History of India

India's first major civilisation flourished for a thousand years from around 2500 BC along the Indus River valley. Its great cities were Mohenjodaro and Harappa (in what is now Pakistan), which were ruled by priests and held the rudiments of Hinduism. Aryan invaders swept south from Central Asia between 1500 and 200 BC and controlled northern India, pushing the original Dravidian inhabitants south. The invaders brought their own gods and cattle-raising and meat-eating traditions, but were absorbed to such a degree that by the 8th century BC the priestly caste had reasserted its supremacy. This became consolidated in the caste system, a hierarchy maintained by strict rules that secured the position of the Brahmin priests. Buddhism arose around 500 BC, condemning caste; it drove a radical swathe through Hinduism in the 3rd century BC when it was embraced by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka, who controlled huge tracts of India. A number of empires, including the Guptas, rose and fell in the north after the collapse of the Mauryas. Hinduism underwent a revival from 40 to 600 AD, and Buddhism began to decline. The north of India broke into a number of separate Hindu kingdoms after the Huns' invasion; it was not really unified again until the coming of the Muslims in the 10th and 11th centuries. The far south, whose prosperity was based on trading links with the Egyptians, Romans and southeast Asia, was unaffected by the turmoil in the north, and Hinduism's hold on the region was never threatened. In 1192 the Muslim Ghurs arrived from Afghanistan. Within 20 years the entire Ganges basin was under Muslim control, though Islam failed to penetrate the south. Two great kingdoms developed in what is now Karnataka: the mighty Hindu kingdom of Vijayanagar, and the fragmented Bahmani Muslim kingdom. Mughal emperors marched into the Punjab from Afghanistan, defeated the Sultan of Delhi in 1525, and ushered in another artistic golden age. The Maratha Empire grew during the 17th century and gradually took over more of the Mughals' domain. The Marathas consolidated control of central India until they fell to the last great imperial power, the British. The British were not, however, the only European power in India: the Portuguese had controlled Goa since 1510 and the French, Danes and Dutch also had trading posts. By 1803, when the British overwhelmed the Marathas, most of the country was under the control of the British East India Company, which had established its trading post at Surat in Gujarat in 1612. The company treated India as a place to make money, and its culture, beliefs and religions were left strictly alone. Britain expanded iron and coal mining, developed tea, coffee and cotton plantations, and began construction of India's vast rail network. They encouraged absentee landlords because they eased the burden of administration and tax collection, creating an impoverished landless peasantry - a problem which is still chronic in Bihar and West Bengal. The Uprising in northern India in 1857 led to the demise of the East India Company, and administration of the country was handed over to the British government. Opposition to British rule began in earnest at the turn of the 20th century. The 'Congress' which had been established to give India a degree of self-rule, now began to push for the real thing. In 1915, Gandhi returned from South Africa, where he had practised as a lawyer, and turned his abilities to independence, adopting a policy of passive resistance, or satyagraha. WWII dealt a deathblow to colonialism and Indian independence became inevitable. Within India, however, the large Muslim minority realised that an independent India would be Hindu-dominated. Communalism grew, with the Muslim League, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, speaking for the overwhelming majority of Muslims, and the Congress Party, led by Jawaharlal Nehru, representing the Hindu population. The bid for a separate Muslim nation was the biggest stumbling block to Britain granting independence. Faced with a political stand-off and rising tension, Viceroy Mountbatten reluctantly decided to divide the country and set a rapid timetable for independence. Unfortunately, the two overwhelmingly Muslim regions were on opposite sides of the country - meaning the new nation of Pakistan would be divided by a hostile India. When the dividing line was announced, the greatest exodus in human history took place as Muslims moved to Pakistan and Hindus and Sikhs relocated to India. Over 10 million people changed sides and even the most conservative estimates calculate that 250,000 people were killed. On 30 January 1948, Gandhi, deeply disheartened by Partition and the subsequent bloodshed, was assassinated by a Hindu fanatic.

ALAPPUZHA

FACTS & FIGURES Language Malayalam and English Best time to visit August to March STD Code 0477

Alappuzha (Alleppey) is one of the exotic backwater sites of India's southern state Kerala. Washed by the Arabian Sea, interlocked by a number of canals and bridges, this tiny marketplace is also famous for its Nehru Trophy boat race held every year. Alappuzha attracts tourists not only by its natural beauty but also through its locally made coir products that are of a very superior quality.

