Flora and fauna

Due to the different climatic and geographic conditions, there is a great diversity of species in the flora and fauna in India. The vegetation is characterized by tropical rainforests in the south, dry and deciduous forests in the northern regions and barren desert and steppe landscapes in the plateaus. However, large parts of these landscapes were destroyed and replaced by cultural landscapes. Today India is only covered up to 20% with forest.

About 350 species of mammals live in India. The best known are the Indian elephant and the Bengal tiger. There are also other big cat species, a variety of hoofs such as deer, wild boar or water buffalo. Many species of monkeys can also be found in the woods. In addition to mammals, there are approximately 1,200 bird species in India. The peacock is the most common. There are also pigeons, woodpeckers, parakeets, crows, storks or herons.

Half of the 200 species of reptiles are snakes. These include the glasses snake, the king cobra or the tiger python. Crocodiles can be found in the wet marshes.

The climate of India

The geographic conditions and the different air currents cause different climatic conditions within India. With the exception of the higher mountain regions, the northern region and the central region are influenced by the subtropical continental climate. This means that the winters are cold and the summers are warm to very hot. Temperature differences between 10 ° C and 50 ° C occur in the hottest areas. The hottest temperatures are in the whole country between March and May, so you should consider whether you really want to go there during this time. The Indian monsoon mainly influences the precipitation conditions and in the north and in the central region of India usually ensures abundant rainfall between June and October, which in some regions is a heavy rainfall.

The southern regions and coastal areas are shaped by the influence of the tropical climate. In contrast, it is warm to hot all year round. Rain sets in here in May and June and ensures a humid, hot climate. Here in the south the rain distribution is quite different. While the rain falls most on the Dekkan plateau and on the west coast between June and September, the heaviest rains occur on the southeast coast between November and December.

The best time to travel to India

The optimal travel time is between October and March. The temperatures are not that high, the air is drier and I can expect less rainfall. An exception is the southeast, where there is heavy rainfall in November and December, which you don’t always enjoy.

Attractions in India

The Taj Mahal mausoleum in Agra is one of the most beautiful and significant buildings in Indo-Islamic architecture. This mausoleum was completed in 1648 in honor of the late wife of the great mogul Shah Jahan in a 17-year construction period. Taj Mahal is one of the most important tourist attractions in India and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit printerhall for Summer Vacation Trips in South Asia.

Another attraction in Agra is the Red Fort. The Red Fort of Agra was built in the 16th century and served as the residence of the Mughals. Red sandstone served as building material for most of the buildings and for the walls. The interior of the forts houses magnificent palaces, mosques and beautiful parks.

The desert city of Jaisalmer is located in the state of Rajasthan in northwest India. Jaisalmer was founded in 1156 and is also known as the golden city. Yellow sandstone was used to build the city. The historic city center and the fortress are worth seeing.

Varanasi is one of the oldest cities in the world and was mentioned 3000 years ago, which is certainly exciting for those interested in history. It is located in the state of Uttar Pradesh in northern India and is one of the most important cities of Hinduism. Varanasi is a pilgrim city. Thousands of believers flock to the Ganges every day to do spiritual purification. The Vishwanath Temple and the Durga Temple are worth seeing.

The Amritsar Golden Temple is the most important Sikh sanctuary. This temple was built in the 16th century and decorated with gold leaf about 200 years later. It lies on an island in a pond surrounded by a palace complex. The entire facility is well maintained and is even cleaned with milk several times a day.

The Hawa Mahal in Jaipur is one of the most outstanding sights in India. Because of the air circulation it is also called Palace of the Winds and was mystically mentioned in a film of the same name. The palace was built in 1799 and is part of the city palace in Jaipur. The magnificent palace complex is open to the public and is definitely worth a visit.

Goa is the smallest state in India and is located in the middle of the west coast. The region was a Portuguese colony for 450 years and is still characterized by it today. The proportion of Catholics in the Goa population is very high. Since tourism in Goa began with the first hippie trail travelers in 1960, the state has been one of the most popular holiday destinations in India.

Indian healing arts and philosophical teachings

Ayurveda

Is known India not only for its beautiful environment, but also by special healing arts. Ayurveda is the traditional Indian art of healing. The name Ayurveda therefore comes from Sanskrit, the “mother of all languages” and means knowledge of life. Basically, the Ayurvedic approach is rather preventive and designed for a sustainably healthy lifestyle. If an illness occurs, Ayurveda starts with the symptoms instead of the causes, which are often understood here as a combination of spiritual, psychological and physical imbalances.

By adopting Ayurvedic concepts in everyday life habits, the risk of illness is kept constantly low and the need to manipulate the body with medication, if necessary, is minimized. An important Ayurvedic basic principle is to adapt the individual diet to the individual type of person you are, the personal doscha. The treatments focus on cleaning programs for the body, detoxification, massages and the use of medicinal plants, herbs and oils. Ayurveda doctors in India have to pass a 5-year state examination before they can practice.

Yoga

Yoga, on the other hand, sees itself as a philosophical teaching whose traditions go back over 2,700 years. This Indian teaching encompasses a variety of mental and physical exercises that merge with one another. Asanas are the body positions with which yoga is mainly associated, especially in western countries. In the traditional sense of yoga, however, the asanas are only a fraction of the elements of yoga. Originally, the practice of asanas only serves to prepare the body for meditation lasting several hours in the still position of the lotus position.

Yoga is practiced in as many different forms as there are yoga styles. Hatha Yoga, Raja Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Karma Yoga, Yin Yoga, Yang Yoga and Ashtanga Yoga are just a few of them. Other yoga practices include breathing exercises called pranayama, meditation, cleansing rituals called shatkarma, and many more.

In general, all forms of yoga pursue the same goal: to bring body, mind and soul into harmony, to create harmony and balance. The root of this teaching can be found in Hinduism. Yoga used to be a purely spiritual form of self-realization. Today, yoga often has an increasingly therapeutic approach to relaxation and combating physical and mental illnesses.