CULTURE AND RELIGION
India probably has the most religious diversity in any country. It's the birthplace of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism. It's among the few places in the world to have a resident Zoroastrian population. The Syrian Christian Church is well established in Kerala; the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa, old churches in Calcutta and Delhi, synagogues in Kerala, temples from the tiny to the tremendous, 'stupas,' 'gompas' and the Bodhi tree, the Ajmer Sharif and Kaliya Sharif in Bombay, all reflect the amazing multiplicity of religious practice in India. Add to this a range of animist beliefs among tribal people in the northeast, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat who practice forms of nature worship, and you have an astounding diversity.
Since religion informs every aspect of Indian life, whether social, political or economic, it's worth the traveller's while to do a little prep reading. The following capsules present a glimpse of the major religious traditions of India . One must keep in mind though, that the principle of secularism is enshrined in the Constitution.
Hinduism the religion of the overwhelming majority of Indians, is as much a way of life as a formal ritualised institutionalised religion. It has no single sacred text but a range of scriptures. The four Vedas form the backbone of Hinduism with the earliest of these, the Rig Veda, being the most important. It is believed that the Vedas are the product of the direct communication between the gods and the sadhus (holy men).
The pantheon of Hindu gods is matched in size (and often in character too) by those of the ancient Greeks and Romans. These revered figures may represent natural phenomena like wind (Varun), thunder and rain (Indra), fire (Agni) and the sun (Surya). Or they may be quasi-mythical characters that appear in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Shakti, which literally translates into energy, is represented as a female form and worshipped in the forms of many goddesses. Of these, Kali and Durga are the most commonly worshipped. Lakshmi and Parvati, the goddesses of wealth and learning respectively, are important. At the centre of this enormous pantheon are the three central figures of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Brahma is revered as The Creator, Vishnu as The Preserver and Shiva as The Destroyer.
Like every major religion, Hinduism has also been sought to be reformed of excessive ritualism and the stranglehold of the priestly class, the Brahmins. The Brahmo Samaj and the Arya Samaj are two of the most influential of such reform movements.
Muslims are the largest religious minority in India . Islam came to India when trade links were established with the Arabs in the 8 th century AD. In the 12 th century, the Mamluk Turk Qutbuddin Aibak became the first Muslim to rule any part of India . A succession of Muslim dynasties came to rule thereafter, predominantly in north India but sometimes even south of the Vindhya Ranges as in the reign of the Mughal king Aurangzeb. The influence of Islam grew as many people adopted the religion of their rulers, resulting in a culture that is characterised by beauty. New forms of architecture, a new language - Urdu, developments in dress and design, the arts of cuisine, music, painting and sculpture bloomed especially in northern India , but also in the south.
Siddhartha Gautam was born in the early 7 th century BC in the town of Lumbini (in present day Nepal ), not far from the Indo-Nepal border. Born a prince of the Sakya clan, exposure to suffering caused Siddhartha to renounce home and family and set out in search of enlightenment. He attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya in Bihar , India , and came thereafter to be known as Buddha or The Enlightened One. Buddhism , whose central tenet is Dharma or Truth, propounds the Middle Path.
Buddhism gained its popularity in the subcontinent gradually, as monks and nuns who were taught in viharas or monasteries spread its teachings. It received a great boost when the Mauryan emperor Ashoka embraced the religion. Today, the religion is no longer as popular in the land it was born as it is further southeast. It's flame is kept burning in India today mainly by Tibetan Buddhists for whom the country has become a refuge, and by Dalits (or lower caste Hindus) who rejected the Hindu social creed of a rigid caste system and adopted the egalitarian Buddhist philosophy.
Established by Vardhaman Mahavira around the same time as Buddhism, Jainism takes its name from the word jina for conqueror. It preaches simple living and absolutely disallows hurting another living being. Jains, then, are strict vegetarians. Many keep their mouths covered by a piece of cloth lest they breathe in an insect or germs and kill it. Jainism has a large following in India , especially in the western Indian states of Rajasthan and Gujarat .
Both Jainism and Buddhism have contributed greatly to Indian culture. The magnificent Jain Dilwara Temples in Rajasthan and the Mathura and Gandhara schools of art inspired by the Buddha are only a few examples.