LOCATION
Separated out from the former districts of Kottayam and Quilon, Alappuzha consists of seven taluks spread over an area of 1414 sq km. It is bounded by Kochi and Kanayannur taluks on its north; Vaikom, Kottayam, Changanassery Thiruvalla, Kozhencherry and Adoor taluks on its east; Kannathur and Karunagappally taluks on its south and the exotic Lakshadweep of the Arabian Sea on its west.

BEST TIME TO VISIT
The climate of this small town is temperate and humid in general and relatively more pleasant in the winter season. The temperature ranges from 22 to 35°C in summer and 20 to 32°C during winters. The best time to visit Alappuzha is during the winter season. The months from August-September and February-March are ideal for a visit to this place. The backwater cruises in the exotic houseboats, which also serve Keralan cuisine delicacies, are an eternal experience. The Nehru Trophy boat race is the major attraction of this place, which is held during Onam festival celebrated in the month of August. The festivities of the Mullakal temple during the month of December are highly recommended as some of India's finest temple musicians perform in the main hall during this festival. Besides these, the locally made coir and carpets of coconut fibers are also attracting tourists these days.

HISTORY
Before the Dutch took over this place, the Portuguese were the predominant rulers of this place. Later Maharaja Marthandavarma came into power and he gave ample importance to the developmental works of the place. Slowly it became a very busy commercial place attracting merchants from all over. This resulted in the establishment of a number of coir factories producing coir-related goods of quality. The first coir factory was developed by an English sea captain and soon others followed suit. The first Anglican Church was built in 1816 by the Christian missionaries whose headquarter was in Alappuzha.

TOURISTS ATTRACTIONS

• Punnamada Kayal, the must-visit place of Alappuzha where the annual Nehru Trophy boat race takes place. During the month of August-September, the backwaters become crowded with thousands of spectators and a large number of competitors who come to participate in the famous Nehru Trophy boat race. The long boats, designed to resemble snakes, can accommodate 120 people, making two rows of 60 each. The energy, coordination, and the feeling of getting ahead in the competition make this game quite engrossing.
  
• Krishnapuram Temple, the two-storied building, displays the typical Keralan style of architecture. The largest mural painting, Gajendra Miksham, is displayed in a museum here.
  
• Ambalapuzha Temple, where Lord Krishna is worshipped, is also an important place to visit. Here one can see the typical temple architecture and culture of Kerala along with the chance to taste the Keralan delicacy, payasam, which is served to the visitors during the festival times of March/April.
  
• St. Andrew's Church, established by the Portuguese missionaries, celebrates the feast of St. Sebastian in a fun-filled, festive way.
  
• Situated in the heart of the town, Mullackal Temple, dedicated to goddess Rajarajeswari, is also a place worth visiting.
  
• Surrounded by thick-green forests, Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple is a holy place where the king of serpents is worshiped. Number of devotees from all over India and abroad visit this place every year.
  
• The Chettikulangara Bhagavathy Temple is believed to have miraculous powers and hence visited by number of pilgrims every year.
  
• Kottamkulangara Mahavishnu Temple and Devi Temple are the oldest temples of Alappuzha and are sites worth visiting, especially during the time of festivals.
  

HOW TO REACH
BY AIR - Alappuzha is accessible by all the means of communication. The nearest airport is Kochi at a distance of 64 km north. The Trivandrum airport is located 159 km south of Alappuzha.

BY WATER - This exotic place is also well connected through waterways. It is linked by boat and ferry services through the scenic backwaters to Cochin, Kottayam, Kevalam, Changanassery and Chengannur.

BY ROAD - Cities like Cochin, Chennai, Howrah, Bangalore and Bokaro are well connected to Alappuzha. National Highway 47 goes through Alappuzha connecting it with almost all the nearby places of South India. We would provide you all India tourist permit vehicles for the local transportations and also for the intercity drives too.
WHERE TO STAY

We offer excellent accommodation facilities in and around Alappuzha.

India Welcomes You….

India or Bharath is the Destination of the Millennium, a Land of All Seasons where beauty beckons, culture echoes, diversity delights and tradition talks. Those who reach India are greeted with a gracious Namasthe, Namaskaaram, Vanakkam or SatSriAkal denoting warmth, hospitality and respect - a tradition in tune with the country’s age-old motto “Athidhi Devo Bhava” where the guest is treated as God.

Blessed with mist clad mountain ranges, deep blue seas, enigmatic deserts, golden beaches, emerald green valleys, palm fringed backwaters on the one hand and unique art forms, exciting fairs and festivals, interesting pilgrim centres, exclusive heritage sites, royal forts, majestic monuments, architectural marvels and exotic flora and fauna on the other, this legendary land is unique in all aspects - it is no wonder that India has emerged as one among the Top Five Tourist Hotspots of the world, with a tremendous increase in tourist traffic all through the year.

