What was the 

secret of this strength? Where did it come from?” 

Very interesting is the thought of Nehru for the similarities between 

Ancient Greece and ancient India, despite the big differences of their 

civilizations: 

“Ancient India, like ancient Greece, was a collection of small states. 

Ancient India and Greece, although different in many ways, have so 

12 13

much in common that I am led to believe that their background of life 

was very similar. Every country and people has had individuality, a 

message, and has attempted to solve life’s problems each in its own way. 

Greece is something definite, superb in its own way; so is India. Ancient 

India and ancient Greece were different from each other and yet they were 

akin, in spite of great difference. They all have the same blood, tolerant, 

outlook, joy of life and belief in the surprising beauty and infinite variety 

of nature, love and art, and the wisdom that comes from the accumulated 

experience of an old race. Each of them developed in accordance with its 

racial genius, influenced by its natural environment, and emphasized 

some aspects of life more than others. This emphasis varied. The Greeks, 

as a race, may have lived more in the present and found joy and harmony 

in the beauty they saw around them, or which they themselves have 

created. The Indians found this joy and harmony also in the present, but, 

at the same time, their eyes were turned towards deeper knowledge and 

their minds trafficked with strange questions. History has shown that 

India had stronger foundations and greater staying power; they have 

thus far survived, though they have been badly shaken and have greatly 

deteriorated, and the future is obscure. Old Greece, for its brilliance, 

had a short life; it did not survive except in its splendid achievements, 

its influence on succeeding cultures, and the memory of that short bright 

day of abundant life. Perhaps because it was too much engrossed in the 

present, it became the past. India is far nearer in spirit and outlook to 

the old Greece than the nations in Europe are today, although they call 

themselves children of the Hellenic spirit. Life was accepted as it was and 

lived fully both in Greece and India; nevertheless, there was a belief, in the 

supremacy of some kind of inner life. This led to curiosity and speculation, 

but the spirit of inquiry was not so much directed towards objective 

experience as to logical reasoning fixed on certain concepts which were 

accepted as obviously true.” 

And later on he continues: “… How amazing is this spirit of man! In 

spite of innumerable failings, man, throughout the ages, has sacrificed 

his life and all he held dear for an ideal, for truth, for faith, for country 

and honor. That ideal may change, but that capacity for self-sacrifice 

continues, and, because of that, much may be forgiven to man, and it is 

impossible to lose hope for him. In the midst of disaster, he has not lost 

his dignity or his faith in the values he cherished. Whatever Gods there 

be, there is something Godlike in man, as there is also something of the 

devil in him. The burden of the past, the burden of both good and ill, is 

overpowering and sometimes suffocating, more especially for those of us 

who belong to very ancient civilizations like those of India, China and 

Greece. As Nietzsche says, ”not only the wisdom of centuries – also their 

madness breaketh out in us. Dangerous it is to be an heir”. What is my 

inheritance? To what am I an heir? To all that humanity has achieved 

during tens of thousands of years, to all that it has thought and felt and 

suffered and taken pleasure in, to its cries of triumph and its bitter agony 

of defeat, to that astonishing adventure of man which began so long ago 

and yet continues and beckons to us. To all this, and more, in common 

with all men. But there is a special heritage for those of us of India, not an 

exclusive one, for none is exclusive and all are common to the race of man, 

one more especially applicable to us, something that is in our flesh and 

blood and bones, that has gone to make us what we are and what we are 

likely to be. It is the thought of this particular heritage and its application 

to the present that has long filled my mind. What could we not do with 

these people under better conditions and with great opportunities opening 

out to them?” 

THE GREEKS IN INDIA 

The first Europeans to arrive in ancient India, even before Alexander, 

were the Greeks, who are referred to in the ancient Indian history as 

“Yavanas”, in Sanskrit language, and “Yonas” in Pali language. Both 

names were based on the Greek state of “Ionia”. Many Greeks arrived in 

India for scientific research, especially in astronomy and mathematics. 

According to the Greek historian Herodotus one Greek, Scylax, who 

lived in the 6th century BC, travelled from the Indus, around Arabia, to 

Egypt. 

In 327 BC, Alexander the Great, after defeating the Persian King 

Darius, entered into India through Kyber Pass. His desire was to conquer 

the entire world within the boundaries of the river Ocean (the Greeks 

believed that a great river, called Ocean, encircled all the land of the 

world). He had conquered Bactria at the foot of the western Himalayas, 

gained a huge Bactrian army, and married a Bactrian princess, Roxane. 

Porus, the King of Punjab, challenged Alexander at the Battle of the 

Hydaspes River, but was defeated. Alexander was so impressed by the 

courage and the charisma of his enemy that treated the brave man in 

a knightly manner and made him his new ally. Then he moved east 

through Punjab and stopped outside Amritsar. He was eager to reach 

the river Ganges and conquer the people there. But his men had grown 

weary of the hardships of the way, and they didn’t want go further, so 

Alexander turned back. As Alexander marched through India he fought 

battles, built altars, and founded cities. One city he called Boukephala 

in honor of his favorite horse, which died and was buried there. Other 

cities he called Alexandria in honor of his own name and Nicaea (victory 

town). During this trip, Alexander sought out the Indian philosophers, 

the Brahmins, who were famous for their wisdom, and debated with 

them with philosophical issues. The works of Greek philosophers, and 

Plato in particular, were quite popular with Brahman philosophers. The 

Brahmans were reading these works either translated, or in the original, 

as many Hindus had learned to read and write Greek. The Hindu 

people were culturally advanced by the time they met the Greeks and 

their culture was very much centered around humanistic ideals, as was 

the Greek culture. The mixture of Greek and eastern influences that is 

now called ‘Hellenism’ was to remain a cultural force in the region for 

centuries to come. Alexander became legendary in India for being both 

a wise philosopher and a fearless conqueror; for ages the deeds of the 

great «Sikander», as they called him, lived in the memory of the Indians, 

and even today many male children are named Sikander, after him, and 

communities in Kashmir that claim to be of Greek origin. 

The Greeks did not take the same route to return to their land. They 

came down the rivers Jhelum and Indus, reached the Ocean and half 

of them sailed back, while the other half together with Alexander 

crossed the desert and went to Persia. One of his captains, Nearchos, 

who commanded the fleet, was the first to realize the importance of the 

monsoon winds for sailing in this region of the world. Returning from 

India to the Persian city of Susa, Alexander had with him his Indian yogi 

teacher and advisor, named Kalyana who, being old, wanted to die in 

an appropriate manner. A big funeral pyre was erected, and he burned 

himself alive, which was the Indian way to complete one’s spiritual 

journey. The Greeks were amazed to see that he had no fear for pain 

or death. He embraced many of his friends before, but not Alexander, 

to whom he simply said: “Alexander, we shall meet again in Babylon”. 

Nobody understood why he said this, but the words proved true when 

Alexander died in Babylon a year later. 

It’s rare in history that human events become so focused on a single 

individual; rarely is that focus justified, Alexander however, is one of 

the notable exceptions. The age of Alexander was the age created by 

Alexander, and he would permanently stamp world culture with a Greek 

character. He was most brilliant military leader in human history. With 

a small army, little or no supplies, he conquered the greatest, wealthiest, 

and most powerful empire in the world. He never lost a battle, not once, 

and he flung himself into battle with intense bravery. 

Alexander’s empire was split apart after his death and divided among 

his generals. One of them, Seleucus, became the ruler of the Asian 

part and introduced the Seleucids dynasty. The establishment of Indo- 

Greek Kingdoms covered various parts of the northwest and northern 

Indian subcontinent during the last three centuries BC and was ruled 

by more than thirty Hellenistic Kings. The mixture of Greek and eastern 

influences that is now called ‘Hellenism’ was to remain a cultural force 

in the region for centuries to come. 

The most famous Indo-Greek king was Menander, who reigned from 

160-135 BC. He apparently converted to Buddhism and is presented 

in the Mahayana tradition as one of the great benefactors of the faith. 

Menander’s coins bear the mention «Savior King» in Greek, and «Great 

King of the Dharma» in Kharoshthi script. Upon his death, the honor 

of sharing his remains was claimed by the cities under his rule, and they 

were enshrined in stupas (Plutarch). 

During the Roman Period the Greeks from Egypt were responsible 

for the sea route, Alexandria in Egypt being the center of geography 

and science. Around the mid 1st century BC, Hippalus, an important 

Greek explorer from in Egypt, discovered a new route to India: Instead 

of following the Arabian coast, as had been usual up to then, he went 

from the Red Sea to India over open sea. This route was shorter and 

had less risk of Arabian pirates, but it’s real importance was that in this 

way, the monsoons could be used to make the crossing a lot faster than 

before. Others followed his example, and soon it became the major sea 

route. The geographic knowledge of this time was written down by the 

first century Alexandrian astronomer and geographer Ptolemy. The use 

of Hippalus’ direct route greatly contributed to the prosperity of trade 

contacts between the Roman province of Egypt and India from the 

1stcentury onwards. 