Christianity came to India as early as the arrival of the apostle Saint Thomas . The earliest Christian missionary though, is thought to be Saint Xavier who came to India in 1542. India 's colonial experience ensured the spread of Christianity, which was propagated by the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British. Protestants, Catholics and Syrian Christians, mainly from the southern state of Kerala, make up the Indian Christian community.
Sikhism , another major religion born in India , evolved out of the effort of combining the best of Hinduism and Islam. Founded by Guru Nanak in the late 15 th century AD, and influenced by Sufi Islam, Sikhism has ten gurus or teachers and, like Islam, a holy book - the Guru Granth Sahib - as a symbol of God. Sikhism flourished particularly in the Punjab in north India to the extent that it became a thorn in the side of orthodox Muslims. Its persecution in Mughal times led to the formation of the Sikh army called the khalsa . Sikh men wear the symbols of their faith on their person; these are the kachchha (under shorts), the kanga (comb), the kirpan (sword), the kada (steel bangle) and kesh (long hair). Of these the most obvious is their long hair, which is tied up in a turban.
Many Persians migrated to India in the 8 th century AD, and brought with them the ancient religion of Zarathustra or Zoroastrianism . Legend has it that their leader requested the Hindu ruler Jadhav Rana for permission to settle in this great land, promising that Parsis would be like sugar dissolved in a bowl of water; India being like the bowl of water and the Parsis like sugar, dissolving unobtrusively and yet suffusing the nation with their sweetness and spirit. Needless to say, they were allowed to stay. The Parsis worship fire as a symbol of Ahura Mazda, the Wise Lord.
HISTORY
Nearly five thousand years back India 's first major civilization flourished along the Indus River valley. The twin cities of Mohenjodaro and Harappa (now in Pakistan ) were ruled by priests and held the rudiments of Hinduism. These civilizations are known to possess a sophisticated lifestyle, a highly developed sense of aesthetics, an astonishing knowledge of town planning and an undecipherable script language. The Indus civilization at one point of time extended nearly a million square kilometers across the Indus river valley. It existed at the same time as the ancient civilizations of Egypt and Sumer but far outlasted them. Surviving for nearly a thousand years the Indus valley civilization fell to tectonic upheavals (earthquakes) in about 1700 BC, which caused a series of floods.
The coming of the Aryans around 1500 BC, gave the final blow to the collapsing Indus Valley civilization. At the dawn of Vedic ages the Aryans came in from the North and spread through large parts of India bringing with them their culture and religious beliefs. The Four Vedas or the important books of Hinduism were compiled in this period.
In 567 B.C. the founder of the Buddhist Religion, Gautama Buddha was born. During this time there lived Mahavira, who founded the Jain Religion. The Indian subcontinent is full of caves and monuments devoted to these religions and are worth a visit.
Two hundred years later, in the 4th century B.C., Emperor Ashoka, one of the greatest Kings of Indian history, led the Mauryan Empire to take over almost all of what is now modern India . This great leader embraced Buddhism and built the group of monuments at Sanchi (a UNESCO world heritage site). The Ashoka pillar at Sarnath has been adopted by India as its national emblem and the Dharma Chakra on the Ashoka Pillar adorns the National Flag.
They were followed by the Guptas in the north, while in the south part of India several different Hindu empires, the Cholas, the Pandyas and the Cheras spread and grew, trading with Europe and other parts of Asia till the end of the 1100s.
Christianity entered India at about the same time from Europe . Legend has it that St. Thomas the Apostle arrived in India in 52 A.D. Even earlier than that, people of the Jewish religion arrived on India 's shores.
In approximately the 7th century A.D. a group of Zoroastrians, or Parsees, landed in Gujarat and became a part of the large mix of religions in India today, each of which adds their own important and distinctive flavors.
In the 15th century Guru Nanak laid the foundation of the Sikh religion in Punjab .
In 1192, Mohammed of Ghori, a ruler from Afghanistan , came into India and captured several places in the north including Delhi . When he went home, he left one of his generals in charge who became the first Sultan of Delhi. During this time, Islam was introduced into a major part of Northern India . It may be mentioned that even before that, just after the period of the prophet, Islam was brought to the western coast of India by Arab traders and flourished in what is now Kerala.
