India - JAXFAX Travel Marketing Magazine
India - JAXFAX Travel Marketing Magazine India - JAXFAX Travel Marketing Magazine
NORTH INDIA Geographically, north India boasts the towering majesty of the Himalayas, the breathtaking mountainous beauty of Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir, the agriculturally rich plains of Punjab, Haryana and the Ganga basin of Uttar Pradesh that has nurtured many ancient civilizations to form an incredibly rich visual extravaganza. The history of this land of the Vedas goes back at least 5,000 years, the passage of the millennia peppered by the arrival of explorers, missionaries, envoys and traders. They all contributed to the cultural kaleidoscope that north India is today, a very colourful destination for the modern tourist. Uttar Pradesh is the confluence of the three mighty religions of the world - Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam. Varanasi is one of the oldest cities in the world and to this day one of the holiest of the Hindu pilgrimage centres, followed by Gaya. Regional Flavors Of India NORTH EAST WEST SOUTH Part of this State was called the Middle Land in Buddhist literature, hallowed by the presence of the Buddha and Mahavira 2,500 years ago. It was also in Uttar Pradesh that Muslim culture really blossomed in immortal literature, dance, music, art and architecture. Rajasthan is a State with an entirely different visage. Its medieval forts and palaces, the very distinctive nomadic desert lifestyle and stark scenery are unique in India. The mountainous States of Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh are dream destinations for tourists since they combine the awesome beauty of the Himalayas with a delightfully distinctive ethnic culture. This rich cultural tapestry is woven with brilliant strands of many hues-dance, music, food, costumes, languages, customs, festivals for a variety staggering in its appeal. SOUTH INDIA Surrounded by three oceans, South India is a region of overwhelming grandeur and pristine beauty. Separated from north India by the Vindhya Mountain range, the south Indian peninsula is doubly insulated by the Arabian Sea and Eastern Ghats on the east and the Bay of Bengal and Western Ghats on the west. As a result, this triangular volcanic land that was once part of the geologically primeval Gondwanaland, remained culturally undisturbed for millennia, evolving an aura of poised tranquility. The dominant features of south India are the tropical climate less harsh than the northern States, lush green tropical vegetation in the coastal areas and the architecture, culture, languages and lifestyle, which has remained essentially Dravidian at the core in spite of repeated exposures to outside influences. Since the southern culture evolved millennia before the modern State borders did, there is a racial, cultural and linguistic homogeneity here that makes visitors perceive the four major southern States together simply as 'south India', albeit mistakenly. In spite of the seeming similarity, each State has different scenery, festivals, architecture and subtle cultural variations to offer, each State in its own right a fascinating tourist destination. Pondicherry and Lakshadweep are again utterly different from the four traditional States of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala. The southern culture is a tapestry of magnificent temple architecture going back to the 6th century, the unaltered traditions of food, religion and lifestyle, handicrafts, heritage of sandalwood, silk, rosewood and brass, and of course the grandeur of classical dance and music. This is a land of temples, a land of the devout, the profusion of jasmine and 'kanakambaram' flowers and the soft beat of distant drums as yet another festival starts. 8 SEPTEMBER 2008 • JAXFAX INDIA SALES GUIDE SUPPLEMENT
EAST INDIA Steeped in thousands of years of history, much of East India still remains untouched by time. It is in the unimaginably fertile Gange delta that the ancient kingdoms with lilting names like Anga, Banga, Kalinga flourished at least 3000 years ago. Early industrialization of India took place in the east, due to the incredibly rich hinterland, access to river and ocean commercial transport and British investment in technology. Orissa on the east coast of India, is home to the Hirakud Dam, one of the longest dams in the world. Orissa has several popular tourist destinations. Puri, with the Jagannatha's temple near the sea, and Konark, with the Sun Temple. Bihar is located in the eastern region of India, bordering Nepal in the North. It is in Bihar that the Buddha and Mahavira preached the gentle way of life that changed human history. It is in West Bengal where the British metamorphosed from traders to supreme rulers of India - a historical event that altered India's national psyche for centuries. As powers and persona rose and fell, history shaped the people of the plains. Calcutta (Kolkata) is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal which served as the capital of India during the British Raj until 1911. Other states in the East include: Mizoram, Nagaland and Manipur home to the Tulihal Airport, the airport of Imphal, which connects the state capital with Delhi, Calcutta and Guwahati. Also Meghalaya state which literally means "The Abode of Clouds" in Sanskrit and other Indic languages. Surrounded by Bangladesh on the north, south and west, the state of Tripura possesses an extremely rich bio-diversity, there are 379 species of trees. