GOA - INDIA

Goa is a state in western India with coastlines stretching along the Arabian Sea. . Goa is also known for its beaches, ranging from popular stretches at Baga and Palolem to laid-back fishing villages such as Agonda.
Goa is a former Portuguese colony, the Portuguese overseas territory of Portuguese India existed for about 450 years until it was annexed by India in 1961.
Panaji is the state's capital, while Vasco da Gama is the largest city.
 Renowned for its beaches, places of worship and world heritage architecture, Goa is visited by large numbers of international and domestic tourists each year. It also has rich flora and fauna


1.  Markets

The Anjuna flea market is held every Wednesday from morning until evening, except during the monsoon season, on the southern end of Anjuna Beach. The market has has exploded in size and attracts people from all over Goa. It's now got over 500 stalls, and is still growing.. After a day of shopping til you drop, head over to Curly's beach shack and take in the sunset scene there.

2.  Goa Beaches

Goa's long stretch of sandy coastline is renowned for its multitude of beaches. There's something on offer for everyone, from luxury resorts to makeshift huts, and trance parties to tranquility.

3.  Spice Plantations

Another highlight of a trip to Goa India is the spice plantations in the dense jungle around Ponda. Goa's lush tropical climate makes it an ideal place to grow spices. The spice farms are open to visitors.
One of the oldest and most acclaimed plantations in Goa is the  Sahakari Spice Farm, located around 40 minutes from Panjim.  Others include the Tropical Spice Plantation, Savoi Plantation, and Pascol Spice Village. Accommodations, and other activities such as elephant or boat rides, are offered at many of the farms.

4.  Old Goa

Once the magnificent Portuguese capital of Goa India, these days all that remains of Old Goa is a handful of imposing churches and cathedrals. They are amongst the largest in Asia though. Some of the buildings have now become archeological museums, and provide a fascinating display of Goa's history.

One of the most interesting buildings in Old Goa is the Convent and Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, built in 1521. Just opposite is the Basilica of Bom Jesus, which contains the preserved remains of the body of Saint Frances Xavier, a revered missionary and the patron saint of Goa. The body is shown to the public every 10 years, Old Goa is situated not far from Panjim, Goa's current capital.

5.  Latin Quarter

Capital city Panjim is worth visiting for its Fontainhas neighborhood. Declared a UNESCO Heritage Zone in 1984, it gets its name (meaning "fountain") from the fountain at the foot of the hill. You'll be transported back in time as you wander past colorful old Portuguese homes, belonging to the last surviving Portuguese families of Goa. Narrow winding streets and lanes, quaint shops, art galleries, bakeries, and restaurants give it undeniable charm.

6.  Wildlife Sanctuaries

Goa India isn't just all about beaches and churches. The state's location along the mountainous Western Ghats is home to an array of birds and animals. Around 20% of Goa consists of wildlife sanctuaries. They're open all year round, although October to March are the best months to visit.

The two main sanctuaries are Bhagwan Mahvir (of which Mollem National Park is a part) and Cotigao. On the fringe of the Mollem National Park you'll find the imposing Dudhsagar Falls, where the water rages down from a huge height during and just after the monsoon season. Accommodations, provided by the Goa Forest Department, are available at both sanctuaries. For a very eco-friendly stay, try a mud hut at the Shanti Nature Resort in Mollem National Park.

DARJEELING

Darjeeling is a town in India's West Bengal state, in the Himalayan foothills.

 It's famed for the distinctive black tea grown on plantations that dot its surrounding slopes. Its backdrop is Mt. Kanchenjunga, among the world’s highest peaks.
This is the land of the muscatel flavoured Darjeeling tea revered by connoisseurs across the globe. This is the land of the world heritage Darjeeling Himalayan Railway where the century old miniature steam engine still chugs uphill vying for space with the fast disappearing Land Rovers.
 Subsequently, extensive tea plantations were established in the region, and tea growers developed hybrids of black tea and created new fermentation techniques. The resultant distinctive Darjeeling tea is internationally recognised and ranks among the most popular of the black teas
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway connects the town with the plains and has one of the few steam locomotives still in service in India.
Darjeeling tea is a tea from the Darjeeling district in West Bengal, India. It is available in black, green, white and oolong. When properly brewed, it yields a thin-bodied, light-coloured infusion with a floral aroma. The flavour can include a tinge of astringent tannic characteristics, and a musky spiciness sometimes described as "muscatel"

Darjeeling tea is normally made from the small-leaved Chinese variety of Camellia sinensis var. sinensis, rather than the large-leaved Assam plant . Traditionally, Darjeeling tea is made as black tea; however, Darjeeling oolong and green teas are becoming more commonly produced and easier to find, and a growing number of estates are also producing White Teas.
 Many Darjeeling teas also appear to be a blend of teas oxidized to levels of green, oolong, and black.