The Delhi Sultanate gradually took control of more and more of North India over the next 200 years, till Timur, who was called "Timur the Lame" or "Tamberlane" came from Turkey in 1398 to attack India . He and his army stole all the valuables that they could carry and left again, and after that the Delhi Sultanate was never so strong again. Soon the Mughals, who were from Iran , came in and took control of the north.
In the meantime south, in 1336, the Hindu Vijayanagar Empire was set up and became very strong.
The Europeans - Portuguese, French, Dutch, Danish and British - started arriving in the early 1600s. All of them held territories in India and made friends and enemies among India 's rulers as they got more and more involved, with the Indian politics, but it was the British who eventually controlled most of India and finally made it one of their colonies.
India got its independence from Britain in 1947 after a long struggle led mostly by Mahatma Gandhi. In the process of becoming independent, India became two countries instead of one. In the years since independence, India has made significant progress and coped with great problems, and has developed its industry and its agriculture, and has maintained a system of government which makes it the largest democracy in the world .
GEORGRAPHY
India is set apart from the rest of Asia by the Himalayas , the highest, youngest and still evolving mountain chain on the planet. The subcontinent as it is rightly called, touches three large water bodies and is immediately recognizable on any world map. This thick, roughly triangular peninsula defines the Bay of Bengal to the east, the Arabian Sea to the west, and the India Ocean to the south. India holds virtually every kind of landscape imaginable. An abundance of mountain ranges and national parks provide ample opportunity for eco-tourism and trekking, and its sheer size promises something for everyone. From north to south India extends a good 2000 miles (3200 km), where the island nation of Sri Lanka seems to be squeezed out of India like a great tear, the synapse forming the Gulf of Mannar . Himalayas, the world's highest mountain chain and Nepal as its Neighboring country dominate India 's northern border. Following the sweeping mountains to the northeast, its borders narrow to a small channel that passes between Nepal , Tibet , Bangladesh , and Bhutan , then spreads out again to meet Burma in the "eastern triangle." Apart from the Arabian Sea, its western border is defined exclusively by Pakistan . North India is the country's largest region begins with Jammu and Kashmir , with terrain varying from arid mountains in the far north to the lake country and forests near Srinagar and Jammu . Moving south along the Indus River , the North becomes flatter and more hospitable, widening into the fertile plains of Punjab to the west and the Himalayan foothills of Uttar Pradesh and the Ganges river valley to the East. Cramped between these two states is the capital city, Delhi . The states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, and part of the massive, central state of Madhya Pradesh constitute West India . Extending from the Gujarat peninsula down to Goa, the west coast is lined with some of India 's best beaches. The land along the coast is typically lush with rainforests. The Western Ghats separate the verdant coast from the Vindya Mountains and the dry Deccan plateau further inland. India is the home of the sacred River Ganges and the majority of Himalayan foothills, East India begins with the states of Madhya Pradesh, Bihar , Orissa, which comprise the westernmost part of the region. East India also contains an area known as the eastern triangle, which is entirely distinct. This is the last gulp of land that extends beyond Bangladesh , culminating in the Naga Hills along the Burmese border. India reaches its peninsular tip with South India, which begins with the Deccan in the north and ends with Cape Comorin . The states in South India are Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, a favorite leisure destination. The southeast coast, mirroring the west, also rests snugly beneath a mountain range---the Eastern Ghats .
CUISINE
The Indian cuisine boasts of an immense variety not restricted to only curry. An authentic Indian curry is an intricate combination of a stir-fried Masala - a mixture of onion, garlic, ginger, and tomatoes; various spices and seasonings with which meat; poultry, vegetables or fish is prepared to produce a stew-type dish. Note: the word Masala also means spice.
Food in India is wide ranging in variety, taste and flavor. Being so diverse geographically, each region has its own cuisine and style of preparation. Indian cuisine, renowned for its exotic gravies seems complicated for any newcomer. The Mughlai cuisine of North differs sharply from the preparations of the south. The Wazwan style of Kashmir is luxurious but the same can be said about Bengal's Macher Jhol, Rajasthan's Dal Bati, Uttar Pradesh's Kebabs and Punjab 's Sarson Ka Saag and Makki di Roti. In India , recipes are handed down from generation to generation.
