The Richness of India

Namaste and welcome to Incredible India the most diverse country on earth. India
is vast. It’s over 3 million km2, and they say that every 100km the language, food and culture changes. From the snow-laden desolate Himalayas to the warm sunny beaches of Goa, the frenetic cities to the lush green jungles of Kerala, India is truly incredible.

India’s tumultuous story

To appreciate India today, you need to understand its multifaceted history.

There is evidence of human occupation in India going back about 5000 years. It’s seen wars, invasions, disasters and triumph. The French, Portuguese, Mughals, Dutch and the British have all laid claim to parts of India, with varying degrees of success. Each culture has influenced the culture, food, architecture and way of life of that region.

The British turned up in 1757 and turned ‘The Golden Bird’, the wealthiest land in the world, into the country we know today. In 1947, India demanded they leave. At that stage, it was a group of self-governed princely states with indigenous rulers, administered by the United Kingdom.

The final act of the British, after Gandhi’s non-violent protest to make them withdraw was successful, was to quickly draw lines on a map, dividing up India, Pakistan, ‘East Pakistan’ (now known as Bangladesh) and Nepal.

In particular, the border between Pakistan and India was almost completely arbitrary. So when India and Pakistan become their own countries as of 15 August 1947, it become what is now known as partition, which caused displacement of 14 million people.

This tumultuous, glorious, and painful past has moulded the India we know today. With 22 ‘official’ languages and hundreds of regional dialects, 29 states and 7 union territories, and 1.3 billion diverse Indians, it’s a country huge on diversity.

Indian food is incredible

The cuisine of India is as diverse as its history. Influenced by their foreign visitors, the food has changed over the centuries to incorporate chilli from Mexico via the Portuguese, potatoes from Peru, onion from Iran, garlic from West Pakistan and tomatoes from Mexico. Every state has different foods to try, and they aren’t all spicy- nor is everything a curry.
For instance, from South India, dosa is crispy pancake made from a fermented rice and dal batter. It’s served with a potato mixture and two dipping sauces, a mild coconut chutney and a spicy sambar.
Form Kashmir, you’re more likely to find hearty, rich, creamy curries, designed with the cooler climate in mind. In Bengal and Odia, they cook a lot of fish, while Andhra Pradesh and Hyderabad are known for their fiery hot chillies.
About 30% of Indians are vegetarians, and in general there’s a lot less meat consumed here than in Western countries. The diversity and easy availability of vegetarian food is outstanding. You can have dal one night, paneer the next, brinjal (eggplant) or gobi (cauliflower) the next. If you do like meat, mutton (goat) and chicken are widely eaten. Beef is sacred in Hinduism so it’s not widely eaten- and often it’s actually buffalo, not beef.
While the food here in incredible, don’t stop only at curries. Try legendary biryani, with aromatic herbs and spices infused in the rice, served with meltingly tender meat. Or try chaat, which are street snacks- the crispy shells of pani puri with sweet-spicy insides, the soft pav bun with vegetable mash bhaji and samosas with a tongue-twisting sour tamarind chutney. Seek out genuine tandoori chicken, with its smoky, robust flavours, served with fluffy white naan, or maybe the wide variety of kebabs that range from fiery red heat to the coolness of yoghurt and coriander. See if you can find the meltingly tender galouti kebab, said to have been created for a king who demanded meat he could eat with no teeth

Religion and its influence on India

India is the birthplace of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism and home to many other religions.

Hindus make up to 79.8 % of the population, and its influence can be found in everything. You’ll find plenty of ornately carved Hindu temples. Visit Elephanta Caves on an Island off the coast of Mumbai, and marvel at the gorgeous work (and destruction by the Portuguese). In Hampi, you’ll be astounded by the huge number of temples from thousands of years ago, and in Chhatarpur you’ll see erotic carvings that hint at why the Karma Sutra came from India. You’ll see Ganesh and Shiva references everywhere, and street-side temples strung with garlands and offerings at every corner.

Jains are characterised by their belief in total non-violence, known as ‘ahisma’. This includes not eating anything grown underground, not eating mushrooms to avoid eating live organisms, and sometimes even cauliflower as it may harbour worms/ caterpillars. They are about 0.36% of the population and reside mostly in Gujarat. Buddhists have similar non-violent philosophy and make up 0.7% of India’s population. The Sikh population is about 1.7%, and they live mostly in Punjab. Christians make up 2.3% of India’s population and are concentrated in Kerala and Goa. Muslims are about 14.2% of the total population, but in their time in India they have made substantial impact- the Taj Mahal & food for instance.

Landscape and animals

You absolutely cannot describe India in any one way. The far north is mountainous, with pristine landscapes, jagged mountains and isolated villages. Along the north-east, Assam has rice paddies abutting tea plantations, thousands of rhinos wandering around, and elephants still in service. In nearby Nagaland you can still see the tribes living in their unique subcultures within the area.

Kerala is covered in lush jungles, where you’ll find elephants and maybe even leopards and tigers. There are hill stations inland, like Ooty and Chail, which are cooler, green and have a quieter and more relaxed way of life. Of course there is Rajasthan, with acres of desert, camels and nomads. Goa is a beach paradise, either a total party scene in the north, or a relaxed pace of life in the South.

A detailed and intricate culture

It’s impossible to say India has a certain culture. It’s amazingly diverse, from the multi-millionaires and lavish Bollywood lifestyles, to the slums of Dharavi. Religions unite and divide, languages and castes influence everything still. The traditional dances of Rajasthan are different from those of Kerala, the wedding rituals are different in every state, and even the genes are different—there are green-eyed Indians in Kashmir and Rajasthan.

But one thing that unites every Indian is the pride in their country. Pride in the incredible history and their culture that’s evolved from that. Pride from surviving so many influences on their society, strength from diversity, and love of their confusing and amazing country. They want you to experience it too, and see why India is the most incredible country on earth.