Customs traditions of India

India is a land of diverse culture and traditions. Indian heritage is famous for its beautiful architecture and royal majestic beauty. Tourist all over world visit India to have a glimpse of famous heritage spots like Taj Mahal, Konark Temple, Red Fort, Ajanta and Ellora caves, Elephanta caves, Mahabalipuram and Khajuraho temples. Although all these monuments reflects Cultures customs in India, there are many other aspects which shows customs traditions of India.

Religions of India:

Cultures customs in India does not mean only beautiful monuments, architecture. There are various occasions which are celebrated in India with great enthusiasm. A customs tradition of India also involves art, music, drama and theater, philosophy, literature, celebration of festivals, and much more. Unique geography, long history, diverse demographics, and absorption of customs have shaped the Indian culture.

Various cultures and traditions of other countries have accepted by Indian during invasions. India is the greatest example for unity in diversity. India is a country of numerous religions like Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism , Buddhism Christianity and Islam etc. This diversification over the years has led to strengthening of the modern Customs traditions of India.

Indian Dance and music:

The history of Customs traditions of India shows amazing facts about the Indian heritage. Dance and music is the major mode of entertainment. Different  folk dances and classical dances are the way to celebrate different occasions, festivals and ceremonies. Kathakali, Kathhak, Manipuri, Bhartatnatyam are the famous classical forms of dance in India. However, different dance styles can be seen during celebration of festivals, marriages and different functions. Mantras and Shlokas during the Pujas and other functions invoke positive energy.

Festivals in India:

Festivals in India are celebrated in every corner of country by diverse communities throughout the year and season. Festivals are celebrated in honor of god or changing season is a reason to celebrate the festivals. Festivals in India are celebrated by arranging Diyas, Rangoli drawings and a variety of recipes made in traditional way.

A variety of festivals in India are portrayed through dances. Sports like camel racing, bull racing, bull fighting, boat racing, cock-fighting etc. spice up the occasions.

Cultures customs in India are unique, diverse and rich, in its own way.

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Pilgrimage places in India

India is considered as the land of “Dharma” or religion.  Pilgrimage has always been the most vital part of all religion. India is a religious country; however the spirituality in India is not limited to the mosques, temples, and churches.  For Indians religion is the life blood of the nation.

Hinduism is considered as the oldest religion of India.  However, there are many pilgrimage centers in India for other religions like Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism and Islam.  Flourishing green forests, flowing rivers, amazing caves etc at the place of Hindu pilgrimages imitates its connection with the philosophy.

Hindu Pilgrimage Places

The famous pilgrimage centers in India for Hindus is Char Dham or the Chota Char Dham.  It include four sites, the Kedharnath ,the Yamunotri, the Badrinath and the Gangotri and are located in the Uttarakhand.  The snow covered mountains of Amarnath is another pilgrimage places in North India.  The Kumbh Mela which is conducted at four different places after 12 years is another attraction in India. Allahabad Kumbh mela is more important for all pilgrims.  Puri in Orissa is known for the temple of Lord Jagganath.  The other most visited pilgrimage is Mathura city, the birthplace of Lord Krishna.  The other pilgrimage places in India are Dwarka, Kanyakumari , Rameswaram Vaishnodevi ,Tirupati and Shirdi.

Sikh Pilgrimage in India

Golden temple, of Sikh community is located in city of Amritsar ,Punjab. This beautiful temple is the holiest shrine of the Sikhs in the country . Hemkund Sahib, world’s highest Gurudwara and Anandpur Sahib, is another holy places of the Sikhs. people trek to the height of 4000mtrs to prey at the holy pilgrimage, Hemkunt Sahib which is covered with snow capped mountains.

Jain Pilgrimages in India

Since India is the birthplace of Mahavir, several Jain pilgrimage sites form the tourist attractions.  All the Jain temples  are well known for their art and architecture.  The Huge statue of Bahubali at Sravanabelagola in Karnataka is the most important Jain pilgrimage sites in India.  Dilwara temple in the state of Rajasthan is the best carved temple out of Marble.  This temple at Mount Abu is the most visited pilgrimage for Jain pilgrims.  Other Jain pilgrimage places in India are Bawangaja (Madhya Pradesh), Palitana( Gujrat) and Ranak Pur Temple( Rajasthan).