THE PERIPLUS OF THE ERYTHRAEAN SEA 

Periplus, literally “a sailing-around” in Greek”, was a manuscript 

document that listed in order the ports and coastal landmarks, with 

distances between, that the captain of a vessel could expect to find 

along a shore. “The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea” is a Greek periplus, 

describing navigation and trading opportunities from Roman Egyptian 

ports along the coast of the Red Sea, and others along Northeast Africa 

and India. The author was an unknown Greek living in Egypt. Periplus 

was unique in providing accurate insights into what the ancient world 

14 15

knew about the lands around the Indian Ocean. Although Erythraean 

Sea literally means «Red Sea», to the Greeks it included the Indian Ocean 

and the Persian Gulf. From Red Sea large ships crossed the Indian Ocean 

to the Tamil kingdoms in present day Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It also has 

detailed information about the Pandyan Kingdoms of South India and 

the intense trade with the Indian town of Muziris. The description of the 

Indian coast mentions the Ganges River clearly. The Periplus describes 

in detail how Hippalus first discovered the direct route from the Red Sea 

to southern India, as well as the trade goods from India, the Indo-Greek 

towns and monuments, the coins of King Menander and numerous 

Greek buildings and fortifications. 

THE MOST IMPORTANT INDIAN RULERS 

Chandragupta (340 BC- 298 BC), the founder of the Maurya Empire 

and one of the greatest leaders and organizers in Indian history, had met 

Alexander and was inspired by his power charisma and glamour. He 

expelled the remaining Greeks and in 302 BC became the ruler of the first 

Indian Empire conquering most of the Indian subcontinent. He married 

Seleucus’s daughter, a Greek princess, which was a gift from Seleucus to 

formalize an alliance. In addition to this treaty, Seleucus dispatched an 

ambassador, Megasthenes, to Chandragupta’s court, who stayed there 

for 7 years and wrote a detailed description of India. Chandragupta II 

was the greatest of the Gupta kings; called Vikramaditya «The Sun of 

Power», he presided over the greatest cultural age in India. 

In 268 BC, Chandragupta’s grandson, Ashoka came to power. He was 

one of India’s greatest emperors and reigned from 273 to 232 BC, most 

of present-day India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Ashoka 

was a devotee of Ahimsa (non violence), love, truth and tolerance. He 

established an empire on the foundation of righteousness, a reign which 

makes the moral and spiritual welfare of his subjects its primary concern. 

After adopting Buddhism, Asoka started propagating its principles 

throughout the world, even as far as ancient Rome and Egypt. In fact, 

he can be credited with making the first serious attempt to develop a 

Buddhist policy, is considered just after Gautama Buddha. The stunning 

ability of Indian culture to tolerate competing religions throughout its 

history begins with Asoka. An emblem excavated from his empire is 

today the national Emblem of India. The British historian H.G. Wells has 

written: «Amidst the tens of thousands of names of monarchs that crowd 

the columns of history ... the name of Ashoka shines, and shines almost 

alone, a star.» 

The Gupta Empire existed approximately from 320 to 550 AD and 

covered much of India. Founded by Maharaja Sri-Gupta, the dynasty 

was the model of a classical civilization. The peace and prosperity 

created under the leadership of Guptas enabled the pursuit of scientific 

and artistic endeavors. This period is called the Golden Age of India 

and was marked by extensive achievements in science, technology, 

engineering, art, literature, mathematics, astronomy, religion and 

philosophy that crystallized the elements of what is generally known 

as Hindu culture. Chandragupta, Samudragupta, and Chandragupta 

II, were the most notable rulers of the Gupta dynasty. The high points 

of this cultural creativity are magnificent architectures, sculptures and 

paintings. Strong trade ties also made the region an important cultural 

center and a base that would influence nearby kingdoms in Burma, Sri 

Lanka, Malay Archipelago and Indochina. The earliest available Puranas 

are also thought to have been written around this period. The empire 

came to an end with the attack of the Huns from Central Asia in the 6 th 

century AD. 

THE MOST IMPORTANT MUSLIM EMPEROR 

Akbar (1556 to 1605 AD) was the greatest ruler of Indian history 

according to Muslim, Indian and Western historians. When his father, 

Humayun, died in 1556, Akbar became “ruler of the empire» at the 

age of thirteen. Under the guidance of Bairam Khan, Akbar instantly 

began seizing more territory throughout Hindustan. By the time he died 

in 1605, his Empire included almost all of northern India. In order to 

govern this territory, Akbar developed a bureaucracy that was among the 

most efficient in the world and a system of autonomy for the imperial 

provinces. From a religious standpoint, Akbar’s state was built on the 

principle of «universal tolerance». 

The central theorist of Akbar’s reign was Abu’l Faz’l, who is considered 

one of the greatest political theorists in Islamic history. He was deeply 

influenced by Platonic philosophy, as it had been handed down by 

Muslim philosophers. In particular, he argued for Plato’s concept of the 

«philosopher-king,» who, by virtue of his talent, wisdom, and learning, 

deserved to be obeyed by all others. He saw Akbar as the embodiment of 

the perfect philosopher-king. Akbar sponsored a series of debates at his 

court between representatives of the various religions, which included 

Christianity, Hindus, Zoroastrians, and Jains. His wife, Jodhabai, a 

Hindu Rajput princess, became the Mughal Empress and she gave birth 

to his successor, Jahangir. 

INDIA’S GIFT TO THE WORLD 

“... Our only fault is that we cannot: fight to conquer; but we trust 

in the eternity of truth. India’s message to the world is first of all, her 

blessing; she is returning good for the evil which is done her, and thus 

she puts into execution this noble idea, which had its origin in India. 

Lastly, India’s message is that calm goodness, patience and gentleness 

will ultimately triumph. Thanks to the morality of her children, the 

kinder race will never perish, and she will yet see the hour of her 

triumph.» Brooklyn Standard Union, USA, February 27, 1895, lecture 

by the Hindu monk, Swami Vivekananda 

India gave to the world many gifts. Buddhism and the theory of Non 

Violence are best known, but also the essence and message of “Mystic 

India”, that there can be Unity in Diversity, that we are a single human 

family, capable of living together and loving one another. 

Buddhism: the religion that preaches peace, tolerance and nonviolence, 

one of the world’s great religions that originated in India. The 

whole of the Far East is in India’s debt for Buddhism, which helped to 

mould the distinctive civilizations of China, Korea, Japan and Tibet. As 

Mr. Hu Shih, former Ambassador of China to the USA, stated: «India 

conquered and dominated China culturally for 20 centuries without ever 

having to send a single soldier across her border.» 

Non Violence: as expressed by The Dalai Lama: “The theory and 

practice of Ahimsa, or non-violence, originated in India. Many Indian 

leaders of the past worked hard to ameliorate the plight of their people 

–on both a local and national level-through the great path of non violence. 

The legacy of those great leaders is alive even today. Nowadays, we see 

growing interest in non-violence in many parts of the world. And, indeed, 

non-violence is India’s gift to the world.” 

The influence of Mahatma Gandhi has been felt all over the world, 

through the many friends of India in the West who were impressed by his 

burning sincerity and energy, and by the ultimate success of his policy of 

non-violence in achieving India’s independence. His lesson of leadership 

is the greatest lesson the world can learn. His message of non-violence 

continues to inspire people and political movements across the globe, 

creating change through non violent resistance.«…His life is a legend. 

And it is this legend that is Gandhi’s great contribution to today’s 

people. Modern people, who see everything around them in ruins, will 

once more come close to a utopia, one that they have been convinced 

to ignore and mistreat. They will have their trust in the strength of the 

human spirit renewed, a strength they have long stopped considering 

important. That is where the great Hindu leads us. With the simplest 

and most convincing of ways he tells us that which we call a victory 

of his people is the most unlikely of triumphs, it is the triumph of the 

strength we stopped believing in, it is the triumph of the utopia.» Petros 

Haris, Nea Estia magazine, December 1969. 

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INDIA’S SPIRITUAL GIFT TO THE WORLD, Hindustan Times, May 11, 2006 Buddhism: Sujoy Dhar 

BUDDHISM, The Pioneer- Nov.10, 2002 , Omer Farooq/Hyderabad 

INDIA IN WORLD AND IMAGE PHOTOGRAPS, ERIC MEOLA (Wellcome Books) 

WIKIPEDIA, the free encyclopedia 

THE DALAI LAMA’S BOOK OF WISDOM, By Dalai Lama, Thorsons –Directions for life 

THE ART OF HAPPINESS,10TH Ann.Edition, by Dalai Lama and C.Cutler, Riverhead books,publis.by Penguin 

LIVE IN A BETTER WAY, Reflections on true love and Happiness, Dalai Lama, Penguin Compass 

AN OPEN HEART, Practicing compassion in everyday life, Dalai Lama and Nicholas Vreeland 

THE WHITE TIGER, Aravind Adiga, Free Press 

INDIA, Lonely Planet Guide 

MODERN INDIA: The origins of an Asian democracy, Judith Brown, Oxford University Press 

A NEW HISTORY OF INDIA, Stanley Wolpert, Oxford University Press 

TIBETAN PORTRAIT, The power of Compassion - Photographs by Phil Borges, Text by the Dalai Lama , Rizzoli 

International Publications Inc, 1996 – USA 

GHANDI AND TODAY’S WORLD, Petros Haris, NEA ESTIA, Published by ESTIA, Athens, Christmas 1969,Volume 86 

INDIA THE MOTHER OF NATIONS, Nina Tsekou, 1992, Stefanos Vasilopoulos Publisher 

INDIA OF THE GREEKS, Marios Varetas Publication 

MAHATMA GANDHI 1869-1969, NEA ESTIA, Published by ESTIA, Athens, Christmas 1969,Volume 86 

INDIA OF THE GREEKS, Marios Varetas Publication, Athens 

INDIA TOURIST ORGANIZATION 

16 17

GHANDI’S QUOTATIONS 

TAGORE’S QUOTATIONS 

“Poverty is the worst form of violence.” 

