New Delhi is India’s capital and part of the metropolis of Delhi. The city was established just a little over a century ago (1912) when the British Government moved the capital from Calcutta. The foundation stone of the city was laid by Emperor George V and Queen Mary in 1911. The city is a fascinating contradiction, on one hand, the political and financial centre of India, while on the other a wonderfully chaotic city filled with street-food sellers, carts, cows and seemingly mindless traffic.
The city is steeped in history as there are at least eight historical Delhis, each constructed near the ruins of its predecessor. Delhi is dotted with ancient monuments - some are even claimed to be haunted by djinns (spirits). But boasting ruins like Tughlaqabad, Siri, Purana Qila and Shahjahanabad among a thousand more makes the city a major attraction for visitors who love nothing more entertaining than learning about the cultural history of a place and its influence on the present.
Perhaps a little-known fact is that India is also an amazing destination for wildlife. The country is home to five big cats – Bengal tigers, Asiatic lions, snow leopards, clouded leopards and Indian leopards. The best national parks to spot tigers are Bandhavgarh, Ranthambore, Kanha, Corbett. Leopards can be found all over the country, from Kerala to Rajasthan. Snow leopards can be spotted high in the Indian Himalayas and clouded leopards can be found in Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve in Sikkim. The world’s only surviving Asiatic Lions are found in Gujarat. The desert landscapes of Jaisalmer offer camel safaris and an opportunity to stay in desert camps. If your holiday has to include a beach, the country has some of the best beaches in Kerala, Maharashtra and Chennai.
One thing we know at Gifting Owl, a visit to India is one of the best foodie experiences EVER! Every region has its own distinct recipe with traditional preparation techniques and presentation styles. The use of spices plays such a crucial role and gives Indian cuisine its distinct flavour. The country also offers an array of mouth-watering street food such as spicy samosas, kebabs, kulfi (Indian ice cream) and lassi (yoghurt drink). Indian cuisine classes and home-hosted meals full of delightful surprises fill our adventure and experiences gifting pages on India. Food is the cultural centrepiece of the home and the community - every meal is a celebration of flavours, place and purpose.
India is one of the world’s oldest cultures and is influenced by a plethora of languages. Most Indians speak Hindi. Other languages include Bengali, Telegu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujrati, Kannada, Malayalam, Oriya, Punjabi, Assamese, Maithili, Kashmiri, Sindhi and Sanskrit. And if you think that’s a lot, some language experts claim there are up to 1652 languages or dialects still in use. India is home to 94% of the world’s Hindus and has the second largest Muslim population in the world. Other religions are Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhist, Jainism, Zoroastrian and folk religions. This makes India the largest religiously pluralistic and multi-ethnic democracy in the world.
As with everything in India, there are many ways of doing something including how you greet others. The widely accepted custom is to greet people with a ‘Namaste’. Namaste is one of the five traditional greetings mentioned in the Vedas (Hindu scriptures) and is a way of saying ‘may our minds meet’ and is indicated by folded palms held before the chest. The term signifies the reduction of one’s ego in the presence of another person. Another traditional Indian custom considers the guest as an equivalent to God with the term ‘Atithi Devo Bhavah’. Guests are always given high importance within the Hindu culture. In a country with 966 million Hindus, more than 2 million temples are scattered across the country. It’s common to remove footwear before entering the temple since it is believed that they would make the sanctified environment of the temple dirty.
Indians love a reason to celebrate and a myriad of festivals are held each year in honour of its rich and diverse cultural and religious sentiments. It’s a good idea to know what these festivals mean and when they are happening, especially if you want to have authentic travel experiences. To know something about what is taking place and why is also a conservation starter with the locals.
The festive season begins with Makar Sankranti and Pongal, which signifies the end of the harvesting season in the country. Makar Sankranti is predominantly celebrated in the northern part of India while Pongal is a four-day cultural festival in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. The month of March marks one of the most colourful festivals celebrated in the world – Holi. This vibrant festival is celebrated with colours and water in the spirit of good triumphing over evil. June marks the celebration of Ramadan, which is one of the biggest festivals in India celebrated by millions of Muslims. This festival is celebrated to honour Muhammad. During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food and drink during the daylight hours. The fast is broken with an evening meal (Iftar), once the sun goes down. Iftar is often a family/community event and is commonly eaten at long tables set up in mosques, community centres or outdoors.
In September, India celebrates the ten-day festival of Durga Puja and Dussehra. During the first nine days, Durga Puja signifies the return of Goddess Kali to her maternal home. These days the goddess is worshipped each day with Bhog (food offered to the Goddess) being offered while the evenings are spent enjoying cultural events such as singing and dancing. Dussehra is celebrated on the tenth day as it commemorates the victory of Lord Ram over Ravana, and this is marked by the burning of Ravana effigies across the country. In October, India witnesses the most widely celebrated cultural festival in the country – Deepawali. Also known as the festival of lights, Deepawali is celebrated to mark the homecoming of Lord Rama from his exile. On this day, households are decorated with diyas (cup-shaped oil lamp) and rangolis (traditional Indian decoration made with ground rice). At night, Goddess Lakshmi (Hindu goddess of wealth, love and prosperity) is worshipped with crackers to mark the end of the festival.
With its unique blend of traditions, beliefs, food, festivals and landscapes, your visit to India will be one of those few times in life you’ll want to keep reliving.