Christian Pilgrimage in India

World’s best churches can be found in the state of Goa, India that is a wonderful storehouse of earliest cathedrals and churches. Churches of Goa are noteworthy too and were the harbingers of Christian missionary work in India.  The land of one and all, India has preached love and humanity to the world since old times.

Buddhist Pilgrimages in India

There are more 25 Buddhist destination all over the India.  Most of these destinations have someway been part of the Buddha’s life. Mahabodhi temple at Bodh Gaya is an architectural wonder.  This is the place where Gautam Buddha achieved enlightenment and everyone has a wish to visit this place once in a lifetime.  Buddhist pilgrimage in India are located in the states of Uttar Pradesh ,Bihar, and Laddakh.  The other most visited pilgrimage for the Buddhist is Vaishali.

The Buddhist tour in India includes places like – Saranath, Lumbini, Dharmashala, Nalanda, Kushi Nagar, Kapilavastu, Rajgir ,Varanasi, Patna, Ajanta and Ellora caves, Tawang and  Sikkim. Monasteries in Ladakh preserve Tibetan Buddhism well.

The pilgrim for Muslims is the Ajmer in the state of Rajastan. Pilgrims from all the nooks and corners of the world of all these religions visit this pious land of India.

India Vacation spots

India is a  favorite vacation spot for tourists from all over world . There are endless vacation spots in India for visitors having different interests like visiting forts & palaces, heritage monuments, pilgrimage sites, historical monuments and historic cities, exotic wildlife, nature sites, hill stations, beaches, religious spots, and many more.

Summer vacation destination India

Summers in India are the suitable time for your vacations in India.  Taj Mahal, Agra or Ajanta & Ellora caves are the all time top vacations spots in India. The UNESCO World Heritage spots in India are : Khajuraho, Qutub Minar, Red fort ,Sun temle of Konark ,Bodhagaya ,Mahabalipuram temple.

There are many picturesque hill stations admired among vacationers. Manali ,Ooty Gulmarg, Darjeeling, Munnar, Nainital , Mussoorie,  Auli and Shimla are top vacation spots in India ,if you want to spend your summer at hill stations. These hill stations are all time accepted due to their pleasant and cool climate and rich flora & fauna.  All these famous hill stations are also famous for different adventurous sports like skiing, trekking, mountaineering, Paragliding etc. You can enjoy a ride on yacht, boat in Nainital.  So you can choose these places as your 2010 India vacation spots.

Char Dham i.e.the Badrinath, the Kedharnath ,the Gangotri, the Yamunotri, and Haridwar ,and Varanasi are famous pilgrimage sites in India.You can either plan for Ajmer, Rajasthan which is the pilgrim for Muslims or Bodh Gaya, where Lord Buddha got his Enlightment. These pilgrimage or religious places could be your this years India vacation spots.

India Beach Vacations

Kerala and Goa would be the perfect India vacation spots for your beach holiday in this summer. Both these places will surely mesmerize you with its enormous green landscapes. The natural beauty of Kerala is mainly due to calm backwaters, flourishing green tea plantations, and extraordinary wildlife.

If you adventure lover and love trekking, skiing, mountaineering, Scuba diving, water rafting etc then apart from the above mentioned places you can add following places to your vacation list.Himachal Pradesh,  Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himalayas, Sikkim and Darjeeling are the top vacation spots in India. Rishikesh. Zanskar River at Leh for water rafting and Andaman for scuba diving is India vacation spots.
You need to take special care to escape the scorching summer heat in India, when you plan your vacations in India during summers. You need to choose the right India vacation spots so as to avoid too much money spending on irrelevant activities. Make your summer vacations hassle free by arranging proper tour plan with top tour operators. So where do you plan to spend your summer vacations this year?

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Best places Goa

Goa , a tiny land with its hundred kilometers of coastline has a various best beaches in India.  It is for everyone, from a heritage hunter to beach lover, from the romantic honeymooner to wildlife fanatic .  Goa is famous for its architecture, feasts and festivals along with its  scenic beauty, temples and churches and natural attractive beaches in India. The sparkling combination of Sun, surf, sand and sea makes Goa one of the ideal destinations in India.

Places of Interest in Goa

Panaji : This is a charming city on the left bank of silvery Mandovi river is the capital of Goa India.

Mhapusa : It is the capital of Bardez Taluka and is at the cross roads of the network of highways covering whole of northern Goa.