“An eye for eye only ends up making the whole world blind.” 

“Gross utility kills beauty. We now have all over the world huge production of things, huge organizations, and 

huge administrations of empire - all obstructing the path of life. Civilization is waiting for a great consummation, 

for an expression of its soul in beauty. This must be your contribution to the world.” 

Mohandas 

Karamchand Gandhi 

b. 2 October 1869 

d. 30 January 1948 

“I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent. 

Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction 

devised by the ingenuity of man. Non-violence requires a double faith, faith in God and also faith in man.” 

“All the religions of the world, while they may differ in other respects, 

unitedly proclaim that nothing lives in this world but Truth.” 

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” 

“The tendency in modern civilization is to make the world uniform... 

Let the mind be universal. The individual should not be sacrificed.” 

“I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. 

I acted and behold and service was joy.” 

“Happiness is not in getting anything but in giving himself up to what is greater than himself, 

to ideas which are larger than his individual life, the idea of his country, of humanity, of God.” 

Rabindranath Tagore 

b. 7 May 1861 

d. 7 August 1941 

“I have nothing new to teach the world. Truth and Non-violence are as old as the hills. All I have done is to try 

experiments in both on as vast a scale as I could. My religion is based on truth and non-violence. Truth is my God. 

Non-violence is the means of realizing Him. Non-violence and truth are inseparable and presuppose one another.” 

“The most important lesson that man can learn from his life is not that there is pain in this world, 

but that it depends upon him to turn it into good account, that is possible for him to transmute it into joy.” 

“We come nearest to the great when we are great in humility”.” 

“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; 

if a few drops of theocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” 

“There are seven sins in the world: Wealth without work, Pleasure without conscience, Knowledge without character, 

Commerce without morality, Science without humanity, Worship without sacrifice and politics without principle.” 

“When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants, 

and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it--always.” 

“This is the ultimate end of man, to find the One which is in him, 

which is his truth, which is his soul; 

the key with which he opens the gate of the spiritual life, the heavenly kingdom”. 

“Love’s gift cannot be given, it waits to be accepted. 

Love gives beauty to everything that touches” 

“The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough” 

“We must become the change we want to see.” 

“Life, like a child, laughs, shaking its rattle of death as it runs” 

“What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction 

is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy?” 

“This world is inhabited by all kinds of people. They are isolated by land and water, religion, customs, habits. 

The minds and hearts of these people are much alike. Under sudden or stressed emotions, they blossom forth or 

explode in riots, fights, dance, song, prayer. At such times, they become one mind, one heart. And the world vibrates 

with the intensity of their feelings, emotions, angers, laughters. I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides 

and my windows to be stuffed. I want the cultures of all the lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. 

But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any.” 

“Love does not claim possession, but gives freedom. Not greed and utility; 

they produce offices, but not dwelling houses. To be able to love material things, to clothe them with tender grace, 

and yet not be attached to them, this is a great service. Providence expects that we should make this world our own, 

and not live in it as though it were a rented tenement. We can only make it our own through some service, 

and that service is to lend it love and beauty from our soul.” 

“Love is the only reality and it is not a mere sentiment. 

It is the ultimate truth that lies at the heart of creation.”

THE HIMALAYAS Jammu & Kashmir • Ladakh 

LADAKH 

distance of 45 km south of Leh. On the way to Hemis, hundreds 

Gompa in the 1655, in memory of his father. The Shakyamuni 

Potala, in Lhasa. The palace was built in the 17th century and 

The Himalayas 

Ladakh Valley 

Thiksey Monastery 

Hemis School Monastery 

Lamayaru Monastery 

‘The land of high passes’, ‘the land of lamas’, ‘the moon land’, 

‘the jewel of the Himalayas’, is the crown of India and forms the 

northern province of Jammu and Kashmir. The Trans-Himalayan 

zone borders the peaks of the Western Himalaya and the vast 

Tibetan Plateau, is also known as ‘Little Tibet”, and ‘the last 

Shangri La’. Ladakh is one of the most important places in the 

whole of Central Asia. Only after1974 were foreigners permitted 

to visit this region. When there, one feels like being in some 

ancient town. From times immemorial, it has remained a very 

important spot on the Silk Route. It has strategic cultural and 

political significance, as it borders with Pakistan, China and the 

Central Asian states. 

Unlike the rest of Jammu and Kashmir, which is mainly Islamic, 

most Ladakhis in Leh District, as well as in Zangskar Valley of 

Kargil District, are Buddhists. While most of the people in the 

rest of Kargil District are Shia Muslims, there are also minorities 

following Hinduism and Sikhism religions. Most Buddhists follow 

the tantric form of Buddhism, known as Vajrayana Buddhism. 

Ladakhis are generally of Tibetan descent and there are about 

3,500 Tibetan refugees in Leh District. There is a large number of 

Gompas belonging to ancient and medieval periods. The living 

culture of Tibetan Buddhism exists here even today. 

The famous monasteries of Ladakh are Hemis, Shey, Thiksey, 

Spituk, Stakna, Chemrey, Stock, Taktok, Shankar, Lakeer, Phyang, 

Alchi and Lamayuru. 

Hemis Gompa: Hemis, the largest monastery in Ladakh, was 

built in 1630. It belongs to the red sect, Brokpa, and it lies at a 

of white stupas and rock engravings dating back to 11th century, 

dot the land. Inside, there is a giant statue of Padmasambhave. 

Impressive and intriguing, Hemis is different from the other 

important monasteries of Ladakh. 

Thiksey Monastery: About 20 kms from Leh, Thiksey is an 

imposing monastery and one of the finest examples of Ladakhi 

architecture. This Gompa is situated on the top of the hill and 

forms a part of the Gelukpa order. The 12-storey monastery 

complex contains numerous stupas, statues, thankas, wall 

paintings, and a large pillar engraved with the Buddha’s 

teachings. There are also sacred shrines and many precious 

objects to be seen. In the main prayer hall the Maitreya statue 

of the Future Buddha is located, standing at 12 m in height. He 

is sitting cross-legged in a lotus position, which is unusual, since 

normally he is depicted as sitting in a chair. 

Lamayuru Monastery: Spectacularly set, founded in the 10th 

century, it is about 125 klm west of Leh. As the legend goes, 

Lamayuru was a lake. It was blessed by a Lama, after which the 

water of the lake receded up to the mountains, leaving place 

for the monastery to be built. Now mostly in ruins, only the 

main hall exists and houses numerous tankhas. Lamayuru has 

fascinating caves carved out of the mountainside. Also known as 

Yung Drung (Swastika), it overlooks the village and valley. 

Shey Palace & Shey Gompa: Situated on a hillock, 15 km south 

of Leh, this palace was once the residence of the royal family 

and was constructed by the first king of Ladakh. According to 

the tradition, it was the seat of power of the pre-Tibetan kings, 

back in the 10th century. King Deldon Namgyal, constructed the 

Buddha’s statue, a two-story high image of the seated Buddha, is 

located inside. The image is worked out of copper sheets, gilded 

with gold, and is the biggest metal statue and the second largest 

Buddha statue in Ladakh. It also contains sacrificial offerings 

such as grain, jewels, holy symbols and mantras inside. Stone 

carvings and many stupas are scattered around the Dresthang 

Gompa. 

Alchi Gompa: On the banks of the Indus is the Alchi Gompa, 

dating thousand years back. One of its walls features thousands 

of miniature sized pictures of the Buddha. Three large sized 

images made of clay and painted brightly, are its focal attraction. 

LEH 

Leh is the capital town of the Ladakh region and is one of central 

Asia’s most scenic towns. The Indus River flows through this 

region. The people speak the Ladakhi language, which comes 

from the Tibetan stock, and it has its own script. Ladakhis are 

simple, yet beautiful, kind, caring and at the same time very 

tough too. If one walk through the Bazaar of Leh, it is wonderful 

to see the Ladakhi women in their traditional dresses selling 

vegetables. They are fun-loving people and are fond of music 

and dance. The majority are followers of Tibetan Buddhism. 

