Background: The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world, dates back at least 5,000 years. Aryan tribes from the northwest invaded about 1500 B.C.; their merger with the earlier Dravidian inhabitants created the classical Indian culture. Arab incursions starting in the 8th century and Turkish in the 12th were followed by those of European traders, beginning in the late 15th century. By the 19th century, Britain had assumed political control of virtually all Indian lands. Indian armed forces in the British army played a vital role in both World Wars. Nonviolent resistance to British colonialism led by Mohandas GANDHI and Jawaharlal NEHRU brought independence in 1947. The subcontinent was divided into the secular state of India and the smaller Muslim state of Pakistan. A third war between the two countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. Despite impressive gains in economic investment and output, India faces pressing problems such as the ongoing dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir, massive overpopulation, environmental degradation, extensive poverty, and ethnic and religious strife.
July 21st 2008Asia » India » Kerala » Varkala Heyhey, well... went to a pretty little beach close by today called Varkala. It is about 40km north of Trivandrum and was exactly what I needed, tranquil and sunny. The sea was too rough to be swimm ... [full story]
July 19th 2008Asia » India » Kerala » Trivandrum Well... after a 1 hour flight, followed by a 15 hour wait, further followed by a 3 hour flight and then a 5 hour wait... then a 15 hour bus ride, I am at Trivandrum!!! Absolutely knackered and totall ... [full story]
August 17th 2007Asia » India » Kerala » Kochi The next day, we decided to catch a bus from the main bus depot in Allepy to Kochi. We did not know until the bus stopped somewhere in between an unknown place and Kochi that there is no straight bus ... 16 photos[full story]
July 6th 2008Asia » India » Kerala » Allepey After an extra night at Munnar, we have headed 130km South to Kumily, where the Peiryar Wildlife Sanctuary is found.
Kumily has an aromatic charm - with spice shops and auryveric medicines/massag ... 22 photos[full story]
August 15th 2007Asia » India » Kerala It was a cold and misty morning in Southern part of Sri Lanka. The sky was still grey and I could feel an uneasy cold breeze taking control of the surrounding atmosphere. I could also hear the sound o ... 93 photos[full story]
July 7th 2008Asia » India » Kerala » Kochi ok I still can't edit the photos so ...
you have the
Chinese Nets at Kochi
Preparations for the Kathakali performance and some from the performance
Kerala Backwaters, sailboats and fishing
P ... 18 photos[full story]
July 5th 2008Asia » India » Kerala » Munnar Ahhhhh - we’re gunna miss our train out of Bangalore - the traffic sucks!! Torin says there is nothing for a tourist in Bangalore, work okay, but not touristy. On the train, 3-tier class, with ... 9 photos[full story]
June 29th 2008Asia » India » Kerala » Trivandrum I'm walking a land named Tamil Nadu,
with lots of things to see and do.
Where people are friendly and people are nice,
the farmers tile paddy's, the merchants sell spice!
As days go by, I sigh a ... 28 photos[full story]
June 29th 2008Asia » India » Kerala » Kochi We headed over at 5.00pm for the start of the Kathakali performance. This starts at 5.00pm with the application of makeup. For this perfomance there are three male actors. They all apply their own ... [full story]
Map of India
India's Flag
