International Arts Festival: Colourful Element Of Delhi Tourism

Ralph Reichenbach & Doug Madill have rightly said, “Art strives to express; craft strives for excellence. Good art has good craft, good craft is artistic. Within every craft there exists artists. Within every artist there is craft”. And my good fortune sneaked me an opportunity to visit the International Arts Festival in Delhi. The capital city is undoubtedly the centre of attraction in terms of lifestyle, food, culture, festivals, media, technology, art, and almost everything. I, being an art lover, planned a four-day trip to the National Capital Territory of Delhi and flew to celebrate India's signature festival. Located on the banks of the River Yamuna, the city has been continuously inhabited since the 6th century BC, according to archaeological evidence. According to the Archaeological Survey of India, Delhi houses about 1200 heritage buildings and 175 monuments as national heritage sites.

My cousin, Sameer, puts up at South Extension, one of the most happening areas of Delhi. He had promised to accompany me on the entire Delhi tour. Sam, that is how I call him, told me that the International Arts Festival is very helpful in establishing India as a global soft power and making it a destination of cultural tourism. This 24-day festival covers 35 segments, 72 venues and 2500 artistes. We first drove to the Crafts Museum (Pragati Maidan), which exhibited a rarest collection of 20,000 items of folk and tribal arts, crafts and textiles. I was quite surprised to see the expertise of the artisans in bronze images, lamps and incense burners, ritual accessories, utensils, wood and stone carvings, papier mache, ivories, dolls, toys, puppets and masks, jewellery, paintings, terracotta, cane and bamboo work and textiles from different regions of India.

Our next halt was FICCI auditorium, where we saw galleries of folk and tribal arts and craftsd, aristocratic objects, and traditional Indian textiles. I bought a few items for my mom and my brothers. We stopped for a quick bite at Connaught Place, the heart of Delhi. Sam asked me if I wanted to visit the popular art galleries like Triveni, Sridharani, Vadehra, Eicher, Lalit Kala Akademi, Max Mueller Photo Gallery etc. But I preferred going Dilli Haat, popular venue for crafts bazaars throughout the year. It is famous for offering almost all types of handicrafts, mementos, gifts and crafts of each and every state of India. While returning to home, our last halt was Kamani Auditorium, where we enjoyed various performing arts representing the range of classical dance forms and schools of music from all over India.

Delhi Tourism has served as the seat of empires for centuries, and therefore it is a major cultural center, attracting the best of painters, musicians and dancers. Sam told me that October to March is the 'cultural season' of Delhi and countless elements of this colourful and vibrant city were remained untouched. No worries, as I had enough time to explore all the historical, cultural and adventurous aspects of Delhi.

Mumbai: The Seat Of Excursionists

It was a bright Sunday morning in Mumbai. Streets were quiet. I could clearly hear the birds chirruping in the hotel garden and the sea waves crashing to the shore. After some light refreshments, I came down to the hotel and headed towards the nearby Chowpatty Beach with a guide. While I was relishing the best of local snacks- bhelpuri, chuski and pao bhaji- my guide told me that it is the best place where the common man comes to eat and be entertained every evening. Chowpatty Beach is the well known holy site where the devotees of lord Ganesha immerse the huge idol after the rituals on Ganesh Chaturthi.

We moved on to other destinations via Marine Drive, the Queen's Necklace. I found the road quite busy. But the best part is that being located at a close proximity to the sea, it lets you the opportunity to enjoy cool sea breeze. Hanging Gardens or the Ferozeshah Mehta Gardens are actual tourist delights in Mumbai. I was simply amazed to see these beautiful gardens built over three reservoirs. These are quite attractive for children. The reservoirs store billions of gallons of water for cleaning before they are pumped to the thirsty city of Mumbai.

In the afternoon, the guide took me to Colaba, which is a popular hub of tourist activity in Mumbai. We had our lunch there in street stalls and moved on to the Fort. Famous for its old Victorian-Gothic buildings, the Fort is an important financial and commercial center. The lifeline of Mumbai 'BSE or Bombay Stock Exchange' is also located in this area on Dalal Street. I also paid short visits to the popular Prince Wales Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, and Jehangir Art Gallery, which represent the glorious past of Mumbai during the British Rule in India. These are a must to experience because of the rarest collection of art forms, sculptures, rare coins, old firearms and miniature paintings.

While going back to the hotel at around 8:00 pm, I also visited the Crawford Market, named after Arthur Crawford, the first Municipal Commissioner of Bombay. Designed by Lockyard Kipling, father of the famous author Rudyard Kipling, the market is an extraordinary blend of Flemish and Norman architecture. Cherishing the golden memories of Mumbai, the indomitable city, I left for another destination, another adventure !!

