Sprit of India Attracts Tourists

From Korea Times

Bibi ka Maqbara Built by Prince Azam Shah in 1678 in Aurangabad, India, Bibi ka Maqbara is a son's loving tribute to the memory of his mother, Begum Rabia Durrani, the queen of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The white-marbled monument was made to rival the world famous Taj Mahal of Agra. / Korea Times Photo by Kang Shin-who

By Kang Shin-who
Korea Times Correspondent

India ¯ Four major world religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism originated from India with a number of great minds, philosophers and religious leaders.

Bounded by the Bay of Bengal to the east, the Indian Ocean to the south and by the Arabian Sea to the west, the country was also home to the Indus Valley Civilization.

Over its long history, the country has been influenced by other religions and culture forming a multicultural society. This backdrop enables the country to have 27 world heritages recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). India is the most appealing country to those who are seeking a spiritual world for meditation and introspection.

India is the world's seventh largest country and is estimated to have a population of 1.12 billion, ranking it as the second most populous country.

Among three cities to be introduced on this page, Mumbai is the largest city and financial capital of India, Aurangabad is a historic city surrounded by many world heritages and Goa is a tourist hub with its picturesque beaches and beautiful villages.

kswho@koreatimes.co.kr

MUMBAI Formerly known as Bombay, Mumbai is a modern commercial city. With an estimated population of thirteen million, it is capital of Maharashtra and has a deep natural harbor dealing with more than half of India's seagoing passenger traffic. The city also houses India's Hindi language film center, the so-called ``Bollywood.''

AURANGABAD Located in Maharashtra, Aurangabad was named after the 6th Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb who was sent here as the governor of Deccan. The city has many historic sites in and around it including Bibi ka Maqbara (a replica of the Taj Mahal), Aurangabad Caves, Ghrishneshwar Temple, Khultabad Ford and Daulatabad Fort. It is also an important stopover on the way to the World heritage, Ellora and Ajanta caves.

GOA Influenced by Portuguese culture, Goa is a perfectly harmonious place where all religious people mingle peacefully. Some 4 million live there and mining is the city's first industry. Also Goa is a hub for tourism. About 50 percent of the residents are Hindu, 40 percent are Christian and the rest are other religions. A lot of religious festivals take place here that welcome people of all faiths. Some say the many beautiful beaches make Goans generous and peaceful so there are no fights or conflicts there. The best season for tourists is between October and March.