A photographic journey from the past to the present, from the tribal regions deep in India to the beautiful destinations that shows the veracity of the largest democracy in the world today.

Incredible India in pictures depicting Indian diversity in cultures, heritage, history, archaeology, literature & religion, from tribal communities to popular settlements.

This is a scene from the daily lives of numerous children who live along the Ganges in Kolkata, West Bengal. The ghats of the Ganges also have cremation grounds where the Hindus burn their dead & perform their last rites before throwing the ashes into the Ganges, hoping for a reprieve of the departed soul.

These kids often end up following these cremations & hooks up any of the remnants from the ashes. Most of the time they return empty handed, rarely getting a few pennies that may have drowned with the ashes of the dead.

Over 5000 years of human civilization, prosperity in arts, science, philosophy and non-materialistic sciences have also harbored religions, rituals & various customs in India. Very often we follow these rituals mechanically these days without completely knowing the purpose or completely following the processes as prescribed in the Vedas.

More such incredible India in our Pictures gallery.

The post Incredible India – Children of Kolkata first appeared on Explore India TV.

A photographic journey from the past to the present, from the tribal regions deep in India to the beautiful destinations that shows the veracity of the largest democracy in the world today.

Incredible India in pictures depicting Indian diversity in cultures, heritage, history, archaeology, literature & religion, from tribal communities to popular settlements.

The word Adivasi is synonymous to aboriginal, native & original dwellers. They lived on the land & persisted with their way of living on & living with nature for hundred of centuries in India till the subcontinent became prone to invasions from the western looters & pillagers. While most of the European & Chinese invaders looted & killed, the British, Spanish & Portuguese colonists expanded their rules over these Adivasis. Over time, the decimation of their cultures & the ruthless killings of their people, brought the tribal communities to the brink of extinction.

Chhattisgarh still has remnants of tribal communities, struggling to co-exist with the intrusion we have come to call by various names – civilization, modernization, industrialization et all. All that such terms translated to were the eviction of these tribal communities, usurpation of their land & exploitation of their cultures & humanity for decades. Today, most of them live with perennial fear of being termed criminal, at the mercy of the so called rich & powerful landlords, politicians & industrial exploiters.

Over 5000 years of human civilization, prosperity in arts, science, philosophy and non-materialistic sciences have also harbored religions, rituals & various customs in India. Very often we follow these rituals mechanically these days without completely knowing the purpose or completely following the processes as prescribed in the Vedas.

More such incredible India in our Pictures gallery.

The post Incredible India – Tribal Mother & Child first appeared on Explore India TV.

A photographic journey from the past to the present, from the tribal regions deep in India to the beautiful destinations that shows the veracity of the largest democracy in the world today.

Incredible India in pictures depicting Indian diversity in cultures, heritage, history, archaeology, literature & religion, from tribal communities to popular settlements.

The Dhankar Monastery is one of the many that you would see in the Leh Ladakh region of India. Deeply influenced by Tibetian Buddhism, many of these monasteries existed for hundreds of years. Very recently many of them have come under the aegis of the Archaeological Survey of India for their restoration & maintenances. Many are also part of the diverse Indian Heritage sites & monuments.

The Dhankar Monastery lies in the Spiti valley. The word Dhankar means “Fort on a Cliff” & rightfully so, this one too is built on the cliff side of the Himalayas at a height of 3,894 metres above the sea level in the Spiti Valley above Dhankar Village, between the towns of Kaza and Tabo.

Over 5000 years of human civilization, prosperity in arts, science, philosophy and non-materialistic sciences have also harbored religions, rituals & various customs in India. Very often we follow these rituals mechanically these days without completely knowing the purpose or completely following the processes as prescribed in the Vedas.

More such incredible India in our Pictures gallery.

The post Incredible India – Dhankar Gompa first appeared on Explore India TV.

A photographic journey from the past to the present, from the tribal regions deep in India to the beautiful destinations that shows the veracity of the largest democracy in the world today.

Incredible India in pictures depicting Indian diversity in cultures, heritage, history, archaeology, literature & religion, from tribal communities to popular settlements.

Located close to Bangalore in Karnataka, the Gundal Dam is a quaint popular Indian tourist destination for weekend trips & tours for busy city dwellers. The reservoir is surrounded by hills & is sparsely populated by farmers & other small communities of natives. The picture is taken by Joseph D’Mello.

Over 5000 years of human civilization, prosperity in arts, science, philosophy and non-materialistic sciences have also harbored religions, rituals & various customs in India. Very often we follow these rituals mechanically these days without completely knowing the purpose or completely following the processes as prescribed in the Vedas.

More such incredible India in our Pictures gallery.

The post Incredible India – Gundal Dam first appeared on Explore India TV.

A photographic journey from the past to the present, from the tribal regions deep in India to the beautiful destinations that shows the veracity of the largest democracy in the world today.

Incredible India in pictures depicting Indian diversity in cultures, heritage, history, archaeology, literature & religion, from tribal communities to popular settlements.

The beautiful hill station of Pahalgaon is located on the way to the Amarnath Caves in Jammu & Kashmir. Nestled in the Betaab Valley along the Lidder river, the place is home to some of the native Indian bear & the musk deer.

Pahalgaon is also a popular Indian tourist destination for winter adventures, trekking & skiing. The picture is taken by Dibya Jyoti Ghosh.

