Namaste Friends.

Which ancient Indian tradition do you think the world will rediscover, after Ayurveda and Yoga?
How about … Martial Arts? Yes, you read that right. Most of the Martial Arts we know today originated from ancient war skills, and as a nation that has attracted hoardes of marauders over the years, India has had plenty of opportunity to develop hers. An interesting aside is that many of these martial arts have had a lasting influence on classical dance styles. Indian Martial Arts include:
  Manipur’s Thang-Ta (literally sword-spear), characterized by the integration of external weapons with physical control through soft movements and breathing. While thang movements are horizontally oriented to suit the size and shape of the sword and require agility in action, ta movements have a vertical orientation and require suppleness and fluidity.

  
 

Kerala’s Kalaripayattu, “the mother of all martial arts”, characterized by high jumps, kicks and swordsmanship. “Kalari” is possibly the only martial art in the world that also teaches the art of healing - Marma Chikitsa. The influence of kalari can be seen in Kerala’s operatic dance form, Kathakali. And it is the use of Ayurveda to keep kalari practitioners fit that has resulted in Kerala becoming a center of expertise in India’s ancient medical science.

Orissa’s Parikhanda, whose movements are inspired by animal and bird imagery. Parikhanda’s elements have been fully absorbed by the Chhau dances.

Manipur’s Cheibi Gad-Ga, fought with a stick encased in soft leather and a shield made of leather (in ancient times, contestants used swords and spears). Victory in this martial art depends more on skill than brawn and brute force.

  
 

Tamil Nadu’s Silambam, a traditional stick fighting system from South India, that is based on the use of strategy, footwork and well structured techniques.

Punjab’s Gatka, a basic and practical weapon-based martial art used by the Sikh Gurus to help defend their religious beliefs.

 
     
   
 

The commuters of the Hong Kong Metro Railways have shown their appreciation of the Incredible India Poster Campaign by selecting it for the Best Posters Award. The campaign created a huge impact in Hong Kong.


India received the award of recognition for the Best Promotion at the Guangzhou International Travel Fair 2006. This is the first time this award was conferred.

In Korea, India Tourism, Tokyo, won three awards for Best Publication, Best Booth and Best Tourism Promotion, at the Daegu International Tour Expo 2006.

Earlier, in February 2006, India Tourism, Tokyo, won the best e-marketing award presented by Government of South Korea.

Veda, the Delhi restaurant designed and partly owned by fashion designer, Rohit Bal, has been listed by Conde Nast Traveller as being among the 100 best in the world. Veda serves fusion cuisine and is located in Connaught Place, one of New Delhi’s premier shopping areas.
 
     
 
     
     
     
  Erected as a triumphal arch to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1911, en route to the Delhi Durbar, the Gateway of India is also the gate through which the last British regiment marched in 1948 when they left India.
 
     
 
 
  The 95 km stretch of grasslands between Kodaikanal and Munnar will turn velvet blue by August, thanks to the flowering of the Neela Kurinji – that flower that’s given the Nilgiris (blue mountains) their name. The flower blooms just once in 12 years and nearly 500,000 visitors are expected to come to see the vista.
  
     
   
  Less a sari and more a work of art, the Paithani, derives its name from Paithan (in Maharashtra, Western India), the place where it has been produced for 2000 years. Characterized by its ornamental zari border and pallav (the part that goes over the shoulder), it is woven completely by hand,progressing at less than half an inch in a 12-hour working day. It takes at least a month and a half to weave the simplest Paithani and from five to nine months to make the more elaborate ones. Costs range from Rs. 4,000/- to Rs. 1,50,000/-.  
     
 
 
     
  “ I suppose what I like especially about the monsoon is the way it restores the colors of India. Lambent green plains verging on emerald, lavender hills, grey skies, that wonderful soft light“
– Pritish Nandy, quoted in Chasing the Monsoon by Alexander Frater.		  
   
 
     
           
 

Amitabh Kant
Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism,
Transport Bhawan, Parliament Street,
New Delhi - 110 001.
T: 91 + 11 + 23715084
F: 91 + 11 + 23710518
M: amitabhk@incredibleindia.org
W: http://www.incredibleindia.org

 

While others may claim breathtaking locales, the mysticism of the east, the draw of civilization, the call of the wild.... India is that and much more.....
It is a journey of mind and soul.
It is a journey of the five senses
It is a journey of self-discovery
It is a journey of self-fulfillment.

  
 

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