Mumbai Tourism After 26/11

The Indian Government launched the “Incredible India” campaign in the US last year. A grand festival “India at 60″ was also organized in New York. India witnessed a significant jump in the flow of tourists from the US. And all of a sudden, Mumbai terror attacks hit India tourism at start of peak season. The future of tourism industry was uncertain because this was the first time when terrorists targeted hotels and foreigners. India, which was boasting of a 12.5 percent annual rise in visitors and was estimating that 5 million people would arrive here adding about £7.5 billion to the overall economy, was now worried of the economic slowdown. Terrorists mounted assaults on the Taj and the Oberoi- favourite five-star hotels of the western business travellers in Mumbai.

But I was quite familiar with the enthusiasm and indomitable spirit of the Mumbaiians and tourists. My expectations were at an all time high. And it was no surprise that within a month India again started attracting tourists. I packed my bags and flew to Mumbai. It was a bright Saturday afternoon and my guide took me to the Hotel Residency, located amidst peaceful and tranquil surroundings, 6 km from Mumbai's Sahar International airport. The best part with Mumbai is that it is a healthy mixture of all the cultures and religions. People were busy in the praparations of the grand festival 'Ganesh Chaturthi', which was going to be held the next week. Mumbai is known for some of India's most sought after tourist destinations. The day was drawing to a close and I was left with a few hours only. Therefore I decided to explore all the nearby attractions.

I started with the Gateway of India, which was earlier used to be the arrival point for visitors from the west. There are numerous sea beaches in Mumbai with sandy shores and kisses of the waves of the Arabian Sea. I paid short visits to Juhu, Gorai and Madh Island and left the others untouched for the next day. However these are not meant for sunbathing but I found various fast food joints offering typical Indian delicacies like Bhelpuri. We stopped for a quick bite and then hit the road again to the famous Kamala Nehru Park, the Hanging gardens and a couple of botanical parks. Being a nature lover, I had my own contemplation here in India's most crowded city.

I also wanted to have glimpses of the famous museums, but it was getting dark and I returned back to my hotel. While having dinner I realized that right from the sea beaches to historical museums, Mumbai has a lot to offer to its guests. All these attractions make it fairly easy to spend quality time in Mumbai. I got to my bed quite early for a tight sleep as the next day was definitely going to be tiresome.

The Dynamic And Happening City Of Bangalore

As I was exploring the Silicon Valley, Bangalore, I was unable to contain my excitement and the day had finally arrived. It was 7:00 in the morning and I was waiting, all packed, to leave for Planet Scuba. Satyam Dada, my cousin, told me that Planet Scuba is famous for conducting PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) certified open water diving courses. I wanted to make a rapid splash at the watery depths of Karnataka, therefore Dada took me to enjoy the thrills of surfing, canoeing and kayaking.

At around 10:30, we stopped for a quick bite and then hit the road again to the Bull Temple. This prominent landmark is located in the Basavanagudi region of Bangalore, and is dedicated to Nandi, the mount of Lord Shiva. This 16th century temple has a 15 feet tall and over 20 feet long structure of Nandi, which is carved out of a single granite rock. We saw the farmers preparing for the Kadalekayi Parishe (The Groundnut fair) which was to be organized the next day. These farmers have a tradition to offer their first crop of groundnut to the sacred bull of the temple. The holy church of Infant Jesus is another amazing attraction in Bangalore, which can accommodate about 3,500 persons inside the worship hall and another 5,000 people in the open podium area.

I, being a History buff and art lover, also liked the Government Museum/Art Gallery a lot. I was quite amazed to see the rarest collections of jewelry, miniature paintings, sculptures and artifacts in its 18 sections. Located near Kasturba Gandhi Road, this Neo-classical structure is one of the oldest museums of the country (1866). After lunch, we visited the famous Cubbon Park (famous for Seshadri Memorial hall, Attara Kacheri and Venkatappa art gallery), Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, ISKON Temple (Krishna Temple; a dainty blend of modern technology and spiritual harmony) and the Gangadhareshwar Temple (known for its four monolithic pillars and the idol of Agni, the God of fire). It was quite late, therefore we could not enjoy the Hindustan vocal concert or any theatre. But the day was very exciting and I realized that Bangalore has much more to offer besides softwares, programming and technology.