Discover and explore this wonderful peninsular subcontinent that isIndia, the land that projects Unity in Diversity - surrounded by the grand snow capped Himalayan ranges in the North, the spectacular coastline offered by the Arabian Sea in the West, the vast Bay of Bengal in the East, and the awesome Indian Ocean in the South..

People and Life Style: Indians are greatly bound by religion and family. These ties run deep into the cultural framework of the nation. The ancient culture of South Asia, going back at least 4,500 years, has come down to India primarily in the form of religious texts. The artistic heritage, as well as intellectual and philosophical contributions, has always owed much too religious thought and symbolism. The listing of the major belief systems only scratches the surface of the remarkable diversity in Indian religious life. The complex doctrines and institutions of the great traditions, preserved through written documents, are divided into numerous schools of thought, sects, and paths of devotion. In many cases, these divisions stem from the teachings of great masters, who arise continually to lead bands of followers with a new revelation or path to salvation. The local interaction between great traditions and local forms of worship and belief, based on village, caste, tribal, and linguistic differences, creates a range of ritual forms and mythology that varies widely throughout the country. There are many diverse ethnic groups among the people of India. The 6 main ethnic groups are as follows.1.      Negrito .2.      Proto - Australoids or Austrics .3.      Mongoloids .4.      Mediterranean or Dravidian .5.      Western Brachycephals .6.      Nordic Aryans . Negroitos/Brachycephalic: The people belong to Negroitos or the Brachycephalic are (broad headed) people fromAfrica were the earliest people have come to India. They have survived in their original habitat in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Jarawas, Onges, Sentinelese and the Great Andamanese are few examples and some hill tribes like Irulas, Kodars, Paniyans and Kurumbas are found in some patches in Southern part of mainland India. Pro-Australoids/Austrics: Pro-Australoids/Austrics were the next  group come to India after the Negritos and laid the foundation of Indian civilization. They cultivated rice and vegetables and made sugar from sugarcane.  They are people with long headed with low foreheads and prominent eye ridges, noses with low and broad roots, thick jaws, large palates and teeth and small chins with wavy hair lavishly distributed all over their brown bodies, The Austrics of India represent a race of medium height, dark complexion with long heads and rather flat noses but otherwise of regular features. Miscegenation with the earlier Negroids may be the reason for the dark or black pigmentation of the skin and flat noses. Now these people are found in some parts of India, Myanmar and the islands of South East Asia. Their languages have survived in the Central and Eastern India. MongoloidsThese people are found in the North eastern part of India in the states of Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Tripura. They are also found in Northern parts of west Bengal, Sikkim, and Ladakh. Generally they are people with yellow complexion, oblique eyes, high cheekbones, sparse hair and medium height. Dravidians:These are the people of South India having different sub-groups like the Paleo-Mediterranean, the true Mediterranean, and the Oriental Mediterranean. They have been believed to come before the Aryans.  They appear to be people of the same stock as the peoples of Asia Minor and Crete and pre- Hellenic Aegean's of Greece. They are reputed to have built up the city civilization of the Indus valley, whose remains have been found at Mohenjo- daro and Harappa and other Indus cities.  Western Bracycephals: These include the Alpinoids, Dinarics and Armenoids, The Parsis and Kodavas . They are the broad headed people living mainly on the western side of the country such as theGanga Valley and the delta, parts of Kashmir, Kathiawar, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Nordics/Indo-Aryans:This group was the last one to immigrate to India somewhere between 2000 and 1500 B.C. They are now mainly found in the northern and central part of India

Daman and Diu

Tours to Daman & Diu are really fascinating. Daman & Diu is a small still beautiful, striking and mesmerizing paradise, surrounded by Gujrat. Daman & Diu is the second smallest union territory of India. Till 1987, Daman & Diu was the part of Goa. Daman & Diu are actually two sea locations and enclosed by Gujrat. Daman is a small part in the Gulf of Khambhat (cambay) while Diu is an island joined to the mainland of Gujarat by a creek. Tours to Daman & Diu will take you to cities, famous for its beaches and liquor. Tours to Daman & Diu allures visitors specially stressed city folks to its clam, serene and picturesque beaches. There are amusement parks to offer best recreation at Devka and Nani Daman Beaches in Daman and festive day's illuminations are special retreat to eyes. On tours to Daman & Diu , you can go to The amusement park on the Devka beach and Nani Daman, which rejuvenates and recreates the tourists. The illumination on festive days is a treat to the eyes. Daman &Diu have gorgeous colonial forts and churches having magnificent architecture. Nagoa Beach is a ideal place for people seeking solitude. Other beaches in Diu are Mandvi, Chakratirath, Jallandhar, and Gomtimata. Virginity & serenity of surroundings give peace & pleasure beyond words. Proximity to Gujrat makes Daman & Diu easily approachable. Both places are well connected and are multilingual. On tours to Daman & Diu, tourists feel comfortable here due to availability of all the required facilities. Daman & Diu have excellent accommodation facilities. There are all classes of hotels available for all classes of tourists. Food is not an issue here as both places are inhibited by people of various religions and castes, you can find good quality multicuisine here. Shopping at the markets in Daman & Diu is a delightful experience. You can buy souvenirs from here to your back home.

