Vacationing In India - Most Diverse Tourist Destination On Earth

I have traveled throughout the length and breadth of India. It is such a amazing country that you will find differences in cultures, peoples, topography, climate, living standards, historical interests etc. after every few hundred miles of travel.

India is one of the oldest civilizations with its history going as far back as c5000 B.C. It has seen huge ups and downs in its entire history with centuries of foreign rule.

It has been one of the most tolerant and absorbing society. The mark of different historical structures can be seen all over the country. Pakistan and Bangladesh were part of this historical country before 1947. India, Pakistan and Bangladesh together constitute Indian subcontinent.

Every travel lover should travel India at least once in his life time. There is something for everyone in this country. All of its major cities are fully accessible by air from any quarter of the world.

Places along the Himalayas are have a particular charm. Darjeeling, Dharamsala, Simla etc. fall in the cream of tourist attractions.

Kashmir in the north constituted the darling of tourists till 1990. However, unfortunately with the onset of violence by some mad people after 1990, this place lost a large number of tourists. From the top most place for tourists in India, it suddenly became a dream. The situation has improved a little and the tourists have started coming back.

For a foreign tourist, most of the places in India will offer something interesting. If one wants to see historical places, they are all over India. Most promising of them are Rajasthan, Uttar Paradeh, Delhi, central India etc. Taj Mahal is now one of the seven wonders. That is a living love story and a mark of lasting beauty and glory.

One can go to the south and see entirely different culture, nature and communities. It is a repository of some of the finest temples and architecture of the world.

One can see the elements of modernity and traditional society existing side by side. One can find primitive things and the most modern facilities around. One can also see poorest and rich people living side by side. There are high risers and low residences.

India travel can be extremely economical. One can live from a small budget to a luxury stay. Whatever, one wants to live with, one can find it.

There are a few pockets of north and north east India which one should avoid. Kashmir is now experiencing a lot of tourist traffic with control over violence. It is rightly termed as the Switzerland of Asia. While visiting India, a visit to Kashmir will be in order. There are so many flights every day from New Delhi to Srinagar.

A visit of India will surely be rewarding for anyone in the world.

Tah Mahal - Living Symbol Of Romance

Taj Mahal was voted one of the seven wonders of the world on July 7,2007. I love this historical monument because this is a living symbol of love, dedication and romance.

About 4 centuries ago Shah Jehan (1592-1666) was the emperor of India from 1628 to 1658. He married his beloved Mumtaz Mahal in 1612. She dies in 1630 during childbirth.

The emperor had extreme love for Mumtaz. He was so devoted to his wife that it is said that his beard and his hair on the head turned white just in a few months. Her death devastated him to an unimaginable degree.

During his living days, Shah Jehan told her that he will build an everlasting memorial as a mark of their love after her death. True to his word, when she died, he spent all of his energy in raising this monument. It is said that as many as 20,000 craftsmen participated in building it over a period of 17 years.

Millions of people all over the world visit this epitome of love every year. This is an artistic structure of marvelous and exquisite beauty. Made of marble, this monument dazzles especially in moonlight. Scores of people make it a point to visit it during full moonlight.

Shah Jehan was latter dethroned by his son and was put into Jail in Agra fort right across Taj Mahal. He lived in a room whose windows opened towards the Taj. It is said that he survived 8 more years just by looking at the tomb. He was buried besides his wife in the Taj after his death.

We have endless love stories in the world. But nothing as prominent as Taj Mahal. It is a story of unparalleled devotion, sacrifice and true love. As one walks through this monument, one smells and breaths romance and love.

I strongly suggest all great lovers to visit this wonderful symbol at least once in their life time. It is about 5-6 hours of train journey from New Delhi, India to Agra. One should especially try to visit Taj during full moon and to be a witness to snow white marble and its four minarets in the moonlight.