The Wonder that is India

                                         Bodhidharma/ commons.wikimedia. Kanchipuram in the southern state of Tamil Nadu was a great seat of Buddhist learning and culture in ancient India. Around the beginning of the Christian era it was as famous as Varanasi and Taxila. Among the famous Buddhists connected with Kanchipuram was the 28th Zen Patriarch Bodhidharma as well as famous Buddhist commentators Buddhaghosa and Dhammapala. Bodhidharma had travelled to China to spread the Dhyana culture of Mahayana Buddhism. In the seventh century AD Kanchipuram was visited by the renowned Chinese traveller, Hieun Tsang who found there a large monastery whim attracted scholars and philosophers from across the country. A five-and-a-half feet Buddha image dating back to the 9th century AD was discovered in Kanchipuram. How to reach Kanchipuram Air: The nearest airport to Kanchipuram is Chennai which is connected by flights with major cities in India and the world. Chennai is 71 km from Kan

               Yiga Choeling Monastery, Ghoom/Wikipedia If you want to soak in sacred energy of spiritualism and mysticism in an incredible natural setting, Ghoom in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal is the place to be.  At an altitude of 8,000 ft, Ghoom is home to a number of monasteries. Chief among them is the Yiga Choling Gompa or Ghoom Gompa as it is popularly called. The monastery comes lauded as the largest in the region. Established in 1850, the Ghoom monastery belongs to the Yellow Sect of Buddhists. Its major highlight is a huge 15-ft tall statue of Jampa or Maitreya Buddha. Maitreya Buddha represents the cult of the future Buddha.  The beautifully sculpted halls of theYiga Choling monastery are adorned by thangkas and murals. Here you will find ancient palm leaf and paper manuscripts including the Buddhist Tibetan Gospel in 108 volumes.  Located in close proximity to the Yiga Choling Gompa are the monasteries of Sakya Guru Gompa and Samten Choling Gompa which has a colo

Located on a beautiful hill top on the northern outskirts of Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, the Enchey monastery commands spectacular views of the town and the Kanchenjunga peak. Established in 1840, it is the seat of the Nyingmapa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Tradition has it that the famous tantric and lama Lama Druptob Karpo who had acquired flying power actually flew here from Maenam hill in South Sikkim and built a hermitage here for performing meditation. Enchey monastery's prayer hall is adorned with beautiful murals and houses a statue of Buddha as well as other Tantric statues.  You can see the monks performing prayers and traditional rituals. The Enchey monastery is at its exuberant best during its Chaam dance also known as the mask dance usually held in December.  Only lamas can participate in Chaam.  How to reach Enchey monastery Air: Bagdogra, 9 km west of Siliguri in West Bengal, is the nearest airport to Enchey monastery and is some 124 km away from Enchey monastery. F

Bomdila, a Buddhist-dominated town in West Kameng district in Arunachal Pradesh, is known for its Buddhist monasteries. Most spiritually significant among the monasteries in Bomdila is Gentse Gaden Rabgyel Ling which came into being in 1965. Located at 8500 feet above sea level the Gentse Gaden Rabgyel Lling (GRL) is the largest monastery in Bomdila and a replica of the Tsona Gontse monastery in South Tibet. A famed centre of Mahayana Buddhism in Arunachal Pradesh, Gentse Gaden Rabgyel Ling monastery comprises a prayer hall where monks perform prayers, a Buddha temple and residential quarters for the Buddhist monks. The wall hangings in the prayer hall are feast for the eyes. How to reach Bomdila By Air: The nearest airport to reach Bomdila is Salonibari Airport in Assam’s Tezpur, located at a distance of 160 km from Bomdila. However Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati, 342 km from Bomdila, is a more important airport connected to the major cities in India. By

India is undoubtedly one of the world’s popular travel destinations. The sheer number of tourists visiting India is testament to the popularity of the country as a tourist destination. An array of great sights, natural beauty and idyllic beaches draw the crowds to this second largest country in Asia.  The main entry point for tourists coming to India is the Indira Gandhi International airport located in Delhi. However, there are other international airports in the country that can service arriving tourists. You can also drive to India from Nepal and Bangladesh. Getting around India is easy as it has a reliable public transport system that can bring you to the famous locations.  There are a great number of hotels in India catering to the need of every customer. In order to make your holiday an enriching experience, it is advisable to choose a hotel suited to your temperament.  Tourists go to India to see the sights and soak up on the local culture. In India there are 38 sites that have