Having great respect for Lamas, the Buddhist monks, they offer 

one son to the monastery in keeping with the Lama tradition. In 

some monasteries there are nuns, known as Chomos. 

Leh Palace: The captivating Leh Palace, built for King Singge 

Namgyal, rises from the edge of a hill overlooking the town and 

stretches out towards the sky. It is a miniature version of the 

had nine floors, but it is now dilapidated and deserted. It was the 

home of the royal family, until they were exiled to Stok, in 1830. 

Above the palace, at the top of the Namgyal hill, is the Victory 

Tower, built to commemorate Ladakh’s victory over the Balti 

Kashmir armies, in the early 16th century. 

INDUS RIVER VALLEY 

This is a large valley formed by the main channel of the Indus 

River, as it flows across Ladakh. It includes parts of the Leh 

district, the Skardu region and the vast cold desert beyond. This 

valley consists of large stretches of undulating lands interspersed 

by high mountains, across which, there are many passes. 

The Indus Valley is the soul of Ladakh and is strategically the 

most important part. It borders with Pakistan, Afghanistan and 

China. The mountain ranges in this region were formed over a 

period of 45 million years by the folding of the Indian plate into 

the more stationary Eurasian Plate. The drift causes frequent 

earthquakes in the Himalayan region. The peaks in the Ladakh 

range are at a medium altitude close to the Zoji-la (5,000–5,500 

m), increasing in altitude towards south-east, reaching a climax 

in the twin summits of Nun-Kun (7000 m). 

The Indus River is the backbone of Ladakh which is greatly 

venerated in Hindu religion and culture. Most major historical 

and current towns — Shey, Leh, Basgo, and Tingmosgang, are 

situated close to the Indus River. After the Indo-Pakistani War of 

1947, the stretch of the Indus flowing through Ladakh is the only 

part of this river which still flows through India. 

Alchi Monastery 

Indus River 

Indus River Valley 

Leh Town 

Leh Palace 

Shey Palace 

Leh Market

INDUS VALLEY

26 

Shey Gompa 

Thiksey 

Monastery 27

Thiksey Monastery 29

Thiksey Monastery 31

32 

Ladakhi woman, Indus Valley

Alchi Monastery, Ladakh 35

Lamayaru Village, Ladakh 47

Lamayaru Monastery, Ladakh 49

50 

Indus River, Ladakh

52 

Shey Palace - Shey Gompa - Stupas, Ladakh 

Indus Valley 53

LEH

56 

Tibetan Refugees, Leh

Leh Market 59

Leh Market 61

Leh Victory Tower 63

Leh School 65

66 

Leh

Leh, Ladakh 69

Leh Market, Ladakh 71

NORTH INDIA Amritsar • Haridwar • Rishikesh • Dharamsala 

Golden Temple, Armitsar 

Golden Temple Lake 

Communal Food Hall 

Jallianwala Bagh, Armitsar 

Haridwar Ghats 

AMRITSAR 

Amritsar is a city in the northwestern part of India and is the 

administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of 

Punjab. It is 32 klm east of Lahore, Pakistan and therefore, very 

close to India’s western border with Pakistan. Amritsar is home to 

Golden Temple, or Harmandir Sahib (1585-1604), the spiritual 

and cultural center of the Sikh religion. This important Sikh shrine 

attracts more visitors than the Tah Mahal in Agra and is the number 

one destination for non-resident-Indians in the whole of India. The 

Golden Temple was founded by Guru Ram Das Ji, the 4th guru of the 

Sikhs and is surrounded by a large Sarovar (manmade lake), known 

as “the Amritsar” (Lake of Holy Water or Immortal Nectar), giving 

its name to the city that grew around it. There are four entrances to 

the temple, signifying the importance of acceptance and openness, 

showing that every religion or faith is allowed to go in to meditate, 

or just listen to the prayers for peace. It was mainly intended as a 

place of worship for men and women from all walks of life and all 

religions, to come and worship God. All pilgrims visiting the Golden 

Temple, can eat free lunch or dinner in a communal hall, where up 

to ten thousand such meals are prepared daily by volunteers, the 

Sikh Guruwapas. Most Sikh people visit Amritsar and the Harmandir 

Sahib at least once during their lifetime, particularly during special 

occasions, such as birthdays, marriages and birth of children. Sikh 

men are never seen in public without their turbans. 

Amritsar is world known for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. 

Brigadier Dyer is known for the orders which he gave on April 13, 

1919 in Amritsar. He opened fire on a gathering of unarmed civilians, 

including women and children, gathered at the Jallianwalla Bagh 

garden in what came to be later known as the Jallianwala Bagh 

massacre. The civilians had assembled there to participate in the 

annual Baisakhi celebrations, which are both a religious, as well as a 

cultural festival of the Punjabis. Not being residents of the city, they 

were unaware of the martial law that had been imposed. Upon 

entering the park, the General ordered the troops to fire directly 

into the assembled gathering. Firing continued until his troops’ 

supply of ammunition was exhausted. The crowd was not given 

any warning to disperse. Figures from government civil servants in 

the city cite numbers well over 1000 dead, with more than 1,200 

wounded. The Westminster Gazette wrote, «No British action, 

during the whole course of our history in India, has struck a severe 

blow to Indian faith in British justice, than the massacre at Amritsar, 

and the attitude of official Anglo-India to it». The anti-British feeling 

among Indians greatly grew as a result of this incident. Gandhi 

had returned, only to find the radicals already wide spread and he 

commented «We do not want to punish Dyer. We have no desire for 

revenge. We want to change the system that produces Dyers». The 

Punjab, once the most reliable of the provinces, was no longer so. 

HARIDWAR 

The holy city of Haridwar, lies where the Ganges emerges with 

torrential force from her mountain wall to flow across the plain 

of Uttar Pradesh. It is the first of many sacred cities, including 

Rishikesh and Varanasi, that line the Ganges’s path to the Bay of 

Bengal, in the East. In the Hindi language, Haridwar stands for “Dwar 

of Hari”, or, “Gateway to God”. It is regarded as one of the seven 

holiest places for Hindus. According to Hindu scriptures, Haridwar 

is one of the four sites where drops of the elixir of immortality, 

Amritsa, accidentally spilled over from the pitcher carried away 

by the celestial bird Garuda. Thousands of devotees and pilgrims 

flock here from all over India, to bathe in the holy waters. This act 

is considered to be the equivalent of washing away one’s sins to 

attain Moksha. Lord Vishnu is said to have left his footprint on the 

stone that is set in the upper wall of Har-Ki-Pauri, where the Holy 

river Ganges enters. 

Hindu genealogy registers exist at Haridwar. In an ancient custom, 

detailed family genealogies of Hindu families for the past several 

generations, are kept by professional Hindu Brahmin Pandits, 

commonly known as Pandas. These records are updated on each 

visit to the city, and are a depository of the vast family trees of 

families in North India. For centuries, Hindus have visited the holy 

city. These visits were for pilgrimage purposes, cremation of their 

dead, or for the immersion of ashes of cremated relatives in the 

holy river Ganges, in accordance Hindu religious custom. 

RISHIKESH 

Rishikesh or Hrishikesh, is another holy city for Hindus, a famous 

centre of pilgrimage, and is the name of Vishnu, that means “Lord 

of the senses”. It is also known as the gateway to the Himalayas. 

Historically, Hrishikesh, has been a part of the legendary 

‘Kedarkhand’ (the present day Garhwal), the abode of Shiva. 

Legends state that Lord Rama did penance here for killing Ravana, 

the demon king of Lanka. Lord Rama meditated on the bank of 

the River Ganges, but the flowing water of the river was disturbing 

him, so out of rage, Lakshmana, Rama’s brother, shot an arrow in 

the river where the Bridge stands today. On the western bank of 

the bridge stands a Lakshmana temple, and on the eastern bank a 

temple dedicated to Lord Rama. 

It is here that the sacred river Ganges leaves the Shivalik mountains 

in the Himalayas, and flows out into the plains of northern India. 

Several temples can be found along the banks of the Ganges. The 

city attracts thousands of pilgrims and tourists each year and is 

sometimes called «the world capital of Yoga» for its numerous 

yoga centers. It is believed that meditation here brings one closer 

to attainment of moksha, as does bathing in the holy river that 

flows through it. It is also home to the 120-year old Kailas Ashram 

Brahmavidyapeetham, an institution dedicated to preserve and 

promote the traditional Vedantic Studies. 

In February 1968, the Beatles visited the now closed Maharishi 

Mahesh Yogi’s ashram in Rishikesh. John Lennon even recorded 

a song here titled, ‘The Happy Hrishikesh Song’. The Beatles 

composed nearly 48 songs during their time at the Maharishi’s 

ashram, many of which appear on the White Album. 

DHARAMSALA 

Dharamsala is a beautiful city in the upper reaches of the Kangra 

Valley, divided into three parts – Upper Dharamsala, called McLeod 

Ganj, the middle and the lower one. In common Hindi usage, the 

word dharamshala refers to a “shelter” or a “rest house” for spiritual 

pilgrims. Dharamsala has been connected with Hinduism and 

Buddhism for a long time. Many monasteries have been established 

there in the past by the Tibetan immigrants in the 19th century. 