Bangalore: Perfection & Splendour In Every Aspect Of Life

Lucky is how I felt when all of a sudden one day, I finally got a chance to explore Bangalore, the capital city of Karnataka. My aunt (my mom's sister) stays there at a place called Yalhanka. My cousin brother, Satyam, had a scheduled off from his office on the coming Friday, therefore I planned for a three-day weekend trip to Bangalore. As I arrived there, the city welcomed me with fascinatingly pleasant weather. Dada, that is what I call my cousin, told me that the main attractions of this historical city of Tipu Sultan lie in its monumental heritage.

On the bright and sunny Friday morning, we left for the beautiful Bangalore Palace. This 1887 monument seems to be quite similar to Windsor Castle of England. The palace has lavish and elegant interiors because of which it is, now-a-days, used as a venue for high society parties, weddings, and music concerts. Built in the Tudor style, the palace has wonderful Gothic windows, foiled windows, battlements, turrets, carving and paintings. While driving towards Vidhan Soudha, I observed countless multinational companies and numerous IT firms. The city is so developed with all these firms that it has been termed as the 'Silicon City'.

Vidhan Soudha, the seat of the state legislature of Karnataka, is the best example of neo Dravidian architecture. This most stunning structure was completed in 1956 when Shri Kengal Hanumanthaiah served as the chief minister of Mysore. The workers who built the structure were mostly prisoners who were set free after they completed the building. We had crispy dosas and a rice bowl along with sambhar in lunch at traditional restaurant. Another wonderful experience was the hot tea served in the earthen pots. Dada told me that Bangalore is the hub of Sandalwood (Kannada film industry) where more than fifty films are released every year. He also promised to take me to a concert the very next day.

We then headed for the famous Tipu Sultan's Tomb. This 1790 structure, built in teakwood, has a temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha. I was mesmerized to see the intricately carved pillars and the art gallery of the fort. Another best attraction in Bangalore was the famous Lal-Bagh, built in about 240 aces of land. The garden houses over 1000 species of flora that include rare and enchanting collection of tropical plants, trees and herbs. It is also frequented for its Deer Park and Glass House. Our last destination of the day was MG Road, from where I bought a few traditional handicraft items like silk saris, intricately carved sandalwood items and tribal jewellery for my mom and aunt. We also had a plan to go to some pub or discotheque to unwind the hustle and bustle of the tiring day, as Bangalore has an energetic and vivacious multi-ethnic nightlife.

Relive The Glorious Past At Hampi

The Meteorological Office predicted that the monsoon this year would reach India a week earlier than usual. It was definitely a good news for all to get relief from the intense summer heat. I was delighted to note that Hampi, about 350 km from Bangalore, remained mostly clear and the temperature was also soothing. To reach Hampi, I need to cross Hospet. The nearby area is popular for a number of Buddhist sites. Hospet, basically, is the gateway town to the Hampi ruins. As I reached Hospet bus station (KSRTC bus station), I saw most of the long distance state buses terminating for Hampi from here. While in Hospet, I enjoyed a few snacks at a roadside dhaba and paid short visits to the unique Anantashayana temple of Anantashayana Gudi.

After spending a couple of hours in Hospet, I headed for Hampi, the erstwhile medieval Hindu kingdom of Vijaynagar. On entering the small city I was actually amazed and overwhelmed to see the wonderful temples, monolithic sculptures and monuments. The excellent workmanship of all these structures reflects the splendor of the Vijaynagar Empire. I hired an auto to explore the major attractions of the city. Kuldeep, the auto-driver, told me that Tungabhadra River is the most prominent feature of the city. He told me that Hampi can be broadly divided into two areas from tourism point of view: the Hampi Bazaar area and the Royal center near Kamalapuram. We started exploring the city from the Hampi Bazar area. The 15th century Virupaksha Temple is simply a unique structure. Dedicated to Virupaksha, a form of Lord Shiva, the temple rises about 50 m from the ground. I also visited Jain temples and a monolithic sculpture of Lord Narasimha (a form of Lord Vishnu) at the Hemakuta Hill on the southern part of the Virupaksha temple. I also devoted a little time to visit the World Heritage Vitthal temple (built in the 16th century), the deserted Sule Bazaar, the Achutraya temple, the Monolithic statue of Lord Ganesh, Nandi, the Kodandarama temple and the Krishna temple.

After having lunch in the Hampi Bazar, Kuldeep took me to the Royal Center, where I saw the Lotus Mahal, a perfect blend of Indo-Islamic architecture. The Archaeological Museum at Kamalapuram, Mustard Ganesha and Noblemen's palace are again the masterpieces. Famous for its architectural ruins, Hampi is declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO. After having such a great experience at Hampi, I moved on to Bangalore.