First flush is harvested in mid-March following spring rains, and has a gentle, very light colour, aroma, and mild astringency.
In between is harvested between the two "flush" periods.
Second flush is harvested in June and produces an amber, full bodied, muscatel-flavoured cup.
Monsoon or rains tea is harvested in the monsoon (or rainy season) between second flush and autumnal, is less withered, consequently more oxidized, and usually sold at lower prices. It is rarely exported, and often used in masala chai.
Autumnal flush is harvested in the autumn after the rainy season, and has somewhat less delicate flavour and less spicy tones, but fuller body and darker colour.

Darjeeling white tea
The white variant of Darjeeling tea has a delicate aroma and brews to a pale golden colour with a mellow taste and a hint of sweetness. Darjeeling white tea leaves are very fluffy and light; therefore, it is recommended to use more (by volume) when preparing it than one normally would for other teas

The tea is hand picked and rolled, then withered in the sun, making it a rare tea. It is grown in the rainy and cold climate of Darjeeling at altitudes up to 2000 metres.

Darjeeling oolong

The oolong variant of Darjeeling tea has two distinct types: clonal and China. The China type is more similar to Taiwan oolong and the clonal type is totally different from it

Darjeeling oolong is lighter than usual Darjeeling black tea during first flush, as it is semioxidized. The cup looks light orange and infusion remains green. Darjeeling oolong in second flush is more accepted worldwide. It is more thick in cup and dark orange in liquor with distinct muscatel flavours. 

Altitudes 3000 ft above sea level are required.
Average temperatures should remain between 5 and 20 °C throughout the season.
Lower elevation gardens can produce teas of similar appearance, but the flavour differs greatly from the main characteristics of oolong tea.

Darjeeling oolong teas are made from finely plucked leaves, usually two leaves and a bud, and are sometimes withered naturally in sun and air. The withered leaves get hand-rolled and pan-fired at certain temperatures. This can also be done in machine: withered in trough, lightly rolled in a rolling machine and fired at 220 °C in a quality dryer with faster run-through, depending on the leaves used.

THE GANGE - GANGA

The Gange- Ganga  is a trans-boundary river of Asia which flows through the nations of India and Bangladesh. The 2,525 km (1,569 mi) river rises in the western Himalayas in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, and flows south and east through the Gangetic Plain of North India into Bangladesh, where it empties into the Bay of Bengal. It is the third largest river by discharge
River Ganga or the Ganges is a major river of the Indian subcontinent, associated in myth and reality with the land and people of India as well as neighboring countries like Bangladesh. In Hinduism, the river Ganga is personified as Goddess and holds an important place in the Hindu religion. In Hindu mythology, it is believed that bathing in the river Ganga causes the remission of sins and facilitates the attainment of salvation or nirvana. This deep-rooted truth is proved by the fact that people travel from distant places to immerse the ashes of their kin in the waters of the Ganga at Varanasi or other places located on the banks of this holy river. Some of these sacred places, located on the Ganga, are Varanasi, Haridwar and Prayag (Allahabad

For most of its course the Ganges flows through Indian territory, although its large delta in the Bengal area, which it shares with the Brahmaputra River, lies mostly in Bangladesh. The general direction of the river’s flow is from northwest to southeast. At its delta the flow is generally southward.
The Ganges river has its source in the Himalayas, at Gaumakh in the southern Himalayas. The Ganga river has been declared as India's National River. A species of dolphins found in the Ganges river know as the Ganges Dolphin was recently declared as the National Aquatic Animal of India. The Ganges Plains or the Ganga River Basin is one of the most fertile land in the world.

SHIVLING - STATE OF UTTARAKHAND ,INDIA

Shivling (6,543m). Shivling is a two summit mountain which lies not far from the snout of the Gangotri Glacier [the largest glacier in the Himalaya]. It is one of the most beautiful peaks in all Garhwal. 
It lies in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, 6 kilometres (4 mi) south of the Hindu holy site of Gaumukh (the source of the Bhagirathi River). Its name refers to its status as a sacred symbol of the god Shiva. It was called "Matterhorn Peak" by early European visitors because of its similarity in appearance to that Alpine peak. While not of locally great elevation, it is a dramatic rock peak, and most visually striking peak seen from Gaumukh
Shivling forms the western gateway for the lower Gangotri Glacier, opposite the triple-peaked Bhagirathi massif. It lies on a spur projecting out from the main ridge that forms the southwest side of the Gangotri Glacier basin
It was also called Mahadeo Ka Linga or (Mahadev Ka Linga) Appearing as a single pyramid when seen from Gaumukh, Shivling is actually a twin-summitted mountain, with the northeast summit being slightly higher than the southwest summit, 6,501 m
Shivling is well-defended on all sides by steep rock faces; only the west flank has a moderate enough slope for snow accumulation
Since the first ascent, at least ten other routes have been climbed on the peak, ascending all major ridges and most major faces of the mountain. All routes are extremely serious undertakings.