The unique and strong flavors in Indian cuisine are derived from spices, seasonings and nutritious ingredients such as leafy vegetables, grains, fruits, and legumes. Most of the spices used in Indian cooking were originally chosen thousands of years ago for their medicinal qualities and not for flavor. Many of them such as turmeric, cloves and cardamoms are very antiseptic, others like ginger, are carminative and good for the digestion. All curries are made using a wide variety of spices.
In Indian cuisine, food is categorized into six tastes - sweet, sour, salty, spicy, bitter and astringent. A well-balanced Indian meal contains all six tastes, not always can this be accomplished. This principle explains the use of numerous spice combinations and depth of flavor in Indian recipes. Side dishes and condiments like chutneys, curries, daals and Indian pickles contribute to and add to the overall flavor and texture of a meal and provide balance needed.
PEOPLE AND LIFESTYLES
In a country as diverse and complex as India , it is not surprising to find that people here reflect the rich glories of the past, the culture, traditions and values relative to geographic locations and the numerous distinctive manners, habits and food that will always remain truly Indian as they consistently pay homage to five thousand years of recorded history. From the eternal snows of the Himalayas to the cultivated peninsula of far South, from the deserts of the West to the humid deltas of the East, from the dry heat and cold of the Central Plateau to the cool forest foothills, Indian lifestyles clearly glorify the geography. The food, clothing and habits of an Indian differ in accordance to the place of origin. Indians believe in sharing happiness and sorrow. A festival or a celebration is never constrained to a family or a home. The whole community or neighborhood is involved in bringing liveliness to an occasion. A lot of festivals like Diwali, Holi, Id, Christmas, Mahaveer Jayanthi are all celebrated by sharing sweets and pleasantries with family, neighbors and friends. An Indian wedding is an occasion that calls for participation of the family and friends. Similarly, neighbors and friends always help out a family in times of need. Ethnically Indians speak different languages, follow different religions, and eat the most diverse varieties of food all of which add to the rich Indian culture. The beauty of the Indian people lies in the spirit of tolerance, give-and-take and a composition of cultures that can be compared to a garden of flowers of various colours and shades of which, while maintaining their own entity, lend harmony and beauty to the garden - India!
Karnataka Information
Karnataka state was formed on Nov 1, 1973. Karnataka's total land area is 1,91,791 sq.km. It accounts for 5.83 percent of the total area of the country (32.88 lakh sq.km) and ranks eighth among major States of the country in terms of size. Located in the southern part of the country, it is surrounded by other states like Maharashtra and Goa in the north, Tamil Nadu and Kerala in the south, Andhra Pradesh in the east and the Arabian Sea in the west. The state of Karnataka is situated approximately between the latitudes 11.5° and 18.5° North and the longitudes 74° and 78.5° East. The state's long and colourful history, and the many forts, temples, mosques, and churches make Karnataka a great place. The majority of the Karnataka state lies on the Deccan Plateau. Bangalore is the state capital. Karnataka is an enchanting land abounding in scenic beauty, rich is flora and fauna. It has pomp and pageantry of glorious traditions and marvels of modern engineering. Bijapur occupies the largest geographical area of the State with 8.89 per cent and Bangalore has the smallest area with only 1.94 per cent. Karnataka has always been at the forefront of industrial growth in India. With its inherent capabilities coupled with its enterprising citizens, Karnataka provides the ideal choice for investment opportunities. Karnataka is well known for producing some of the country's foremost statesmen, scholars and sportspersons, and is one of the major revenue rakers through its strong tourism industry. Majority of IT activity in Karnataka is concentrated in Bangalore. The state possesses six percent of the total water resources in the country as there are many rivers flowing through it Mineral Resources
The State contains deposits of asbestos, bauxite, chromite, dolomite, gold, iron ore, kaolin, limestone, magnesite, manganese, ochre, quartz and silica sand. Karnataka is the sole producer of felsite and leading producer of gold (84%), moulding sand (63%) and fuchsite quartzite (57%). It has one of the oldest Geological Survey Department in the country, started as far back as 1880. Water ResourcesKarnataka accounts for about six per cent of the country's surface water resources of 17 lakh million cubic metres (Mcum). About 40 percent of this is available in the east flowing rivers and the remaining from west flowing rivers. There are seven river basins with which their tributaries drain the State. The river systems include:
The Krishna System- Krishna, Tungabhadra,Vedavati, Hagari Malaprabha, Ghataprabha, Doni, Bhima.