Margoa : It is the capital of South Goa and is a commercial metropolis linked by national highways with Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Famous Beaches of Goa

List of beaches in Goa

Colva Beach :    Colva beach is about 6 kms away from Margao. At this place of India Goa beach good accommodation facilities are available.

Calangute Beach :   This beach is most popular holiday resort in Goa for its splendor.

Dona Paula :    Dona Paula is an idyllic and picturesque picnic spot. Water scootering facilities are here.

Anjuna :     It is 18 kms away from Panjim. This popular Goa beach area is adjacent to Chapora fort.

Miramar beach : Miramar beach is the nearest to Panaji,Goa.  This golden beach of Goa has soft sand and with palm trees.

Vagator beach :    It is 22 kms away from Panjim. Calangut beach is at the south of Vagator and Chapora fort is at the north.

Arambol Beach :    It is the north goan beach and the attraction of beach is the lady of mount carmel church .

Agonda beach:      A small, picturesque and sccluded beach where number of nature lovers go forpeace of mind.

Bogmalo Beach :    This beach is covered with Western Ghats from three sides and is very close to airport.

Sinquerim Beach :    This beach is famous for golden sand , yet not much crowded. You can visit Fort Agunda near this beach.

Arossim Beach :    This Goa beach is not much crowded and safe for swimming.

Varca Beach :    Varsa is the longest and loneliest beach of all. There is church of seventeenth century is must to visit.

Along with a long coastline dotted with beaches, Goa is also famous for different land and water sports. Some of the prominent beaches like Calangute , Candolim and Palolim have operators providing Dolphin and crocodile spotting trips. Even bird watching will keep you hooked.

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India is the only country where we find lots of colorful celebrations. Fair and festivals in India echo the vivacious environment of the country. The tradition of India is exhibited through its numerous fairs and festivals. The Indian festivals determine their origin in religious beliefs, customs and traditions, myths and the season of the country. Festivals in India are either of spiritual and religious nature or to enjoy the changes of seasons.

Indians celebrate all Spiritual and religious festivals with great joy and happiness. Ganesh Chaturthi, Durga Puja or Navratri, Eid-ul-Fitr, Christmas, Janmastami, Diwali,Raksha Bandhan  and many others are  the popular religious festivals of India. Prayers are put forward,marches are held  during festivals. Indians celebrate their festivals by giving  and accepting presents.

Dancing and singing makes all these festivals more colorful events. Despite these, the other festivals are celebrated to welcome different seasons. Onam in Kerala and Bihu in Assam are celebrated to spot the reaping season. Teej of Rajasthan is celebrated at the commencement of monsoon. Baisakhi celebrated in Punjab suggests the beginning of  Harvest.

Fairs held in different parts of India is important for Indian tourism industry as many tourist prefer  to visit India during the festival time. Tourist from various places of India and world plan their holidays according occurances of these craft fairs and festivals.

Konark Dance festival held in the open air auditorium of Sun temple, Orissa with the temple as the backdrop during the first week of December. This festival showcases a magical parade of India’s classical and traditional dance forms. Goa Carnival is favorite festival among Indians and foreigners. The Kumbh Mela is an important event for the Indians and also for foreigners who come from all over the world.

Marwar festival showcases the rich tradition of music and dance held annually in October on Shard Purnima.Desert festival organised by RTDS during the month of January and February.Puskar fair is one of the largest cattle fair in the country held every year on Kartik Purnima. Camel cart races and other cultural events are organized during this fair in Puskar, Rajasthan. Urs Ajmer Fair,Rajasthan and Surajkund Crafts Fair are another popular fairs of India.

These festivals and fairs are vital element of the life Indian’s and invite everyone to join in the celebrations. These festivals are great place for experiencing unique lifestyle of India.

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India offers visitors a host of adventure  sports and many other activities like trekking, mountaineering, hiking, skiing, water rafting  and rock climbing.

Some of the most exiting trekking routes originate in the Kumaon Hills and the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttaranchal state. Nanda Devi (largest peak in India) treks are always compared with some of the interesting treks in the Annapuma, Nepal Trek. The other interesting trekking routes are Sikkim himalayas and  Dajeeling  in the north east,  Manali and Chamba in Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh. The pleasant town Manali offers many adventure sports like heli-skiing, paragliding, mountain biking, kayaking and hiking.  Gulmarg is a popular skiing resort and a good base for treks.

