National Geographic | THE COMPASS

National Geographic

THE COMPASS

India

PHOTOGRAPH BY TUUL AND BRUNO MORANDI

In India, everyday life plays out in bright colors, a vivid juxtaposition of ancient and modern against a backdrop of intricate architecture. In this edition, we visit an Indian community that welcomes leopards, follow a river of questions in eastern India, and see stunning architecture in India's first World Heritage city.

Let's explore India.

ANIMALS

Camels are silhouetted against the setting sun in the Thar Desert, a region on the border of India and Pakistan.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MATTHIEU PALEY, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

Camels are disappearing in India, threatening a centuries-old nomadic culture

Selling camel milk may be one solution to keep the Raika’s livelihood of camel herding alive.

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In India, leopards and humans increasingly clash as wild spaces disappear and human-populated areas grow—but not in Bera.

PHOTOGRAPH BY KALYAN VARMA,
NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

This Indian community welcomes leopards

Devotees of Shiva, the god of wild things, the people of Bera have figured out how to coexist with one of India’s most feared predators—the leopard.

A captive pygmy hog at the Pygmy Hog Breeding Centre in Guwahati, India.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JOEL SARTORE,
NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

World's tiniest pig, once thought extinct, returning to the wild

The shy, 10-inch-tall pygmy hog, "rediscovered" in 1971, is steadily increasing in number due to captive breeding in its native India.

HISTORY & CULTURE

Begum Samru ruled over the 18th-century Mughal kingdom of Sardhana, not far from Delhi. A canny political operator, she amassed a great fortune before her death in 1836.

PHOTOGRAPH BY PETER HORREE, ALAMY

India’s forgotten power broker—what was her secret?

Swashbuckling Begum Samru commanded armies, took a litany of lovers, and dubbed herself Joanna, after Joan of Arc.

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Countless shifting islands and sand spits called chars dot the middle reaches of the Brahmaputra River. This one near Jogighopa, in Assam, is nearly a mile long.

PHOTOGRAPH BY PAUL SALOPEK

Following a river of questions in eastern India

The fabled Brahmaputra River swirls with scenes of life, death, and grand silences.

From left, Pandit Jawarharlal Nehru, vice president of India's interim government; Earl Mountbatten, viceroy of India; and Muhammad Ali Jinnah, president of the Muslim League, discuss Britain's plan for the future of its colony at the historic India Conference in New Delhi, June 2, 1947.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MAX DESFOR, AP

The Kashmir conflict: How did it start?

The dispute between India and Pakistan over Kashmir was sparked by a fateful decision in 1947, and has resulted in decades of violence, including two wars.

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A black panther rests on a branch of a teak tree. Black panthers are leopards with a genetic mutation that causes the dark pigmentation of their coats. The rosette patterns are still visible against their fur.

PHOTOGRAPH BY SHAAZ JUNG

In this dense Indian forest, tigers and leopards are thriving

A conservation success story, Nagarahole Tiger Reserve is increasingly popular with tourists eager to see the big cats in the wild.

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The marble of the Taj Mahal changes color as the light falling on it brightens and fades throughout the day. In this image, taken at sunrise, the building takes on a rosy hue.

MICHELE FALZONE / AWL IMAGES

A husband's love built the Taj Mahal—but cost him an empire

After the death of his beloved wife, Emperor Shah Jahan spared no expense building her grand mausoleum. His obsession became a monument to everlasting love but bankrupted the Mughal empire.

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TRAVEL

DREAM NOW, GO LATER

Located west of the Taj Mahal along the Yamuna River, Agra Fort is a 16th-century red sandstone complex of Mughal palaces and pearly white, marble mosques. The fort features Hindu and Islamic architecture, including jeweled floral inlays, intricate ceilings, and golden pavilions.

PHOTOGRAPH BY LUCAS VALLECILLOS, ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

23 photos of India’s stunning cultural heritage

From mosques to mausoleums to mangroves, these sites reveal India’s rich history.

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The 15-century walled city of Ahmadabad lies on the eastern bank of the Sabarmati river in India’s State of Gujarat. The Bhadra citadel, mosques, tombs, and Hindu and Jain temples are celebrated as architectural heritage from the sultanate period.

PHOTOGRAPH BY CHRIS CALDICOTT,
DESIGN PICS, GETTY IMAGES

See stunning architecture in India's first World Heritage city

The 15th-century walled city of Ahmadabad is celebrated for its mosques, tombs, and temples from the sultanate period.

Women in Rajasthan gather up freshly dried saris at a factory. Before chemical dyes were introduced in the 19th-century, fabrics were dyed with natural materials like indigo and madder.

PHOTOGRAPH BY TUUL AND BRUNO MORANDI

The surprising history of India’s vibrant sari tradition

South Asian women have draped themselves in colorful silks and cottons for eons. The ways they’re made and worn are dazzling and diverse.

A vendor prepares a snack for sale on the longest train ride in India, between Kanyakumari and Dibrugarh city.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MATTHIEU PALEY, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

4 life-changing food experiences in India

Don't miss these unique opportunities to learn more about the subcontinent's history and culture over a meal.

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WHERE WILL WE JOURNEY TO NEXT?

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