Over 5000 years of human civilization, prosperity in arts, science, philosophy and non-materialistic sciences have also harbored religions, rituals & various customs in India. Very often we follow these rituals mechanically these days without completely knowing the purpose or completely following the processes as prescribed in the Vedas.

More such incredible India in our Pictures gallery.

The post Incredible India – Mountain Goats of Kashmir first appeared on Explore India TV.

A photographic journey from the past to the present, from the tribal regions deep in India to the beautiful destinations that shows the veracity of the largest democracy in the world today.

Incredible India in pictures depicting Indian diversity in cultures, heritage, history, archaeology, literature & religion, from tribal communities to popular settlements.

The two-storeyed pyramid like structure built in the combination of Vijayanagara style and the Islamic style of architecture is also known as Kamal Mahal or Chitragani Mahal, and is part of the royal palace of Krishnadevaraya for women of the royal family.

The royal compound was built around the 16th century. While most of the structures have eroded with time, this Lotus Palace in Hampi, Karnataka still remained intact & is not a popular Indian tourist destination.

Over 5000 years of human civilization, prosperity in arts, science, philosophy and non-materialistic sciences have also harbored religions, rituals & various customs in India. Very often we follow these rituals mechanically these days without completely knowing the purpose or completely following the processes as prescribed in the Vedas.

More such incredible India in our Pictures gallery.

The post Incredible India – Lotus Mahal Hampi first appeared on Explore India TV.

A photographic journey from the past to the present, from the tribal regions deep in India to the beautiful destinations that shows the veracity of the largest democracy in the world today.

Incredible India in pictures depicting Indian diversity in cultures, heritage, history, archaeology, literature & religion, from tribal communities to popular settlements.

Rajasthan is considered the land of the children of the kings, one of proud defendants of Indian freedom for ages. The state is filled with numerous forts, each representing the courage & the progress made by the Rajputs.

The Jodhpur Mehrangarh Fort was constructed by Rao Jodha who founded Jodhpur in 1459. The fort is dedicated to the Sun God, Mihir, resembling the power, courage, strength & the life sustaining power of the Sun deity.

Over 5000 years of human civilization, prosperity in arts, science, philosophy and non-materialistic sciences have also harbored religions, rituals & various customs in India. Very often we follow these rituals mechanically these days without completely knowing the purpose or completely following the processes as prescribed in the Vedas.

More such incredible India in our Pictures gallery.

The post Incredible India – Jodhpur Mehrangarh Fort first appeared on Explore India TV.

A photographic journey from the past to the present, from the tribal regions deep in India to the beautiful destinations that shows the veracity of the largest democracy in the world today.

Incredible India in pictures depicting Indian diversity in cultures, heritage, history, archaeology, literature & religion, from tribal communities to popular settlements.

Himachal Pradesh is a land of wonders, a land of beautiful destinations, a land of diversity both in nature as well as in people & cultures. The region around this state, including Leh & Ladakh in the far Himalayas is home to numerous Buddhist monasteries.

This picture of Key Gumpha, or the Key Monastery is built at an altitude of 4,166 metres (13,668 ft) in the Spiti valley, and beautifully photographed by Vivek Kumar.

Over 5000 years of human civilization, prosperity in arts, science, philosophy and non-materialistic sciences have also harbored religions, rituals & various customs in India. Very often we follow these rituals mechanically these days without completely knowing the purpose or completely following the processes as prescribed in the Vedas.

More such incredible India in our Pictures gallery.

The post Incredible India – Key Monastery of Spiti first appeared on Explore India TV.

A photographic journey from the past to the present, from the tribal regions deep in India to the beautiful destinations that shows the veracity of the largest democracy in the world today.

Incredible India in pictures depicting Indian diversity in cultures, heritage, history, archaeology, literature & religion, from tribal communities to popular settlements.

Kerala is beautiful in more ways than one. From tea & coffee plantations on hill tops to miles of pristine shores along the Arabian Sea merging into the Indian Ocean at the Southern tip of Indian mainland. This is a great picture of fishermen along the coastal area of Fort Kochi in Kerala, India

Over 5000 years of human civilization, prosperity in arts, science, philosophy and non-materialistic sciences have also harbored religions, rituals & various customs in India. Very often we follow these rituals mechanically these days without completely knowing the purpose or completely following the processes as prescribed in the Vedas.

More such incredible India in our Pictures gallery.

The post Incredible India – Fishermen of Kerala first appeared on Explore India TV.

A photographic journey from the past to the present, from the tribal regions deep in India to the beautiful destinations that shows the veracity of the largest democracy in the world today.

Incredible India in pictures depicting Indian diversity in cultures, heritage, history, archaeology, literature & religion, from tribal communities to popular settlements.

Vrindavan & the region around it is considered holy grounds by Indians, especially the followers of Lord Krishna. It is said that the Lord is present to this day & appears in Ras Lila (Divine play with the consorts) in the gardens of Vrindavan. The place is spiritually uplifting to many, although the events have been frequently misquoted by disbelievers, aethists & the Western materialistic scholars in their interpretations.

Over 5000 years of human civilization, prosperity in arts, science, philosophy and non-materialistic sciences have also harbored religions, rituals & various customs in India. Very often we follow these rituals mechanically these days without completely knowing the purpose or completely following the processes as prescribed in the Vedas.

More such incredible India in our Pictures gallery.

The post Incredible India – Vrindavan Temple first appeared on Explore India TV.