Kerala is the option of different rock climbing, trekking, hiking and wild life safaris. The Western Ghats of kerala offers spectacular sceneries which is ideal place for hiking. The lower attitude regions of Nilgiri Hills, Munnar , Mukteshwar ridge, Periyar are the pretty good options for hiking. Picturesque dam site of Kakkayam , Thenmla, Munnar offers rock climbing in Kerala.

Famous treks from India  are :

• Himachal Pradesh  – Kinnar Kailash trek
• Himachal Pradesh  – Pin Parvati trek
• Ladakh – Markha Rupshu  valley trek
• Ladakh – Markha valley trek
• Ladakh  Zanskar trek
• Ladakh -  Rupshu valley trek
• Ladakh -  Nubra  valley trek
• Ladakh -  Indus and Nubra valley trek
• Ladakh -  Sham and Indus  valley trek
• Ladakh -  Lamayuru Alchi trek
• Ladakh -  Lamayuru Padum trek
• Ladakh -  Darchal Lamayuru trek
• Garhwal  – Har ki dun trek
• Garhwal  – Gangotri Kedar Tal trek
• Garhwal  – Kedarnath  Vasuki Pass  trek
• Garhwal  – Rupin pass  trek
• Garhwal  – Kuari pass trek

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Rajasthan is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. Rajasthan is an invigorating , colorful land known for splendid desert forts , havelis, lake palaces, temples ,sand dunes, fairs & festivals, wildlife sanctuaries & parks, historical cities, Rajasthani sand dunes,art & architecture and  at the top of it, world class medical centers and hospitals. The state of the art medical facilities are enough to make Rajasthan a popular destination for medical tourism in India.

The state provides world class medical treatments supervised by the skilled professionals at affordable prices. Latest technologies in medical field are available in hospitals from Rajasthan along with  dedicated clinical  staff.  Some of the famous hospitals of Rajasthan are given below where you can get health care Facilities.
•    Jaipur Calgary Eye Hospital
•    Fortis Escorts Hospital
•    Tongia Heart and General Hospital
•    Santokba Durlabhji Memorial Hospital
•    Dhanwantri Hospital and Research Centre
•    S.K. Soni Hospital
•    Sahai Hospital and Research Center, Jaipur
•    Bhagwan Mahaveer Cancer Hospital and Research Centre
•    Apex Hospital Pvt. Ltd.
•    SRM Eye Hospital

Foreigners visit Rajasthan for medical treatments  and after recovery enjoy a vacation in the exciting locations of Rajasthan. There are many interesting travel indian destinations in Rajasthan which can be visited and enjoyed during your meditour to Rajathan,India.

Jaipur is the capital city of Rajasthan which is known as Pink City of India and very popular tourist destination in India. Jodhpur is the second largest city in the state, located at the edge of the Thar desert. Jaisalmer, a Golden City of India is an exotic little desert town that was once on the route into central Asia. Jaisalmer is famous for Golden Fort, magnificent Havelis, Jain Temples and sand dunes. Udaipur is known for beautiful lakes and fairy tale palaces. Bikaner is a picturesque desert town  in Rajasthan. It is also known as the Camel City.  Mount Abu ,Chittaurgarh is hilly and wooded area and are geographically different from the rest of Rajasthan. Bharatpur is formerly known for its bird Sanctuary. Ranthambore is famous for Tiger Reserve & National Park.

The vivacity of Rajasthan people, the color of their costumes and crafts and the exuberance of their celebrations add an extra dimension to your holiday. The excellent culture & tradition of state attracts a large number of tourists from all over the world to Rajasthan, India

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Kerala is well known destination in India for alternative therapies such as Ayurveda. Medical tourists visit Kerala mostly for the Ayurvedic treatments. People are attracted to Kerala for the best treatments offered by the state at affordable prices. Excellent service with due personal care is provided by the trained doctors, nurses and other medical staff. Most important is the Climate of Kerala which is best suited for the Ayurvedic treatments and Ayurvedic massages. You can also attend seminars on Ayurveda and yoga which is conducted by some resorts .You can make your meditour to Kerala memorable by visiting beaches, wildlife sanctuaries and many famous monuments.

