After
the vibrant atmosphere of Bombay, allow the
palm-fringed beaches of Goa to warm your spirit in
the sun and relax your mind. Or meditate in cool and
ancient Buddhist caves tunnelled out of solid rock
on the craggy hillsides - a dramatic contrast from
the colourful fairs and festivals in unspoiled
Gujarat. The choice is once again tremendous in this
land that offers everything.
Bombay
- Gateway of India
There
is a powerful life force at work in this thriving,
modern commercial city, with its plateglass
skyscrapers and hectic colorful street life. The
pace and confusion is vibrant, with businessmen
hurrying to work, hooting traffic, fisherwomen in
their bright sarees and ‘tiffinwallahs’ hurrying
with their metal containers to deliver the
businessman’s lunch direct from his home to his
office. After relaxing on Chowpatty beach under the
cool evening sky, sipping refreshing milk from a
large green coconut, you will start to love Bombay.
You will feel ready to visit the elegant and world
famous Taj Mahal hotel for a delicious snack or
drink while watching the sunset over the many boats
in the harbour. In the luxury and quiet of a hotel
room, sightseeing can be planned. Consider a visit
to the lofty Hanging Gardens next door to the
intriguing Towers of Silence; or maybe win a million
at the beautiful Mahalaxmi Racecourse, one of the
finest in India. A glamorous day visiting the famous
Bombay film studios can be arranged, and perhaps a
chat with one of the many film stars. Relive the
ancient stories of the Hindu gods sculpted on the
walls of caves at Elephanta. This well known island,
where monkeys scamper across your path, is a short
and pleasant boat ride from the famous landmark in
Bombay - the Gateway of India. When ready to leave
this city of tycoons, commerce, skyscrapers and film
stars, prepare for adventures of a very different
kind which await at its doorstep.
The
Magic Around Bombay
There
is so much choice and so many wonders to see around
Bombay. Northwest lies Gujarat, the birthplace of
Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation. The region
is famous for exclusive garments and hand made silk
saris, and for being the last refuge of the Asian
lions, found deep in the Gir Forest. Join in with
the village people in their brightly coloured
costume rejoicing in one of the many festivals and
fairs that abound in this state.
Ahmedabad,
the principal textile city of the country, is well
known for the Sabarmati Ashram founded by Mahatma
Gandhi, where his ideals of peace and non-violence
are still promoted; visitors are welcome. As
Jawaharlal Nehru observed, this great man of
indomitable spirit was certainly ’not of the
common clay that all of us are made of. Mahatma
Gandhi’s birthplace can be seen at the fishing
village of Porbandar. A greater and even more
ancient wonder awaits east of Bombay in Maharashtra,
where the thirty Buddhist caves at Ajanta which are
cut into the steep face of a deep rock gorge sit in
silent contemplation. Feel the aura and power left
behind by the Buddhist monks living 2000 years ago.
Compare
them with the dynamism and energy radiating from the
huge Hindu caves in nearby Ellora. Imagine the
workers carving a way at solid rock on the hillside
to form the thirty-four Hindu, Buddhist and Jain
Caves with the stories of their religions and
beliefs etched onto the walls. Stay at one of the
cool and relaxing hill stations such as Matheran or
Mahabaleshwar, popular with the inhabitants of
Bombay. Take an evening stroll around the peaceful
Bund Gardens in pleasant and airy Pune. All these
adventures will entertain and fascinate in the magic
and beauty around Bombay.
Goa
- Sun, Sand and Sea
Relax
and experience the idyllic peace that only India can
give in sunny Goa. If you have ever dreamt of a warm
land of space and light, where the beaches stretch
for silvery miles, where the glittering sea always
beckons you, where the people are always smiling,
where the succulent juice from a bite of ripe
pineapples or papaya drips on your hot skin as you
luxuriate lazily on the white sand, then Goa, a
fascinating blend of Latin and Indian cultures, will
be a place where the wish to linger will be
overpowering.
Decide
when to sit in the shade under the palm trees
sipping the feni, or lemonade, or when to return to
the hot sand to deepen your tan, or when to swim in
the cool refreshing water. What a problem.
As
well as being a place for relaxation, Goa is also
lively and modern, with many westernstyle
entertainments. there is a choice of luxurious
hotels with plenty of night life, or simplicity and
tranquillity in one of the inexpensive, clean and
comfortable rooms with their own charm, right on the
beach. The Portuguese influenced food is
mouthwatering. Choose massive fish steaks fresh from
the sea or a wide and delicious choice of both
continental and Indian dishes. Panaji, the capital,
is an easy-going town with Portuguese styled cafes,
whitewashed churches and overhanging balconies; a
delight after your journey. 01d Goa, east of Panaji,
was once the capital of the eastern Portuguese
Empire. Now, it is little more than a fascinating
small village surrounded by huge convents and
churches dedicated to the zeal of Christianity,
including the Convent and Church of St. Francis of
Assisi and the famous Basilica of Bom Jesus. The
mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier, who spread
Christianity among the subjects of the Portuguese
colonies, are entombed here. Which beach to choose
from along the 100km long coastline of silvery sand.
Possibly Colva with its warm turquoise sea and
fishermen hauling in their nets by hand in the clear
morning light as they chant an ancient sea song; or
maybe sophisticated Aguada, with its jet-set beach
and sixteenth century fort. Try the experience of a
full-moon party at Anjuna, or mingle with the
variety of people in Calangute selling handicrafts,
jewellery and modern fabrics. Enjoy the old
Portuguese fort in Chapora, surrounded by secluded
and sandy beaches and dense green coconut palms.
Visit all the beaches or just adopt one and make it
your home. Wild boar and sambar in their natural
habitat in the hills of the Western Ghats can be
seen in Bondla, one of the Goan wildlife
sanctuaries. In addition, the region is justly
famous for its many colourful festivals, including
Mardi Gras, celebrated with Christian fervour.
There
are so many delights in Western India and so many
glorious choices; from the vibrant life of
commercial Bombay to the home of the indomitable
Mahatma Gandhi then down to the peace and magic of
sunny Goa - the choice is yours.
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