The town of McLeod Ganj, in Upper Dharamsala, is known 

worldwide for the teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama that 

take place every year. It is also his residence and is memorably 

called “Little Lhasa”, after the Tibetan capital. 

Dharamsala is the closest one can get to Tibet while still in India. 

The Tibetan settlement began in 1959, when His Holiness the Dalai 

Lama fled Tibet and the Prime Minister of India allowed him and 

his people to settle there and establish the «government-in-exile» 

in 1960. Several thousand Tibetans in exile have now settled in the 

area. With H.H. own words “… for those of us in exile, I said that our 

priority must be resettlement and the continuity of our cultural 

traditions. As to the future, I stated my belief that, with Truth, 

Justice and Courage as our weapons, we Tibetans would eventually 

prevail in regaining freedom for Tibet”. In 1970, The Dalai Lama 

opened the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, which houses 

over 80,000 manuscripts and other important resources related 

to Tibetan history, politics and culture. It is considered one of the 

most important institutions for Tibetology in the world. The exiled 

Tibetans have also built monasteries, temples, schools, the famous 

Tibetan Cultural Institute and orphanage houses. 

The town is also known for the world famous soldiers the Gurkhas, 

the so-called ‘Bravest of the Brave’. The 21st Gurkha Regiment 

performed heroic feats during World War I and II, when the 

battalions from Dharamsala made history. They not only made 

a major contribution to India’s defense, but many of them were 

freedom fighters for the Indian National Army. 

Ganges River, Rishikesh 

Hindu Temple, Rishikesh 

Rishikesh Town 

Upper Dharamsala 

Dharamsala Temple 

Haridwar Ghats 

Orphanage, Dharamsala

74 

The Golden Temple 

AMRITSAR

Sacred Tank (Amritsa), Golden Temple 77

78 

The Golden Temple, Armitsar

Communal Food Hall, Golden Temple, Amritsar 81

70 

Communal Food Hall, Golden Temple, Amritsar

72 

Communal Food Hall, Golden Temple, Amritsar

74 

Sikhs, Amritsar

76 

Jallianwala Bagh Monument

78 

India - Pakistan Attari Border Ceremony

HARIDWAR

Bathing Ghats, Haridwar 95

Bathing Ghats, Haridwar 97

Haridwar Ghats 99

100 

Lakshman Jhula Bridge 

RISHIKESH

102 

Night Puja, Ganges, Rishikesh

104 

Rishikesh

Color Festival, Rishikesh 107

Color Festival, Rishiskesh 109

Ganges River, Rishikesh 111

Pilgrims, Rishikesh 113

Sadhus, Rishikesh 115

Sadhus, Rishikesh 117

118 

Rishikesh

DHARAMSALA

Tibetans, Dharamsala 123

Tibetan Orphanage School, Dharamsala 125

Tibetan Orphanage School, Dharamsala 127

Tibetan Orphanage, Dharamsala 129

Tibetan Artists, Norbulingka Institute, Dharamsala 133

Rock Garden, Chandigarh 135

RAJASTHAN Jaipur • Udaipur • Pushkar • Deogarh • Ranakpur 

RAJASTHAN 

JAIPUR 

Udaipur has the prestige of housing the best miniature 

schools in the country. Being a mountainous region and 

DEOGARH 

Rajasthani Women 

The City Palace, Udaipur 

Rajasthan, the land of Kings, the land of chivalry, romance, 

bravery, art and architecture, is the home of the Rajputs, the 

warrior clans, who had ruled this region for many years and 

who are proud of their martial reputation and heroic past. 

According to the Hindu Mythology, the Rajputs of Rajasthan 

were the descendants of the Kshatriyas, the warriors of Vedic 

India period. 

The Indus Valley civilization, one of the world’s first and 

oldest, was located in a part of what is now Rajasthan. Rajputs 

resisted against the Islamic invasions and protected this land 

Jaipur or The Pink City, is the capital of Rajasthan state and 

the former capital of the princely state of Jaipur. It was 

founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of 

Amber, the region’s previous capital. The city is remarkable 

among pre-modern Indian cities for the width and regularity 

of its streets. The Palace quarter encloses a sprawling palace 

complex (known as the Hawa Mahal, or Palace of Winds), formal 

gardens, and a small lake. Nahargarh Fort crowns the hill in 

the northwest corner of the old city. 

Another noteworthy building is Sawai Jai Singh’s astronomical 

unsuitable for heavily armored Mughal horses, Udaipur 

remained untouched from Mughal influence, in spite of 

much pressure. 

This fierce sense of independence earned them the highest 

gun salute in Rajasthan. Udaipur is referred to as the «Venice 

of the East», the «Most Romantic City of India» and the 

«Kashmir of Rajasthan». 

PUSHKAR 

Deogarh village is situated on the right bank of the river 

Betwa, on the western end of the Lalitpur range of hills. 

The chief of Deogarh, known as ‘The Rawat’, was one of 

sixteen feudal barons entitled to wait upon the Maharani of 

Udaipur, the capital of Mewar. These type of feudal estates, 

called ‘Thikanas’, were awarded by the ruling Maharani to 

a nobleman, either due to blood relationship, or for an act 

of valor. Deogarh is also famous for its school of miniature 

painting. 

Rajasthani Dancer 

Pushkar Lake 

Amber Fort, Jaipur 

Palace of Winds, Jaipur 

Astronomical Observatory 

with their warfare and chivalry for more than 500 years. Later 

the Mughals were able to set firm grip on northern India, but 

the fighting spirit and valor of the Rajputs impressed them to 

such an extent, that they started treating their Rajput aides as 

the backbone of their Kingdom. Even after their defeat, the 

Mughals held Rajput valor and value in the highest esteem. 

It is a place of glory and splendor, with its vibrant traditions, 

awe-inspiring monuments, and vigorous customs. The Rajputs 

were excellent builders and have dotted the landscape with 

their legacy and with some of the most imposing forts and 

palaces in the world. Today, the structures defy time, and tell 

a story of gallantry, courage and tragedy of a bygone era, a 

story of survival in the harsh Thar Desert. 

The state gained its independence in 1949, with the town of 

Jaipur, as its capital. It is often portrayed as one vast open-air 

museum. The dance, music & art forms have been consciously 

cultivated and patronized by the royal courts. Rajasthan is also 

home to some of India’s most romantic cities. 

observatory, named Jantar Mantar. Sawai Jai Singh was a 

mathematician, an astronomer, an astrologer, and a great 

musician of his era. He built five observatories throughout 

India: in Jaipur, Ujjain, Varanasi, Mathura and Delhi but only 

the one at Jaipur is functional. In 1853, when the Prince of 

Wales visited Jaipur, the whole city was painted pink to 

welcome him. Today, avenues remain painted in pink and 

provide a distinctive appearance to the city. 

UDAIPUR 

Udaipur, The City of Lakes, is the historic capital of the former 

Kingdom of Mewar, and the administrative headquarters of 

Udaipur District, known for its Rajput-era palaces. The Lake 

Palace, which covers an entire island in the Pichola Lake, as 

well as the City Palace, the richest palace museum in the 

entire Rajasthan and stands on the east bank of Lake Pichola, 

are of particular fame. City Palace is actually a massive series 

of palaces, built at different times from 1559. 

Pushkar is one of the oldest cities of India, and lies on the 

shore of Pushkar Lake. It is a sanctified spot and one of the 

five pilgrimage sites for devout Hindus. It is considered as old 

as creation, and has been a place of pilgrimage for the Hindus, 

since time immemorial. It has five principal temples, among 

which, one dedicated to Brahma, the Hindu God of Creation. 

Today, there are very few temples dedicated to Lord Brahma 

anywhere in the world. The date of its actual founding is not 

known, but legend associates Lord Brahma with its creation. 

Pushkar means, born due to a flower. Hindus believe that the 

gods released a swan with a lotus in its beak and let it fall on 

earth, where Brahma would perform a ritual. The place where 

the lotus fell was called Pushkar. The lake has 52 ghats, where 

pilgrims descend to bathe in the sacred waters. Pushkar is 

world famous for its cattle fair (especially camels), one of the 

world’s largest, held there each year. Men buy and sell their 

livestock, which includes camels, cows, sheep and goats. The 

women set up their stalls, full of bracelets, textiles and fabrics. 

RANAKPUR 

Ranakpur is located between Jodhpur and Udaipur. It is widely 

known for its marble Jain temple, which was nominated as 

one of the top Seven Wonders of the World and is dedicated 

to Adinatha. It is also known for a much older Sun Temple, 

which lies opposite the former. 

