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Geography of
North India
North India has two union territories – Delhi and
Chandigarh – and seven states: Haryana, Punjab, Uttar
Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and
Himachal Pradesh. Together they cover 1,452,602, sq km,
44% of the country’s land area. Uttar Pradesh is the
most populous state. Approximately 75% of the population
of region lives in rural areas and most people depend on
agriculture for a livelihood. The mountain regions of
Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and the hill
region of Uttar Pradesh are sparsely populated,
but the cultivated area is relatively limited
because of the mountainous terrain and its
altitude.
Rajasthan has extensive
deserts and semi-arid regions which produce low
agricultural returns. Madhya Pradesh is still in the
fortunate position of having extensive forests. Nearly
all the Indian Himalaya lies in the northern regions. Himachal Paradesh and Jammu & Kashmir are almost wholly
Himalayan, and in Uttar Paradesh the Himalayan regions
of Garhwal and Kumaon make up about a quarter of the
state. The mountain region is magnificent, containing
numerous strikingly beautiful and contrasting
sub-regions. The Himalaya (Abode of Snow) stretches from
the disputed border with Pakistan in Kashmir to the
Western border of Nepal. Over 1,000 km long, it varies
in width from 160 km in Garhwal and Kumaon to 400 km in
Kashmir and Ladakh. In places the mountains tower to
almost 8,000 m. The Himalaya itself forms the backbone
of the mountain region. To the south, bordering the
plains are the Siwaliks, a range of foothills, sometimes
separated from the Lesser Himalaya by valleys (duns). In
the Kashmir there is also the Pir Panjal range, which
rises to nearly 5,000 m in places. This forms the
southern wall to the Vale of Kashmir. There are other
lesser ranges, such as the Zanskar and Ladakh ranges,
both reaching 6,000 m. Garhwal and Kumaon in the Uttar
Pradesh Himalaya are the home of the gods. The sacred
Ganga and almost equally sacred Yamuna both have their
sources here at Gangotri and Yamunotri. Nanda Devi (7816
m) is the highest mountain in the region, and one of the
most beautiful and mysterious in the entire range.
Garhwal and Kumaon are Himalayan trekking’s best kept
secret. When Indians speak of the ‘the North’, they are
usually referring not to the Himalayas or Kashmir but to
a broad belt of land that includes the Ganga Basin and
the Haryana and the Punjab region north-west of Delhi.
In this wedge lives a very large proportion of the
country population. The reason is that the soils are
generally very fertile, the product of silt brought down
by the rivers of the Himalaas and deposited in a great
trench formed by the pressure of the north-moving
Peninsula against the Tibetan Plateau. Over the past 20
million year, this 3,000 m deep trough has been filled
with alluvium, creating an ideal farming environment
that is flat and therefore suited to large scale
irrigation. Because of the high density of population
there is now hardly any natural forest cover left.
Across the unrelentingly flat plain that comprises
nearly three quarters of Uttar Pradesh flows the Ganga,
the physical as well as spiritual life force of northern
India. At Haridwar, the Gateway to the hills, it is
nearly 300 m above sea level. When it leaves the
northern Region at the border of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
near Patna, it has fallen only 220 m over more than
1,000 km. The Ganga and Yamuna join at Allahabad. Along
the southern edge of the Gangetic plain is the
peninsular block of India. Madhya Pradesh and the
southern part of Rajasthan belong to this region of
gently undulating plateau and hill ranges. Running
diagonally across Rajasthan from Mount Abu to the Delhi
Ridge, effectively dividing the state in two, are the
Aravalli hill. To the S is a is the Thar Desert. Delhi
is strategically sited at the narrowest gateway to the
Gangetic plain. In Madhya Pradesh the topography is
similar except in the southwest where the Malwa plateau
belongs to outliers of the Western Ghats. The old
erosion front in the north of the state is strikingly
beautiful, presenting bare cliffs and densely forested
ravines. The state has excellent forests, yet for all
its varies beauty, cultural heritage and stable
political climate, it is surprisingly little visited.
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temperatures on the plains reaching the 20 C and the
minimum around 7 C though as you move S both increase.
