Indian Travel Tourism

The world’s leading travel and Tourism Journal, “Conde Nast Traveler”, ranked India amongst top 4 preferred holiday destinations in the world! There are number of factors responsible for the growth of Indian tourism at global level. India is a peaceful country without any political disturbance except for few destinations where a tourist is required to get special permission from local authority to enter into that area. The country has a federal structure with elected Governments in States. There are 28 states and 7 Union Territories administered directly by the Central Government. There is healthy competition of Tour Packages among all the states to attract the tourists from all over the world for speedy economic growth and employment generation. Not only this Ministry of Tourism and Culture has recently launched a campaign called ‘Incredible India!’ in order to encourage different types of tourism in India.

Types of Indian Tourism

All types of tourism in India projecting India as the ultimate tourist spot. The reason why India has been doing well in all types of tourism is that India is a multilingual, multicultural and multireligious with tremendous geographical diversity, hospitality, uniqueness and charm. The different types of Tourism in India are as follows:

Religious or Pilgrimage Tourism

India is famous for its temples and that is the reason that among the different kinds of tourism in India, pilgrimage tourism is increasing most rapidly. Narayan Sarovar, Sudamas Porbandar, Kabirvad Shuklatirth, Kayavarohan, Bhadrakali, Haridwar, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Varanasi, Gangotri and Yamunotri, Rishikesh, Shamlaji, Bodh Gaya, Ajmer, are important pilgrimage destinations which have kept alive the religious sentiments of the people where lakhs of pilgrims from all over the world make their religious tourism every year.

Archaeological Tourism

There are a number of places of archaeological importance which can be broadly classified as Stone Age, Indus Valley, Neolithic-Chalcolithic, Megalithic-Early Historic and Late Historic periods. Famous archaeological sites of the Stone Age are abound in Peninsular India, more prominently at Pallavaram in Tamil Nadu, Hunsgi in Karnataka, Kuliana in Orissa, Didwana in Rajasthan, and Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh. The sites of Neolithic-Chalcolithic Age are Inamgaon, Walki, Navdatoli, Ahar, Balathal, Gilund, Budhihal, Sangankalur, Maski, Brahmagiri, Utnur, Golbai, Pandu-Rajar-Dhibi, Chirand and Burzoham etc. Famous sites of Indus Valley Civilisation are Indus and Ghaggar river valleys, Kutch and Saurashtra, Dholavira, Kalibangan, Lothal, Surkotda and Rakhigari. Famous sites of Megalithic Phase are Brahmagiri, Maski and Rajan Kalur, Bhagimari, Gadabas etc. Excavations at Kosambi, Saranath, Hastinapura, Vaishali, Rajgir and Bodh Gaya, Chandraketugarh, Sisupalgarh etc. have revealed fortified cities dating back to this period. Famous sites of Buddhist Phase are Sanchi, Saranath, Ajanta, Kaneheri, Amravati, Sanati and Lalitgiri. Sites of Jainism Phase are Khandagiri-Udayagiri, Mathura. Some Islamic Archaeological sites are Delhi, Agra, Lucknow, Hyderabad, northern Karnataka, Aurangabad, and Bhopal.

Indian Bridal Jewelry

For the quintessential Indian bride, the perfect Indian bridal jewelry enhances her looks as much as her make-up does. Her beauty as the blushing bride is amplified not only by the kohl around her eyes and the different hues on her eyelids but also by the eye-catching Indian bridal jewelry that adorns her entire person, from head to toe.

Although much of the Indian bridal jewelry an Indian bride could wear is dependent on the size of her budget, she usually sees to it that she is bedecked with the most lavish ones that she could lay her hands on. This is actually part of her presenting herself not only to her husband but also to the public. Because of this, an Indian bride would want her Indian bridal jewelry custom-designed.

An Indian bride would have her Indian bridal jewelry made, based on her wedding trousseau, especially on its dominant colors. The type of precious metals and stones that will be used in making the jewelry should blend with the colors of her wardrobe.

Indian bridal jewelry is not just one piece of jewelry worn by the Indian bride. It is made up of different pieces that complements and blends with each other to create that perfect look of an Indian bride. The Maangtika, the nose ring, the earrings, the bangles, the necklace, the anklets and toe rings make up the entirety of the complete Indian bridal jewelry.

The Maangtika is the most traditional and most essential part of the Indian bridal jewelry. Apart from the necklace, the Maangtika is the most noticeable piece of the Indian bridal jewelry adorned on an Indian bride. It is worn on the bride' head and is designed to be unique for each bride. While its color and design largely depend on the colors of the bride's outfit, it is usually made of precious stones like pearls and diamonds. It has a centerpiece that is exquisitely designed and sits on bride's forehead and is usually attached by a string that runs to the back of the bride's head.