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands – an emerald dollops in the sapphire indian ocean are traditionally known for their shell wealth, used as novelties supporting many cottage industries producing a wide range of decorative items & ornaments. WEST INDIA The four states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa and Madhya Pradesh in the west are so different in their landscape, culture and milieu that it may be difficult to believe they are adjacent to each other. Maharashtra is the land of famed warriors. Ridged by the Western ghats and covered by dense forests, it has witnessed a valiant history - rise and fall of Maratha empire. Shivaji is an immortal legend here, his memories alive in the innumerable forts scattered across the countryside. The rock cut caves at Ajanta and Ellora eloquently record the earliest mingling of all faiths - the Buddhist, Jain and Hindu sculptures and frescoes co-exist in complete harmony. Since ancient times Arab traders touched the Indian ports on the west coast of Gujarat and a multi-product export import trade flourished. The mythical port city of Dwarka supposed to have been founded by Lord Krishna 5,000 years ago, had been recently excavated from below the sea. The ruins of the Harappan civilization that were discovered in Lothal date back 3,500 years. Gujarat is still steeped in history. The Muslim culture in Ahmedabad founded by Ahmed Shah and the memories of life and work of Mahatma Gandhi who spent a part of his life here, are a living presence. Goa conjures another world. Ancient temples and majestic churches, a rich tradition of classical music, truly exuberant folk entertainment, delectable cuisine and a beautiful 160-mile coastline with nearly year round sunshine combine in magical alchemy to make it an ideal getaway holiday resort. Madhya Pradesh, surrounded by seven States, known as the heart of India, geographically shares the mountain ranges and plateaus of the western States. Its verdant forests are rich in flora and fauna and shelter ancient tribes, in many ways a uniquely harmonious world where life continues to be unhurried and natural. INCREDIBLE FARES TO INDIA SEPTEMBER 2008 • JAXFAX INDIA SALES GUIDE SUPPLEMENT 9
- Page 1: INDIA 2008-09 Travel Agent Sales Gu
- Page 4: India: Closer Than You Think “ Al
- Page 8: AIRLIFT TO INDIA Air India is India
- Page 13 and 14: Exotic South, for instance, is a fu
EAST INDIA<br />
Steeped in thousands of years of<br />
history, much of East <strong>India</strong> still remains<br />
untouched by time. It is in the<br />
unimaginably fertile Gange delta that<br />
the ancient kingdoms with lilting<br />
names like Anga, Banga, Kalinga<br />
flourished at least 3000 years ago.<br />
Early industrialization of <strong>India</strong> took place in the east, due to<br />
the incredibly rich hinterland, access to river and ocean commercial<br />
transport and British investment in technology.<br />
Orissa on the east coast of <strong>India</strong>, is home to the Hirakud Dam,<br />
one of the longest dams in the world. Orissa has several popular<br />
tourist destinations. Puri, with the Jagannatha's temple near<br />
the sea, and Konark, with the Sun Temple.<br />
Bihar is located in the eastern region of <strong>India</strong>, bordering<br />
Nepal in the North. It is in Bihar that the Buddha and Mahavira<br />
preached the gentle way of life that changed human history.<br />
It is in West Bengal where the British metamorphosed from<br />
traders to supreme rulers of <strong>India</strong> - a historical event that altered<br />
<strong>India</strong>'s national psyche for centuries. As powers and persona<br />
rose and fell, history shaped the people of the plains.<br />
Calcutta (Kolkata) is the capital of the <strong>India</strong>n state of West<br />
Bengal which served as the capital of <strong>India</strong> during the British Raj<br />
until 1911.<br />
Other states in the East include: Mizoram, Nagaland and<br />
Manipur home to the Tulihal Airport, the airport of Imphal,<br />
which connects the state capital with Delhi, Calcutta and Guwahati.<br />
Also Meghalaya state which literally means "The Abode of<br />
Clouds" in Sanskrit and other Indic languages. Surrounded by<br />
Bangladesh on the north, south and west, the state of Tripura<br />
possesses an extremely rich bio-diversity, there are 379<br />
species of trees.<br />
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands – an emerald dollops in<br />
the sapphire indian ocean are traditionally known for their shell<br />
wealth, used as novelties supporting many cottage industries<br />
producing a wide range of decorative items & ornaments.<br />
WEST INDIA<br />
The four states of Maharashtra,<br />
Gujarat, Goa and Madhya Pradesh<br />
in the west are so different in their<br />
landscape, culture and milieu that it<br />
may be difficult to believe they are adjacent<br />
to each other.<br />
Maharashtra is the land of famed<br />
warriors. Ridged by the Western ghats and covered by dense<br />
forests, it has witnessed a valiant history - rise and fall of<br />
Maratha empire.<br />
Shivaji is an immortal legend here, his memories alive in the<br />
innumerable forts scattered across the countryside. The rock<br />
cut caves at Ajanta and Ellora eloquently record the earliest mingling<br />
of all faiths - the Buddhist, Jain and Hindu sculptures and<br />
frescoes co-exist in complete harmony.<br />
Since ancient times Arab traders touched the <strong>India</strong>n ports on<br />
the west coast of Gujarat and a multi-product export import<br />
trade flourished. The mythical port city of Dwarka supposed to<br />
have been founded by Lord Krishna 5,000 years ago, had been<br />
recently excavated from below the sea. The ruins of the Harappan<br />
civilization that were discovered in Lothal date back 3,500<br />
years. Gujarat is still steeped in history. The Muslim culture in<br />
Ahmedabad founded by Ahmed Shah and the memories of life<br />
and work of Mahatma Gandhi who spent a part of his life here,<br />
are a living presence.<br />
Goa conjures another world. Ancient temples and majestic<br />
churches, a rich tradition of classical music, truly exuberant folk<br />
entertainment, delectable cuisine and a beautiful 160-mile<br />
coastline with nearly year round sunshine combine in magical<br />
alchemy to make it an ideal getaway holiday resort.<br />
Madhya Pradesh, surrounded by seven States, known as<br />
the heart of <strong>India</strong>, geographically shares the mountain ranges<br />
and plateaus of the western States. Its verdant forests are rich<br />
in flora and fauna and shelter ancient tribes, in many ways a<br />
uniquely harmonious world where life continues to be unhurried<br />
and natural.<br />
INCREDIBLE FARES TO INDIA<br />
SEPTEMBER 2008 • <strong>JAXFAX</strong> INDIA SALES GUIDE SUPPLEMENT 9
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