After dark, though, it can get quite cold. Freezing on
the plains is uncommon, but winter showers occur
sporadically and mist or morning fog is relatively
common especially around Agra. In the hills there is
snow down to around 2,000 m and temperatures are
correspondingly low. In Nainital, Shimla and Srinagar
the daily minimum is 2 C and the maximum 10 C in
Nainital and 4 C in Srinagar in Jan. In Leh it can reach
as low as -35 C though this is extreme. In summer it can
reach over 30 C. Sunstroke and frostbite are unlikely
bedfellows in Ladakh. Unsettled weather originating from
the Tibetan plateau is not uncommon, resulting in cold
wind and snow or rain. In the hills Feb and Mar are very
pleasant months. The rhododendrons are in bloom and the
meadows are carpeted with spring flowers. There is snow
above 3,500 m and Ladakh is still snow bound. Daytime
temperatures are pleasantly warm and reach around 19 C.
At night, while it is cool, the temperatures do not drop
below freezing. Srinagar has relatively heavy
precipitation at this time. On the plains, its is
gradually hotting up and around Bhopal can reach 34 C.
Delhi is a few degrees cooler. At night, air
conditioning is not really necessary. The hot weather
lasts from April and until the middle of June
temperatures rise inexorably. Delhi and Agra become very
hot in May with daytime temperatures consistently over
40 C whilst at night they fall to around 27 C. It is hot
but because of low humidity bearable. However,
air-conditioning becomes a necessity. This is the time
when the British migrated to the hills. Indians who can
afford it do likewise. During the monsoon maximum
daytime temperatures fall to around 35oC on the plains
and 21 C in the hills. Humidity levels are high and the
atmosphere is enervating. Clothes always seem damp and
insects, particularly mosquitoes, are more active. When
the monsoon finishes the weather pattern is invariably
very stable. From Oct to Dec. the skies are clear,
temperatures are pleasantly warm and the countryside
looks delightful. As winter approaches, night time
temperate will fall and the mornings can be quite cool.
Throughout the region conditions are normally excellent
for travel.
Some areas of the hills and the
northern plains receive rain from depressions through
the winter. However, mot of the region receives its
precipitation largely in the Jun to Oct monsoon. The
onset of the rainy season is traditionally celebrated in
rural areas because of its importance to crop growth.
All areas except Ladakh and Lahaul/Spiti receive 75% of
their annual rainfall over this 5 month period. Flooding
is still common over much of the Gangetic Plain and
communications can be disrupted. This is a difficult and
unpleasant time for traveling, even though some places
such as Mandu in Madhya Pradesh look their best.
Vegetation growth is rapid and the landscape looks green
and lush. Kashmir is one of the few places that receive
comparatively little rain over this period, and its
relatively high altitude make it the perfect time to
visit.
Economy of North India
In most states agriculture employs over two-thirds of
the population. Punjab is the most productive area with
4/5 of the cultivated area under irrigation and
impressive yields per hectare. Large parts of western
Uttar Pradesh and Haryana are not far behind. In these 3
states production of the wheat and rice are grown as
commercial crops, sold in the large cities of Delhi and
the Gangetic Plain. In the peripheral regions such as
Ladakh, the hill region of Uttar Pradesh, Himachal
Pradesh, and extensive areas of Rajasthan and Madhya
Pradesh, farmers produce for their own families
consumption. When they do not produce enough to survive,
as in the hill region of Uttar Pradesh, they have to
import grain from the plains. Up to an altitude of about
3,000 m, there are two cropping seasons. The Rabi season
runs from Oct to Mar/Apr. The Kharif is the monsoon
growing season, in which as much arable land as possible
is sown. Wheat is the major rabi crop throughout the
region and on poorer soils such as those in Ladakh is
replaced with barley. The northern region produces the
bulk of the nation’s wheat and all its suplus. Rice is
the important kharif crop and is favoured at this time
because of the monsoon and the opportunities the
abundant rainfall creates for irrigation.
