During World War II, the Taj Mahal was covered with bamboo to protect it from aerial bombs that may strike during combat operations. This tactic worked, and today it remains one of the world’s most breathtaking monuments.
History scholars such as Romila Thapar and Mohamad Habib have stressed the need to go beyond historical sources and interpretive bias to discover truth in historical events. A tool for accomplishing this mission is periodization.
Ayurveda
Ayurveda, an ancient Indian medical system, still flourishes today. The word ayurveda comes from two Sanskrit words meaning life and knowledge respectively and is founded upon the principle that good health depends on maintaining a balanced diet, lifestyle and exercise program along with emotional well-being and mental clarity.
Yoga recognizes three fundamental energies or functional principles – vata, pitta and kapha – as the driving forces in human physiology: movement (vata), metabolism (pitta), and lubrication and structure (kapha).
A system which can identify disease early and use this knowledge as a preventive tool is invaluable. Furthermore, its vivid descriptions show every step taken by disease from its beginning until its ultimate manifestation.
Some of the oldest recorded texts on Ayurved medicine date back to approximately 2500 BCE. Ayurvedic practitioners like Sushruta – known as “the father of surgery” – created techniques for rhinoplasty and kidney stone removal using Ayurved medicine. Nowadays, however, Ayurvedic practice often co-exists alongside yoga and other traditional systems of medicine.
Navigation
Navigating is an art that originated over 6,000 years ago in India. The word ‘navigate’ derives from Sanskrit, meaning to travel by sea; Indian mathematician Budhayana accurately calculated how long it would take Earth to orbit around Sun several hundred years before European mathematicians did and also created what has since been known as Pythagorean Theorem.
European colonists first settled India during the 18th century. By the 19th century, India had fallen under British control and struggled for its freedom; finally reaching independence as a sovereign nation state on August 15, 1947.
British rule in India left behind an enormous legacy of cultural, linguistic, and ethnic diversity for Indians to enjoy. Over 3.5 million were sent abroad under an indenture system as slave labor to work on sugar plantations farms across countries such as Africa and Australia; many also served in military units of some major world powers like Germany in World War II or Japan in Burma.
Snakes and Ladders
Snakes and Ladders was created in India by 13th century poet saint Gyandev, under its original name of Mokshapat, to teach children about concepts such as karma, religion and good deeds vs bad. Ladders represented virtues while snakes represented vices while its progression up the board represented life journeying towards Nirvana or Moksha at its conclusion.
At the close of the 19th century, this game found its way to England where it was modified to reflect Victorian ideas about morality. Ladders of thrift, penitence and industry now led to squares representing fulfilment, grace and success while snakes representing indulgence, disobedience and indolence brought illness, disgrace and poverty.
Milton Bradley first introduced its modified version of Chutes and Ladders to us in 1943, under its new name of Chutes and Ladders. Although its gameplay may seem simple, its simple lessons offer valuable life advice for living an ethical life.
The Golden Temple
Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar serves as the center of Sikh religion and offers pilgrims a place of spiritual peace and reconciliation during times of conflict. Renowned for its 24-hour singing of devotional hymns known as Akhand Path, this Temple creates an environment rich with spirituality and devotion that unites people who come there from across India and Pakistan.
In 1984, the Temple became the site of an explosive conflict between armed Sikh militants and Indian government forces. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi ordered troops to storm the Temple in an effort to root out secessionists; unfortunately this led to horrific violence as Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale led his followers into battle and died during this raid – many holy scriptures belonging to the Temple were also damaged or destroyed during this violent confrontation.
India is home to more than just its famous Golden Temple; there are numerous fascinating locations here as well. Did you know that Indians invented plastic surgery? A doctor named Sushruta created it and wrote the “Sushruta Samhitha”, one of the earliest surviving studies on medicine.
The Karni Mata Temple
One of the more shocking elements of Indian history is Karni Mata Temple in Deshnok, Rajasthan – an extraordinary structure where thousands of rats reside. Known as Kabbas (after their creator, Yama Raj), these rats are believed to be descendants of Laxmana – Karni Mata’s stepson who died at Kapil Sarovar – after Karni begged Yama Raj so desperately for their reincarnation, that eventually allowed it! She even begged all male descendants reincarnate into rats too!
Even though this temple is home to so many rats, they don’t pose any health or nuisance concerns or smell bad at all. This is likely because pilgrims feed special food exclusively designed for rats rather than human scraps; hence pilgrims are welcome to touch and feed the rats at will; touching or feeding a rodent-nicked food item is considered lucky!
The Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is an extraordinary monument built to honour Mumtaz Mahal, Shah Jahan’s beloved third and favourite wife who died during childbirth complications; upon hearing of her demise, Shah Jahan began planning the construction of this exquisite structure, made entirely out of white marble to represent spirituality, purity of love and illumination.
The Taj Mahal stands in the midst of an exquisite complex of gardens known as char bagh. These gardens, which are typically associated with Mughal-era pleasure gardens, feature water features like rivers. However, unlike most such pleasure gardens from that era, Taj Mahal does not occupy its usual central spot but instead can be found located at either end.
To build the Taj, masons, stone-cutters, inlayers, carvers, painters, calligraphers and dome builders were recruited from across India and Central Asia and Iran – as well as Central Asia itself! This monumental architectural marvel represents both natural beauty and divine splendour harmoniously within architecture.
The Lonar Lake
Once part of the Mauryan, Satavahana Empires, Chalukyas and Rashtrakuta Empires, it later flourished into a center for trade with many varieties of crops such as cotton and indigo flourishing flourishing around it.
This mysterious crater lake may be caused by meteorite impact. Situated in the volcanic region of Deccan plateau, its presence initially baffled geologists because its composition exhibited both alkaline and saline properties simultaneously – initially leading them to consider other possibilities before being verified as a meteorite crater after extensive studies were completed.
Lake Hemadpanti has long been linked with mythology. Valmiki Ramayan mentions it as Hemadpanti and legend has it that Lonarasur, an evil spirit who used to inhabit its salt water, was killed by Lord Vishnu and brought here for worship by Chalukya kings who constructed Daitya Sudan Mandir as a reminder.
Lake Mead is an attractive tourist spot and draws scientists to study its mysteries, yet pollution threatens the ecological balance of both its waters and forests. Thus, it is imperative that steps be taken in order to safeguard this wonderful oasis of biodiversity.
Ladakh
Ladakh, an immense mountain plateau situated astride the Himalaya and Karakoram ranges, has long held an irresistible draw for travelers. A remote Buddhist enclave seemingly suspended in time – an archetypical Shangri-La.
Ladakh lies between Tibet and India and offers a mystical form of Tantric Buddhism which stands as both an artifact and living faith. Chortens erected to expiate sin can be found everywhere and prayer flags waft from various prominent objects throughout Ladakh.
Ladakh’s rich culture, natural beauty, and adventure activities draw tourists from around the globe. Polo on fast-racing ponies – which was developed here – remains popular as an activity, while hunters from far and wide hunt for markhor, ibex, and snow leopard species. Due to its mineral wealth Ladakh has also become a center of small-scale industry production; specifically cashmere blanket production. As part of India’s Lok Sabha representation system Ladakh sends one elected member directly.