Gujarat

Nicknamed the 'Jewel of the East', Gujarat state in India is located on the west coast of India. The coastal state of Gujarat in India boasts of the longest coastline (1290 km) in the country. Gujarat has a wealth of tourist spots, and with 20% of India's total industrial output being accounted for by the state, Gujarat ranks as one of the most industrialized states in India. We at Indianholiday offer online information and bookings for Tour to Gujarat. A tour to Gujarat will acquaint you with this colorful land, its ancient temples and spectacular beaches and the rich cultural heritage. Gujarat got its name from the tribe known as 'Gujjars', which inhabited the region in the 1st century A.D. Excavations at various sites in Gujarat show signs of civilization in the region dating back to as early as 3000 to 1500 B.C. In the 3rd century, Gujarat became part of the Mauryan Empire under Emperor Ashoka. In 1818, Gujarat came under the rule of the British Raj, who started administering the state through local princely rulers. Gujarat is bordered by Pakistan and the state of Rajasthan in the north east, Madhya Pradesh in the east, and Maharashtra and the Union territories of Diu, Daman, Dadra and Nagar Haveli in the south. The state is bounded by the Arabian Sea to the west and the south west. Gujarat ranks as the highest producer of cotton, salt, milk, groundnut, and petrochemicals in India. Gujarat is also home to major electronic and textile industries.

Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh, the name that conjures to beauty, magnificence, dominance, glory and many more offers some of the best tours to the visitors. The state referred to be in the cow or the Hindi speaking belt in the India has always been the frontrunner in many movements of the country and has played a dominant role in Indian politics, culture and the independence movement. The state which is nurtured by the love of river Ganges offers loads to the visitors from all over the world. Tour to Uttar Pradesh is an indispensable part of the India tour as the travelers get a clear insight into the cultural implications of the lifestyle of India and its various cultures. Uttar Pradesh tour offers myriad opportunities to explore the various shades of life and cultures. The various cities of the state reflect different pictures of life and lifestyle in Uttar Pradesh that makes the state a colorful and interesting proposition for the travelers. The various languages spoken in the state are Hindi, Urdu and English along with the various dialects of Hindi. The state has loads to offer that features the best of plain stretch for miles, the hill stations, the grandeur of the rivers and the legacy of the royal rulers, Uttar Pradesh has it all!

Jammu and Kashmir

Welcome to the page, which tells you about how, a tour to Jammu and Kashmir would be like ! The northern most state of Jammu and Kashmir offers a heady combination of imposing mountains, placid lakes mirroring the sky overhead, picture pretty gardens, not to mention the lip smacking cuisines. A tour to Jammu Kashmir is no doubt lends an experience of touring the heaven, right here on earth. Pay a visit to the archaic city of Srinagar in your tour to Jammu and Kasjhmir. Every pillar in this beautiful city, adorned with magnificent lakes and gardens would tell you the tale of a glorious love affair with the Mughals. Stay at a houseboat that rim the Dahl Lake or take a ride through the tranquil waters on a gorgeous Shikara. A tour to Jammu and Kashmir may also take you to the cold of Ladakh. Plodding across the Himalayan wilderness you come across the desert quaint hamlets, exotic tribes and monasteries with prayer flags fluttering in the air. It is a laidback, alien land far from the urban clutter and clamor.

A tour to Jammu and Kasmir would give you the impression that nature has been ubiquitously bountiful to the land. No wonder the Greek lieutenant of Alexanbder was bowled over its beauty and exclaimed – if there is heaven on earth, it is here..! We at Indianholiday.com, your favorite tour operator in India, offer exciting tours to Jammu and Kashmir. Have a look at the packages on offer or ask us to customize one for you. We are only a mouse-click away…. !