Another essential part of the Indian bridal jewelry is the necklace. This piece is usually very eye-catching with a design that is in tune with the other pieces of Indian bridal jewelry adorned on the rest of the bride's body. The design of the necklace would also have to complement the neckline of the bride's wedding attire. Most of the common types of necklaces worn as part of the Indian bridal jewelry are the chokers and the long necklaces with elaborate designs and bedecked with precious stones that goes with the bridal colors. Chokers are worn over dresses with high necklines while the long necklaces complement those wedding dresses that have deep necklines.

An Indian bridal jewelry ensemble will not be complete without the traditional nose ring. This is as much a part of the Indian bridal jewelry as the Maangtika and is usually almost of the same design and color as the earrings. The traditional nose ring is called the “nath” and is made up of a ring worn at the nose that is studded with precious gems and has a long chain whether in gold or silver, that is attached to the hair of the bride. The rest of the pieces that go with the entire Indian bridal jewelry are as just as important. They are all needed to complete the look of the perfect Indian bride.

Indian Sarees Of The Women

The Indian sarees of the women in India has a history which goes way back during the ancient times. There have been several versions of its beginnings, why women consider wearing it as part of their tradition.

According to one legend, a beautiful woman, Draupadi, is lost to a gamble because of her husband. The enemies of her husband have a desire to embarrass her, so, they pulled on the cloth that has been draped around her body. But no matter how much they keep on pulling, the cloth never seems to end. In a spiritual view of the tale, the men who have won the gambling game stand for whatever that is evil in the world, and they keep on pulling the cloth which stands for eternity. This cloth that they have been trying to unwind is now known as the Indian sarees.

Another legend also states that the Indian sarees originated from the loom of a weaver who likes to dream so much. As he weaves on the loom, he dreams of a woman, the way her tears fall down her face, the way her hair falls down on her shoulders. He imagines her moods as various kinds of colors, and her skin soft to the touch. With these ideas in mind, he keeps on weaving for a long time until the cloth reached a hundred yards. And when he looked at what he has done, he smiled in satisfaction. This tale is among the reasons why women wear Indian sarees, this is to exude the femininity in them.

The earliest version of the Indian sarees has been that of a short cloth. It has been used as a skirt or a veil. During those early times, women have not been wearing a blouse under their Indian sarees, their chest is bare. In other rare areas of India, the women there still do not wear a blouse or choli underneath their Indian sarees.

The reason why Indian sarees do not have stitches in the past is because they are considered as pure. During olden times in India, the needles that are being used are made from bones, and the people considered their traditional clothes as pure so they dared not taint the purity by running bone needles on the cloth.

For the Indian weavers of the Indian sarees, the precise measurement of the saree is 47 inches by 216 inches. Even though the Indian sarees are not tailored, the design of the cloth speaks of sophistication. The print on the Indian sarees follows a specific method of weaving which manifests a rhythm of design.

The design pattern of the Indian sarees depends on the region and culture where the saree is made. The Muslims are known to design their Indian sarees with so much gold. These kinds of sarees are mostly used for ritual traditions. There are also Indian sarees which are made from silk with gold embroiders.

In the past, the women of India have no options for the style of their Indian sarees. But recently, there have been an emerging various styles of sarees which are available not only for Indian women, but also for other women from all over the world who want to try out a different kind of clothing style.

Indian Gaming In Oklahoma

In 1987, the Supreme Court ruled in California vs. Cabazon Band of Mission Indians that tribal governments had the rights to establish gaming operations independent of state regulation. The very next year, Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which worked towards developing a manageable framework for Indian Gaming.

While authority over Class II gaming was left to the tribes, Class III gaming required a compact between the tribe and the state. In Oklahoma, the Indian tribes regulate both Class II and Class III, although they are still subject to the provisions set out in the IGRA.

So what’s the difference between Class II and Class III? Class II games are generally defined as bingo, lotto, pull tab, and punch board games. Class III includes electronic bingo games, non-house banked card games, and electronic amusement games.

This legal decision was very important and had an immediate impact on the Indian tribes throughout the Unites States. One of the states where it made the biggest impact was in Oklahoma. From Bristow to Stringtown, Lone Grove to Seminole, tribal leaders began developing strategies to make use of this ruling for the betterment of their people.

Under this federal law, gambling can only be conducted on “Indian Land.” According to federal law, “Indian Land” is defined as:

a. Land which is a part of a federally-recognized Indian reservation, or

b. Not located on a reservation, but held in trust by the federal government for an Indian tribe.