Kerala is a main destination for Wildlife tours in India. Kerala has many National Parks and wildlife sanctuaries Eravikulam National park has the largest known population of Nilgiri Tahrs in the world and also shelters diverse species of insects, reptiles, mammals and flora. The artifical lake, Kizhakkilachimala Lake at Idukki wildlife sanctuaryat adds to the scenic beauty of this lovely wildlife sanctuary. PeriyarTiger reserve is one of the 27 tiger reserves in India. You can also visit other sanctuaries like Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary, Wayanad wildlife sanctuary ,Thattekkad Wildlife Sanctuary, Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary,Nagarhole Wildlife Sanctuary .Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary.

Backwaters in Kerala offer a memorable experience to all tourists. Floating on the waters in a traditional house boat  is exciting, romantic experience. These house boats are comfortable and fitted with all modern amenities for your comfort. Kottayam is one of the most beautiful Backwater Destinations in Kerala . Other fascinating backwater attractions are  Kollam, Alappuzha, Kuttanad, Kasargod, Kozhikode and Kumaraom.
Another attraction of tourist is visiting exoticbeaches of Kerala. Some famous beaches are Kovalam Beach, Alapuzzha Beach, Kasargod Beach, Cheria Beach, Poovar Beach ,Thanagasseri Beach, Bekal Beach,  Tanur Beach etc. Kerala is alos a great destination for rock climbing and mountain hiking. The picturesque dam site of Kakkayam offers excellent rock climbing opportunities.

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Ayurveda is the knowledge of life practiced in India since 5000 years ago. Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word which literally means the knowledge of life where ayu i.e. life and veda i.e. knowledge. Ayurveda provides the knowledge of the do’s and don’ts that one has to follow. The aim of Ayurveda medicine is to keep a healthy person healthy. It gives healthy and happy life to each individual both physically, socially and mentally.

Ayurveda therapy from India is one of the reliable treatments which are nowadays popular all over the world. One reason of popularity of Ayurveda is that it is a combination of different curing techniques like yoga, meditation, herbs and aroma. All these therapies are time tested for their advantages in health and wellness. In modern society these therapies are becoming famous. There are no dangerous side effects as Ayurveda uses only natural therapies.

Ayurveda uses the following methods in healing process depending upon each individual’s unique constitution.

· Yoga

· Herbal medicine

· Diet recommendations

· Meditation

· Massage

· Breathing and other relaxation techniques

You can select from a variety of packages offered by the Ayurvedic resorts from different parts of India as per your requirements. The famous resorts are listed for your reference.

· Yogam Sharanam, Maharashtra

· Ayurvedic Natural Health Center, Goa

· Estuary View Resort, Karnataka

· Palm Beach Resort, Andhra Pradesh

· Bhakti Yoga India Retreat, Uttar Pradesh

· The Mother’s Service Society, Pondicherry

They normally offer following packages:

* Stress Management Program (Manasanthy-Body, Mind & Soul)

* Rejuvenation Therapy/Body Purification Therapy

* Ayurveda Anti-Aging Program

* Slimming Program

* Beauty Care Program

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Naturopathy is becoming popular around the globe due to its safe healing techniques. Fast lifestyle has given rise to various diseases among individuals like rise in blood sugar levels and cholesterol. As a result people have started opting for natural solutions to improve overall health.

Naturopathy believes self-heal capacity of the body and based on the idea to further the method of natural healing with natural remedies. Technique of Naturopathy is based on the tendency of the body to heal itself.

This therapy uses natural medications, like air, fresh water, sunlight, natural food, stress management, massage and exercise. Practitioners seek to identify and treat the causes of a disease or condition, rather than just suppressing its symptoms. They believe that symptoms are signs that the body is trying to fight disease, adapt to it, or recover from it.

According to naturopath approach, mental, physical, emotional, environmental, spiritual and social factors are of equal importance in the curing process. Practitioners of naturopath consider all these factors while treating each patient.

Naturopath also puts emphasis on preventive care to restore the fitness of an individual. Naturopathy has a strong focus on the prevention of health problems and the early detection of a person’s likelihood of developing a health disorder.

Naturopathy includes herbal medicine, nutrition, homoeopathy and therapies like acupuncture, massage and Bowen technique. Some Modern additions are colon hydro therapy, bio resonance and ozone therapy. Naturopaths put more emphasis on natural remedies like herbs and foods and prefer minimum intake of drugs.

India is now becoming a naturopathy hub with its old tradition of Yoga and Ayurveda. There are many places in India which provide naturopathic treatments like Maharashtra, Kerala and Karnataka. These state governments are serving the tourism industry of the country by promoting naturopathy hubs.

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