From the snow-capped Himalayas in the north to the sun drenched
coastal villages of the south, India unfolds like an ancient
tapestry. At times threadbare and fading, the land stretches from
desert dunes and scattered slums to the rich embroidery of ancient,
jewelled palaces, and the majestic domes of forgotten empires.
Since the first civilisations rose on the banks of the Indus
River almost 5,000 years ago, India has given birth to Buddhism and
Hinduism, been touched by the Empire of Alexander the Great, seen
the ancient empires of the Mauryas and Guptas rise and fall, and
has traded with Pharaohs and Caesars.
An invasion by the white Huns scattered its people until the
sweeping hand of Islam saw new kingdoms rise, heralding the era of
the Sultans. Defeat came again as the Mogul Emperors marched over
the mountains and into the Punjab. The decline of the Mogul Empire
gave way to the Marathas, who consolidated control of India just in
time for the arrival of the British. The sun finally set on the
British Empire as India reclaimed independence in 1947, heralding a
new age of democracy.
India is a feast for the senses; where the air is heavy with the
scent of jasmine and dancers trail frenetic melodies in colourful
silk saris. Its cooks compose dishes from a palette of exotic
spices that may leave a lingering taste of saffron or aniseed. In
India's cities, the stench of slum living competes with the
cacophony of seemingly endless traffic and a myriad of other
textures, colours and movements all jostling for your
attention.