In Oklahoma, these gaming compacts are in effect until their date on January 1st, 2020. If, however, the tribes and state both agreed to do so, the compact could be terminated at any time before then.

As for the proceeds collected from these gambling operations, the IGRA requires the net revenues to be used for the following purposes:

a. To help fund operations of local government agencies.

b. To donate to charitable organizations.

c. To promote economic development within the tribe.

d. To provide for the welfare of the Indian tribe and its members.

e. To fund tribal government operations.

The tribe can also distribute net revenue to members of the tribe in the form of a per capita payment. To do so, the tribe must have a RAP (Revenue Allocation Plan), which must be approved by the Secretary of the Interior.

According to the Federal Register, the following 32 tribes have entered into gaming compacts with the State of Oklahoma: Absentee Shawnee Tribe, Apache Tribe, Caddo Nation of Oklahoma, Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes, Chickasaw Nation, Choctaw Nation, Comanche Nation, Delaware Nation, Eastern Shawnee Tribe, Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma, Kaw Nation of Oklahoma, Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma, Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma, Miami Nation, Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma, Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Osage Nation, Otoe-Missouria Tribe, Ottawa Tribe, Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma, Peoria Tribe of Oklahoma, Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma, Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma, Sac & Fox Nation, Seminole Nation, Seneca-Cayuga Tribes of Oklahoma, Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, Tonkawa Tribe, Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, and the Wyandotte Nation.

Traditional Indian Cooking

Many people are mystified by traditional Indian cooking and cuisines and a little somewhat confused with the varieties of curries and spices used . Some may even think the traditional Indian cooking is mostly about vegetarian dishes and curries.

India has one of the finest and richest culinary histories. Contrary to popular belief, Indian cuisines are not complex or too confusing to cook. It can also be as elaborate as you want it to be. If you understand the diversity of the country, which is divided into four regions, north, south, east and west, you will appreciate the varieties of dishes, exotic spices, cooking methods,etc.

Interestingly there are two kinds of meat that you will not find in many Indian recipes, one is beef and the other is pork, this is primarily due to religious factors. Cows are sacred to the Hindus while pork is prohibited in the Muslim diet.

Indian cuisines are however generally characterized by exact combination of spices and flavours and the cooking method generally is to saute and simmer the dishes or curries over low heat. Tandoori cooking has popularised the oven-clay oven method which has produced tandoori chicken or naan bread.

Regardless of region, spices are key ingredients in Indian cooking. The Indians are also mindful of the healing properties of spices in their cooking. These are derived from plants's roots, buds, seeds, fruits and dried bark which produce the exotic aroma. It is released when the spices are heated up. All these spices are all readily available in supermarkets.

Spices can be grouped into five basic categories : sweet, pungent, tangy, hot, and amalgamating. The way these are used and the amounts used in cooking are governed by these characteristics. Examples of the different types of spices are:

Amalgamating: Coriander seed, fennel seed
Sweet: Cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, vanilla
Pungent: Cloves, star anise, cardamom
Tangy: Ginger, tamarind, sumach, kokam
Hot: pepper, chilli, mustard, horseradish

Most of the herbs such as thyme, sage, marjoram, oregano, bay leaves, mint and rosemary are considered as savoury. The herbs do have varying degrees of flavour intensity, however not as dramatic as with spices.

Northern Indian cooking is influenced by the weather which can range from extreme heat to freezing cold. The dishes are traditionally rich and heavy with cream and ghee, using breads, meats and tend to be less spicy. Yoghurt is widely used instead of coconut milk which is widely used in the south. They also tend to be drier as soupy sauces do not mix well as dippings for breads. Naan and chapati breads come from the north.

In the south where the weather is mostly hot throughout the year, rice is widely grown and this makes the diet of south Indians rice-based that goes well with soupy curries. Spices are used heavily and the southern cuisines tend to be spicier than the north. The roti-prata or dosai are typical southern breads.

Indian desserts are basically different forms of rice puddings, milk puddings, vegetables and fruits dipped in sweet syrup. Indian sweets or fudges are usually decorated or garnished with raisins, almonds, pistachios. Mostly made by boiling down milk to remove the moisture and then adding butter, flavour and sugar. The Indian sweets usually have high sugar content so use sugar in moderation when trying out Indian dessert recipes.

Ronaldinho Biography

Ronaldo de Assis Moreira is a famous Brazilian football player who is better known as Ronaldinho Gaúcho. His name Ronaldinho was used to distinguish him from a fellow Brazilian football celebrity whose name is also Ronaldo. Gaúcho was used when the existing Ronaldo was also known as Ronaldinho.