The dating of this temple is considered to be around the 

15th century. Over 1444 marble pillars, all differently carved 

in exquisite detail, support the temple. There is one beautiful 

carving, made out of a single marble rock, with 108 heads of 

snakes and numerous tails. The image faces all four cardinal 

directions, north south , east and west. The temple is designed 

as caumukha, with four faces. The construction of the temple 

and the quadrupled image, symbolizes the Tirthankara’s 

conquest of the four cardinal directions and, hence, it 

symbolizes the cosmos. 

Pushkar Cattle Fair 

Deogarh Mahal 

Jain Temple, Ranankpur 

The City Palace, Udaipur 

Jain Temple, Ranankpur

JAIPUR 

139

Amber Fort, Jaipur 141




124 

Amber Palace, Jaipur

Handicraft Artists, Jaipur 127

City Palace, Jaipur 129

Jantar Mantar, Astronomical Observatory, Jaipur 155

UDAIPUR

158 

City Palace, Udaipur

160 

Lake Pichola, City Palace - Lake Palace

PUSHKAR

164 

Camel Fair, Pushkar

Camel Fair, Pushkar 167




176 

Camel Fair, Pushkar



Pushkar Lake 183

DEOGARTH

Deogarth Village 187

188 

Deogarth Village

Deogarh 191

Train, Deogarh 195

196 

Jain Temple 

RANAKPUR

198 

Jain Temple, Ranakpur

200 

Ranakpur

DELHI • AGRA • VARANASI 

DELHI 

and it was called Agreva, or ‘the border of the forest’. Legend 

Jahān’s time, and reworked extensively with marble and pietra 

the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for it lies between 

Gate of India, Delhi 

The Red Fort, Delhi 

Jama Masjid Mosque, Delhi 

Taj Mahal Entrance, Agra 

The Taj Mahal, Agra 

Located on the banks of the river Yamuna, Delhi, the capital 

of India, is divided into the ancient city of Old Delhi and the 

modern city of New Delhi, planned by leading 20th century 

British architect Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker. The legacy 

of the past survives in the city’s many monuments, each a 

chronicle of the glory of its time. The Red Fort, the Humayun’s 

Tomb, the Cutab Minar, the Jama Masjid Mosque and the 

impressive government buildings, typify the soul of the 

country. In time, the city conceals within its bosom the history 

of civilizations that flourished for more than three thousand 

years. According to legends, the city was founded in the times 

of the epic Mahabharata, about 1500 BC and it was located near 

the Old Fort. Since those early days, many dynasties and rulers 

flourished on its soil. Today, the city is a blend of the modern and 

the traditional with skyscrapers, beautiful gardens and wide, 

tree-lined avenues, showing the Mughal passion of landscaping 

and architectural excellence. More important, however, is that 

Delhi blends within its folds the great cultural variety of India. 

Hinduism is the religion of 82% of Delhi’s population. There are 

also large communities of Muslims (11.7%), Sikhs (4.0%), Jains 

(1.1%) and Christians (0.9%). Other minorities include Parsis, 

Buddhists and Jews. Hindi is the principal spoken language 

while English is the principal written language of the city. 

AGRA 

describes the founding of the city to Rājā Badal Singh (around 

1475), who’s fort, Badalgarh, stood on or near the site of the 

present Fort. It achieved fame as the capital of the Mughal 

emperors from 1526 to 1658 and remains a major tourist 

destination because of its many splendid Mughal-era buildings. 

The most notable are the Tāj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpūr 

Sikrī, all three are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 

Taj Mahal stands as an ultimate Mughal extravagance and 

sophistication. It is described by R.Tagore as “a tear in the face 

if eternity”, but its appeal lies in the knowledge that it was built 

for love. It is one of the most famous buildings in the world. 

Completed in 1652, this mausoleum was built by the Mughal 

King Shāh Jahān as the final resting place for his beloved wife, 

Mumtāz Mahal. Finished in marble, it is perhaps India’s most 

fascinating and beautiful monument. This perfectly symmetrical 

monument that took 22 years of hard labor and 20,000 workers, 

masons and jewelers to build, is set amidst landscaped gardens 

and was planned by the Persian architect Ustad Isa. It is an 

acknowledged masterpiece of symmetry and is also noted 

particularly for its elegant domes, intricately carved screens and 

some of the best inlay work ever seen anywhere in the world, 

incorporating semi-precious stones. Verses of the Koran are 

inscribed on it and at the top of the gate there are twenty-two 

small domes, signifying the number of years the monument 

took to build. 

Agra Fort (sometimes called the Red Fort), was commissioned 

dura inlay having a total perimeter of 2.4 kilometers. The fort 

is a typical example of Mughal architecture, showing how the 

North Indian style of fort construction, differentiated from 

that of the South. 

Fatehpur Sikri: It was built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar as 

his capital, in the the 2nd half of the 16th century, about 35 

km from Agra Later abandoned, the site displays a number 

of buildings with historical significance. Fatehpur Sikri was 

built by Akbar after Jodhabai, his beloved Hindu wife, blessed 

by the famous Sufi Saint Salim Christi, gave birth to the long 

awaited son. 

VARANASI 

Varanasi, also commonly known as Benares and Kashi, is 

situated on the west bank of the River Ganges, in Uttar Pradesh 

and is regarded as a holy pilgrimage site by Hindus, Buddhists 

and Jains. It is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in 

the world. American writer Mark Twain wrote: «Benares is older 

than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and 

looks twice as old as all of them put together”. 

The city’s culture is closely associated with the River Ganges 

and its religious importance to the Hindu people. People often 

refer to it as «the city of temples», «the holy city of India», 

«the religious capital of India», «the city of lights», «the city of 

the confluence of Varuna with the Ganges being to its north, 

and that of Assi and the Ganges to its south. 

According to legend, the city was founded by the Hindu deity, 

Lord Shiva, around 5,000 years ago, thus making it one of the 

most important pilgrimage destinations in the country. It is one 

of the seven sacred cities for the Hindus. It has many temples 

along its banks and attracts about 1,000,000 Hindu pilgrims 

each year, who regard Ganges itself as Goddess. Most of the 

100 Ghats, that are steps leading to the river, are bathing Ghats, 

while others are used as cremation sites. Hindus believe that 

bathing in the Ganges absolves sins and that dying in Varanasi 

ensures release of a person’s soul from the cycle of reincarnation. 

Varanasi is one of the holiest places in Buddhism too, being one 

of the four pilgrimage sites said to have been designated by 

Buddha himself. 

In the residential neighborhood of Varanasi lies Sarnath, the site 

of the deer park where Gautama Buddha is said to have given 

his first sermon about the basic principles of Buddhism. 

Sadhus: Holy men who renounce all worldly goods, comforts 

and sex, in a lifelong bid to find enlightenment and gain 

moksha (liberation from the eternal circle of reincarnation). 

There may be five million Sadhus in India. Some of them live 

in Ashrams, temples forests or caves, while others spend their 

lives roaming the subcontinent on foot or rail. All of them 

survive on donations and goodwill. The sadhu is not to be 

Fatehpur Sikri, Agra 

Ganges River, Varanasi 

Night prayers, Varanasi 

Sarnath, Varanasi 

Shadu, Holy Man 

by the great Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1565. It had been 

learning» and the «culture capital of India». Many Hindus believe 

confused with the Indian guru. Viewed more as teachers or 

On the banks of Yamuna River, in the State of Uttar Pradesh, is 

built before 1000 AD, but it was later renovated by Akbar. The 

that Varanasi is the ‘Center of Universe’, and it is called “Universal 

mentors, gurus can come from any walk of life and they are 

the famous city of Agra. It is mentioned in the epic Mahābhārata 

red sandstone fort was converted into a palace during Shāh 

Capital Benares”. The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from 

always at hand to offer advice on any conceivable subject. 