Industries in North India
Various types of industry are distributed over the
lowland areas. Kanpur was one of the first textile
factory cities in India and maintains its importance
within the region as a processing centre for
agricultural products and chemicals. Textiles play an
important part in the industrial economies of Rajasthan
and Madhya Prades as well. Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan
are well endowed with minerals ranging from diamonds
from Panna to high grade iron and tin ore. There are
steel plants at Bhilai, heavy electrical enterprises at
Bhopal and an aluminium plant at Korba. Heavy industry
includes the construction of railway rolling stock in
Rajasthan along with zinc and copper smelting. Punjab on
the other hand has practically no mineral resources and
its industries are concerned with the taxtiles and the
manufacture of consumer goods such as bicycles. Haryana
is the largest producer of automobile spare parts in
India. Light industrial zones have been established in
Central and southern Rajasthan around Kota, Jaipur,
Udaipur and Bhilwara. Traditional handicrafts provide a
source of additional income for many villagers. Kashmir
has traditionally been reliant on its high quality
handicrafts such as carpets, papier mache good and
shawls. In terms of its contribution to the regional
economy tourism is relatively insignificant. However, in
the popular areas such as Delhi, Agra, Rajasthan, the
hill stations, and Kashmir and Ladakh tourism has
generated employment and income.
Communications in North India
Communications throughout the northern region are
generally good. The plains have an extensive road and
rail network though the quality roads is often poor and
they are increasingly heavily used. Roads have been
built into remote hill areas of the north because of
their strategic importance. If anything is has increased
their reliance on the more productive regions rather
than aided local economic development.
People of North India
Two basic components of this heritage, which have at the
same time shaped this heritage, are the land, the
natural and physical environment of India, and the
people who have inhabited this land. The generations of
people who have inhabited India during various periods
of her history have interacted with their physical and
natural environment. They have also interacted among
themselves. Through these processes of interaction –
between people and their natural and physical
environment and among themselves - the people have
created their history, their social, economic, cultural
and political life. These processes of interaction have
been going on for thousands of years, bringing in
changes in the life of the people. The world of man,
therefore, has never been stationary. The people
inhabiting the country from very early times as well as
people of other parts of the world have viewed it as a
single integral and distinctive unit. Since the time of
the Old Stone Age, people from neighboring as well as
distant regions have been coming into India through the
mountain passes and the seas and making India their
home. The people of India have been formed as a result
of these migrations over thousands of years. They are
the descendants of groups of people belonging to almost
all the ‘racial stocks’ which have gone into the making
of the Indian population are the Proto-Australoids, the
Palaeo-Mediterraneans, the Caucasoids, the Negroid and
the Mongoloids in their varying degrees of mixtures. In
historical times, the ethnic groups which have come to
India and made India their home include the
Indo-European speaking people (the Indo-Aryans), the
Persians, the Greeks, the Kushanas, the Shakas, the
Hunas, the Arabs, the Turks, the Africans and the
Mongols. During the past few hundred years, many
Europeans have also made India their home. All there
‘racial’ and ethnic groups have intermingled with one
another and few of them can be recognized in their
original form. Thus, India has been a crucible of
various ‘races’ and ethnic groups.
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Religion and Pilgrimage in North India
The city immediately to the North of Delhi in Haryana is
revered as the home of the Mahabharata. Mathura is
equally surrounded by sites associated with one of
contemporary Hinduism’s most popular gods, Krishna, and
holy centres such as Varanasi and Haridwar are
associated with the great river Ganga. As the faith
developed, so did the number and importance of
pilgrimage centres. Ujjain, one of the 4 cities in the
triennial Kumbh Mela cycle, traces its origins to the
age of the great Hindu epics. Asoka's sons were born
here. Rama is believed by many Hindus to have been born
in Ayodhya. The surrounding countryside is alive with
stories from the Rama myth.
Pilgrimage (yatra) also became popular and many centres
emerged in the mountains and along the great rivers.
Rishikesh and Haridwar became the gateway to the hills
whilst in the Great Himalaya Badrinath, Kedarnath,
Yamunotri and Gangotri all achieved prominence. All
these are in Uttaranchal. The cave at Amarnath in
Kashmir was also revered whilst the Kulu Valley in
Himachal Pradesh became known as the Valley of the Gods.
