T For Travel

Bangalore has been named as one of India’s most beautiful cities.  Located just over three thousand feet above sea level on Deccan Plateau, this city is most likely so beautiful and green due to this fact, and the climate is one of the most enjoyable of the entire country.  Bangalore, the name derived from ‘bendha kaalu’, means boiled beans.  One of the legends of how the city was named, is now just a very beautiful story as the times and the dates do not match up.

The story is that the king of Vijayanagara Kingdom, Veera Ballala, was wondering lost through the forest.  He came about a cottage tired and hungry.  The old woman living in the cottage offered him what she had, which was just a bowl of boiled beans.  King Ballala was alive during the 9th Century, and history has shown reference to this name previous to this time, so although it is not a legitimate source for reference, the story emanates all that is wonderful, beautiful and kind about Bangalore today.  The city is filled with public gardens, one of the first designed and strategically planned out was created in 1759 by the Wodeyars in 1759.  This is now a world famous public garden, Lal Bagh.  This was the same year in which Bangalore became a town with a fortified fort, used to house the army.  Today, five star hotels in Bangalore offer tours of the city, either walking tours which are extremely popular, or tours in buses and trolleys.

Many first time visitors are so taken with this city that they move to Bangalore permanently shortly following those visits.  Bangalore is now the fifth largest city in the country, and one of the fastest growing in all of Asia.  Industry is booming, while keeping in touch with the old world charm and the culture of the region.  This is truly one of the gems of the country of India, but be prepared…one may find the need to move their once one experiences the atmosphere and the people.

There are two museums in the Rajasthan state of India, Udaipur, that attract art lovers from around the world.  Those traveling to the city in search of the experiencing the many aspects of Indian culture, heritage and history that is found illustrated through the artwork in these museums stay in one of the many Udaipur five star hotels.  One of the museums is quite famous throughout the country of India, and is becoming internationally recognized is the Bhartiya Lok Kala.  This museum contains some of the most brilliant works of the folk artists of Rajasthan.  The items are a rare and interesting collection of everything from puppets and dolls, masks and clothing, instruments, paintings, and sculpture.

The location is perfect, set in the city near the Chetak Circle.  This region of the city is known for the rich culture and the incredible works of art produced here.  Many from around the world cherish this area.  Due to this, the Museum began an institute to further ensure the production and the support of the local artists.  Along with the displays, there are regular musical and theatrical performances, as well as puppet shows.  The collection housed here is more than forty five years in the making.  This is one museum that should be on the schedule of all those visiting the city, and the history of the culture of the region is so vastly recognized and displayed.

The City Palace Museum is another favorite.  There is housed within the walls, one of the most remarkable collections of ancient works, sculptures, antique furniture, and books of a time long since past.  This is more so an historical museum filled with artifacts.  The gate of the museum is titled in honor of the Lord Ganesha.  Through the courtyard one will find a section of the museum that houses the ancient pieces of armor, gear meant for protection of the soldiers as well as swords, trumpets used by the armies as well as drums and other instruments.  There is quite a collections of portraits and murals, as well as coins, and Khurram’s Turban, the turban of an emperor well known and popular throughout India.  The museum is divided into various pavilions, each one with its own theme.  This too, is the perfect location for those wishing to trace a bit of the history of the cities of India.

India is second country in the world as far being the most populated.  More than one billion people live in the country and there is not one single culture, but many with the cultural and societal continuities that hold the people together.  For the world of politics and the business world, English is the spoken language, however officially, fourteen languages are recognized.  Unofficially throughout the country there are twenty-four, with more changes in the regions, more dialects.  This diversity is one of the aspects of the country that draws tourist year round and has them booking their reservations in the luxury hotels Rajasthan state offers.

There are six major ethnic groups living in the cities, there are festivals occurring year round for the seven different main religions, and countless other smaller religions, and a large number of holidays, which makes anytime of year the perfect time to visit.  Of the celebrations, the ones that are partaken in for religious purposes, and with spiritual meaning, are some of the most wondrous sights and experiences for those traveling from other parts of the world.  Regardless of which religion on practices in India, the religion is the central part of one’s life.  Close to eighty percent of Indian populations practice Hinduism.  Other religions that make up the spiritual map of India include Jainism, Christianity, Buddhism and Islam.

There is really no other place in the world quite like this country.  The creativity of the various religions and cultures has lead to some of the finest of artworks.  Every characteristic of the cities seem to be exaggerated, in the way that just seeing photos or film footage, the colors appear brighter, more vivid in the country more than others.  This country is also geographically stunning, borders by the Himalayan Mountain range and by the Bay of Bengal,  this Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Sea.  Just as the people of the country are diverse, so to is the terrain, another draw for travelers wishing tremendous outdoor experiences and adventures.  There is so much to this country to enjoy.

Festivals occur throughout the year in the country of India.  Tourists and locals alike participate in the events, many traveling to the cities for extending periods of time and staying in the Rajasthan luxury hotels,  in order to experience as much as possible.  Many of the festivals are colorful events such as the Elephanta Festival or festivals honoring Lord Ganesh.  Some however are quiet and celebrated without ceremony, and without pomp and circumstance.  Such is the Jain festival of Mahavira Jayanti. This is celebrated each year, on the birthday of the founder of the Jain religion, Vardhmana Mahavira.