Agra Fort 

Varanasi Ghats

204 

Presidential Palace 

DELHI

206 

Red Fort - Humayun’s Tomb - Cutab Minar, Delhi

208 

Henna artwork (mehndi) symbolizing the love between husband & wife 

Wedding Ceremony, Delhi 209

210 

Arts & Crafts Museum, Delhi

Arts & Crafts Museum, Delhi 213

214 

Delhi

216 

Sikhs, Bangla Sahib Temple, Old Delhi

218 

Communal Food Hall, Bangla Sahib Temple, Old Delhi

Jama Masjid Mosque, Old Delhi 223

224 

Jama Masjid Mosque, Old Delhi

Jama Masjid Mosque, Old Delhi 229

230 

Central Railway Station, Delhi

232 

Central Railway Station, Delhi

234 

The Taj Mahal 

AGRA

Agra 237

Agra Fort 239

Agra Fort 241

Agra 243

244 

Taj Mahal, Agra

246 

Palace Complex, Fatehpur Sikri, Agra

VARANASI

Bathing Ghats, Varanasi 251

Ganges River, Varanasi 253

Bathing in the Ganges, Varanasi 255

258 

Bathing Ghats, Varanasi

260 

Bathing Ghats, Varanasi

264 

Shadus, Varanasi

Varanasi 267

268 

Aarti - Night Puja, Varanasi

Diya lamps, Varanasi 271

272 Street Sellers, Varanasi 

Varanasi 273

Sarnath, Varanasi 275

MAHARASTRA Mumbai • Goa 

MUMBAI 

images carved into them. Designed by Frederick William 

dabbawallah)from each house, color-code the office addresses 

famous for their architecture. Feast and festivals, traditional 

Stevens and decorated by local art students and craftsmen, 

onto the lids, thread them on to long poles and cycle off to 

folk arts and music is a way of life for the hospitable people 

Mumbai Port 

Gateway of India, Mumbai 

Victoria Terminus, Mumbai 

Mumbai (formerly Bombay) is a cluster of seven islands and 

derives its name from Mumbadevi, the patron goddess of 

the Koli fishermen, its oldest inhabitants. Once a Portuguese 

princess’ dowry, who named the city “Bom Bahia” or “Good 

Bay”, and later an adornment of neo-gothic British architecture, 

Mumbai is more than a metropolis. It is in fact a mix of mud 

huts and skyscrapers, age old traditions and high fashions, 

the industrialists’ heaven and movie makers’ Bollywood. A 

lovely natural harbor and winding creek set off the city of 

Mumbai from the long, narrow coast of Western India. Mumbai 

pulsates with activity. It is a city that is disciplined by no time 

frame-neither by day nor night. Mumbai is also the country’s 

financial powerhouse, the nation’s industrial and economic 

heart. The city has numerous famous landmarks including 

the Gateway of India, Haji Ali’s Mosque, Mani Bhavan Gandhi 

Museum, and India’s most beautiful railway station Chhatrapati 

Shivaji Terminus or Victoria Terminus, a masterpiece of Gothic 

architecture and stained-glass windows. 

it was completed in 1888 and named to commemorate 

Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. Now it is the headquarter 

of the Central Railway with over 1,000 trains and two million 

passengers passing through the station daily. In 2004 it was 

declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Dharavi Slum, the largest slum in Mumbai and in all of Asia, 

is a micro-cosmos of Mumbai life with more than 1,000,000 

inhabitants. Established in 1933, it incorporates 1.7 sq. km 

sandwiched between Mumbai’s two railway lines. While it may 

look a bit shambled from the outside, the maze of alleys and 

streets of this city within the city are actually a collection of 

various settlements. In each part of the slum inhabitants from 

different parts of India, and with different trades, have set up 

homes and various factories, such as potters, Muslim tanners, 

embroidery workers, metal-smiths, workers recycling plastics. 

Some of these industries even export their wares, making the 

annual turnover of business from Dharavi US$650 million. 

the nearest station. Here the dabbas are handed over to other 

dabbawalls, who deliver them to the right offices, while empty 

dabbas are delivered back home by late afternoon. This is one 

of Mumbai’s most efficient services. 

The Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat: This is a 136-years old dhobi 

ghat (place where clothes are washed) where two hundred 

dhobi families live and work. Workers here beat laundry in 

a series of 1026 open air concrete wash pens, immerse it in 

giant vats of boiling starch, hang it to dry, and finally press 

the garments with wood-burning stones before delivering it 

for a few rupees. It is the oldest and biggest human powered 

washing machine. 

Elephanta Island, also called Gharapuri Island or place of 

caves, is one of a number of islands six miles southeast of 

the coast of Mumbai. Known in ancient times as Gharapuri, 

the present name Elephanta, was given by 17th century 

Portuguese explorers, after seeing a monolithic basalt 

who live here. Goa’s distinct culture is a legacy of its colonial 

past. Goa, the ancient Gomanchala of Vedic fame, was liberated 

from the Portuguese after nearly 451 years of colonial rule 

and was annexed to India in 1961. As a result of this dichotomy 

in its history, Goa is an exotic mix of both eastern and western 

cultural influences. 

Panaji, is one of the most beautiful towns in India, a town 

of pastel shades and narrow streets. In old Goa, there are 

two World Heritage Sites, the Bom Jesus Basilica and a few 

designated convents. The Basilica holds the mortal remains 

of St Francis Xavier, regarded by many Catholics as the patron 

saint of Goa. Vasco de Gama is Goa’s largest city while the 

historic city of Margao still exhibits the cultural influence of 

the Portuguese, who first landed in the early 16th century as 

merchants, and conquered it soon thereafter. 

Goa’s known history stretches back to the third century BC, 

when it formed part of the Empire ruled by the Buddhist 

The Dabbawallas, Mumbai 

Dhobi Ghat, Mumbai 

Elephanta Island Caves 

Dharavi Slum, Mumbai 

The Gateway of India: Mumbai’s most famous landmark, 

was the first sight to greet travellers to Indian shores during 

the British Raj. It also became the exit point for British 

troops after India gained independence in 1947. It was 

built to commerorate the visit of King George V and Queen 

Mary in 1911 and it was designed by the British architect 

George Wittet. 

Versova Village & Fish market: It’s a fishermen village in the 

suburb of Mumbai facing the Arabic Sea. A large population 

of Mumbai’s fishing community, the Kolis, resides there. The 

fishermen bring in their catch twice a day and a wholesale fish 

market is set up by the sharp tongued Koli fishwives. These 

fisherwomen, colorfully dressed, sort the catch unloaded from 

the fishing boats at the quay and sell the fish. The fish that dry 

in the sun are bombil, the fish used in the dish Bombay duck. 

sculpture of an elephant found near the entrance. The 

Elephanta Caves, dating back to the 7th century, are a 

complex of Shiva temple caves and was made a UNESCO 

World Heritage Site in 1987. The worship of Shiva inspired the 

building of these temples. The carving of the 18 foot tall 6th 

century Lord Shiva, in his trinity of manifestations, is especially 

spectacular. 

emperor, Ashoka. Buddhist monks laid the foundation of 

Buddhism in Goa. In 1510, the Portuguese defeated the 

ruling Bijapur kings, leading to the establishment of a 

permanent settlement in Old Goa. The Portuguese converted 

a large portion of their subjects in Goa to Christianity. The 

repeated wars of the Portuguese with the Marathas and 

the Deccan sultanate, along with the repressive religious 

policies of Portuguese, led to large migrations of Goans to 

Goa beach 

Versova Fishing boats 

Victoria Terminus (renamed Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus): A 

The Dabbawallahs of Mumbai: There are men who pick up 

GOA 

neighboring areas. 

Panaji, Goa 

masterpiece of Gothic architecture and stained-glass windows, 

this is India’s most beautiful railway station. It has towering 

spires, domed arches and buttresses and pillars of animal 

freshly cooked lunches from over 100,000 suburban homes 

and deliver them to offices all over the city. They pick up 

the meals packed in Tiffin boxes (or dabbas hence the name 

Goa is a tiny, emerald land on the West Coast of India, with 

natural scenic beauty and attractive beaches. It’s temples are 

Koli Women, Mumbai 

Women of Goa

278 

Taj Mahal Hotel - Gate of India 

MUMBAI

Mumbai 281

282 

Mani Braven Gandhi Museum

Dharavi Slum, Mumbai 285




292 

Street Seller, Mumbai



300 

Slum, Banganga Tank Area, Mumbai


Mahalahmi Dhobi Ghat, Mumbai 305



Versova Beach, Mumbai 311

Versova Fishing Boats 313



Versova Fish Market, Mumbai 319

320 Elephanta Caves 

Versova Fish Market 321

Koli Fishermen, Versova 323

Versova Fishing Village 325

326 

Versova Fishing Village

Versova Fishing Village 329

330 

Versova Fishing Village

332 

Crawford Market, Mumbai

334 

Thieve’s Market, Mumbai

Crawford Market, Mumbai 337

ELEPHANTA ISLAND

342 Elephanta Island Caves 

Bonnet Macaques, Elephanta Caves 343

344 Elephanta Caves 

Lord Shiva’s Trinity Manifestation 345

GOA

Goa 349

Spices Plantation, Goa 351

Street Sellers, Panaji, Goa 353

Panaji School, Goa 355

Margao Market, Goa 357

Goa 359

THE SOUTH Tamil Nadu • Kerala 

THE SOUTH 

Prior to the Christian era, the Cheras, Cholas and Pandias ruled 

Tamil Country. This was the golden period of Tamil literature, the 

At the end of the day all usable remains are taken home for family 

consumption. 

Coconut water and the milk produced from the coconut fruit are 

both popular drinks, while the husk fiber is converted to coir for 

Kerala, Backwaters 

Garupa Detail, Madurai 

Sri Meenakshi Temple 

Devotee, Madurai 

Street Market, Madurai 

South India is a region of vast cultural wealth and lush beauty 

where the Dravidian culture flourished, without the cultural 

invasions that characterize northern India. It has an important 

place in the history of India, since the trade along this spice route, 

was one of the most influential commercial activities in history, 

and directly affected the course of world events. The colonization 

of America, as well as the Indian subcontinent, was largely a result 

of the European attempts to find sea routes to the East. Columbus’ 

desire to find an Atlantic sea route to the East Indies, led him 

to America. The British East India Company, formed in 1600 to 

compete with the Dutch spice trade, resulted in the colonization 

of the Indian subcontinent. Pepper, or ‘Black Gold’ as it was 

known, was exported from this coastal city to Greece as far back 

as the fourth century BC, but the real flood of trade began in the 

first century AD. 

