Beauty of India

For reviving romance, for religious or cultural splendour or a good shopping spree

by Rosanne Koelmeyer Anderson

India is a place of infinite variety. It is fascinating with its ancient and complex culture and its dazzling contrasts and breathtaking physical beauty; and when we speak of travelling to India the most exciting of thoughts which could cross a visitors mind is the visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site the Taj Mahal at Agra about 25 miles from the Indian Capital, Delhi; one of the greatest monuments of all time.

If you are a 'romantic' it would urge your romanticism to find your way to Agra as soon as possible. What would you do for love...? Many thoughts would cross your mind sometimes even bringing out the poetic genius in you, as you stop to pen down a few couplets which could be publicized on your return.

The structure of the Taj Mahal took over 22 years to build. It is an enchanting monument of love, the Empress Mumtaz Mahal, the second wife of the fifth Mughal Emperor, Shah Jehan, who died at childbirth (the 14th child she'd given to the Shah) in 1630.

Her husband, overwhelmed with grief had decided to do something to honour his beloved wife's memory and to fulfil one of the promises that be made to her as she lay on her death bed and thus, he built the Taj Mahal which symbolizes love and romance and makes it a special place for many people.

While Shah Jehan built this beautiful structure for his much beloved wife who was his second wife, he also had himself buried there some decades later. The tomb is surrounded by an enclosed garden with reflective pools. Keep your digital cameras switched on and keep clicking, you will have much cherished memories to reminisce upon especially if you are walking along with your loved one, hand in hand.

At any point, visitors can view narrated mini-movies about the people, architecture, politics and history or the site and also includes full text for the hearing - impaired.

Then, for a day of spirituality, go to Goa, there is so much to see as Goa exhibits some of the most magnificent churches of which Se Cathedral, also sometimes called St. Catherine's Cathedral is awesome.

The church is bigger than any church in Portugal I was told. It is the seat of the Goan Archdiocese, and dates back to 1562. Se Cathedral is also said to be, the largest church in Asia and the churches main alter is dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria, thus it is named St. Catherine's Cathedral. Catherine was martyred in 307 AD.

This magnificent Cathedral has eight individual chapels, a wondrous sight. The second stop along the way is the Basilica of Born Jesus, in old Goa. The church is dedicated to Baby Jesus but also houses the mausoleum of St. Francis Xavier, a famous Jesuit missionary.

The church is said to be something of a copy of the Gesu Jesuit home church in Rome, which I enjoyed observing and I'm sure you too would religious differences apart. In addition to its historical significance as a church, the building also houses Goa's Archaeological Museum which was formerly a Franciscan Monastery.

The Museum is an edifice of a showpiece of portraits of Portuguese Viceroys, several larger than life bronze castings of history, figures from colonial Goa's past, and the Hindu artifacts dating back to the fourteenth century which speaks volumes of the country's rich cultural heritage which has been prevalent through the ages precisely for the reasons of antiquity, unity, continuity and the universality of its nature.

Thus, within the ambience of Indian culture one can identify 'Indian music', 'Indian dance forms,' 'Indian cinema', 'Indian Literature', 'Indian Cuisine', 'Indian fairs and festivals' and so much more which unfolds to the visitor about neighbouring India especially for those who want to explore the art and culture of India.

In Goa there is so much more to see. Actually it is one of the most popular destinations in India and a wonderful beach destination as well with over 50 miles of beach, Goa's location makes it warm and inviting and makes you feel more like at home. India is a large country in Southern Asia with the second largest population in the world so it is important for you to plan your stay carefully.

The people of India are quite warm and friendly and belong to many different ethnic groups and religions. They speak fourteen major languages and many lesser known languages and dialects, and many ways of life in India have stayed the same for hundreds of years. A blend of the old and the new, the ancient customs have been seen side by side with the latest developments in science and technology.

A common sight in many areas in India are the cows which roam freely and considered sacred by millions of India's Hindus.

India, for hundreds of years has been a destination of trade as well, in jewels, rugs, silks, spices and so on. As history records even Christopher Columbus was looking for an easier route to India when he arrived in India.

India's economy is diverse and encompasses agriculture, handicrafts, textile manufacturing and a multitude of services. I also noticed that with the advent of the digital age, and the large number of the young generation is gradually transforming, India as an important 'back office' destination for global companies for the outsourcing of their customer services and technical support.

India is infact a major supporter of highly-skilled workers in software and financial services and software engineering, apart from other sectors like manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, nanotechnology, telecommunication, shipbuilding, and aviation. Much for any one to learn from and pick up where advancement and hard labour is concerned if you are looking at success.

Moving on to Delhi, the capital city of India is no hassle as such. You could try it out yourself by metro.

The fast and convenient New Delhi metro is a great way for tourists to zip around the city and cut down on transport costs, and if your journey is a little off the beaten path in Delhi there are taxis and auto rickshaws outside the station to help you continue your journey.

For all you shopperholicks, Delhi, Madras and Bangalore are the places in India. So much variety and comparatively reasonably priced, the sarees and shalwa kameez are so beautiful and eye catching.

A huge variety to chose from you can spend an entire day not realising the time pass bargaining and striking deals with the traders to hand pick your exclusive choices in clothing, costume jewellery which is available in abundance in every nook and corner, make up and other accessories that has made Delhi famous for its highly rated fashions too.

One of the famous being the Femina Bridal Show which dazzles the city for three days with leading designers contributing for the season is a step forward in the new millennium.

The names Lakme and Femina are Synonymous with fashion and so familiar to us Sri Lankans that you just cannot resist witnessing the fashion shows.

The participation of eminent fashion designers like Satya Paul, Ritu Seksaria, Benu Sehgal, Blossom Kochhar, Parvesh Coutre and others bring out the height of professionalism and uniqueness of the fashion industry in India. A great experience on the whole for the visitors to India.

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