Buddhism emerged as an alternative to the Brahminism of
the 6th century BC. The crucible of Buddhism was Bihar
but the Deer Park at Sarnath, where the Buddha delivered
his first sermon, and Khushinagar, where he died, are
both in eastern Uttar Pradesh. Buddhism was espoused by
the Emperor Ashoka who erected pillars around the
country entreating the population to be virtuous and
clean living. One is at Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh. Whilst
the magnificent Stupa has no direct connection with the
Buddha, it is one of the finest Buddhist monuments in
the country, and is revered by Buddhists from all over
the world. The difficulties of practicing Jainism, with
its austere injunctions against harming any from of
life, probably prevented it from achieving lasting
popularity, but in its prime it spread to Maharashtra
and was represented over most of the country. Jains
often became traders, an occupation regarded as the
least physically harmful, open to them. In the orthodox
Hindu hierarchy trade was a lower occupation than that
of the priest or warriors, activities performed by the
Brahmins and Kshatriyas and, later many of the Rajput
states and capitals had influential Jain Merchants who
were allowed to construct temples at Gwalior, Osian near
Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Mount Abu, Ranakpur and Kumbhalgarh
near Udaipur in Rajasthan.
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Adventure Sports in North India
North India provides a fascinating and unforgettable
experience that attracts lots of tourists throughout the
year. In the recent years, North India has been changing
its image from purely a cultural destination to a
composite destination for various outdoor activities.
North India is rapidly emerging as the adventure tourism
destination of the world; and scuba diving and other
water sports have now become an integral part of it.
There are various opportunities for any adventurous
sports person in North India. A diverse varied terrain,
snow covered mountains, green Alpine meadows, mountains,
lakes and rapids and beaches provides an exciting
environment for any sports man. Some of the adventurous
sports are river rafting or river running, mountain
climbing, skiing, hang-gliding, ballooning, motor
crossing, heli-skiing, scuba diving and camel safari.
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Festivals of North India
India is a land of diversities. The people of every
faith and religion live in unity and as well as
celebrate various festivals in the country. In no other
country of the world are people so frequently motivated
by a religious urge to travel as in India. Fortunately
for the Hindus, most of their places of pilgrimage are
at scenic places in the Himalayas or near the sea or
rivers. There is perhaps not a single day in the Indian
calendar when a festival or fair is not celebrated in
such a vast country with varied religions. There are
some national festivals which are celebrated all over
North India like Makar Sankranti, Republic Day,
Independence Day, Holi, Raksha Bandhan, Independence
Day, Janmashtami, Dussehra, Diwali and Christmas.
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Cuisine of North India
The Indian cuisine can be divided into two main
cuisines, North Indian and South Indian Cuisine. A
typical North Indian meal consists of Chappatis,
parantha or pooris (unleavened flat breads), dals,
curries that are mild and made in ghee, vegetables
seasoned with yogurt or pomegranate powder, green
vegetables like spinach and green mustard cooked with
paneer, north Indian pickles, fresh tomato, mint,
cilantro chutneys and yogurt raitas. North Indian
desserts and sweets are made of milk, paneer, lentil
flour and wheat flour combined with dried nuts and
garnished with a thin sheet of pure silver. Nimbu Pani
(lemon drink), Lassi (iced buttermilk) are popular
drinks of the North. Hot and sweet cardamom milk is very
common before going to bed. North Indian Cuisine can be
further divided into different categories according to
states and tastes. These categories are Kashmiri,
Punjabi, Rajasthani, Garhwal, Pahari, Uttar Pradesh,
Awadh and Lucknow.
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Music and Dances of North India
Music is the most interesting part of all the aspects of
Indian life. Those visitors who have not been born in
India, the music ranges from the mild bewilderment to
confusion. In Indian classical music, what is said
values much more than the manner in which it is said. A
melodious voice is like an asset in Indian music, but at
the same time the lack of it does not disqualify an
otherwise gifted musician from saying his piece. The
classical dance is performed by the dancers as the
highest form of worship. They dedicated themselves to
Shiva, the dancing Nataraja and the supreme symbol of
cosmic energy. There is also a myth that when Lord Shiva
shook his hand drum, the world heard its first rhythm.
As he moved his body with its beat, the universe came
into being. Dance forms an intrinsic part of worship in
the temples where the dancers offer the God the dance
and music, being the most beautiful expression of the
human spirit. The Indian classical dance subscribes to a
rigorous code and depends upon the convenience of the
body. But the origin of Indian dance has been lost in
times. The four distinct classes of Indian Classical
dances are Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Kathakali and Manipuri.