TAMIL NADU 

Perched in the Southern most part of the Indian Peninsula, the 

state of Tamil Nadu is situated between Bay of Bengal in the 

east and Indian Ocean in the south. It is blessed with all the 

geographical landforms, ranging from beaches and hill stations, 

to forests and plains. The Tamils were, and are still considered, the 

best creators of temples and monuments. 

The history of Tamil Nadu is very old and it is believed that 

human endeavors to inhabit this area began as early as 300, 000 

years ago. It is also suggested that the first Dravidians of Tamil 

country were part of the early Indus Valley settlers and moved 

south during the advent of Aryans around 1500 BC. The proximity 

Sangham Age. Dravidian, the language still dominant in South 

India, is a unique mode of communication, quite distinct from the 

Indo-European, Indo-Aryan languages of North India. 

MADURAI 

Madurai or the «City of Nectar», the “Athens of South India”, 

is the oldest and second largest city of Tamil Nadu. This city is 

located on Vaigai River. Dating about 2500 years back in time, it 

is one of southern India’s oldest cities, and has been a centre of 

learning and pilgrimage for centuries. It is also the home of one 

of the most sacred temple towns of India, the Meenakshi Temple, 

around which the city evolved. In 300 BC, Megasthenis, the Greek 

historian, wrote about Madurai that the city was a delight for 

visiting Greek traders. 

Sri Meenakshi Temple: The complex is huge and the construction 

dates back to more than 2000 years, it was funded by contributions 

from many dynasties that once ruled over Madurai. There are four 

gigantic gateways enclosing two shrines, that contains splendid 

art and sculpture works. Undoubtedly one of the most important 

features of the temple is the thousand-pillared hall in which each 

pillar has a big and brilliant statue sculpted on it, telling the story 

of the beautiful princess of Madurai and her marriage to Lord 

Siva. These 985 richly carved pillars are decorated with scenes 

from the wedding and each one surpasses the other in beauty. 

They are entirely covered in thousands of stucco figures of deities, 

mythical animals and monsters and painted in vivid colors. 

Market trading is available to anyone, while the absence of 

KERALA 

The State of Kerala or “God’s Own Country”, is famous for its 

heritage and culture, and for its festivals which are celebrated 

here since ancient times. When humans first migrated from Africa 

70,000 years ago, some settled on the lush Kerala coast. Waves 

of migrants from North India added to the mix. Later Greek and 

Roman traders made their way to the coast, at the port of Muziris, 

the most important of 20 ports on the west coast of India. The 

Periplus, a Greek merchant’s guide to the Indian trade from 

the 1st century BC, notes these ports. All along its coast, exotic 

backwaters (chains of lagoons and lakes), canals and inlets create 

an intricate maze that stretches for 1900 km across the land, lying 

parallel to the Arabian Sea coast, known as the Malabar Coast. The 

network includes five large lakes linked by canals, man-made and 

natural, fed by 38 rivers that flow down from the Western Ghats 

range. Kerala’s most distinctive feature is probably its matrilineal 

society. Unique to South Asia, property in Kerala is passed from 

mother to daughter. Kerala also has the highest literacy rate in 

India, about 90%. 

The Keralan Rice Boats are a reworked model of Kettuvallams 

which, in earlier times, were used to carry rice and spices to the 

Cochin port (in the Malayalam language, Kettu means “tied with 

ropes”, and vallam means “boat”. It was the important mode of 

transportation in coastal Kerala, because of its accessibility to the 

most remote areas. 

rope and matting. In Sanskrit the Coconut palm is called “The tree 

providing all life’s necessities”. 

The port of Cochin or Kochi at the lake’s outlet to the Arabian 

Sea, is situated on one of the world’s finest natural harbors. At 

the entrance of the harbor you can see the shore-based Chinese 

fishing nets, (from the Court of Kublai Khan 1.400 AD). It was built 

in British, Dutch and Portuguese styles reflecting the architectural 

planning of the colonists. The Church of St. Francis, where Vasco 

de Gama was buried in 1524, is also located here. 

Kathakali Dance Performance is considered to be one of the 

oldest theater forms in the world. It is a dance drama with colorful 

makeup, elaborate costumes, detailed gestures and well-defined 

body movements presented in tune with the music. It originated 

in the state of Kerala during the 17th century AD and tells the 

stories of the Hindu gods, Rama and Krishna. The actors never 

speak, but only use hand gestures, expressions and rhythmic 

dancing to tell the story. Their intensive training can often last for 

10 years. 

Kalady is a village located east of the Periyar River, near 

Cochin. Notably, it’s the birthplace of the Indian philosopher 

Sri Adi Sankara (788- 820 AD). Sri Adi Sankara Keerthi Sthampa 

Mandapam is an eight-story memorial signifying the love of an 

innocent child for his beloved mother and the blessings of Lord 

Krishna. This shrine is open to all pilgrims, irrespective of religion 

and caste. Legend holds that one day, the widowed mother of 

Little Sankara, fainted after walking three kilometers for her daily 

bath in the Periyar river. Feeling helpless, the boy prayed to Lord 

Krishna. His tears moved Krishna, who blessed him thus: «the 

Backwaters Village, Kerala 

Fort Cochin, Kerala 

Coconut Trees, Kerala 

Chinese Fishing Nets 

Kathakali Actor 

to the sea established the Tamil Country on the maritime map of 

price tags provides the opportunity to charge different price to 

Coconut Palm: Important for the Indian economy, serving many 

river will flow where your little feet are”. The river began flowing 

the world even before the dawn of Christian era. The Tamils were 

friends, gurus, strangers, village elders etc. Stock is constantly 

functions. Palm fronds are used for thatching and weaving. White 

through little Sankara’s garden and he installed Lord Krishna into 

bonded through trade links with ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. 

rearranged to give the impression of freshness and abundance. 

coconut meat can be eaten raw, and is often used in cooking oil. 

the present temple. 

Madurai Slum 

Kettuvallams, Kerala

362 

Garupa detail, Temple Gateway 

MADURAI

Offerings, Sri Meenakshi Temple 365

Sri Meenakshi Temple 367

Sri Meenakshi Temple, Pillar Hall 369

370 

Sri Meenakshi Temple, Madurai

Sri Meenakshi Temple, Madurai 373

374 

Sri Meenakshi Temple, Madurai

Street Tailors 377

Madurai 381

Mariamman Teppakulam, Temple Tank, Madurai 383

384 

Madurai

386 

Flower Market, Madurai

Madurai Slum 389

Madurai Market 391

394 

Madurai

Madurai Slum 397

Madurai Street Market 399

Madurai Street Market 401

Madurai Market 407

Madurai Town 409

Madurai School 411

412 

Madurai School

Church School, Madurai 415

416 

Madurai Street

KERALA

Kerala Backwaters 421



426 Making rope out of coconuts 

Kerala Backwaters Village 427

Kerala Backwaters Village 429

Keralan Rice Boats - Kettuvalams 431

432 

Chinese Fishing Nets 

Rice fields, Kerala 433

Fort Cochin, Kerala 435

436 

Cochin Harbor, Kerala

438 

Chinese Fishing Nets, Cochin Harbor

Kathakali Dance Performance, Cochin 441

Kalady Temple 443

Bonnet Macaquas, Kerala 445

446 

Tea Plantation, Kerala

LEH 

DHARAMSALA 

THE NATIONAL FLAG OF INDIA is in tricolour. The saffron stands for courage, sacrifice 

and the spirit of unity; the white, for purity and truth; the green for faith and fertility. In 

the centre of the white band, there is a wheel in navy blue to indicate the Dharma Chakra, 

the Wheel of Law in the Sarnath Lion Capital, dating back to 200th century BC and to 

show that there is life in movement and death in stagnation.The design of the National 

Flag of India was adopted by Indiaʼs Constitutional Assembly on 22nd July, 1947, and it 

symbolizes freedom. 

AMRITSAR 

HARIDWAR 

RISHIKESH 

PUSHKAR 

DELHI 

JAIPUR 

AGRA 

DEOGARH 

UDAIPUR 

VARANASI 

MUMBAI 

Wikipedia: attribution=PHGCOM 

THE PERIPLUS OF THE ERYTHRAEAN SEA 

It was written in the middle of the 1st century AD describes navigation and trading opportunities 

from Egypt along the coast of the Red Sea, and others along Northeast Africa and 

India. The author was an unknown Greek living in Egypt. Periplus was unique in providing accurate 

insights into what the ancient world knew about the lands around the Indian Ocean. 

Although Erythraean Sea literally means “Red Sea”, to the Greeks it included the Indian Ocean 

and the Persian Gulf. 

GOA 

COCHIN 

KERALA 

TAMIL NADU 

MADURAI 

ΙΝDΙΑ 

The dots in this map represent the sites 

where the photographs of the book 

“India, Unity in diversity” were taken.

INDIA

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