The Kaveri System- Kaveri, Hemavati, Harangi,Kapila, Shimsha.
The Godavari - Manjra and Karanja
West flowing rivers - Kalinadi, Gagavali,Aghanashini, Sharavati, Varahi, Netravati.
North Pennar
South Pennar
Palar
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ForestsKarnataka State has a geographical area of 1,91,791 sq.km of which 38,724 sq.km (20 per cent) is under the control of the Forest Department. The forests are classified as reserved (28,611 sq.km), protected (3,932 sq.km), unclassified (5,748 sq.km), village (124 sq.km) and private (309 sq.km) The percentage of forest area to geographical in the State is less than the all-India average of about 23%, and 33% prescribed in the National Forest Policy.Premier Educational CentresIndian Institute of ScienceRaman Research InstituteNational Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-SciencesCentral Food Technological Research InstituteIndian Space Research OrganisationNational Aeronautical LaboratoryNational Institute for Sports(South).
Major Cities/Towns
Major Cities/Towns :
With population over 10 lakhs
Bangalore
Over 5 lakhs
Hubli-Dharwad
Over 2 lakhs
Belgaum, Bellary, Gulbarga, Mangalore, Mysore
Over 1 lakh
Bhadravati, Bijapur, Chitradurga,Gadag-Betagiri, Hospet, KGF, Mandya, Raichur,Shimoga, Tumkur.
How to reach By Air
The Indian Airlines and some private domestic airlines connect Bangalore to all the major metropolitan and other cities of India like Thiruvananthpuram, Hyderabad, Goa, Kochi, Ahmedabad and Mangalore. International flights link Bangalore directly to Singapore, Dubai, London, Oman, Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia. By TrainA good rail network connects Bangalore to various parts of India. The major Indian cities connected with Bangalore through regular trains are Chennai, Mysore, New Delhi, Calcutta, and Mumbai. By Road There are national highways and a number of other roadways leading to the major cities and important towns. There are regular bus services to and from Bangalore for the nearby cities and towns. Tourism Offices in Karnataka Director, Dept of Tourism, 1st Floor, F Bk, Cauvery Bhavan, K.G.Road Bangalore - 9KSTDC, 104/1, Kasturba Road, Bangalore -1 Tourism Information Counter, Railway Station, Bangalore Tourism Information Counter, Airport, Bangalore, Karnataka Manager,Tourist Cottages, Belur, Karnataka Tourist Cottages, Dept of Tourism, Halebid, KarnatakaKarnataka at a glance
Karnataka at a glance :
Area
1,91,791 sq. Km (eighth largest state in India)
Length
760 Km. (north-south)
Breadth
420 Km. (east-west)
Population
52,733,958 (approx) (2001)
Females per 1000 males
964 females
Capital
Bangalore
Literacy
67.04 %
Female Literacy
27.7%
Climate
Semi-tropical
Seasons Summer
March to May (18oC to 40oC);
Winter
Oct to Dec (14oC to 32oC);
South-West Monsoon
June to August;
North-East Monsoon
October to December
Rainfall
500 mm to over 4000 mm. Agumbe in theSahyadris receives the second heaviest annual rainfall (7600 mm) in India
Physiograpy
Karavali, the Coastal Plain; Sahyadris,the Western Ghats; Malnad, the Transitional Belt;the Southern Plateau; the Northern Plateau;the Eastern Ghats.
Traditional Products
Coffee, silk, sandalwood, agarbathis, ivory carvings, inlay work, badriware, lacquerware
Greens
Tropical Evergreen, Tropical Semi-evergreen, Dry Deciduous (Malnad), Dry Deciduous(Plateau), Shrub
Prime Industries
Electronics, Computer Engineering, Aeronautics, Machine Tools, Watch-making, Electrical Engineering, Aluminiun, Steel
Major Crops
Ragi, jowar, rice; sugarcane, coconut, groundnuts; coffee; cotton
Major Minerals
Gold (90% of India's production), iron ore, manganese, maganesite
Roads
Total length of roads: 1,22,489 kms
National Highways
2,357 kms
State Highways
28,311 kms
Major District roads
2,090 kms
Languages
Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Urdu, Marathi, Tulu, Kodagu, Konkani, Hindi