Ancient India

India is a prodigious country, peopled with diverse and ancient civilizations. It is essential here to acknowledge two perspectives of India; first for being a traditional and cultural mosaic, and second for holding the ancient rural infrastructures with divine and historical patterns.

The process of racism and cultural adorning began in India more than 5000 years ago and has since remained constant. The ancient way of living is still alive and the ancient philosophies and sciences of yoga, ayurveda, and vastu are still flourishing here.

Contemporary to many old civilizations long faded away it is still sublime breathing in the freshness of a youth. It is home to ancient Vedas and Upanashidas revered all over the world. India boasts the presence of every major religion in the world, as well as many of their offshoots and facets, all being supported, nourished and living in comparative harmony. Many of these religions were conceived in India, and others have come here seeking a safe haven from persecution after being created in their own lands.

India in the second millennium B.C. was inhabited by the Aryans who are famous for their exceptionally advanced Indus Valley civilization, known as, the Harappan culture. We know very little about the Indus civilization, but what we know is fascinating. The Indus Valley Civilization was one of the world's first great urban civilizations. It flourished in the vast river plains and adjacent regions, which are now Pakistan and western India. Believe it or not, over 4,000 years ago, in the Indus Valley, people built huge, planned cities, with straight streets, and brick homes with private baths. Kids played with toys and women wore lipstick! How do we know this? In 1922, archaeologists found something exciting! They found the remains of an ancient city called Harappa. They found another city, located 400 miles southwest of Harappa, called Mohenjo-Daro. Other ancient cities from the same period, arranged in the same way, have been found since. This civili zation existed from about 3000-2,500 BCE to about 1500 BCE, which means it existed at about the same time as the Egyptian and Sumerian civilizations.

The political map of ancient and primitive India was made up of incalculable kingdoms with ambivalent boundaries. In the 4th and 5th centuries A.D., northern India was allied under the Gupta Dynasty. During this period, famous as India's Golden Age, Hindu culture and political authority achieved new heights.

Islam spread across the Indian subcontinent over a period of 500 years. In the 10th and 11th centuries, Turks and Afghans invaded India and established sultanates in Delhi. From 11th to the 15th centuries, Hindu Chola and Vijayanagar Dynasties captivated Southern India. In the early 16th century, descendants of Genghis Khan swept across the Khyber Pass and established the Mughal Dynasty, which lasted for 200 years

India is one of those countries, which still has places existing from the ancient times. It has given us some of the most remarkable and splendid historical monument, from temples to caves to forts. World fame Ajanta and Ellora are the two ancients sites that need no reference. It vividly indicates to highly developed state of art and culture of paintings, sculpture, and architect that remains unsurpassed by the modern civilization. Ancient temples can be found at Barabar hills located in Bihar, Nasik in Maharashtra, Pallavaram and Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu and Kangra in Himachal Pradesh. The Sri Dalsa Devi Temple in Goa dates to the 15th century but was moved to its present location in 1512. In its current incarnation, the temple seems to have undergone a makeover, and exhibits a fascinating blend of influences from various cultures and periods. The ancient Jama Masjid, one of Delhi's oldest and most beautiful monuments is known for it's splendid architecture. Rajasthan is famous for its regal monuments like the Jal Mahal and the Hawa Mahal that take you back in time. Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh is famous for some of the oldest churches and Buddhist monasteries. The crown of India, Taj Mahal, located in the city of Agra, is one of the world's greatest architectural treasures. The almost supernatural beauty of Taj Mahal and its grounds transcends culture and history, and speaks with a voice of its own of feelings that are common to all humanity. Gaumukh, the source of the Mother River in India, draws abundant pilgrims from around the world. Another must visit are, the Khajuraho Temples in Central India built in the tenth century A.D. containing stunningly explicit sexual sculptures.