Historians and thinkers believe that India is the country from where the ray of culture emerged and great thoughts are propagated. It is the only culture in the world which spreads realization of 'sat' (truth) 'chit' (concentration) and 'anand' (pleasure).It also glorifies one and all, since it visualizes the life with a rare vision and something auspicious.

Indian culture is proud of its natural inheritance like: the Himalayas, the river Ganga, the Yamuna the Saraswati, the Sindh and the kaveri. It also means a Varity and rare emotion, feelings, knowledge, devotion and deeds. It also includes justice and, morals, mercy and compassion, love and non-violence mutual understating and harmony. All these have a prominent place in the Indian cultural.

Indian culture aims at achieving the goal of 'Dharma'(righteousness) 'Artha' (material possession),'Kama' (physical pleasure) and 'Moksha' (salvation).

India is a country of peace and tolerance. There is no place for war, battle or strife in Indian culture. The emphasis has been laid on achieving peace all around. The words 'Om shanti....shanti' uttered at the end of any prayer, support it.

Many things can be included while describing the distinguishing characteristics of Indian culture. But it is a fact that India is an amalgamation of various thoughts and ideologies. It is very vast and varied culture rich in knowledge, devotion deeds, emotions and feeling. It is the broad mindedness of Indian culture that it assimilated all those characteristic features without any hesitation to which it was exposed from various other cultures and moulded them in own way.

India did not believe in invasion or war to propagate its culture, religion, ideology or any other thing. It treated all living creatures with same equality and compassion.

Features of Indian Culture: 

 1. Longevity and continuity

 2. Unity in diversity

 3. Tolerance

 4. Amalgamation of Spirituality and Materialism 

India has a varied natural and culture heritage. The main reason of it is that   India is a vast nation with different geographical and physical conditions. The history of India is thousands of years old. This culture has remanded a witness, to the change due to exchange of ideologies.

Many foreigners invaded India and were victorious. They settled down here and merged in the ocean of Indian culture. In this context, heritage is a precious gift from our ancestors. Heritage is natural as well as man-made. Its development has taken place along with the historic eras. On one hand, heritage is associated with place, province or region; on the other hand, it is associated with family and community. It is a special feature of the people and their identity.

To make it simpler, we divide our heritage as natural and cultural. 

Natural heritage incudes, features like mountains, forests, deserts, rivers, streams, seas, trees, plants, creepers, flowers, leaves and insects etc. India is a land of geographical and environment extremities. It includes high, mountains big and small rivers, wide fertile lands, river valley regions, dense forests, long seashores and deserts. In this varies landscape a wide range of minerals, vegetation, plants, and animal are abound. Irregularities in weather or climate can even affect our heritage. The result of a close relationship between nature, environment and human- life is natural heritage.

Worshipping animals, river and mountains has been a part of Indian tradition. Similarly we consider pipal, banyan and tulsi as holy and reverential. Some birds and animals are accepted the vehicles of gods and goddesses. It is only because of this that we treat them with we respects and faith. Due to this, Indian culture has made a unique impression in the world. Some example of these can be found in ‘Jataka Kathas’ of Buddhism.

We can also see a close relations between nature and the classical and folk music. Several Classical ragas are based on ‘Prahar’ (period of a day) and on ‘ritu’ (seasons). Nature and the seasons of the year have been the central themes for our songs, poems, festival and paintings. Similarly, Ayurveda, Unani and Nature cure are also based on nature. Therefore, we can say that natural and cultural heritage have a very deep relationship.

Nature has endowed India generously. In the course of Indian History nature has played a prominent part. 

Beautiful landscapes are generally formed due to varied topography of land. For example, the Himalaya is a land-shape. But it has endowed Indians abundantly with brimming rivers, streams, forests of Terai and its pilgrimage places, which can be consedned landscapes. The landscapes have greatly influenced the occupation  of the people, their lifestyle and customs. Since the time of the Aryans, the mountains have been considered to be adorable and holy amongst various elements of nature. From ancient time, the Himalayan range has remained a part of Indian heritage.


Rivers : Indian culture is known as river culture.

The rivers of India have remained’ reverential’ as ‘Lokmata’ from ancient time till today. Our Indian culture has flourished on the river bank of Ganga, the Yamuna, the Ravi, and other rivers. The rivers like the Ganga, the Yamuna, the saraswati, the sindhu, the kaveri the Narmada and the Godavari, etc. have profoundly influenced the people of India. Rivers are the source for drinking water, household use. irrigation, floor-plastering as well as making utensils from clay etc. Landscapes, scenes at dawn and dusk are very fascinating on the side of the river these are inspiration for artists and have enriched the lives of the people by developing their aesthetic sense. 


Vegetation :  From ancient time people of India have remained lovers of nature.

In India, the trees like banyan, pipal, neem, shrubs and tulsi etc are considered as holy and treated with great reverence. Since ancient time, the green fields, prosperous forest and medicinal plants have enriched Indian culture. Grains and cereals, plants of oilseeds, myrobalan, tulsi, ardusi, alovera etc prove to be very useful. Flowers like rose, michelia, daisy, louts, sunflower etc. have made human life beautiful useful and prosperous. It has a deep impact on our social, economic and religious life. Worshipping of Tulsi plant every morning and observing Vad-Savitri vrat, show the religious significance of plant-life.

The people of India love nature and animals (flora and fauna) since ancient times. Indian have realized the importance of wildlife – elephant, rhinoceros, tiger, leopard, wolf, deer, bear, lion, stag etc. They have contributed greatly in making Indian culture varied. It is a well-known fact that the value of the tusk of a dead elephant and the leather of a dead tiger and lion are immense. But we sanctuaries are established. This is endent by the fact,  that the Nation emblem of India has in the figure of lion in it.

Culture Heritage that India has gifted to the world is also prosperous rich and varied. Culture heritage is man-made heritage. Whatever man obtains or creates with his intellect, skills is called culture heritage.

The people of India, from the pre-history period, have contributed to the people of the world. For e.g.  sculpture is a 5000 years old ancient art. The remains of Indus valley civilization is evidence of this. The remains of the figures of Gods and Goddesses, human figures, animal and several toys as well as sculpture of a man with beard and the statue of a dancer are the examples of rich culture heritage and their contribution to the world.

Futher when we look at the bullock or lion on an inverted lotus of Mauryan Era, the statue of Gautam Buddha in a meditative mood, or the statues of jain saint and the caves of Ajanta Ellora etc. (prepared by kings), we feel gladdened and proud and we show a great respect and reverence for our culture heritage.

Palaces, buildings, sculptures stupas, ‘Viharas’ ‘Chaitya’, temples, mosques, tombs, domes forts, gates, etc all these architectural monuments is a part of our culture heritage. Even the historical places of our freedom movement can also be considered as a part of out culture heritage.

This culture heritage should not only be conserved and preserved but also developed by the people of India age after age. As a result, the continuity of our culture heritage has been maintained. This has made Indian culture beautiful, charming and pleasing. Simultaneously,  it has also bestowed India a prestigious place.