About India

From the world’s highest mountains, to tropical coasts and desert there is a huge diversity to India’s landscape. With a population of one billion the country spans 3.28 million sq metres in space, and is made up of 28 different states, of which New Delhi is the capital. 

India became independent from Britain in 1947 after a long struggle led by peaceful protester, Mahatma Gandhi.  As well as the British, other Europeans ranging from the Dutch, Portuguese and French staked their claim on the country and left behind many a sacred site, ancient ruin and abandoned city.

The Taj Mahal, located in the city of Agra in Utter Pradesh, in northern India, is the country’s most celebrated attraction and a fine example of Mughal architecture.  Built between 1631 and 1648 by the Emporah Shal Jahan to house his beloved wife’s tomb the Taj is a work of art of incomparable beauty, and its white marble stone changes colour in different light.  Equally, in northern Karnataka, on the banks of the River Tungabadhra lies the deserted city of Hampi, a world heritage site and another of India’s archaeological highlights.  While the Kerala Backwaters, in the south west are also a tourist hot spot.  Fed by rivers inland from the Arabian Sea visitors can enjoy being punted along the network of narrow canals in peaceful tranquillity while overhead palms shade the boats from the sun.

Sprawling on the banks of the Yamuna River, Delhi is the very heart of India and a mixture of ancient and modern.  As well as a major cultural centre it is also the political and administrative centre of the world’s largest democracy.  Split into two; Old Delhi and New Delhi (the former British capital) the city is fast paced, over populated and much polluted.  But these points aside, the fascinating dynasties and rulers which have risen and fallen have left behind many beautiful buildings, gardens and wide tree lined avenues, and illustrate the Mughal’s talent and skill for landscaping and architectural magnificence.

Chennai is the gateway to southern India and the capital of Tamil Nadu.  Formerly known as Madras it was once just a small fishing village but today a bustling metropolis filled with British styled buildings and cathedrals along with traditional Tamil-Hindu architecture.  Kalkata (formerly Calcutta), the second largest city in India is known as the city of contrasts and went from being a trading settlement to the city of palaces, while Mumbai pulsates with activity and is the country's financial powerhouse, also a great place for shopping, sports and night life. 

Chennai (formerly known as Madras) is on the south eastern shore and is the fourth largest Indian metropolis full of colonial buildings, rivers and canals and Bangalore, the fifth largest city in India, got its name from the word 'Bendakalooru' which means the town of boiled beans after a king of the Vijayanagar dynasty was given a bowl of boiled beans by a woman in a forest.  Many large foreign companies have relocated here and taken advantage of low cost data processing. 

Each region tends to have its own local dish but one thing in common is the use of spices, which, as well as adding delicious flavours to the food have medicinal and health giving properties, for example Cardamom and Turmeric have antiseptic qualities and ginger and mint aid digestion.  Other essential ingredients in Indian cooking are milk and coconut oil.

India has also long been associated with spirituality, philosophy and health.  The ancient healing system of Ayurveda, which is more than 5,000 years old and known as the science of life originated here, as did yoga and meditation. India is also interestingly the world’s largest producer of tea and is the traditional home of this rejuvenating brew.  There are 18 official languages, but Hindi which is spoken by 45 per cent of the population is the national language.  The currency is the Rupee, and there are roughly 87 Indian Rupees to €1.