Another festival that surrounds the founder is that of Deep Diwali.  This is the celebration of the liberation from the cycle of life and the cycle of death obtained by Mahavira.  This is a festival of the lights, similar to the festival celebrated by the Hindus ten day previous each year, the Diwali Festival.  For that Jains, the lights are a symbol of the illumination of the world that occurred during his liberation.  Most find that the best place to view the events is near the city of Junagadh, on Mount Girnar. The third festival of the Jain religion occurs only each fifteen years.  This is a ceremony of anointment center around the sculpture of Gomateshwara, and is located in Karnataka at Shravana Belgola.  The statue is cleaned during this time, using traditional substances that are considered precious.  There are sixteen such substances used including gold, rare gems, silver, saffron, milk and ghee.

The Jains practice rituals throughout the year as well, daily rituals that involve the saying of the prayer universal to all those practitioners of the religion, bowing and repeating the Navkar Mantra.  Many of the temples throughout the city contain various images and the Jains usually attend each day in order to worship those images.  The elaborate rituals involve songs, music and the offerings of objects of symbolic significance.  However, not all Jains practice the worship of objects nor attend temples.  These groups regard the temples, the structures, the sculptures, and the offerings to those as unnecessary.  The public festivals are spectacular, yet calm and peaceful and are a beautiful look into one of the cultures in the country of India.

In Mumbai/Bombay, hotel accommodations are varied, and it is easy to find hotels that will fit into any budget.  Many travel to to Mumbai each year to experience the diversity of the culture, the food of the different regions, the traditions, the crafts and festivals.  One of the cultures living within the city is the population of Indians that follow the Jain religion.  The philosophy was originally taken from the Ancient texts and teaching of India, the Tirthankaras.  This is one of the influential religions in the modern society of India today, even as there are one of the smaller groups in the country.  Many people in other countries have become members of this group, such as the countries throughout Western Europe, the Far East, Africa and the United States.

Jainism was established during the same time that Buddha was alive and teaching, by a man known as Mahavira.  This title is translated to mean ‘great hero’ in English.  He was older than Buddha, and both have similarities in there beliefs and philosophical ideas.  For instance, both men did not respect the caste systems and the barriers it has placed on the people in the country for thousands of years.  The sacred nature of the Vedas is also something that both question.

And both men renounced their royal upbringing and all the material aspects of this world.  For more than two thousand years the Jains have influenced many of India’s spheres in society, such as the political, the religious, the economic and the ethical aspect of culture.  The stress is put on the independent spiritual connection to the world, and that all of life is equal important.  Much as in Buddhism ideology, all emphasis is place on the practice of non-violence and and of self control over the worldly passions and desired in order to find the true nature of one’s soul.  Scholarship and education is an important tradition, and those in this culture are among the most educated members of the country’s population.  The oldest libraries in India are the Jain’s.  This is just one of the many interesting cultures and aspects of the societies of India.

The oldest range of mountains in India is the Aravalli Mountain Range.  Many of those traveling in the country spend some time in the Palace hotel India offers, in order to take full advantage of the trails and the hikes throughout mountains.  This is a section of the outdoors that is a paradise, filled with the beauty that has been attracting travelers and hikers from around the world for many years.  All in this one range one will hike through jungles that are dense and rich with wildlife, lakes, and areas of open meadows.  The range is three hundred miles, stretching from the North to the Sought, in the Western region of the state of Rajasthan.

When one progresses North along the trails the terrain becomes rocky and more isolated.  Ancient folds in the mountains were created during years of erosion.  One while find action and adventure in these mountains, and is well known for the variety of the topography adding to the experience, much in the same way as the diversity of the terrain found in the Grand Canyon of the United States.  As one hikes down through the desert, one experiences the changes and how in one turn of a corner, the scenery will go from brown rocks and gravel to crystal blue water and vines climbing up the Canyon walls.

Mount Abu is located within the range, as well as the temples of the Jain religious sect in Ranakpuri.  There is also a sanctuary for wild life, and the dense jungle trees and plants provide a habitat that supports many species of animals and birds.  There are some areas that have been affected by deforestation, but for the most part the range has been well protected and preserved.  The erosion continues and has resulted in the levels being disturbed enough to affect the rivers, sending them in different directions over time.  Many of the groves or forest located throughout are now protected areas such as Dev Bani, Dev Ouranya, and Askankar Bani.  These are sacred locations, and the mountains themselves are respected by the humans, for the history and the influence they have added to that history of the relationship between the human world and the world of nature.

The Fine Arts Society in Mumbai began in 1962 and was started by a group of social progress minded music enthusiasts. Their particular focus was on classical music, dance and drama. They had their first meeting in a garage, and their first program took place one year later. Membership in this organization is considered to be a prestigious element in one’s life. It is well respected and the Society continues to be at the forefront of community and cultural service institutions in and around Mumbai. It began as a service that would foster the creative development of young musicians and dancers, as well as other fine arts. This included a major educational intention for the group that included establishing academies and schools that would focus on the performing arts. The Society has become extremely influential in the Mumbai arts scene and tourists who are staying in one of the hotels Mumbai India should see this reflected in their exploration of the culture.

The first Annual Festival of Music, Dance and Drama took place before packed crowds in 1964. After this event, membership in the Society grew quickly, and they began to be recognized as a cultural force. They wanted an auditorium of their own and in 1990 they had begun to develop their multipurpose complex. It was inaugurated in 1993 by His Excellency Shri P.C. Alexander, the Governor of Maharashtra. The Society is interested in more than simply bringing greater awareness to performance arts and focusing on education. They also organize concerts, dramas, conferences, festivals, dances and exhibitions to advance the cause of classical music and the fine arts. In addition, part of their original intention was focused on health care. They sought to establish and operate diagnostic health care facilities and participate in medical research. This was an extremely ambition intention for the group of music lovers and the early development of the Society. It also accounts for some of the prestige and respect the Society has been accorded. Some of the early trail blazing group members are still active in the Society’s affairs.