Friday, September 30, 2011

India

Photo: A man stepping through a blue temple door

Varadarajaswamy Temple, Kanchipuram

A man steps through a doorway at the Varadarajaswamy Temple in Kanchipuram, “city of a thousand temples.” Kanchipuram is also known for silk saris—a thriving business here.




Photo: A man on a seat atop an elephant

Amber Palace and Jaigarh Fort, Jaipur

Decorated elephants carry tourists past the Jaigarh and Amber Forts in Jaipur, Rajasthan, constructed beginning in the 15th century. The marble-and-sandstone Amber Fort has intricate carvings; the immense Jaigarh Fort once served as a center of artillery production.




Photo: Crowds of people bathing in the Ganges



Photo: Mist between green hills

Munnar Hills

The rolling hills near Munnar, Kerala, are covered with tea plantations that were originally planted by a Scotsman in the late 19th century.



Photo: Lanterns hanging from poles on a riverbank

Akash Deep Puja

To honor the dead, lanterns are hung from poles stuck into the banks of the Ganges during Akash Deep Puja, the sky lantern festiva



Photo: Fishermen in a boat on a lake before dawn

Fishing in Kerala

Fishing is an important source of income in Kerala. People in the southwestern state also have the highest literacy rate in India and enjoy the best health.



Photo: A monastery atop a cliff in front of large mountains



Photo: Cows lying in a busy street

Sacred Cows, Varanasi

Cows, such as these two in Varanasi, are a common sight on India’s congested streets. Hindus revere cows, believing that they offer sustenance and ask nothing in return.



Photo: A child wandering through a wet slum



Photo: Photo: A busy urban street at dusk

Brigade Road, Bangalore

Bangalore’s Brigade Road hums, a reflection of how quickly India’s industries have grown in response to globalization. Along with Commercial Street and the MG Road, Brigade Road appeals to young, savvy shoppers.




Photo: A bride feeding a groom during an elaborate wedding


Photo: Two hands covered in henna

Henna Hands

The hands of a woman in Jaipur are covered with mehndi patterns painted with henna. Trendy in recent years, the lacework decorations are part of a 5,000-year-old tradition of creating designs to ward off evil or declare one’s happiness.




Photo: A lotus-shaped building behind a large pool





Photo: Photo: People playing cricket outside the Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal at Sunrise

The Taj Mahal, one of the most enduring symbols of India, is popular with tourists, drawing more than two million each year. Cricket is the most popular sport in India.




Photo: Two men wrestling in front of a large crowd

Wrestling Match, Himachal Pradesh

Two men wrestle during a festival in Himachal Pradesh, which means “region of snowy mountains.” This resort area in the foothills of the Himalaya is an Indian favorite.




Photo: People reaching to touch a golden chest held aloft by others

Sikh Holy Book

Sikhs reach to touch a chest containing a copy of their holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, as it’s carried into Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib, a temple in Nanded, during the 300th-anniversary celebration of the book’s consecration. Sikhs also mark the anniversaries of the passing of their religion’s gurus.




Photo: People carrying a statue of Ganesh through water

Ganesh Festival, Mumbai

During the ten-day Ganesh festival in Mumbai, devotees carry a statue of the elephant-headed Hindu god into the sea. Across India, worshippers carry hundreds of the statues into rivers and lakes as well as the sea.



Photo: A woman standing beneath an ornate entryway

Temples in Agra

Tourists flock to Agra to see the world-famous Taj Mahal, only to realize that the area is home to many other astonishing buildings, among them the 16th-century Red Fort, which once surrounded a Mogul imperial city.

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