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North Indian Architecture and Sculpture
Indian Architecture is as ancient as the history of
civilization. The remains of the buildings in India
belongs to the third millennium in the Indus Valley
cities. These cities are among the man’s earliest
attempts to built the urban environment. "The Great
Baths of Mohenjodaro" are some of the significant
examples of architecture. Later, the Vedic period was
marked by the unspecified pastoral settlements of mud,
thatch, bamboo and timber in the valleys of Ganga and
Saraswati. Even though the examples of perishable timber
structures of that period are not available, but the
facts are based on evidences left by successive Buddhist
sculptures of the 2nd and 3rd century BC. These
sculptures depict the episodes from the life of Buddha,
in the architectural setting of the Vedic period. The
story of Indian art begins with Harappan culture. The
Harappans were great builders, skilled in town planning.
The houses with the various facilities, the granaries,
the Great Bath, show how skilful and efficient the
people were in construction. The terracotta and stone
images, the bronze figure of the dancing girl and the
artistic seals reveal the exquisite workmanship of the
artists.
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Languages of North India
Besides Hindi, India has 23 officially recognized
languages, which are official languages of one or the
other state in India. Some of these languages are quite
popular outside their origin state and India as well.
These languages are widely spoken and learnt by many
foreign speakers with interest. We, at North India Tours
are offering some exclusive language courses that help
you to widen your knowledge of languages.
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Shopping in North India
The richness of India's traditional handcrafts is known
across the world. The traditions are still alive, not in
some purely commercialized and tourist-oriented
recreation of lost skills, but in the living traditions
handed on through families that have practiced them for
generations. The variety and the often outstandingly
high quality of the work is still astonishing. Each
region has its own specialities. Stone carving in India
has its old tradition since the time of Taj Mahal and is
being practiced till date by the next generation of
these families. Paper-mache of Kashmir, cane work
pottery and leather work of are specialty of the the
Indian state of Kashmir. South India is famous for the
Wood carving and metalwork. Indian Sandalwood, Indian
rose wood, walnut in Kashmir are to name when it comes
to wooden products in India. Metalwork of North India,
Indian bird ware in Andhra, Indian bronzes of the south
are some more specialities to name some.
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Hill Stations in North India
India with its vast land and diverse culture, heritage,
language and people is also showered with the natural
beauty. The Himalayas, the world's largest mountain
chain, stretches for about 2560 kms. in an arc across
the top of the Indian subcontinent. It is in these
ranges that some of the most popular hill stations of
North India like Almora, Mussoorie, Nainital are
located.
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Wildlife in North India
India has a long tradition of protecting and preserving
wildlife. The project Tiger was started in 1973. but,
today it is a massive attempt towards the conservation
of the tiger and its environment. It covers 23 National
Parks and Sanctuaries and its success can be judged from
the fact that the number of tigers in India has gone up
significantly since the project was launched. There are
about 80 National Parks and 441 Sanctuaries in India.
Several national parks and sanctuaries of India are
conveniently accessible by car and also have good
accommodation. More than 350 mammals and 1,200 species
of birds and reptiles are found in India, some of which
are unique to this subcontinent. Some of these unique
wild animals and birds are the white tiger, the royal
Bengal tiger, the snow leopard, the Asiatic lion, the
lion-tailed macaque, the Himalayan Tahr, one horned
rhinoceros, the Andaman teal, the great Indian bustard
and the Monal pheasant. Sighting of animals in India has
a thrill of its own. Various animals like deer and
elephants can be seen in small herds in dense forests
and in isolated places, except the tiger. You can view
the animals by either having an elephant safari, jeep
safari or canter safari. Elephant safari is the best way
to view these animals as everything which moves can be
noticed from the height and if you are lucky, you might
see a rare animal.
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How to Reach North India
Most of the tourists visit India by air, though they can
reach it by sea or road also. Till the mid seventies,
about 10% of visitors to India came through the Asian
highway via Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. But
now, this is becoming increasingly difficult because of
disturbances in some countries en route.
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