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The Great Dynasties with multimedia presentation
The Great DynastiesBy 6th century BC, the Magadh rulers dominated the Northern plains. It was also the time when new thinking emerged in the form of Buddhism and Jainism to challenge Hindu orthodoxy. The Magadh rule was followed by the rule of Chandragupta Maurya (322-298 B.C.), one of India's greatest emperors. The Mauryan reign peaked under the reign of Ashoka the Great who extended his empire from the Kashmir and Peshawar in the North to Mysore in the South and Orissa in the East. Not only was Ashoka a great ruler, he was one of the most successful propagators of Buddhism in the country. After Ashoka's death in 232 B.C. the empire began to disintegrate and the country was repeatedly raided and plundered by foreign invaders, leaving India disunited and weak for the next 400 years. Stability returned with the reign of Chandra Gupta I (380-412 A.D.). His rule is considered the golden period in Indian history when art and culture flourished and the country prospered.
Unlike the North of India, foreign invasions had little impact on life in South India which also saw the rise and decline of many empires. These included the Cholas whose rule extended to Sri Lanka and South East Asia, the Pandyas, the Cheras, the Pallavas and the Chalukyas. Under the various rulers, arts and craft in the South also saw the emergence of various styles of architecture and some of the grandest architectural accomplishments in the South - the most famous being the exquisitely crafted Chola bronzes. These were followed by the Hoysala and the Vijaynagar empires - among the greatest Hindu empires.
India is a subcontinent with many layers of history and culture. Each region in India has its own unique history and traditions. The different linguistic and ethnic groups from the various states of India come together like multicoloured threads to create the fabric of a unified country. Every cultural strand is woven together to create a vibrant tapestry of colourful India.
India's cultural heritage can be seen in its grand monuments built by various rulers in different periods of time. On your India travel itinerary you can see forts, palaces, temples, mosques, tombs, stupas, gurudwaras, cave paintings and exquisite sculpture and carvings.India has a range of marvellous monuments - the best known of which is the mesmerizing Taj Mahal in Agra. The grand monuments of the Mughals in Delhi, such as the Qutab Minar, the Red Fort, the Jama Masjid and Humayun's Tomb are historic sights made of red sandstone and marble and are stunning examples of the Indo Islamic style of Architecture Agra, the imperial capital of the Mughals, with the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah, and Akbar's tomb at Sikandra is a treasure trove for a historian or student of Mughal architecture on a cultural tour of India.
The cities of Rajasthan are known for their magnificent palaces and forts. Built by the rulers of princely states the grand buildings including the Amer Fort, city palace and Jantar Mantar (astronomical instruments) in Jaipur, the Jaisalmer Fort in Jaisalmer, the Mehrangarh Fort and the Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur and the fabulous lake palaces in lake Pichola in Udaipur, are all worth seeing on your India travel itinerary when you take a cultural tour of India.

Lakshadweep The islands look like emeralds in the vast expanse of blue sea. Varying hues of urquoise blue translucent water surround them. Coral atolls, the matchless marine environment with myriad colours resulting in complex interaction of animate and inanimate things. Built on ancient volcanic formations are the Lakshadweep (meaning a hundred thousand islands), the tiniest Union Territory of India. It consists of 12 atolls, 3 reefs and 5 submerged banks. The atolls poised on submarine banks, harbour 36 islands having an area of 32 Sq.Km. Of these, 10 islands are inhabited namely Agatti, Amini, Andrott, Bitra, Chetlat, Kadmat, Kalpeni, Kavaratti, Kiltan and Minicoy. The islands lie about 220-440 Kms from the Malabar coast between 8° and 12° 13' North Latitude and 71° & 74° East Longitude. Kavaratti is the Administrative Headquarter of the Union Territory.Each island is fringed by snowwhite coral sands, are marked by a huge, shallow, calm lagoon on one side which separate it from incoming swells of the outer sea by the fort wall-reef made of massive coral boulders and live corals. The only coral islands of our country, are the result of gradual assimilation of calcium from the water by corals and their turning into reefs.
Andaman & Niccobar Palm leaves dancing in the mild breeze, powder white beaches, the sound of waves breaking on a coral reef, lush, green rain forests and chirping rare birds-this is what the Andaman and Nicobar Islands essentially are. An archipelago of islands, islets and rocks, this Union Territory of India is home to some of the oldest tribes in the country. Though facilities for trekking, diving and snorkelling are available here, the best way to enjoy a trip to these islands is simply relax by the sea.