He was born on March 21, 1980 in Porto Alegre, Brazil. He is the youngest among the three siblings. Miguelina, his mother, was a sales woman who soon decided to take up nursing. João, his father was a worker in the shipyard and a football player for Cruzeiro. He died due to a heart attack when Ronaldinho was at the age of 8. Ronaldinho’s brother Roberto was also a professional football player for Grêmio. But his career ended too soon due to his injuries. And now he manages Ronaldinho. His sister, Deisi, is his press manager.

During Ronaldinho’s childhood days, his interest in football was already evident. He started playing futsal and beach football which later lead into his passion for a more established football game. His character as a football player developed in his early years.

His career as a skilled football player started when he joined the youth team in Porto Alegre club Grêmio. His extraordinary ball control and capability to score was rapidly displayed which lead him to fame. Many clubs from all over the world attempted to get him to be part of their teams. Eventually Ronaldinho signed a 5-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain which he joined at the start of the new season.

During his years with PSG, there were still much larger offers from different clubs, but he opted to stay with the team. But after some time he decided to leave the team after their many unsuccessful attempts to qualify for any European competitions. This caused a bidding war among the many clubs. Finally, the bidding ended up with FC Barcelona as the winning club for Ronaldinho’s services. They acquired him for £18 million. He was a very high paid player in Barcelona. He has had his terrible times in his career but his many achievements was far more overflowing than that. He had also joined the Brazilan National team.

Ronaldinho is one of the most successful football players in the world. He had so many achievements in his arena which includes the FIFA World Player of the Year wherein he was awarded in 2 consecutive years (2004-2005), the European Footballer of the Year award and the FIFPro World Player of the Year award which was also awarded to him in 2 successive years (2005-2006).

Ricardo Kaka Biography

After spending his early days at different youth clubs around his home town of Brasilia and Sao Paulo, Kaka was eventually offered a professional contract at a very tender age: seventeen.

Since Kaka played great soccer for Sao Paulo's youth teams, the reserve team and the Brazilian U-17 national squad, he immediately attracted the eyes of several European clubs, the one coming forward first being Turkish side Gaziantepspor.

Sao Paulo agreed to sell Kaka, for a sum of $1.5m, a sum that, if you think of the player's market value now, would seem like peanuts. Still, the sum was quite big for the Turkish side, especially for a 17-year old footballer, Kaka's young age giving them no guarantees that he will turn out to play great soccer regularly on professional level.

Kaka Biography – Swimming Pool Incident Sao Paulo FC

In his first season as a professional player for Sao Paulo, Kaka didn't play for the Brazilian team, but he used this time to accommodate himself with his new colleagues and the hardships of professional soccer in Brazil.

He was probably going to get his debut that season still, but an unfortunate swimming pool incident almost ended his career as a footballer, Kaka fracturing his spine in September 2000. Not only did he risk his future, but this fracture almost cost him his life and he was in real danger of being paralyzed for the rest of his life.

Miraculously, Kaka made a full recovery and came back to training after his full strength came back to him. From that day forward, Kaka found faith in God and some of his profits as a professional footballer always go to the Church, as a small gesture of thanking God for saving his life and his career. The famous Kaka celebration, after he scores a goal, is related to that incident, as each time, he thanks God for allowing him to play soccer and be there on the pitch.

Kaka Biography – Attracting the European Giants

After fully recovering from his horrible fracture, Kaka was finally given a chance to play for Sao Paulo, in January 2001 and he didn't disappoint, scoring no less than 12 goals in 27 appearances that season. This guaranteed him a solid first team place for the 2001-2002 season, in which he scored another 10 goals in 22 matches and whenever a young Brazilian soccer player performs that well, he's bound to get a few calls from some major European clubs.

One of these clubs would be AC Milan, one of Italy's most important teams and Kaka signed without blinking, eager to start a European career.

You probably know the story from here. Kaka is currently in his fourth season with Milan, whom he won the Serie A championship with once, the Italian Super Cup once, and the UEFA Champions League a few weeks ago (he also played another Champions League final in the 2004-2005 season, but lost it to Liverpool in what is considered one of the most beautiful finals of the tournament). He became an indispensable player for AC Milan but also for Brazil.

As a Brazil soccer player, Kaka scored 31 goals in 52 matches so far and gave out numerous perfect assists in his role as an attacking midfielder. Having the young midfielder in the squad, Brazil football became even more technical and quick (if that was even possible) and they're considered amongst the main favorites for the following international tournaments.