Leh Market, Ladakh 71
NORTH <strong>INDIA</strong> 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
- Page 1 and 2: “India is the cradle of the human
- Page 3 and 4: INDIA Unity in Diversity PHOTOGRAPH
- Page 5 and 6: ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dimitra Stasinopou
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- Page 11 and 12: knew about the lands around the Ind
- Page 13 and 14: THE HIMALAYAS Jammu & Kashmir • L
- Page 15 and 16: 26 Shey Gompa Thiksey Monastery 27
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- Page 23 and 24: 52 Shey Palace - Shey Gompa - Stupa
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Camel Fair, Pushkar 173
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176 Camel Fair, Pushkar
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Camel Fair, Pushkar 181
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DEOGARTH
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188 Deogarth Village
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Train, Deogarh 195
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198 Jain Temple, Ranakpur
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DELHI • AGRA • VARANASI DELHI a
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206 Red Fort - Humayun’s Tomb - C
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210 Arts & Crafts Museum, Delhi
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214 Delhi
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218 Communal Food Hall, Bangla Sahi
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224 Jama Masjid Mosque, Old Delhi
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230 Central Railway Station, Delhi
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234 The Taj Mahal AGRA
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Agra Fort 239
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Agra 243
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246 Palace Complex, Fatehpur Sikri,
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Bathing Ghats, Varanasi 251
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Bathing in the Ganges, Varanasi 255
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260 Bathing Ghats, Varanasi
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Varanasi 267
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Diya lamps, Varanasi 271
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Sarnath, Varanasi 275
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278 Taj Mahal Hotel - Gate of India
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282 Mani Braven Gandhi Museum
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Dharavi Slum, Mumbai 287
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Dharavi Slum, Mumbai 291
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Dharavi Slum, Mumbai 295
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300 Slum, Banganga Tank Area, Mumba
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Mahalahmi Dhobi Ghat, Mumbai 305
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Mahalahmi Dhobi Ghat, Mumbai 309
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Versova Fishing Boats 313
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Versova Fishing Boats 317
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320 Elephanta Caves Versova Fish Ma
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Versova Fishing Village 325
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Versova Fishing Village 329
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332 Crawford Market, Mumbai
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Crawford Market, Mumbai 337
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342 Elephanta Island Caves Bonnet M
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GOA
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Spices Plantation, Goa 351
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Panaji School, Goa 355
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Goa 359
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362 Garupa detail, Temple Gateway M
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Sri Meenakshi Temple 367
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370 Sri Meenakshi Temple, Madurai
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374 Sri Meenakshi Temple, Madurai
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Madurai 381
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384 Madurai
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Madurai Slum 389
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394 Madurai
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Madurai Street Market 399
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Madurai Market 407
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Madurai School 411
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Church School, Madurai 415
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KERALA
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Kerala Backwaters 423
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426 Making rope out of coconuts Ker
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Keralan Rice Boats - Kettuvalams 43
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Fort Cochin, Kerala 435
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438 Chinese Fishing Nets, Cochin Ha
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Kalady Temple 443
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446 Tea Plantation, Kerala