In 2004 Shirshendu Mukherjee became the youngest person in the world to have climbed the mountain at the age of 19 as a part of an Indian expedition.
In 2005, Basanta Singha Roy and Debashis Biswas, both climbers from Mountaineers Association Of Krishnanagar (MAK), West Bengal, India, were the first successful summiters of India

CHANDRA TAAL - MOON LAKE

Chandratal or Chandra Tal or Chandra Taal or Chander Taal or simply Moon Lake is a barren but beautiful lake located at a height of 14100 feet in Himachal Pradesh in northern India. 
The lake can be visited only during the three summer months. For the rest of the season, the lake remains cut off and frozen.
The lake is normally blue but changes colour with the colour of the sky
The azure waters of Chandra Tal—Lake of the Moon—reflect the vivid hues of a bright Himalayan day. 
Travelers often get awestruck by the blue colour of the lake, bordered by wide carpet of green grass coupled with the pristine white of Chandra Bhaga mountain range
According to Hindu mythology, Chandratal is the place where Indra, the King of Gods, came down on his chariot to transport Yudhishthira, eldest of the five Pandavas, in his mortal form to Swarga (heaven). Locals believe that fairies visit the lake at night.
The azure waters of Chandra Tal—Lake of the Moon—in Himachal Pradesh, India, reflect the vivid hues of a bright Himalayan day. 

INDIAN HISTORY IN SHORT

The History of India begins with the Indus Valley Civilization, which spread through in the north-western part of the Indian subcontinent, from 3300 BC to 1300 BC. This Bronze Age civilization collapsed at the beginning of the second millennium BC and was followed by the Iron Age Vedic period, which extended over much of the Indo-Gangetic plains and which witnessed the rise of kingdoms known as the Mahajanapadas.

In the fifth century, large parts of India were united under Ashoka. He also converted to Buddhism, and it is in his reign that Buddhism spread to other parts of the Asia. In the reign of Mauryas, Hinduism took shape fundamentally.

In the eight century Islam came to India and by the 11th century it firmly established itself in India. The North Indian dynasties of the Lodhis, Tughlaqs, and numerous others, whose remains are visible in Delhi and scattered elsewhere around North India, were finally succeeded by the Mughal empire, under which India once again achieved a large measure of political unity.

The European presence in India date to the seventeenth century, and it is in the latter part of this century that the Mughal empire began to disintegrate, paving the way for regional states.

During the first half of the 20th century, a natiowide struggle for independence was launched by the Indian National Congress, and later joined by the Muslim League. The subcontinent gained independence from Great Britain in 1947, after being partitioned into the dominions of India and Pakistan.

The History of India can be broadly divided into following three categories.

Ancient India

Starting from Harappa Civilization in 3000 BC till Chola Dynasty in 985 AD.

Medieval India

Starting from Ghazni sacks Somnath Temple in 1026 AD till Siraj-ud-daulah captures Calcutta (Now Kolkatta) in 1756 AD.

Modern India

Starting from Battle of Plassy in 1757 Till Partition of India and Independence on 15 August 1947.

ABOUT INDIA

India is the world's largest democracy and second most populous country with over 1.2 billion inhabitants. It is the seventh largest country, has 28 states various sizes. Only the state of Rajasthan, for example, is almost as large as Germany.

Sadhus often meet. Nomadic monks always carry over their few possessions and travel in search of enlightenment.

The cow is a sacred animal in India so it is forbidden sacrifice. Often they live freely throughout the country, including the cities, and often encontrártelas everywhere

Also 4 religions were born in India: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism.

Besides Yoga, it estimated there for 5000 years.

According to Hindu literature there are more than 330 million deities. The most important are Brahma (creation), Vishnu (preservation) and Shiva (destruction)

 The Ganges River is a river considered sacred, and if you, for example, to the city of Varanasi

Indian Railways (the railway company) has more than 1.6 million employees becoming one of the companies with more workers worldwide. India is also the 4th highest number of kilometers of railway lines (after the US, Russia and China).

 There are more than 300,000 mosques in India. More than in any other country. 13% of Indians are Muslim, so India is the third largest Muslim world (after Indonesia and Pakistan)

The Kumbh Mela is a huge Hindu festival that takes place every 12 years. In 2001, they met between 60 and 70 million people in one city to celebrate.

The beautiful game, and almost unique, is the Cricket. A sport in which the parties can last from hours to a few days.

 In India there are the second largest community of programmers after the US.

India and China, two of the oldest civilizations in the world, have lived together in peace for thousands of years. However, since the 50s have had several disputes but today they are going to have relations, especially trade. China has been an ally of Pakistan (which is always troubled with India) and US ally India. Today there is no open border crossing between the two countries.

 Hindi and English are the official languages ​​of India but are also recognized 22 languages.